It is a relatively small settlement of men, known
primarily as a stopping point for travelers en route to greater destinations. Lying at the
crossroads of the two great travelways of Middle-earth, this village would have a history
far longer than its humble status would indicate. Today, on Nerd of the Rings,
we cover the history of Bree. While events in and around Bree would
largely be recorded in the Third Age, it would be founded thousands of years earlier
in either the First or Second Age. By their own accounts, Bree was founded during the Elder
Days - also known as the First Age. However, in the Appendices, we are
told it may have come later. Here we are told the Men of Bree
are descended from men who did not migrate all the way to Beleriand in the
middle of the First Age. These groups of men are what are referred to as “Middle
Men” later known as “Pre-Númenóreans”. These ancestors of the Bree-landers would
dwell in the northern White Mountains, in the lands of what would later be
Rohan. They would actually dwell here for quite some time. It is only during the
Dark Years - the years following Sauron’s defeat in Eriador where he dominates most
of the East and South of Middle-earth. During this time, some men of the White
Mountains would come to worship Sauron out of fear - for instance, those who
would one day become the Oathbreakers. Others would migrate northward to escape the
spreading darkness. They would make their way to the Barrow-downs before finally
settling the lands around Bree-hill. In either case, the men of Bree would
long dwell in their village in Eriador, outlasting events of the world both
great and terrible. After Númenor falls, and Elendil founds the Kingdom of Arnor,
both Bree and it’s surrounding area, known as Bree-land, becomes part of this
new Kingdom. Along with the village of Bree, Bree-land includes the villages of Staddle,
Archet, and Combe. As a result of joining Arnor, the Bree-landers adopt Westron or Common Tongue
as their native language, giving up their old one. Given its location, at the intersection
of the Great Road going East and West, and the Greenway going North and
South, Bree would become an important village for travellers. These famous
roads would run for many long miles, connecting Gondor to Arnor, and
Lindon to Rivendell and beyond. In 861 TA, when its king, Eärendur dies - Arnor
is split among his three sons. The splinter realms of Arthedain, Cardolan, and Rhudaur are formed.
At this time, it is likely Bree-land would have belonged to Arthedain, as its villages lied to
the north of the Great Road. That being said, we are also told in the appendices that Amon Sul
(and the palantir housed there) were a point of contention among the realms. We don’t know if
this disputed land would stretch as far as Bree, but they were certainly placed
very close to the point of tension. The next major change for Bree would come around
the year 1300 TA. After fleeing the darkness growing near their lands in the Vales of Anduin,
Halflings would come to Eriador. We are told many would settle in Bree. And while most would migrate
a few hundred years later and found the Shire, there would continue to be hobbits in Bree
throughout the remainder of the Third Age and beyond. As a result, Bree would become
one of the most unique settlements in all Middle-earth. While there would be instances of
different races living near each other - like, Eregion and Khazad-dum, Dale and Erebor,
or Rohan and The Glittering Caves, Bree is the rare instance where two races
live side by side in the same village. According to the Bree-hobbits, one of the things
most synonymous with their race would actually originate in Bree. For the hobbits of Bree
held that they were the first to enjoy the art of smoking pipe-weed. This plant, which was
likely brought up on the Greenway from Gondor, would grow on the southern slopes of
Bree-hill. And it is likely here where Tobold Hornblower first discovered the leaf
and would introduce it in the Shire. From the southern slopes of Bree there was made a brand
of pipweed called Southlinch, though Barliman Butterbur would note that its quality was
no match for that of the Southfarthing. Some have theorized that it would have been around
the time of the hobbits' arrival that the Prancing Pony Inn was built, given the fact that it had
rooms specifically built for hobbits. Though, we can’t rule out that this may have been
an addition or renovation. After all, it is said the Prancing Pony had been kept by
the Butterbur family “from time beyond record.” Speaking of the Buttebur name, it exemplifies
a unique tradition of the Bree-landers. Their surnames tend to come from plants and herbs. We
will later find characters such as Appledore, Goatleaf, Heathertoes, Pickthorn,
Rushlight, Thistlewool, and Ferny. Eventually, Bree’s time as part of a kingdom
would end. While Bree and its people were no doubt affected by, and perhaps even fought in, Arnor’s
wars with the Witch-king, there are no documented battles or skirmishes in the area of Bree-land.
In 1945 TA, the Witch-king finally succeeds in destroying Arthedain, the final remnant of Arnor.
While the lord of the Nazgul would be driven out by reinforcements from Gondor and Glorfindel
from Rivendell, the kingdom would not recover. Instead, the remnants of the Dunedain would
exist in the wild as the Rangers of the North. And Bree would continue to operate
as it’s own village through the centuries to come. Not only was it common to see men and
hobbits in a place such as the Prancing Pony, but also dwarves. For in 2802, the dwarven exiles
of Erebor would settle in the Blue Mountains, ensuring regular travelers on the Great Road. One such dwarf would pass through Bree in
March 2941, meeting the wizard Gandalf in the process. Together, Thorin and Gandalf
realize their common problem - the dragon Smaug. This pivotal meeting would
directly lead to the Quest of Erebor, in which Smaug is slain and Erebor reclaimed.
In Tolkien’s abandoned rewrite of The Hobbit, Thorin’s Company make a stop in the
Prancing Pony on their way to Rivendell. While it would often seem isolated from the
greater events of the world, that time would soon end. As early as 2953 TA, Saruman the White, who
had by now long desired the One Ring for himself, started having spies in Bree. One such spy
is a squint-eyed southerner from Dunland, who would make purchases of pipeweed
and other goods on the wizards behalf to be send to Isengard. Ultimately, this
spy, rumored to be a half-orc or goblin-man, would be discovered by the Nazgul near
Tharbad and is turned to their service. Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin would encounter
the southerner in the Prancing Pony the night of Sept 29, 3018. He and another spy, Bill
Ferny, would witness Frodo disappear into thin air when accidentally putting on the
One Ring. Fortunately, Frodo would also meet the ranger Strider who would safeguard
him and his companions through the night. During their stay at the Prancing Pony, the
hobbits would encounter Nob, a hobbit employee of Butterbur’s. Nob and his fellow employee Bob
are seen attending to tasks like serving food, minding ponies in the stables, and tending
to guests. It is Nob who assists the hobbits in disguising their beds and would
also keep watch that night. Still, the inn is attacked, the beds torn to
shreds. Unlike in most adaptations, this was likely not the work of the
ringwraiths. For Aragorn earlier that very night had said to openly attack a village
in such a manner was not their way. Meaning, the attackers could well have been Bill Ferny,
the southerner, or other men serving the Nazgul. In the attack, the stables of the Prancing
Pony were also opened and all the animals inside had run away. Frodo would then buy a
half-starved pony from Bill Ferny for twelve silver pennies. In turn, Sam would name
the pony Bill. In another parting shot, Sam would throw an apple at Bill Ferny’s
head as he was spying on them. Aragorn, Frodo, and the hobbits would then make their way
to nearby Weathertop, once known as Amon Sul.. While the Nazgul would no longer trouble Bree,
their troubles were far from over. With war coming to Gondor, the dunedain rangers go south to serve
their king. With these secret guardians gone, the lands of Eriador, including Bree and the Shire
are susceptible to the evil that comes. Ruffians, under the service of the wizard Saruman, raid
Bree in early 3019. Barliman later says he believes they were let into the settlement
by Bill Ferny and Harry Goatleaf. For when the Bree-landers are victorious in defending
their homes, the two men flee with the ruffians. The ruffians would travel to Chetwood,
operating as bandits. Thus the Great Road that traveled through Bree
was no longer safe. In response, the citizens of Bree would lock up their homes
early and would station many guards around their villages. It is during these dark days that
Butterbur would realize how much the rangers had done for him and his community. Not only
were there robbers, but wolves would howl around the fences and dark shapes were in the woods -
dreadful things that made the blood run cold. Thankfully, on October 28, 3019, Frodo,
Gandalf, and the hobbits would return to Bree, bringing glad tidings to Barliman at the
Prancing Pony. The rangers had returned, and there was now a king once again in Gondor,
who would refound the northern kingdom of Arnor and bring prosperity to the lands of Eriador
once more. Butterbur seems to like this news, though he hopes the king will leave Bree alone. the northern kingdom of Arnor. And no
doubt the village, and the Prancing Pony, would benefit greatly from the increased traffic
on the two great roads - once again connecting the two realms of men to one another,
and to the many peoples of Middle-earth. as always I want to say a huge thank you to
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