The Shire of the Hobbits: Lalia the Great

Lalia the Great

Lalia the Great, also known as Lalia the Fat, was born Lalia of the Clayhangers in SR 1283. In SR 1314 she married Fortinbras II, who became the head of the Tooks and the Thain. She was 31 and he was 36. Fortinbras II died in 1380 at the age of 102. The headship of the Tooks then passed to his widow, Lalia. Lalia ruled the Tooks and the Great Smials for 22 years until she died in 1402 at the age of 119. In the last years of her life, when she was very fat, Lalia liked to have her attendant wheel her to the Great Door of the Great Smails to "take the air". One Spring day in 1402, her attendant accidentally tipped Lalia out of her chair and down the flight of steps into the garden. So ended the life of Lalia the Great. It was rumored that her attendant on that fateful day was Pearl Took, Pippin's older sister.

Lalia was not at Bilbo's Farewell Party in 1401 because of the difficulty of traveling in her condition (ie because of her weight). Her son, Ferumbras, remained unmarried. It was said that no one was willing to marry him while Lalia ruled the Great Smials.

From the Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

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Updated January 3, 2012