Bilbo's Mithril Shirt was a shirt made of the silvery metal, Mithril. It was designed by the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain and had several owners throughout the Third Age.
History
The metal coat, which was part of the treasure hoard of the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain, had unknown origins. Some folks thought it was made for a young prince of the Elves. Made especially for defense, the armor was strong enough to not let any blades pierce through.Before The Quest of Erebor
It was found by the dragon Smaug and added to his treasure heap.After The Quest of Erebor
The vest came in the hands of Thorin II Oakenshield. During the Battle of Five Armies, the armor was worn by the hobbit Bilbo Baggins for defense. It was gifted by Thorin to his dear companion as a symbol of friendship. [1] After his return to the Shire, Bilbo loaned the vest to the Mathom-house. Bilbo, exceptionally fond of the Mithril Shirt, reclaimed it later on and wore it on his journey from the Shire to Rivendell.During the War Of The Ring
After several years, the Mithril Shirt, a kingly gift, was presented to his nephew Frodo Baggins during his pursuit of the One Ring. On his journey to Mount Doom, Frodo wore it under his tunic to conceal it from others in his clan. But the vest came to light during his encounter with the Orcs in the Mines of Moria. Frodo was safeguarded from a lethal injury when he was stabbed with a spear by the Orc Chieftain. Later, the squadrons belonging to the Orc army got into a brawl over the vest at the Tower of Cirith Ungol. While many ended up dead, Shagrat, an Orc leader, luckily endured the combat and ran away with the shirt. To the Orcs' dismay, the armor came under Sauron's possession at Barad-dûr. To prove Frodo's failure in his mission, The Mouth Of Sauron was taunting the captains of the West with the vest, and boasting that Frodo had been captured. But Gandalf spurred his horse forward and grabbed the vest from The Mouth Of Sauron. Gandalf later returned it to its owner, Frodo, after the Ring's destruction. But it is unclear whether Frodo carried the armor along with him during his journey to the Undying Lands or handed it over to Samwise Gamgee. If Frodo had given the armor to Sam as he did with the Red Book, it would have become a collection in Fairbairns's treasure. Gandalf and Gimli have quoted a verse in the movie: "The wealth of Moria was not in gold or jewels – but mithril."
Notable Owners of The Mithril Shirt
- Bilbo Baggins
- Frodo Baggins
- Gandalf
- Thorin Oakenshield
References
Categories:
Dwarven objects