An encyclopedia of Middle-earth and Numenor

Vital Statistics: Race: Hobbits Date of Birth: 2990 of the Third Age Date of Death: Sometime after the year 64 of the Fourth Age Residence: Great Smials in Tuckborough Parents: Paladin Took (Thain Paladin II) & Eglantine Banks Siblings: 3 sisters - Pearl, Pimpernel & Pervinca Spouse: Diamond of Long Cleeve Children: Son - Faramir Took Hair color: Almost golden (see note below) Sword: A sword of Westernesse, nicknamed "Troll's bane" Galadriel's gift: Silver belt with gold flower-shaped clasp

Billy Boyd as Pippin in the New Line Cinema Film

Painting of Pippin by Inger Edelfeldt

Detailed Biography:

Peregrin Took was just in his tweens when he announced his intention to accompany his cousin Frodo Baggins on his quest. Pippin's youth and curious nature got him into trouble on occasion, but his steadfast friendship and unquenchable cheerfulness helped carry him and his companions through the darkest times. During the quest, he grew up quickly and became an important member of the Fellowship and a Knight of Gondor.

Pippin was born in 2990 of the Third Age, the only son of Paladin Took and Eglantine Banks Took. Pippin's father farmed the lands around Whitwell near Tuckborough, and he also held the title Thain Paladin II. The Thain was master of the Shire-moot and captain of the Shire-muster and the Hobbitry-in-arms. These titles had become largely nominal dignities, but the Thain was accorded a special respect among Hobbits. As the Thain's heir, Pippin was a young gentlehobbit of rank and wealth.

In addition to their wealth and social standing, the Tooks were also noteworthy for the adventurous streak that ran in the family. This quality was apparent in Pippin, who, along with his close friend Merry Brandybuck and Frodo's gardener Sam Gamgee, conspired to uncover the cause of Frodo's mysterious behavior in the spring and summer of 3018. But it was more than adventurousness that prompted Pippin to decide to leave the Shire with Frodo; friendship and loyalty were equal factors.

"You do not understand!" said Pippin. "You must go - and therefore we must, too. Merry and I are coming with you. Sam is an excellent fellow, and would jump down a dragon's throat to save you, if he did not trip over his own feet; but you will need more than one companion in your dangerous adventure."
The Fellowship of the Ring: "A Conspiracy Unmasked," p. 114

At the Prancing Pony in Bree, Pippin began telling humorous stories about the Shire in the common room. He foolishly allowed himself to get carried away by the attention - and perhaps by too much ale - and he came dangerously close to mentioning Bilbo's disappearance at his birthday party, courtesy of his magic ring. Frodo tried to distract the crowd with a song, but ended up accidentally putting on the Ring himself and disappearing. A Ranger called Strider came to their aid and hid the Hobbits in another room. The inn was attacked during the night, but the Hobbits remained unharmed. They left Bree the next morning.

The next stage of the journey was difficult. Frodo was wounded by the Witch-king at Weathertop and seemed close to death. But at Rivendell, Frodo was healed and Pippin's high spirits returned, and even a lecture from Gandalf could not dampen them. But after the Council, Pippin was dismayed when it appeared that Frodo and Sam were going to continue the quest to destroy the Ring without him.

"We hobbits ought to stick together, and we will. I shall go, unless they chain me up. There must be someone with intelligence in the party."
"Then you certainly will not be chosen, Peregrin Took!" said Gandalf...
The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Ring Goes South," p. 285

"In any case, I judge that the younger of these two, Peregrin Took, should remain. My heart is against his going."
"Then, Master Elrond, you will have to lock me in prison, or send me home tied in a sack," said Pippin. "For otherwise I shall follow the Company."
The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Ring Goes South," p. 289

Outside the Gates of Moria, Pippin tried Gandalf's patience by questioning the wizard while he tried to find the spell to open the door. Once inside the Mines, Pippin again incurred Gandalf's ire when he dropped a stone down a well and drums sounded in the deep as if in response.

"What's that?" cried Gandalf. He was relieved when Pippin confessed what he had done; but he was angry, and Pippin could see his eye glinting. "Fool of a Took!" he growled. "This is a serious journey, not a hobbit walking-party. Throw yourself in next time, and then you will be no further nuisance. Now be quiet!"
The Fellowship of the Ring: "A Journey in the Dark," p. 327

The Fellowship passed through Lothlorien, where Galadriel's people offered them assistance and clad them in grey cloaks with leaf-shaped brooches. The Company proceeded down the Anduin to Amon Hen, where Frodo went off on his own to decide what to do. Pippin was concerned about his friend.

"We must stop him," said Pippin. "And that is what he is worrying about, I am sure. He knows we shan't agree to his going east. And he doesn't like to ask anyone to go with him, poor old fellow. Imagine it: going off to Mordor alone!" Pippin shuddered. "But the dear silly old hobbit, he ought to know that he hasn't got to ask. He ought to know that if we can't stop him, we shan't leave him."
The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Breaking of the Fellowship," p. 419

Pippin was able to remain alert despite the hardship of the forced march. While the Uruk-hai of Isengard and the Orcs of Mordor were fighting amongst themselves, Pippin cut the bonds tying his hands. Later he broke free momentarily so he could drop his leaf-brooch to mark their trail. When the Rohirrim surrounded the Uruk-hai, Grishnakh of Mordor seized the opportunity to take the Hobbits himself. Pippin realized that Grishnakh knew about the Ring and pretended that he and Merry could help him in order to contrive a means of escape. Grishnakh carried them away from the others but was killed by a Rider of Rohan, and the Hobbits were able to crawl to safety in Fangorn Forest.

In Fangorn, the Hobbits met Treebeard, an Ent who guarded and cared for the trees of the forest. When the Hobbits told Treebeard their story, he was roused to take action against Saruman, who had been destroying the trees of Fangorn. He called an Entmoot to decide a course of action. An Ent named Quickbeamkept Merry and Pippin company while the Entmoot lasted. At last the Ents decided to go to war, and Merry and Pippin went with them as they marched on Isengard.

While Isengard was flooded, Pippin was stunned by the arrival of Gandalf the White.

" 'Gandalf!' I said at last, but my voice was only a whisper. Did he say: 'Hullo, Pippin! This is a pleasant surprise!'? No, indeed! He said: 'Get up, you tom-fool of a Took! Where, in the name of wonder, in all this ruin is Treebeard? I want him. Quick!' "
The Two Towers: "Flotsam and Jetsam," p. 175

When Gandalf confronted Saruman, Pippin picked up the palantir that Grima threw down from Isengard. Pippin was consumed by curiosity about the strange globe and later took it from Gandalf while he slept. When Pippin looked into the palantir, he saw Sauron who demanded to know who he was. Pippin answered, "A Hobbit," and thus his act of mischief had an unexpected beneficial effect: Sauron thought that the Ring-bearer was in Isengard, and he concentrated his attention in the West as Frodo moved East toward Mordor.

Pippin was shaken by his experience, and Gandalf took him up on Shadowfax and rode with him to Minas Tirith. There Pippin met Denethor, the Steward of Gondor and the father of Boromir. Pippin pledged his fealty to Denethor and became a Guard of the Citadel. He was given black and silver livery and a winged helm. Beregond, a Guard of the Third Company, instructed Pippin on the duties and passwords of the Guards.

Denethor's younger son Faramir returned to Minas Tirith and was amazed to see Pippin. Faramir related his encounter with Frodo in Ithilien, and Denethor was angered that Faramir had not brought the Ring to him. Faramir went forth to stop Sauron's forces from crossing the river, but he was brought back to the city gravely wounded.

As Sauron's forces laid siege to Minas Tirith, Denethor despaired. He had used a palantir and had been shown the full might of Mordor by Sauron. Denethor summoned his servants to light a funeral pyre for himself and his son, who yet lived, but Pippin told them to delay until he could get help. He asked Beregond to go to Faramir's aid and then found Gandalf at the Gate. Gandalf and Beregond were able to save Faramir, but Denethor chose to die.

Pippin found his friend Merry wandering dazed and badly wounded after his confrontation with the Witch-king during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Pippin sent for help and Merry was brought to the Houses of Healing, where Aragorn was able to revive him. When the Host of the West went forth to the Black Gate, Pippin accompanied them. He saved Beregond's life at the Battle of the Morannon by slaying a Troll-chief, but he was crushed under the creature's body. Gimli later saw his foot sticking out from under a pile of carcasses and rescued him.

When the Hobbits returned to the Shire and found that Saruman's minions had taken control, Pippin went to rally the Tooks. He and Merry commanded the Hobbit troops at the Battle of Bywater and rid the Shire of ruffians. Their names were at the top of the Roll honoring those who had fought in the battle. They were hailed as heroes by their fellow Hobbits, and looked quite princely as they rode through the Shire in their livery. The Ent-draughts they had drunk in Fangorn had caused them to grow taller than four feet, five inches - the record Hobbit height previously held by Bandobras "Bullroarer" Took.

Pippin and Merry traveled to the Grey Havens to bid farewell to their friend and companion Frodo in 3021. Pippin lived with Merry at Crickhollow for a time. He married Diamond of Long Cleeve and they had a son whom they named Faramir.

On his father's death, Pippin became Thain Peregrin I and Aragorn, King Elessar, made him a Counsellor of the North-kingdom. Pippin frequently visited King Elessar at the northern capital of Annuminas, and he also travelled south to Gondor. At the Great Smials, Pippin established a library of historical books and records which later housed The Thain's Book.

Pippin accompanied Merry to Rohan in the year 63 of the Fourth Age after turning over the office of Thain to his son Faramir Took. He and Merry then moved to Gondor and lived out the rest of their days there. When they died they were laid to rest in Rath Dinen among the great of Gondor. When King Elessar died in 120, it is said that the beds of Pippin and Merry were set beside his.

Note:
Pippin hair color is mentioned only in the Epilogue that is found in The History of Middle-earth, vol. IX, Sauron Defeated. His namesake, Pippin Gamgee, described Pippin Took as having "hair that's almost golden."

Important Dates:

Third Age:

2990
Birth of Pippin.

3001
September 22: Pippin attends Bilbo's Farewell Party.

3018
September 23: Pippin sets out from Bag End with Frodo and Sam.
September 25: Pippin and Merry tell Frodo they intend to come with him.
September 26: Pippin and Merry are trapped by Old Man Willow and rescued by Tom Bombadil.
September 28: The Hobbits are captured by a Barrow-wight.
September 29: The Hobbits are rescued by Tom. They acquire swords of Westernesse from the barrow. In Bree, Pippin's foolish behavior at the Prancing Pony leads to Frodo's accidental use of the Ring and an attack on the inn.

October 25: Pippin learns of Frodo's acceptance of the Quest of the Ring and is determined to come along.

December 18: Pippin is chosen as a member of the Fellowship.
December 25: The Fellowship leave Rivendell.

3019
January 13: The Fellowship enter Moria. Pippin drops a stone down a well and drums are heard in the deep.
January 15: Gandalf falls into shadow while confronting the Balrog.

February 26: Breaking of the Fellowship. Pippin and Merry are captured by Uruk-hai. Pippin manages to cut his bonds. He drops his brooch during the night of February 26-27.
February 28: The Riders of Rohan surround the Hobbits' captors.
February 29: Pippin and Merry escape into Fangorn and meet Treebeard.
February 30: Entmoot begins. The Hobbits meet Quickbeam and spend the night at his house.

March 1: Entmoot continues. The Hobbits remain at Quickbeam's house.
March 2: Entmoot ends. Ents march on Isengard. Pippin and Merry ride on Treebeard's shoulders.
March 3: Destruction of Isengard continues. The Hobbits are reunited with Gandalf the White.
March 5: The Hobbits are reunited with Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. Pippin picks up the palantir and later looks into it. Gandalf sets out with him for Minas Tirith.
March 9: Pippin and Gandalf reach Minas Tirith. Pippin swears fealty to Denethor.
March 10: Pippin meets Faramir.
March 15: The Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Denethor tries to burn himself and his wounded son Faramir. Pippin gets help from Beregond and Gandalf, who save Faramir's life. Pippin finds Merry wandering injured and helps him get to the Houses of Healing.
March 18: Pippin leaves Minas Tirith with the Host of the West.
March 25: Pippin slays a Troll-chief at the Black Gate. He is crushed under its carcass and is found by Gimli. Destruction of the Ring and the downfall of Sauron.

April 7: Pippin is fully recovered from being crushed under a Troll.
April 8: Pippin and Merry are reunited with Frodo and Sam on the Field of Cormallen.

October 30: The Hobbits return to the Shire and find it overrun by ruffians.
November 2: Pippin rides to Tuckborough to rally the Tooks.
November 3: Pippin and Merry command the Hobbit troops at the Battle of Bywater and expel the ruffians.

3021
September 29: Pippin and Merry arrive at the Grey Havens to say goodbye to Frodo.

Fourth Age:

6
Pippin marries Diamond of Long Cleeve.

9
Pippin's son Faramir is born.

13
Pippin becomes Thain Peregrin I and is made a Counsellor of the North-kingdom.

15
King Elessar comes north and meets with Pippin, Merry and Sam.

34
Thain Peregrin I makes Sam's son-in-law Fastred the Warden of Westmarch.

42
Pippin's son Faramir marries Sam's daughter Goldilocks.

63
Pippin turns over the office of Thain to his son Faramir. Pippin and Merry travel to Rohan and meet with King Eomer before his death.

64
Pippin and Merry settle in Gondor. Pippin brings a copy of The Red Book to Minas Tirith, where it is corrected and annotated and becomes The Thain's Book. The Hobbits live in Gondor until their deaths.

120
Death of King Elessar. Pippin and Merry's beds are placed beside the bed of the King.
 

Names & Titles:

Peregrin "Pippin" Took:
Took is a Hobbit name of uncertain origin. The pronunciation is closer to "Luke" than to "book." ("Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Took)
Peregrine means "having a tendency to wander" or "being on a pilgrimage, traveling abroad."
Pippin is a type of apple and also means "a highly admired person or thing."

Fool of a Took:
Gandalf called Pippin this after Pippin dropped a stone down a well in Moria. (FotR, p. 327) At Isengard, Gandalf called him a "tom-fool of a Took." (TTT, p. 175)

Ernil i Pheriannath (Prince of the Halflings):
Pippin was called this by the people of Minas Tirith. He was thought to be a person of high rank because he was in the company of Gandalf and because he used the familiar form of address at all times, as was customary in the Shire, even when speaking to Denethor, the Steward of Gondor. (RotK: "Minas Tirith," p. 41; Appendix F of LotR, p. 411)

Guard of the Citadel & Knight of Gondor:
Pippin became a Guard of the Citadel when he swore an oath fealty to Denethor. (RotK: "Minas Tirith," p. 28; "The Siege of Gondor," 80)
After the War of the Ring, King Elessar told Pippin that he would remain a Knight of Gondor.

"For do not forget, Peregrin Took, that you are a knight of Gondor, and I do not release you from your service. You are going now on leave, but I may recall you. And remember, dear friends of the Shire, that my realm lies also in the North, and I shall come there one day."
The Return of the King: "Many Partings," p. 260

Counsellor of the North-kingdom:
When Pippin became Thain, King Elessar also made him a Counsellor of the North-kingdom. (Appendix B of LotR, p. 377)

Razanur Tûk:
Razanur Tuk (or Tuc) is the Hobbit name of Peregrin Took. (Appendix F, p. 413; HoME, vol. XII, p. 48, 51)
 

Genealogy:

Family tree of Peregrin Took:

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