The Rings of Power: Where is the Sûzat sought by the Piévelus?

The Rings of Power continues its journey on our screens. Season 2 is currently airing and there are still four weeks of exploring Middle-earth on Prime Video. The fourth episode had many surprises in store for viewers, from the appearance of an iconic character from the novels to a new confrontation between Adar and Galadriel, the creation of Patrick McKay and John D. Payne is gaining momentum. Nori and Poppy's journey has just taken a new turn, as the two Piévelus find a branch of the Hobbit race. In the desert, after being separated from The Stranger, the two young women come across a member of the Fortauds clan.

During a discussion with the leader of this community, they discover that one of Sadoc Terrier's ancestors had gone in search of a land of Asylum for his people. Rorimas Terrier continued his research and passed on this desire to his children who continued to wander Middle-earth in search of Sûzat, a place that could welcome them permanently. If this term is foreign to the spectators of the Rings of Power, it refers to an emblematic place in Tolkien's imagination. As is often the case with the British author, it is just a question of knowing in which language it is pronounced.

Language at the heart of the narrative process

The Shire in the original version, The County in the first translation, the place of residence of the Hobbits is one of the most emblematic landscapes of Tolkien's imagination. With its small buildings covered in moss, the country of residence of Frodo serves as an opening to the trilogy of Lord of the Rings Jackson. It is presented as a haven of peace, far from the concerns of the world. In The Rings of Powerit simply does not exist yet and the Hobbits are forced to live separated into several branches, fighting against a hostile world.

The scene from episode 4 nevertheless tells us that the idea of ​​a welcoming land for all Hobbits has begun to make its way and that Fortauds like Piévelus are looking for this place that they call the Sûzat. This term is borrowed from Westron – the common language of Middle-earth – from which Tolkien announces having translated the stories of his literary universe.

In The Hobbit, the Hobbits' homeland is not even named. Tolkien simply describes Bilbo's place of residence briefly before sending his character off on an adventure. It would be necessary to wait for the publication of Lord of the Ringsseveral decades later The Hobbitso that the term La Comté makes its appearance. At first, the word was not capitalized. With the help of his son Christopher, JRR eventually decided to sanctify the term to provide maps to his readers.

A country that does not yet exist

The Shire does not yet exist in the Second Age, period in which the story of the Rings of Power. While the series takes some liberties with its source material, the writers did not choose to create this place before its appearance in the novels and their appendices. Located in the northwest of Middle-earth, in the heart of Eriador, The Shire did not come into existence until the Third Age. With the permission of King Argeleb II, and at the urging of the brothers Marcho and Blanco, the Hobbits settled on these fertile but abandoned lands. In exchange, they were to acknowledge the king's suzerainty, maintain the roads and bridges in good condition, and assist the messengers of royalty.

Since then, the Hobbits have lived in harmony and rarely concern themselves with the stories of Middle-earth. This is why the nation does not get involved in the fight against Sauron, and why Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin are the only ones to fight the Dark Lord.

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