Great Hobbit plague

Plague / Epidemic

A plague strikes Hobbiton, and they beg King Marothsa for help. He intervenes, but Hobbiton loses 1/3 of its population to immigration, deportation, and death.

In the year 479, Hobbiton is struck by a great plague. At this time, communication and trade had been established with the Great Kingdom of Man, and as many as 1/5 of Hobbitons inhabitants left the island for the relative safety of the mainland. Another 1/7 of Hobbits, died. Without the intervention of King Marothsa (the 12th) all of Hobbiton would have fallen to ruin. With his help, the plague was contained, and its carriers and their families deported to the island of Helkar, now called the Forbidden isle. Rumor tells that this island holds the plague, to this day.