Braga

From Tolkien Gateway
This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name.
Captain of the guard
Northman
The Hobbit - The Desolation of Smaug - Braga Promo.jpg
The "captain of the guard" from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Biographical Information
Other namesCaptain
PositionCaptain of the guard
LocationLake-town, Long Lake
AffiliationLake-men
LanguageWestron
BirthLate Third Age
DeathPossibly T.A. 2941
GalleryImages of Captain of the guard

The captain of the guard, or just the captain , was a Man of Lake-town who served as the captain of the guard for the Master of Lake-town during the late Third Age.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

The captain of the guard served the Master of Lake-town. One day in T.A. 2941, the guards under his command were surprised by the appearance of Dwarves in their hut without any prior warning. After Thorin announced himself and his intention to see the Master of Lake-town, the captain of the guard asked to know who Fili, Kili, and Bilbo Baggins were. After Thorin answered, the captain demanded that they all needed to lay down any weapons they had if they came in peace, though Thorin revealed that they had none and would not be able to fight them even if they did. When the captain revealed that the Master was in a feast, Fili grew impatient and demanded to be taken for them to make haste, threatening the captain that the Master may not like waiting long.[1]

The captain obliged him and led the company with six men through the market-place and into the town-hall, where Thorin announced his identity to the Master before the captain could get a word in.[1] It is unknown if the captain of the guard survived the attack by Smaug and the later Battle of Five Armies.

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

1968: The Hobbit (1968 radio series):

Ian Thompson provided the voice of the captain of the guard, who is credited as the Herald of Esgaroth.

1980: Der Hobbit (1980 German radio series):

The captain of the guard is referred to as a Man and is portrayed by Heinz Theo Branding.

2013: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug:

The captain of the guard was given the name Braga and is portrayed by Mark Mitchinson. He has light brown hair, green eyes, and wields a spear. Unlike in the book, he was given a slightly expanded role. Braga and his guards track Bard when he first arrives with Bilbo Baggins and Thorin and Company, though Bard manages to keep them hidden, with help from the Dwarves themselves. Later, he is ordered by the Master of Lake-town to arrest Bard and lock him up, though not without a struggle from Bard himself.[2]

2014: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies:

During Smaug's attack on Lake-town, Braga and a few other soldiers assist the Master in emptying the town's treasury into a boat in which they then attempt to flee the wreckage. Braga presumably perishes along with the Master and everyone else in the boat when the slain Dragon's lifeless body falls on top of them while plummeting to its final resting place at the bottom of the Long Lake.[3]

References