Éomer: Difference between revisions
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Fifteen men and 12 horses didn't survive the assault. They were buried in a mound encircled with fifteen spears. | Fifteen men and 12 horses didn't survive the assault. They were buried in a mound encircled with fifteen spears. | ||
On the way back to Edoras the Rohirrim met Aragorn, [[Gimli]] and [[Legolas]] | On the way back to Edoras the Rohirrim met [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]], [[Gimli]] and [[Legolas]]. Éomer demanded their names and business and fighting broke almost out between Gimli and Éomer when Aragorn sprang between them, told Éomer his true name and showed him his sword, [[Anduril]]. Éomer now listened to their journey's story and learned about the losses of [[Gandalf]], [[Boromir]] and the two young hobbits. Although he was counteracting the law of Rohan he lent them two horses, [[Hasufel]] and [[Arod]], and asked them to prove his trust by bringing them back to Edoras. | ||
Back in Edoras Éomer threatened Gríma because of his advances on Éowyn. But Grìma arested him and accused him of breaking the law because he had pursued the Orcs and had allowed strangers to roam freely without Theoden's permission. | |||
Éomer was released when Gandalf had freed Théoden from the influence of Gríma. He was delighted to see that his king was recovering quickly from his weakness and was calling him sister-son again. Now Grima's treachery was revealed and only owing to Gandalf's intervening he was not killed but expelled from the [[Golden Hall]]. Théoden, now realizing the situation, decided to lead the Rohirrim into battle angainst Saruman instantly. The Three Hunters and Gandalf accompanied them when they left Edoras the same day. | |||
The following day they met the scout [[Ceorl]] who had been sent out by [[Erkenbrand]] to warn Éomer. He was surprised to come across King Théoden's army riding north and brought news that Saruman had let loose his forces and that the Rohirrim had been forced to retreat across the Isen with great losses. These tidings caused Théoden to reconsider his strategy. After consultation with Gandalf he decided to ride to join Erkenbrand at [[Helm's Deep]] while the wizard left them saying that he would meet them there. | |||
Éomer was with his king at the [[Battle of the Hornburg]], where he and his éored drove the [[Orcs]] and [[Dunlendings]] of Saruman from the walls of the [[Hornburg]] and into the [[Huorn]] forest, where they were killed. | |||
Afterwards he rode with Théoden, Aragorn, and [[Gandalf]] to [[Isengard]], where they confronted a trapped Saruman. | Afterwards he rode with Théoden, Aragorn, and [[Gandalf]] to [[Isengard]], where they confronted a trapped Saruman. | ||
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| Éomer | |
|---|---|
| Rohir | |
| File:John Howe - Eomer2.jpg | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Other names | Éomer Éadig |
| Position | King of Rohan |
| Birth | Third Age 2991 |
| Rule | Third Age 3019 - Fourth Age 63 |
| Death | Fourth Age 63, aged 93 years |
| Family | |
| Parentage | Éomund and Théodwyn |
| Spouse | Lothíriel |
| Children | Elfwine |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Gallery | Images of Éomer |
Éomer, of the House of Eorl, was the eighteenth King of Rohan, and first of the Third Line. He was the son of Théodwyn, sister of King Théoden of Rohan, and Éomund, a Chief Marshal of the Riddermark. After he and his sister Éowyn were orphaned Théoden adopted them as his own children.
History
Youth
Éomer was born in 2991 as son of Éomund and Théodwyn. When he was eleven years old his father was slain by Orc raiders in the Emyn Muil. His mother fell ill and died soon after. His uncle Théoden adopted him and his sister Éowyn as his own children and they went to live at Meduseld.
Éomer grew strong and tall and became a valiant and skilled warrior and rider. Théoden made him third Marshal of the Mark and he was in command of the East-mark like his father. He had his home at Aldburg in the Folde, one of the oldest towns of Rohan. With his Éored he defended Rohan mainly against Orcs from Mordor.
Struggle against Saruman the White
But Rohans enemies were not only at the borders but also within. Gríma Wormtongue, the King's advisor, was secretly a spy of the wizard Saruman the White, who dwelled at Isengard and had become a servant of Sauron. Gríma in secret worked to weaken Théoden and his kingdom and Théoden fell deeply under his influence. Gríma, however, did not manage to destroy Éomers loyalty to Théoden or his son Théodred, whom Éomer regarded as his brother although he actually was his cousin.
In the summer of 3018 Boromir, son of Denethor II, crossed Rohan on his way to Rivendell. Éomer learned from him about the dream of Isildur's Bane. On September 19, 3018 Gandalf arrived at Edoras and warned Théoden of the threat from Saruman. But Théoden, under Grima's influence, told him to take any horse and go. Soon after Gandalf's departure Men, Orcs and Wargs in Saruman's service began to fight openly against the Rohirrim. Saruman claimed lordship over Rohan and blocked the Gap of Rohan.
The chief obstacles to an easy conquest of Rohan by Saruman were now Théodred and Éomer. Therefore Saruman sent out all his fiercest warriors with special orders to slay Théodred at all costs. So it came to the first great battle in the conflict, the First Battle of the Fords of Isen, on February 25, 3018. After untiring assaults on Théodred's position he was finally killed.
The day after the battle Èomer gained knowledge of a troop of Orcs entering Rohan from the east. Although Éomer didn't know that, it were the Orcs that had taken Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took. Suspecting an alliance between Saruman and Sauron he wanted to hunt them down. Under the strong influence of Grima Théoden forbade Éomer to pursue the Orcs because Edoras would have been unguarded. But Éomer neglected the order since he already suspected Grima's treachery.
On February 27 he set out with his Éored. At the end of the next day they caught sight of the Orcs at the border of Fangorn Forest. They surrounded them and remained watchful throughout the night. With several small attacks they weakend the troop till another Orc band from Isengard arrived. But the Rohirrim succeeded in defeating them and surrounded the first troop even closer. With the first light of the new day the Rohirrim proceeded to attack. They killed all the Orcs and Éomer himself slew their leader Ugluk. The hobbits meanwhile were able to flee into Fangorn Forest. Fifteen men and 12 horses didn't survive the assault. They were buried in a mound encircled with fifteen spears.
On the way back to Edoras the Rohirrim met Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas. Éomer demanded their names and business and fighting broke almost out between Gimli and Éomer when Aragorn sprang between them, told Éomer his true name and showed him his sword, Anduril. Éomer now listened to their journey's story and learned about the losses of Gandalf, Boromir and the two young hobbits. Although he was counteracting the law of Rohan he lent them two horses, Hasufel and Arod, and asked them to prove his trust by bringing them back to Edoras.
Back in Edoras Éomer threatened Gríma because of his advances on Éowyn. But Grìma arested him and accused him of breaking the law because he had pursued the Orcs and had allowed strangers to roam freely without Theoden's permission.
Éomer was released when Gandalf had freed Théoden from the influence of Gríma. He was delighted to see that his king was recovering quickly from his weakness and was calling him sister-son again. Now Grima's treachery was revealed and only owing to Gandalf's intervening he was not killed but expelled from the Golden Hall. Théoden, now realizing the situation, decided to lead the Rohirrim into battle angainst Saruman instantly. The Three Hunters and Gandalf accompanied them when they left Edoras the same day.
The following day they met the scout Ceorl who had been sent out by Erkenbrand to warn Éomer. He was surprised to come across King Théoden's army riding north and brought news that Saruman had let loose his forces and that the Rohirrim had been forced to retreat across the Isen with great losses. These tidings caused Théoden to reconsider his strategy. After consultation with Gandalf he decided to ride to join Erkenbrand at Helm's Deep while the wizard left them saying that he would meet them there.
Éomer was with his king at the Battle of the Hornburg, where he and his éored drove the Orcs and Dunlendings of Saruman from the walls of the Hornburg and into the Huorn forest, where they were killed.
Afterwards he rode with Théoden, Aragorn, and Gandalf to Isengard, where they confronted a trapped Saruman.
The Battle of the Pelennor Fields
In the year 3019 Éomer rode with his king to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, and fought bravely for Rohan and Gondor. Théoden was killed, and Éomer became his successor. He stayed long behind in Minas Tirith to help Aragorn rebuild his kingdom, before returning home to be crowned king himself.
The Fourth Age
Éomer renewed the Oath of Eorl for Aragorn after Aragorn had been crowned King Elessar of the Reunited Kingdom, and Éomer had been crowned King of Rohan, swearing everlasting friendship between Rohan and Gondor (and legalizing Cirion's grant of Calenardhon to the Éothéod.)
He became known as Éomer Éadig, or "the Blessed", because during his reign Rohan recovered from the hurts of the War and became a rich and fruitful land again.
Éomer had met Princess Lothíriel, daughter of Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth during his stay in Gondor, and they were wed. She bore him a son Elfwine the Fair, who succeeded his father as the King of Rohan, after Éomer's death in the year Fourth Age 63.
Personality
He was tall, strong and possessed of great passion and also was considered a valiant and splendid warrior and a discerning and decent man. Eomer became a great, wise and skilled warrior and rider. In a note written well after the initial publication of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien gave Éomer's height as 6 feet 6 inches tall ("of like height with Aragorn").
Weapon
Éomer's sword was called Gúthwinë (Old English battle-friend).
Etymology
His name is likely derived from the Anglo-Saxon words "eoh" ("war-horse"), and possibly "mēre", ("grand, excellent, famous").
Portrayal in Adaptations
In Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings Éomer is pictured in the film and is crucial to the plot, but does not have any lines.
In Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings Éomer is portrayed by New Zealand actor Karl Urban.
In both Ralph Bakshi's animated film and the Peter Jackson's movie trilogy, Éomer is an outcast and renegade until he arrives at Helm's Deep, summoned by Gandalf. In this sense, his character has been combined with the character of Erkenbrand, who is the one that Gandalf returns to Helm's Deep with in the book.
In the Peter Jackson's films, Éomer is explicitly exiled by Gríma before meeting Aragorn (which the animated film only hints at). He is more prominent in the book than in these films, since they focus on Théoden and Éowyn more.
See Also
| Preceded by: Théoden |
18th King of RohanIII 3019 – IV 63
|
Followed by: Elfwine |
