King of the Dead

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King of the Dead
Oathbreaker
Jan Pospíšil - King of the Dead.jpg
"King of the Dead" by Jan Pospíšil
Biographical Information
Other namesKing of the Mountains
LocationPaths of the Dead
AffiliationSauron, Gondor
LanguageWestron
BirthBefore S.A. 3429
Rule3031+ years
DeathT.A. 3019 (aged 3031+)
Pelargir
Notable forBreaking the oath made with Isildur
Physical Description
GenderMale
WeaponrySpear[1]
GalleryImages of the King of the Dead

The King of the Mountains, or later, the King of the Dead, was the ruler of the Oathbreakers.

History[edit | edit source]

He was the King of the Men of the Mountains, and when the Realms in Exile were founded, he met Isildur at Erech and swore his affiliation to Gondor on behalf of his people.

Then the time came when their former lord, Sauron arose again, and Isildur summoned them, but the Men of the Mountains were unwilling to turn against Sauron as they worshipped him during the Dark Years. Isildur cursed them for not fulfilling their oath, that there will be no other King after him, and they will never find rest until someone else calls for them.

His people dwindled and in the following centuries, the wraith of the King of the Dead was a terrifying rumour for the Men of Gondor south of the Mountains.

During the War of the Ring, Aragorn came to the Paths of the Dead as the Heir of Isildur and offered them a way to redeem themselves. On their way to Erech, people were scared of the news that the King of the Dead was out again, and defenders and foes alike fled away.[2]

The Oathbreakers followed the Grey Company to Pelargir where they drove off the enemy. Having fulfilled their oath, the King of the Dead broke and threw down his spear, bowed to Aragorn and turned away, as the Shadow Host vanished.[3]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

King Rioc in life in The Lord of the Rings Online

2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King:

The King of the Dead is played by Paul Norell.

2011: The Lord of the Rings Online:

The King of the Dead is named Rioc. Although his men were unwilling to fight Sauron because they had worshipped him, his excuse for not honoring the oath given to Isildur was because his daughter Bravantel had an out-of-wedlock child with one of his Númenórean warriors. He leads his people after joining Aragorn's host and is freed after the liberation of Pelargir.

References