Théoden

2008-09-25T01:25:47Z

71.113.145.73: /* Portrayal in Adaptations */

{{rohirrim infobox
| image=[[Image:Michael Kaluta - Theoden Espies the Serpent Banner.jpg|300px]]
| name=Théoden
| othernames=Ednew
| position=[[King of Rohan]]
| noinline=17 ([[Second Line]])
| birth=[[Third Age 2948|T.A. 2948]]
| rule=[[Third Age 2980|T.A. 2980]] - [[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]]
| death=[[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]]
| gender=Male
| description=Tall, braided white hair, bright eyes; long beard by [[War of the Ring]]
| parentage=[[Thengel]], [[Morwen Steelsheen|Morwen]]
| spouse=[[Elfhild]]
| children=[[Théodred]]
|}}
'''Théoden''' ([[Third Age]] 2948 – March 15, 3019, aged 71 years) was the seventeenth [[King of Rohan]], ruling for 39 years, from Third Age 2980 until his death. He was the last of the [[Second Line]].

==History==

===Early Life===

Théoden was the oldest son of [[Thengel]], and became king after the death of his father in [[Third Age]] 2980. Théoden spoke [[Sindarin]] and [[Westron]] rather than [[Rohirric]], and in his youth spent time in [[Gondor]].

His sister [[Théodwyn]] lived with him in [[Edoras]], and after she and her husband both died he adopted her children [[Éomer]] and [[Éowyn]] as his own. He had a son, [[Théodred]], whose mother [[Elfhild]] died in childbirth. In one of Tolkien's early drafts, Théoden also had a daughter by the name of Idis, but she was eventually removed when her character was eclipsed by that of Éowyn.

===War of the Ring===

By the time of the [[War of the Ring]], Théoden had been king for nearly 30 years, and was getting old and tired. He was increasingly misled by his chief advisor [[Gríma Wormtongue|Gríma]] (or ''Wormtongue'' as most others in the [[Mark]] called him), who was secretly in the employ of [[Saruman|Saruman the White]]; Gríma may even have been poisoning his lord. He also had a minstrel called [[Gleowine]].

In the last years before the War of the Ring, Théoden let his rule slip out of his hands, and Gríma became increasingly powerful. Rohan was troubled again by [[Orcs]] and [[Dunlendings]], who operated under the will of Saruman, ruling from [[Isengard]].

When Théodred was mortally wounded at a [[Battles of the Fords of Isen|Battle at the Fords of Isen]] with the Orcs of Saruman, his nephew Éomer became his heir. Éomer was out of favour with Wormtongue, however, and was eventually arrested.

When [[Gandalf the White]] and [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]] appeared before him, Théoden initially rebuffed Gandalf's advice to ride out against Saruman, but after being healed by the [[Wizards|Wizard]], he restored his nephew, took up his [[Herugrim|sword]], and led the [[Rohirrim|Riders of Rohan]] into [[Battle of the Hornburg|battle at Helm's Deep]]. After this he became known as '''Théoden Ednew''', the Renewed, because he had thrown off the yoke of Saruman.

He led the Rohirrim to the aid of Gondor at the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]. In that battle he challenged the [[Black Serpent]] of the [[Haradrim]], and slew him and his standard-bearer. The [[Witch-king of Angmar|Lord of the Nazgûl]] attacked him, and he was mortally wounded when his horse [[Snowmane]] fell upon him after being frightened by the Ringwraith's [[Fell beasts|Fell beast]]. He was immediately avenged by Éowyn and the [[Hobbit]] [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]], both of whom had ridden to war in secret. He claimed to Merry at his death on the field that he was satisfied, for he had felled the Black Serpent.

==Personality==

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==Etymology==

In Tolkien's fictional etymology, the name ''Théoden'' is a translation of the original Rohirric '''''Tûrac''''', an old word for King, showing influence from the [[Elvish]] stem ''tur-'' ("power/mastery"), also present in [[Turgon of Gondolin|Turgon]] and related names. The name is probably taken from the Anglo-Saxon word "þeoden", meaning "Lord". It is related to the Old Norse word ''þjóðann'', meaning "Leader of the People" (i.e. "King"). Théoden's sword was called ''Herugrim''.

== Portrayal in Adaptations ==
[[Image:Theoden from Rankin-Bass' Return of the King.jpg|thumb|left|Théoden as portrayed in [[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]]]]
[[Image:Théoden.jpeg|thumb|[[Bernard Hill]] as Théoden in [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]]]]
In [[Ralph Bakshi]]'s 1978 animated version of ''[[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings|The Lord of the Rings]]'', the voice of Théoden was provided by [[Philip Stone]]. Théoden also appears in [[Rankin/Bass]]'s attempt to complete the story left unfinished by Bakshi in their television adaptation of ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King|The Return of the King]]'', but does not speak; his death is narrated by [[John Huston]] as Gandalf.

In the 1981 BBC Radio 4 [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|version of ''The Lord of the Rings'']] , Théoden's death is described in song rather than dramatised conventionally, which tends to lessen its impact. In this adaption he is voiced by [[Jack May]] of ''The Archers'' fame.

[[Peter Jackson's The Two Towers]] (2002) film deviates from Tolkien's story by having Théoden (played by [[Bernard Hill]]) actually possessed by Saruman rather than simply deceived by Gríma. He then goes to [[Helm's Deep]] to take his people to safety rather than to make a stand against the enemy. In [[Peter Jackson's The Return of the King]] (2003), Théoden is aware of Éowyn's presence at his death, whereas in the book he says his farewells to Merry and does not know that Éowyn is also there. In general, his personality is changed from a "kindly old man" to that of a callous and somewhat obstinate character, though he has several tender moments at the grave of his son and near Éowyn. In [[Peter Jackson's The Return of the King]] (2003), Théoden refuses to come to the aid of Gondor saying that Gondor did not come to the aid of Rohan at Helm's Deep.

== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Théoden|Images of Théoden]]
{{sequence
|prev=[[Thengel]]
|next=[[Éomer]]
|list=17th [[King of Rohan]]<br><code>III</code> 2980 – 3019
}}

[[Category:Rohirrim]]
[[Category:Rulers of Rohan]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]

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Théoden