Erkenbrand

2009-09-02T07:56:08Z

83.189.63.147:

{{rohirrim infobox
| image=[[Image:Peter Jackson's Erkenbrand.jpg|250px]]
| name=Erkenbrand
| othernames=Lord of the Westfold, Master of the Westfold, Lord of the Deeping-coomb
| position=Marshal of the West-mark
| noinline=
| birth=
| rule=
| death=
| gender=Male
| description=
| parentage=
| spouse=
| children=
|}}
<center>{{quote|Amid them strode a man tall and strong. His shield was red. As he came to the valley's brink, he set to his lips a great black horn and blew a ringing blast. 'Erkenbrand!' the Riders shouted. 'Erkenbrand!'|''[[The Two Towers]]'', [[Helm's Deep (chapter)|Helm's Deep]]}}</center>
'''Erkenbrand''' was one of the [[Rohirrim]]. He was the Lord of the [[Westfold]] during the [[War of the Ring]]. He was the uncle of [[Dúnhere]].
==Life==
Erkenbrand was presumably born in the [[Hornburg]], and followed his father as the Lord of the Westfold. He became a valiant knight in the service of the [[Kings of Rohan|King of Rohan]], but nothing is told of the deeds of those times. He retired, and settled in the Hornburg.

When the shadow from [[Isengard]] began to grow, Erkenbrand strenthened the defenses of the Hornburg and the [[Deeping Wall]]. After the death of [[Théodred]] on [[February 25]], [[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]] in the [[First Battle of the Fords of Isen]], Erkenbrand took command of the western defenses of Rohan. He sent a messenger to [[Théoden]] in [[Edoras]] to inform him of the ill news and ask for reinforcements, but [[Gríma Wormtongue]] delayed the message.

[[Elfhelm]] eventually rode to the [[Fords of Isen]] with the men of Edoras, where they joined [[Grimbold|Grimbold of Grimslade]], who was left in charge of the Fords when Erkenbrand tried to send stragglers from the first battle to [[Helm's Deep]]. Erkenbrand had left around 1000 troopers under [[Gamling|Gamling the Old]] to guard his home.

On [[March 2]], the [[Second Battle of the Fords of Isen]] was fought, and the defenses on the [[Isen]] were driven back by [[Saruman]]'s forces. Erkenbrand had managed to gather around a thousand soldiers when they came across [[Gandalf]]. Gandalf told them Théoden sought the refuge of the Hornburg, and that they would join the battle. They arrived at dawn of [[March 4]], and turned the tide of the [[Battle of the Hornburg]].

Erkenbrand did not come to [[Minas Tirith (Gondor)|Minas Tirith]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]; instead, he stayed behind to guard Rohan. He was granted this command because of his age, experience and authority.

After the [[War of the Ring]], King [[Éomer]] named Erkenbrand [[Marshal of the West-mark]].

==Appearance==
Erkenbrand was said to have been tall and strong, and reminiscent of [[Helm Hammerhand]]. He bore a red shield and a black horn.

==Etymology==
Erkenbrand is a name that comes from two Old English words: ''Eorcan'' (meaning "precious") and ''Brand'' (meaning "sword").

==Portrayal in adaptations==
In both ''[[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]]'' and ''[[Peter Jackson's The Two Towers]]'', Erkenbrand's position is taken by [[Éomer]]. This is mainly because he would appear unintroduced, and the return of Éomer serves the films' climax better. Erkenbrand did appear on a [[Decipher Card]]. [[Weta]]'s Mike Grealish served as the character, wearing the armour of Théodred, which did not get much attention in the film.

==References==
* ''[[The Two Towers]]''
** [[Helm's Deep (chapter)|Helm's Deep]]
** [[The Road to Isengard]]
* ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', [[The Battles of the Fords of Isen]]
* ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]'' by [[Wayne G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull]]''

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

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Erkenbrand