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Rohan

2008-12-15T08:10:57Z

94.65.232.18: /* Inspiration */

{{Kingdom
| image=[[Image:Rohan.gif|250px]]
| name=Rohan
| type = Monarchy.
| headofstate = [[King of Rohan]].
| hidep=yes
| executive =
| legislative =
| judicial =
| capital = [[Edoras]].
| language = [[Westron]]/[[Rohirric]].
| location= North of the [[White Mountains]], South of [[Fangorn Forest]].
| populous= Mostly [[Men]] (the [[Rohirrim]]).
| currency =
| religious =
| holiday =
| anthem =
| formed = People of [[Éothéod]].
| established = [[Third Age]] 2510.
| reorganized =
| fragmented =
| dissolved =
| restored =
|}}
'''Rohan''' is the territory of the [[Rohirrim]], a people of herdsmen and some farmers on the northern borders of [[Gondor]] in [[Middle-earth]]. Well-known for their [[horses]] and cavalry, they are Gondor's most important ally.

== History ==
In the 1200s of the [[Third Age]] (T.A.), the Kings of Gondor made close alliances with the Northmen of [[Rhovanion]], a people akin to the [[Three Houses of the Edain]] (later the [[Dúnedain]]) from the [[First Age]].

In the 2000s, a remnant tribe of such Northmen calling itself the [[Éothéod]] moved from the valleys of [[Anduin]] to the north west of [[Mirkwood]], clearing out what remained of the recently defeated witch kingdom of [[Angmar]], east of the [[Misty Mountains]]. While there, some dispute arose between them and the dwarves over the treasure-hoard of [[Scatha]] the dragon.

Later, in 2509, [[Cirion]] the [[Steward of Gondor]] sent summons to the Éothéod for aid in stopping a combined invasion of Men from the north east of Middle-earth, and [[Orcs]] from the [[Misty Mountains]].

[[Eorl the Young]], king of the Éothéod, answered the summons, and arrived unexpectedly at a decisive battle at the Field of Celebrant.

As a reward, Eorl was given the plains of [[Calenardhon]], and he moved his people there. This land had earlier been part of Gondor proper, but had been devastated by the plague of 1636, and the survivors to a large extent slain in the invasion mentioned above.

The first line of kings lasted for 249 years, until the ninth king [[Helm Hammerhand]] died. His sons had been killed earlier, and his nephew [[Fréaláf Hildeson]] began the second line of kings, which lasted until the end of the Third Age.

In 2758, Rohan was invaded by [[Dunland|Dunlendings]] under Wulf, son of Freca, of mixed Dunland and Rohan blood. The King, Helm Hammerhand, took refuge in the Hornburg until reinforcements from Gondor and [[Dunharrow]] (a refuge of the Rohirrim) arrived a year later and defeated the invaders.

It was soon after this that [[Saruman]] arrived and took over [[Isengard]], and was welcomed as a strong ally, since it would take Rohan close to 200 years to recover its strength after the invasion.

In 3014, Saruman began using his influence to weaken the King, [[Théoden]], as part of a campaign to invade or take over the kingdom. In 3019, he launched a full-scale invasion of Rohan, with victories in the two first battles at the [[Fords of Isen]]; (Théoden's son, [[Théodred]] was killed during these attacks) and defeat at the [[Battle of the Hornburg]], where the [[Huorns]] came to the aid of the Rohirrim.

On the heels of this victory, [[Théoden]] rode with an army to [[Minas Tirith]] and helped break its siege in the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]], where he was slain. [[Éomer]], the nephew of King [[Théoden]], then succeeded to the throne, beginning the third line. [[Éomer]] rode with the armies of [[Gondor]] to the gates of Mordor and took part in the final battle with the forces of [[Sauron]], who was defeated when the [[One Ring|Ruling Ring]] was destroyed.

The rule of the stewards of Gondor was now over. King Éomer and the new king of Gondor, [[Elessar]] (Aragorn), renewed their oath of alliance, and reaffirmed Cirion's grant of Calenardhon to the Rohirrim.

===See also===
[[Timeline]]

== Description ==

===Important places and the borders of Rohan===
The capital of Rohan is the hill fort of [[Edoras]] which lies on the slopes of the [[White Mountains]]. Another large city is '''Aldburg''', capital city of the Eastfold and original city of Eorl the Young. Other cities must have existed but are not named.

A known recluse is [[Dunharrow]], even deeper in the White Mountains. One of the most impressive places in Rohan is the [[Hornburg]], a great fortress which is part of a chain of fortifications at [[Helm's Deep]].

The borders of Rohan are: the river [[Isen]] (in the west, bordering [[Saruman]]'s [[Isengard]]); the river [[Adorn]] (a tributary of Isen, also in the west, forming the border with the unfriendly [[Dunlendings]]); the White Mountains (in the south); the Mering Stream (in the southeast, the border between Rohan and Gondor); the Mouths of [[Entwash]] (in the east); and the [[Limlight]] (a tributary of the [[Anduin]], the northern border).

At the time of the War of the Ring, Rohan was roughly a third the size of Gondor, whose borders had slowly been shrinking for decades.

===Climate and countryside===
The countryside of Rohan is described as a land of pastures and lush tall grassland. It looks a lot like the Central Asian steppe or North American Great Plains, and its climate was also similar to these places. The lands of Rohan are frequently described as appearing like "seas of grass".

===The [[Rohirrim]] and their [[horses]]===
The Rohirrim are descendants of the [[Edain]] of the [[First Age]]. They did not go to [[Beleriand]] like the Edain who were later rewarded with the island of [[Númenor]] by the [[Valar]]. The ancestors of the Rohirrim were known as the [[Éothéod]] and were given the province of Calenardhon by Gondor after the afore-mentioned Battle of the Field of Celebrant.

The Rohirrim are famous as skilled horsemen, masters and breeders. Among the horses of the Rohirrim are the famed [[Mearas]], the noblest and fastest horses who have ever roamed [[Arda]]; [[Shadowfax]] was the greatest of all Mearas. There were very few Mearas left in Middle-earth at this point, but there were enough that a breeding population was present. The armies of Rohan are almost exclusively cavalry, divided into irregular units termed [[éoreds]]. Rohan's armies were more of a very well trained militia called upon in times of war, with the actual standing army relatively small. The professional career-soldiers of Rohan may have been limited to the royal bodyguard at Edoras.

It was because of this close affiliation with horses, both in war and peace, that they received their now famous name. ''Rohirrim'' (or more properly ''Rochirrim'') is [[Sindarin]] for "Horse-lords," and ''Rohan'' (or ''Rochand'') meant "Land of the Horse-lords." These names were devised by Hallas, son of Cirion the Steward.

===Rohirric===
Rohirric is, like the languages of all [[Men]], akin to [[Adûnaic]], the language of the Edain. The Rohirrim call their homeland the ''Ridenna-mearc'', the ''Riddermark'' or ''Éo-marc'', the ''Horse-mark'', also simply the ''Mark'' and call themselves the ''Eorlingas'', the Sons of [[Eorl the Young|Eorl]].
In the original Rohirric the name for their land is ''Lôgrad'', with the element "lô-"/"loh-" corresponding to Anglo-Saxon "éo", horse.

Rohirric bears a similar relationship to the Common Speech of Middle-earth as that of Old English to modern English, and so Tolkien renders Rohirric names and phrases into Old English (Anglo-Saxon), just as the Common Speech is translated into English. Examples include words such as ''Mearas'' (Old English for horses) and ''éored''. Tolkien was a philologist, with a special interest in Germanic languages.

Many archaic [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] names bear similarities to Rohirric, since the ancestors of [[The Shire]] hobbits lived on the upper reaches of the [[Anduin]], close to the ancestors of the Rohirrim, and there was apparently a good deal of linguistic cross-fertilisation. The name ''Hobbit'' itself is believed to be derived from the Rohirric ''Holbytlan'' (hole builders). These names are also translations of the original Westron ''Kuduk'' (Hobbit) and Rohirric ''kûd-dûkan'' (hole dweller), of course.

== Politics ==

===Alliance with Gondor===
The alliance between Rohan and Gondor came into existence in the year 2510 of the [[Third Age]]. In that year the [[Easterlings]] launched a massive invasion of Gondor. The army of Gondor was defeated and trapped between the Limlight and the [[Celebrant]]. Gondor, which had always been on friendly terms with the different tribes of the [[Northmen]], sent messengers to the closest tribe, the [[Éothéod]]. Although it was unlikely that the message calling for aid would come through, it did. Then [[Eorl the Young]] and his fierce Éothéod Riders unexpectedly took the field during the Battle of Celebrant and turned the tide in the favour of Gondor. As a reward [[Cirion]], the [[Steward of Gondor]], gave Eorl the depopulated province of Calenardhon for his people to settle, while fulfilling Gondor's need for a strong ally. The [[Oath of Eorl]] was sworn by both Cirion and Eorl. Neither nation has ever broken the alliance ever since. Rohan has gone through great lengths to fulfil their part of the treaty including sacrificing two of its heirs when Gondor was under threat from the [[Haradrim]] in 2885, when [[Fastred, son of Folcwine|Fastred]] and [[Folcred]], the twin sons of King [[Folcwine]], were killed during the Battle of Crossings of [[Poros]]. King [[Théoden]] once again honoured the alliance in the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]].

===War with the Dunlendings===
To the west of Rohan lived the [[Dunlendings]], a native people who had been hostile against the Free Peoples for a long time. The Dunlending [[Wulf]] briefly usurped of the throne of Rohan during the long winter.

===Rumours of tributes paid to Sauron===
During the early days of the [[War of the Ring]], rumours were spread that the Rohirrim supplied Sauron's armies with horses. These rumours were obviously false: the Rohirrim valued their horses more than anything, and would never send them away, even as tribute. Still these rumours had some effect, in that they obscured the fact it was Saruman who had fallen, rather than Rohan. The basis of the rumour was that Sauron's [[Orcs]] on raids into Rohan stole their horses for use in Mordor's army, but this was outright theft that angered the Rohirrim against Sauron.

===Wormtongue===

When king Théoden began to grow old, he took as an advisor [[Gríma Wormtongue|Gríma]], later called ''Wormtongue''. Gríma quickly became Théoden's chief advisor, but unknown to all he was secretly working for Saruman. Gríma played on Théoden's fears to further weaken the strength of the king and all of Rohan, always advising retreat where an attack was needed. He may have also begun poisoning the king at this time. This nearly proved disastrous for Rohan, and also for Gondor, by robbing them of their strongest ally in the north. Gríma Wormtongue's plans were not revealed until [[Gandalf]] arrived in Edoras during the War of the Ring.

== Important Rohirrim ==

* [[Eorl the Young]]
* [[Helm Hammerhand]]
* [[Théoden]]
* [[Théodred]]
* [[Éomer]]
* [[Éowyn]]
* [[Gríma Wormtongue]]
* Various participants in the final wars

==Other versions of the legendarium==
Conceptualized as the "Horse kings of Rohan" allied with [[Mordor]] in early drafts of [[1939]], the Rohirrim took their final form in 1942 when the text of the Lord of the Rings was completed to about one third.

==Inspiration==
[[Image:WAR-ICONS Rohan.jpg|thumb|left|150px]]
Several aspects of Rohan's culture and history seem to be inspired by both Goths, Scandinavians and the medieval Anglo-Saxons.

Just like the Germanic Ostrogoths, Rohanese culture was a mounted culture. It had separated from the [[Northmen]], moved south, and had settled in close proximity with a civilization. In the Goths' case it was the Byzantine Empire and in the case of the Rohirrim, it was Gondor.

Especially Hervarar saga, with its [[Mirkwood]], Gothic horsemen and shieldmaidens, appears to have inspired Tolkien when creating the Rohirrim, although he exchanged the Gothic tongue with the Anglo-Saxon.

The name Rohan is a pun on the [[Wikipedia:Rohan (house)|house of Rohan]], whose founder was named Conan Meriadoc (Meriadoc being the Hobbit with closest ties to the kingdom). The British family of Rohan was traditionally seen as founders of an "exodus" kingdom (like Rohan in the book), namely the British settlement of Brittany.
===Language===
Tolkien rendered Rohirric as Old English, but also included Scandinavian names, such as [[Westfold]]. Even words and phrases that were printed in Modern English showed a strong Anglo-Saxon influence. Old English was supposed to render an archaic form of [[Westron]], which was supposedly rendered by Modern English. This solution occurred to Tolkien in 1942, when he was searching for an explanation of the Eddaic name of the dwarves already published in [[The Hobbit]].

Rohirric nouns were pluralized with the suffix "-as", as were Old English nouns of the strong-masculine declension.

The Rohirrim used the Germanic patronymic "-ing". They called themselves the '''[[Eorlingas]]''', and [[Beorn]]'s people were the '''[[Beornings]]''', Scyld's people were the Scyldingas in Norse and Anglo-Saxon mythology.

[[Théoden]] was referred to as "Théoden King", rather than "King Théoden", just as Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon kings had the word "konungr"/"cyning" ("king") added after their names, e.g. ''Hervarðar konungr'', rather than before.

Many Rohirric names appear to be derived from Old English words. These include:

* '''Éothéod:''' from "eoh" ("war-horse") and "þeod" ("folk", "people", "nation")
* '''Gríma:''' possibly from "grima" ("mask", "helmet", "ghost")
* '''Eorl:''' from "eorl" ("nobleman")
* '''Théodred:''' from "þeod" ("folk", "people", "nation") and "ræd" ("counsel")

The antipathy between the Rohirrim and the [[Dunlendings]] resembles the historical tension between the Anglo-Saxon settlers of Britain and the native Celts.
[[Category:Realms]]
[[Category:Regions]]
[[Category:Rohan]]

Rohan

2008-12-15T07:54:17Z

94.65.232.18:

{{Kingdom
| image=[[Image:Rohan.gif|250px]]
| name=Rohan
| type = Monarchy.
| headofstate = [[King of Rohan]].
| hidep=yes
| executive =
| legislative =
| judicial =
| capital = [[Edoras]].
| language = [[Westron]]/[[Rohirric]].
| location= North of the [[White Mountains]], South of [[Fangorn Forest]].
| populous= Mostly [[Men]] (the [[Rohirrim]]).
| currency =
| religious =
| holiday =
| anthem =
| formed = People of [[Éothéod]].
| established = [[Third Age]] 2510.
| reorganized =
| fragmented =
| dissolved =
| restored =
|}}
'''Rohan''' is the territory of the [[Rohirrim]], a people of herdsmen and some farmers on the northern borders of [[Gondor]] in [[Middle-earth]]. Well-known for their [[horses]] and cavalry, they are Gondor's most important ally.

== History ==
In the 1200s of the [[Third Age]] (T.A.), the Kings of Gondor made close alliances with the Northmen of [[Rhovanion]], a people akin to the [[Three Houses of the Edain]] (later the [[Dúnedain]]) from the [[First Age]].

In the 2000s, a remnant tribe of such Northmen calling itself the [[Éothéod]] moved from the valleys of [[Anduin]] to the north west of [[Mirkwood]], clearing out what remained of the recently defeated witch kingdom of [[Angmar]], east of the [[Misty Mountains]]. While there, some dispute arose between them and the dwarves over the treasure-hoard of [[Scatha]] the dragon.

Later, in 2509, [[Cirion]] the [[Steward of Gondor]] sent summons to the Éothéod for aid in stopping a combined invasion of Men from the north east of Middle-earth, and [[Orcs]] from the [[Misty Mountains]].

[[Eorl the Young]], king of the Éothéod, answered the summons, and arrived unexpectedly at a decisive battle at the Field of Celebrant.

As a reward, Eorl was given the plains of [[Calenardhon]], and he moved his people there. This land had earlier been part of Gondor proper, but had been devastated by the plague of 1636, and the survivors to a large extent slain in the invasion mentioned above.

The first line of kings lasted for 249 years, until the ninth king [[Helm Hammerhand]] died. His sons had been killed earlier, and his nephew [[Fréaláf Hildeson]] began the second line of kings, which lasted until the end of the Third Age.

In 2758, Rohan was invaded by [[Dunland|Dunlendings]] under Wulf, son of Freca, of mixed Dunland and Rohan blood. The King, Helm Hammerhand, took refuge in the Hornburg until reinforcements from Gondor and [[Dunharrow]] (a refuge of the Rohirrim) arrived a year later and defeated the invaders.

It was soon after this that [[Saruman]] arrived and took over [[Isengard]], and was welcomed as a strong ally, since it would take Rohan close to 200 years to recover its strength after the invasion.

In 3014, Saruman began using his influence to weaken the King, [[Théoden]], as part of a campaign to invade or take over the kingdom. In 3019, he launched a full-scale invasion of Rohan, with victories in the two first battles at the [[Fords of Isen]]; (Théoden's son, [[Théodred]] was killed during these attacks) and defeat at the [[Battle of the Hornburg]], where the [[Huorns]] came to the aid of the Rohirrim.

On the heels of this victory, [[Théoden]] rode with an army to [[Minas Tirith]] and helped break its siege in the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]], where he was slain. [[Éomer]], the nephew of King [[Théoden]], then succeeded to the throne, beginning the third line. [[Éomer]] rode with the armies of [[Gondor]] to the gates of Mordor and took part in the final battle with the forces of [[Sauron]], who was defeated when the [[One Ring|Ruling Ring]] was destroyed.

The rule of the stewards of Gondor was now over. King Éomer and the new king of Gondor, [[Elessar]] (Aragorn), renewed their oath of alliance, and reaffirmed Cirion's grant of Calenardhon to the Rohirrim.

===See also===
[[Timeline]]

== Description ==

===Important places and the borders of Rohan===
The capital of Rohan is the hill fort of [[Edoras]] which lies on the slopes of the [[White Mountains]]. Another large city is '''Aldburg''', capital city of the Eastfold and original city of Eorl the Young. Other cities must have existed but are not named.

A known recluse is [[Dunharrow]], even deeper in the White Mountains. One of the most impressive places in Rohan is the [[Hornburg]], a great fortress which is part of a chain of fortifications at [[Helm's Deep]].

The borders of Rohan are: the river [[Isen]] (in the west, bordering [[Saruman]]'s [[Isengard]]); the river [[Adorn]] (a tributary of Isen, also in the west, forming the border with the unfriendly [[Dunlendings]]); the White Mountains (in the south); the Mering Stream (in the southeast, the border between Rohan and Gondor); the Mouths of [[Entwash]] (in the east); and the [[Limlight]] (a tributary of the [[Anduin]], the northern border).

At the time of the War of the Ring, Rohan was roughly a third the size of Gondor, whose borders had slowly been shrinking for decades.

===Climate and countryside===
The countryside of Rohan is described as a land of pastures and lush tall grassland. It looks a lot like the Central Asian steppe or North American Great Plains, and its climate was also similar to these places. The lands of Rohan are frequently described as appearing like "seas of grass".

===The [[Rohirrim]] and their [[horses]]===
The Rohirrim are descendants of the [[Edain]] of the [[First Age]]. They did not go to [[Beleriand]] like the Edain who were later rewarded with the island of [[Númenor]] by the [[Valar]]. The ancestors of the Rohirrim were known as the [[Éothéod]] and were given the province of Calenardhon by Gondor after the afore-mentioned Battle of the Field of Celebrant.

The Rohirrim are famous as skilled horsemen, masters and breeders. Among the horses of the Rohirrim are the famed [[Mearas]], the noblest and fastest horses who have ever roamed [[Arda]]; [[Shadowfax]] was the greatest of all Mearas. There were very few Mearas left in Middle-earth at this point, but there were enough that a breeding population was present. The armies of Rohan are almost exclusively cavalry, divided into irregular units termed [[éoreds]]. Rohan's armies were more of a very well trained militia called upon in times of war, with the actual standing army relatively small. The professional career-soldiers of Rohan may have been limited to the royal bodyguard at Edoras.

It was because of this close affiliation with horses, both in war and peace, that they received their now famous name. ''Rohirrim'' (or more properly ''Rochirrim'') is [[Sindarin]] for "Horse-lords," and ''Rohan'' (or ''Rochand'') meant "Land of the Horse-lords." These names were devised by Hallas, son of Cirion the Steward.

===Rohirric===
Rohirric is, like the languages of all [[Men]], akin to [[Adûnaic]], the language of the Edain. The Rohirrim call their homeland the ''Ridenna-mearc'', the ''Riddermark'' or ''Éo-marc'', the ''Horse-mark'', also simply the ''Mark'' and call themselves the ''Eorlingas'', the Sons of [[Eorl the Young|Eorl]].
In the original Rohirric the name for their land is ''Lôgrad'', with the element "lô-"/"loh-" corresponding to Anglo-Saxon "éo", horse.

Rohirric bears a similar relationship to the Common Speech of Middle-earth as that of Old English to modern English, and so Tolkien renders Rohirric names and phrases into Old English (Anglo-Saxon), just as the Common Speech is translated into English. Examples include words such as ''Mearas'' (Old English for horses) and ''éored''. Tolkien was a philologist, with a special interest in Germanic languages.

Many archaic [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] names bear similarities to Rohirric, since the ancestors of [[The Shire]] hobbits lived on the upper reaches of the [[Anduin]], close to the ancestors of the Rohirrim, and there was apparently a good deal of linguistic cross-fertilisation. The name ''Hobbit'' itself is believed to be derived from the Rohirric ''Holbytlan'' (hole builders). These names are also translations of the original Westron ''Kuduk'' (Hobbit) and Rohirric ''kûd-dûkan'' (hole dweller), of course.

== Politics ==

===Alliance with Gondor===
The alliance between Rohan and Gondor came into existence in the year 2510 of the [[Third Age]]. In that year the [[Easterlings]] launched a massive invasion of Gondor. The army of Gondor was defeated and trapped between the Limlight and the [[Celebrant]]. Gondor, which had always been on friendly terms with the different tribes of the [[Northmen]], sent messengers to the closest tribe, the [[Éothéod]]. Although it was unlikely that the message calling for aid would come through, it did. Then [[Eorl the Young]] and his fierce Éothéod Riders unexpectedly took the field during the Battle of Celebrant and turned the tide in the favour of Gondor. As a reward [[Cirion]], the [[Steward of Gondor]], gave Eorl the depopulated province of Calenardhon for his people to settle, while fulfilling Gondor's need for a strong ally. The [[Oath of Eorl]] was sworn by both Cirion and Eorl. Neither nation has ever broken the alliance ever since. Rohan has gone through great lengths to fulfil their part of the treaty including sacrificing two of its heirs when Gondor was under threat from the [[Haradrim]] in 2885, when [[Fastred, son of Folcwine|Fastred]] and [[Folcred]], the twin sons of King [[Folcwine]], were killed during the Battle of Crossings of [[Poros]]. King [[Théoden]] once again honoured the alliance in the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]].

===War with the Dunlendings===
To the west of Rohan lived the [[Dunlendings]], a native people who had been hostile against the Free Peoples for a long time. The Dunlending [[Wulf]] briefly usurped of the throne of Rohan during the long winter.

===Rumours of tributes paid to Sauron===
During the early days of the [[War of the Ring]], rumours were spread that the Rohirrim supplied Sauron's armies with horses. These rumours were obviously false: the Rohirrim valued their horses more than anything, and would never send them away, even as tribute. Still these rumours had some effect, in that they obscured the fact it was Saruman who had fallen, rather than Rohan. The basis of the rumour was that Sauron's [[Orcs]] on raids into Rohan stole their horses for use in Mordor's army, but this was outright theft that angered the Rohirrim against Sauron.

===Wormtongue===

When king Théoden began to grow old, he took as an advisor [[Gríma Wormtongue|Gríma]], later called ''Wormtongue''. Gríma quickly became Théoden's chief advisor, but unknown to all he was secretly working for Saruman. Gríma played on Théoden's fears to further weaken the strength of the king and all of Rohan, always advising retreat where an attack was needed. He may have also begun poisoning the king at this time. This nearly proved disastrous for Rohan, and also for Gondor, by robbing them of their strongest ally in the north. Gríma Wormtongue's plans were not revealed until [[Gandalf]] arrived in Edoras during the War of the Ring.

== Important Rohirrim ==

* [[Eorl the Young]]
* [[Helm Hammerhand]]
* [[Théoden]]
* [[Théodred]]
* [[Éomer]]
* [[Éowyn]]
* [[Gríma Wormtongue]]
* Various participants in the final wars

==Other versions of the legendarium==
Conceptualized as the "Horse kings of Rohan" allied with [[Mordor]] in early drafts of [[1939]], the Rohirrim took their final form in 1942 when the text of the Lord of the Rings was completed to about one third.

==Inspiration==
[[Image:WAR-ICONS Rohan.jpg|thumb|left|150px]]
Several aspects of Rohan's culture and history seem to be inspired by both Goths, Scandinavians and the medieval Anglo-Saxons.

Just like the Germanic Ostrogoths, Rohanese culture was a mounted culture. It had separated from the [[Northmen]], moved south, and had settled in close proximity with a civilization. In the Goths' case it was the Byzantine Empire and in the case of the Rohirrim, it was Gondor.

Especially Hervarar saga, with its [[Mirkwood]], Gothic horsemen and shieldmaidens, appears to have inspired Tolkien when creating the Rohirrim, although he exchanged the Gothic tongue with the Anglo-Saxon.

===Language===
Tolkien rendered Rohirric as Old English, but also included Scandinavian names, such as [[Westfold]]. Even words and phrases that were printed in Modern English showed a strong Anglo-Saxon influence. Old English was supposed to render an archaic form of [[Westron]], which was supposedly rendered by Modern English. This solution occurred to Tolkien in 1942, when he was searching for an explanation of the Eddaic name of the dwarves already published in [[The Hobbit]].

Rohirric nouns were pluralized with the suffix "-as", as were Old English nouns of the strong-masculine declension.

The Rohirrim used the Germanic patronymic "-ing". They called themselves the '''[[Eorlingas]]''', and [[Beorn]]'s people were the '''[[Beornings]]''', Scyld's people were the Scyldingas in Norse and Anglo-Saxon mythology.

[[Théoden]] was referred to as "Théoden King", rather than "King Théoden", just as Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon kings had the word "konungr"/"cyning" ("king") added after their names, e.g. ''Hervarðar konungr'', rather than before.

Many Rohirric names appear to be derived from Old English words. These include:

* '''Éothéod:''' from "eoh" ("war-horse") and "þeod" ("folk", "people", "nation")
* '''Gríma:''' possibly from "grima" ("mask", "helmet", "ghost")
* '''Eorl:''' from "eorl" ("nobleman")
* '''Théodred:''' from "þeod" ("folk", "people", "nation") and "ræd" ("counsel")

The antipathy between the Rohirrim and the [[Dunlendings]] resembles the historical tension between the Anglo-Saxon settlers of Britain and the native Celts.
[[Category:Realms]]
[[Category:Regions]]
[[Category:Rohan]]

Rohan

2008-12-15T07:51:53Z

94.65.232.18:

{{Kingdom
| image=[[Image:Rohan.gif|250px]]
| name=Rohan
| type = Monarchy.
| headofstate = [[King of Rohan]].
| hidep=yes
| executive =
| legislative =
| judicial =
| capital = [[Edoras]].
| language = [[Westron]]/[[Rohirric]].
| location= North of the [[White Mountains]], South of [[Fangorn Forest]].
| populous= Mostly [[Men]] (the [[Rohirrim]]).
| currency =
| religious =
| holiday =
| anthem =
| formed = People of [[Éothéod]].
| established = [[Third Age]] 2510.
| reorganized =
| fragmented =
| dissolved =
| restored =
|}}
'''Rohan''' is the territory of the [[Rohirrim]], a people of herdsmen and some farmers on the northern borders of [[Gondor]] in [[Middle-earth]]. Well-known for their [[horses]] and cavalry, they are Gondor's most important ally.

== History ==
In the 1200s of the [[Third Age]] (T.A.), the Kings of Gondor made close alliances with the Northmen of [[Rhovanion]], a people akin to the [[Three Houses of the Edain]] (later the [[Dúnedain]]) from the [[First Age]].

In the 2000s, a remnant tribe of such Northmen calling itself the [[Éothéod]] moved from the valleys of [[Anduin]] to the north west of [[Mirkwood]], clearing out what remained of the recently defeated witch kingdom of [[Angmar]], east of the [[Misty Mountains]]. While there, some dispute arose between them and the dwarves over the treasure-hoard of [[Scatha]] the dragon.

Later, in 2509, [[Cirion]] the [[Steward of Gondor]] sent summons to the Éothéod for aid in stopping a combined invasion of Men from the north east of Middle-earth, and [[Orcs]] from the [[Misty Mountains]].

[[Eorl the Young]], king of the Éothéod, answered the summons, and arrived unexpectedly at a decisive battle at the Field of Celebrant.

As a reward, Eorl was given the plains of [[Calenardhon]], and he moved his people there. This land had earlier been part of Gondor proper, but had been devastated by the plague of 1636, and the survivors to a large extent slain in the invasion mentioned above.

The first line of kings lasted for 249 years, until the ninth king [[Helm Hammerhand]] died. His sons had been killed earlier, and his nephew [[Fréaláf Hildeson]] began the second line of kings, which lasted until the end of the Third Age.

In 2758, Rohan was invaded by [[Dunland|Dunlendings]] under Wulf, son of Freca, of mixed Dunland and Rohan blood. The King, Helm Hammerhand, took refuge in the Hornburg until reinforcements from Gondor and [[Dunharrow]] (a refuge of the Rohirrim) arrived a year later and defeated the invaders.

It was soon after this that [[Saruman]] arrived and took over [[Isengard]], and was welcomed as a strong ally, since it would take Rohan close to 200 years to recover its strength after the invasion.

In 3014, Saruman began using his influence to weaken the King, [[Théoden]], as part of a campaign to invade or take over the kingdom. In 3019, he launched a full-scale invasion of Rohan, with victories in the two first battles at the [[Fords of Isen]]; (Théoden's son, [[Théodred]] was killed during these attacks) and defeat at the [[Battle of the Hornburg]], where the [[Huorns]] came to the aid of the Rohirrim.

On the heels of this victory, [[Théoden]] rode with an army to [[Minas Tirith]] and helped break its siege in the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]], where he was slain. [[Éomer]], the nephew of King [[Théoden]], then succeeded to the throne, beginning the third line. [[Éomer]] rode with the armies of [[Gondor]] to the gates of Mordor and took part in the final battle with the forces of [[Sauron]], who was defeated when the [[One Ring|Ruling Ring]] was destroyed.

The rule of the stewards of Gondor was now over. King Éomer and the new king of Gondor, [[Elessar]] (Aragorn), renewed their oath of alliance, and reaffirmed Cirion's grant of Calenardhon to the Rohirrim.

===See also===
[[Timeline]]

== Description ==

===Important places and the borders of Rohan===
The capital of Rohan is the hill fort of [[Edoras]] which lies on the slopes of the [[White Mountains]]. Another large city is '''Aldburg''', capital city of the Eastfold and original city of Eorl the Young. Other cities must have existed but are not named.

A known recluse is [[Dunharrow]], even deeper in the White Mountains. One of the most impressive places in Rohan is the [[Hornburg]], a great fortress which is part of a chain of fortifications at [[Helm's Deep]].

The borders of Rohan are: the river [[Isen]] (in the west, bordering [[Saruman]]'s [[Isengard]]); the river [[Adorn]] (a tributary of Isen, also in the west, forming the border with the unfriendly [[Dunlendings]]); the White Mountains (in the south); the Mering Stream (in the southeast, the border between Rohan and Gondor); the Mouths of [[Entwash]] (in the east); and the [[Limlight]] (a tributary of the [[Anduin]], the northern border).

At the time of the War of the Ring, Rohan was roughly a third the size of Gondor, whose borders had slowly been shrinking for decades.

===Climate and countryside===
The countryside of Rohan is described as a land of pastures and lush tall grassland. It looks a lot like the Central Asian steppe or North American Great Plains, and its climate was also similar to these places. The lands of Rohan are frequently described as appearing like "seas of grass".

===The [[Rohirrim]] and their [[horses]]===
The Rohirrim are descendants of the [[Edain]] of the [[First Age]]. They did not go to [[Beleriand]] like the Edain who were later rewarded with the island of [[Númenor]] by the [[Valar]]. The ancestors of the Rohirrim were known as the [[Éothéod]] and were given the province of Calenardhon by Gondor after the afore-mentioned Battle of the Field of Celebrant.

The Rohirrim are famous as skilled horsemen, masters and breeders. Among the horses of the Rohirrim are the famed [[Mearas]], the noblest and fastest horses who have ever roamed [[Arda]]; [[Shadowfax]] was the greatest of all Mearas. There were very few Mearas left in Middle-earth at this point, but there were enough that a breeding population was present. The armies of Rohan are almost exclusively cavalry, divided into irregular units termed [[éoreds]]. Rohan's armies were more of a very well trained militia called upon in times of war, with the actual standing army relatively small. The professional career-soldiers of Rohan may have been limited to the royal bodyguard at Edoras.

It was because of this close affiliation with horses, both in war and peace, that they received their now famous name. ''Rohirrim'' (or more properly ''Rochirrim'') is [[Sindarin]] for "Horse-lords," and ''Rohan'' (or ''Rochand'') meant "Land of the Horse-lords." These names were devised by Hallas, son of Cirion the Steward.

===Rohirric===
Rohirric is, like the languages of all [[Men]], akin to [[Adûnaic]], the language of the Edain. The Rohirrim call their homeland the ''Ridenna-mearc'', the ''Riddermark'' or ''Éo-marc'', the ''Horse-mark'', also simply the ''Mark'' and call themselves the ''Eorlingas'', the Sons of [[Eorl the Young|Eorl]].
In the original Rohirric the name for their land is ''Lôgrad'', with the element "lô-"/"loh-" corresponding to Anglo-Saxon "éo", horse.

Rohirric bears a similar relationship to the Common Speech of Middle-earth as that of Old English to modern English, and so Tolkien renders Rohirric names and phrases into Old English (Anglo-Saxon), just as the Common Speech is translated into English. Examples include words such as ''Mearas'' (Old English for horses) and ''éored''. Tolkien was a philologist, with a special interest in Germanic languages.

Many archaic [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] names bear similarities to Rohirric, since the ancestors of [[The Shire]] hobbits lived on the upper reaches of the [[Anduin]], close to the ancestors of the Rohirrim, and there was apparently a good deal of linguistic cross-fertilisation. The name ''Hobbit'' itself is believed to be derived from the Rohirric ''Holbytlan'' (hole builders). These names are also translations of the original Westron ''Kuduk'' (Hobbit) and Rohirric ''kûd-dûkan'' (hole dweller), of course.

== Politics ==

===Alliance with Gondor===
The alliance between Rohan and Gondor came into existence in the year 2510 of the [[Third Age]]. In that year the [[Easterlings]] launched a massive invasion of Gondor. The army of Gondor was defeated and trapped between the Limlight and the [[Celebrant]]. Gondor, which had always been on friendly terms with the different tribes of the [[Northmen]], sent messengers to the closest tribe, the [[Éothéod]]. Although it was unlikely that the message calling for aid would come through, it did. Then [[Eorl the Young]] and his fierce Éothéod Riders unexpectedly took the field during the Battle of Celebrant and turned the tide in the favour of Gondor. As a reward [[Cirion]], the [[Steward of Gondor]], gave Eorl the depopulated province of Calenardhon for his people to settle, while fulfilling Gondor's need for a strong ally. The [[Oath of Eorl]] was sworn by both Cirion and Eorl. Neither nation has ever broken the alliance ever since. Rohan has gone through great lengths to fulfil their part of the treaty including sacrificing two of its heirs when Gondor was under threat from the [[Haradrim]] in 2885, when [[Fastred, son of Folcwine|Fastred]] and [[Folcred]], the twin sons of King [[Folcwine]], were killed during the Battle of Crossings of [[Poros]]. King [[Théoden]] once again honoured the alliance in the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]].

===War with the Dunlendings===
To the west of Rohan lived the [[Dunlendings]], a native people who had been hostile against the Free Peoples for a long time. The Dunlending [[Wulf]] briefly usurped of the throne of Rohan during the long winter.

===Rumours of tributes paid to Sauron===
During the early days of the [[War of the Ring]], rumours were spread that the Rohirrim supplied Sauron's armies with horses. These rumours were obviously false: the Rohirrim valued their horses more than anything, and would never send them away, even as tribute. Still these rumours had some effect, in that they obscured the fact it was Saruman who had fallen, rather than Rohan. The basis of the rumour was that Sauron's [[Orcs]] on raids into Rohan stole their horses for use in Mordor's army, but this was outright theft that angered the Rohirrim against Sauron.

===Wormtongue===

When king Théoden began to grow old, he took as an advisor [[Gríma Wormtongue|Gríma]], later called ''Wormtongue''. Gríma quickly became Théoden's chief advisor, but unknown to all he was secretly working for Saruman. Gríma played on Théoden's fears to further weaken the strength of the king and all of Rohan, always advising retreat where an attack was needed. He may have also begun poisoning the king at this time. This nearly proved disastrous for Rohan, and also for Gondor, by robbing them of their strongest ally in the north. Gríma Wormtongue's plans were not revealed until [[Gandalf]] arrived in Edoras during the War of the Ring.

== Important Rohirrim ==

* [[Eorl the Young]]
* [[Helm Hammerhand]]
* [[Théoden]]
* [[Théodred]]
* [[Éomer]]
* [[Éowyn]]
* [[Gríma Wormtongue]]
* Various participants in the final wars

==Other versions of the legendarium==
Conceptualized as the "Horse kings of Rohan" allied with [[Mordor]] in early drafts of [[1939]], the Rohirrim took their final form in 1942 when the text of the Lord of the Rings was completed to about one third.

==Inspiration==
[[Image:WAR-ICONS Rohan.jpg|thumb|left|150px]]
Several aspects of Rohan's culture and history seem to be inspired by both Goths, Scandinavians and the medieval Anglo-Saxons.

Just like the Germanic Ostrogoths, Rohirric culture was a mounted culture. It had separated from the [[Northmen]], moved south, and had settled in close proximity with a civilization. In the Goths' case it was the Byzantine Empire and in the case of the Rohirrim, it was Gondor.

Especially Hervarar saga, with its [[Mirkwood]], Gothic horsemen and shieldmaidens, appears to have inspired Tolkien when creating the Rohirrim, although he exchanged the Gothic tongue with the Anglo-Saxon.

===Language===
Tolkien rendered Rohirric as Old English, but also included Scandinavian names, such as [[Westfold]]. Even words and phrases that were printed in Modern English showed a strong Anglo-Saxon influence. Old English was supposed to render an archaic form of [[Westron]], which was supposedly rendered by Modern English. This solution occurred to Tolkien in 1942, when he was searching for an explanation of the Eddaic name of the dwarves already published in [[The Hobbit]].

Rohirric nouns were pluralized with the suffix "-as", as were Old English nouns of the strong-masculine declension.

The Rohirrim used the Germanic patronymic "-ing". They called themselves the '''[[Eorlingas]]''', and [[Beorn]]'s people were the '''[[Beornings]]''', Scyld's people were the Scyldingas in Norse and Anglo-Saxon mythology.

[[Théoden]] was referred to as "Théoden King", rather than "King Théoden", just as Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon kings had the word "konungr"/"cyning" ("king") added after their names, e.g. ''Hervarðar konungr'', rather than before.

Many Rohirric names appear to be derived from Old English words. These include:

* '''Éothéod:''' from "eoh" ("war-horse") and "þeod" ("folk", "people", "nation")
* '''Gríma:''' possibly from "grima" ("mask", "helmet", "ghost")
* '''Eorl:''' from "eorl" ("nobleman")
* '''Théodred:''' from "þeod" ("folk", "people", "nation") and "ræd" ("counsel")

The antipathy between the Rohirrim and the [[Dunlendings]] resembles the historical tension between the Anglo-Saxon settlers of Britain and the native Celts.
[[Category:Realms]]
[[Category:Regions]]
[[Category:Rohan]]

White Horse

2008-12-15T07:46:41Z

94.65.232.18: /* Inspiration */

The emblem of the land of [[Rohan]] and its Kings: a white horse shown upon a field of green. It was emblazoned on many of the arms of the [[Rohirrim]], as shown, for example, by the shield given to [[Merry Brandybuck]] by [[Éowyn]], which bore the mark of the horse. As the royal banner of Rohan, it was borne to many battles. [[Théoden]] rode under it to the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]], and it was flown by [[Éomer]] before the [[Gates of Mordor]] itself. Even after the [[War of the Ring]], the White Horse did not rest, and we're told that it was carried into battle by [[Éomer]] in the southern lands long after the great War ended.
==Inspiration==
According to [[Shippey]]'s ''[[The Road to Middle-earth]]'', the emblem was inspired from the [[Wikipedia:Uffington White Horse|Uffington White Horse]].

The White Horse is a recurring motif in mythology and prehistoric English culture. See [[Wikipedia:Leucippotomy|leucippotomy]]
[[de:Weißes Pferd]]
[[Category: Signs and Symbols]]

White Horse

2008-12-15T07:42:38Z

94.65.232.18:

The emblem of the land of [[Rohan]] and its Kings: a white horse shown upon a field of green. It was emblazoned on many of the arms of the [[Rohirrim]], as shown, for example, by the shield given to [[Merry Brandybuck]] by [[Éowyn]], which bore the mark of the horse. As the royal banner of Rohan, it was borne to many battles. [[Théoden]] rode under it to the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]], and it was flown by [[Éomer]] before the [[Gates of Mordor]] itself. Even after the [[War of the Ring]], the White Horse did not rest, and we're told that it was carried into battle by [[Éomer]] in the southern lands long after the great War ended.
==Inspiration==
The White Horse is a recurring motif in mythology and prehistoric English culture. See [[Wikipedia:Leucippotomy|leucippotomy]]
[[de:Weißes Pferd]]
[[Category: Signs and Symbols]]