Hornburg
|
This article or section needs expansion and/or modification. Please help the wiki by expanding it. |
| Hornburg | |
|---|---|
| Fortress | |
 | |
| "Helm's Deep" by Jeremy Bennett | |
| General Information | |
| Other names | Aglarond (S) Súthburg |
| Location | Helm's Deep, Rohan |
| Type | Fortress |
| People and History | |
| Inhabitants | Gondorians, Rohirrim |
| Events | Battle of the Hornburg |
| Gallery | Images of the Hornburg |
The Hornburg was a great Gondorian fortress later used by the Rohirrim.
It was said among the Rohirrim that no enemy had ever taken the Hornburg by assault and it was considered the strongest fortress in Rohan, stronger than Edoras and Dunharrow.[1]
Geography
The fortress was built by Gondor near the western border of its province of Calenardhon on a stone promontory, later called the Hornrock by the Rohirrim , at one end of the Deeping Wall. This wall blocked the entrance to a deep valley, later called by the Rohirrim Helm's Deep, south-east of the northern end of the White Mountains, below the peaks known as the Thrihyrne.[2] It guarded the southern end of the Gap of Rohan.[3]
History
The fortress was built by Gondorians, at a date not known to the Rohirrim, who said that it was constructed in "far-off days of the glory of Gondor [by] the sea-kings ... with the hands of giants".[2] It was originally called Aglarond,[3][4] a name used also for the caves located at the head of the valley[5].
In later years whole regions of Gondor, including Calenardhon, were depopulated or evacuated. Steward Cirion gave the province to the Rohirrim as a reward for their assistance at the Battle of the Field of Celebrant in T.A. 2510. Masons of Gondor helped to repair the fortress of Aglarond. After that it was handed over to the Rohirrim and the old hereditary Gondorian guards of Aglarond were stationed at the fortress of Angrenost (called Isengard by the Rohirrim). The Rohirrim called the fortress of Angrenost the Súthburg,,[6] probably because it guarded the southern end of the Gap of Rohan, as Isengard guarded the northern end.
When Wulf and the Dunlendings overran Rohan , Helm Hammerhand , ninth King of Rohan, sought refuge in the fortress during the Long Winter of T.A. 2759 where he was besieged. It was called the Hornburg after the days of King Helm,[6] because of Helm's great horn,[7] which he had blown before his lone raids into the camp of the enemies during the siege[8] and because a horn sounded from its tower echoed in the Deep behind[2].
During the period Battles of the Fords of Isen leading up to the War of the Ring, Erkenbrand, the Lord of Deeping-coomb and of much other land in Westfold,[9] resided at the Hornburg.[10]
Other names
Aglarond is a Sindarin name meaning "Glittering Cavern".[11] It is a compound of aglar "brilliance" and rond ("vault", "high roofed cavern").[12]
Súthburg is an Old English name meaning "South Fortress".[13][14]
Portrayal in adaptations
2013: The Lord of the Rings Online:
- Hornburg was added with the Helm's Deep expansion in 2013. The "main" version is set chronologically shortly before the Battle of the Hornburg, but players also have access to a different-looking version set in the aftermath of the battle.
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "Helm's Deep", p. 537
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "Helm's Deep", p. 528.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Battles of the Fords of Isen", "Appendix (ii)", last sentence of the first paragraph of the long note
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Palantír", "That way lies Aglarond and the Glittering caves.", p. 599
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Road to Isengard", p. 548
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Battles of the Fords of Isen", "Appendix (ii)", footnote after the sentence starting with "The fortress there was repaired" in the third paragraph of the long note
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings" in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, entry Hornburg, Hornrock, p. 772
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", entry for king Helm Hammerhand, p. 1066
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Battles of the Fords of Isen", "Appendix (i)", fourth pargraph
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Battles of the Fords of Isen", fourteenth paragraph
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, Index, entry Aglarond
- ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, citing from notes in the manuscript for Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings, p. 421
- ↑ "súþ", Bosworth-Toller Anglo-Saxon Dictionary (accessed 30 October 2023)
- ↑ "burg", Bosworth-Toller Anglo-Saxon Dictionary (accessed 30 October 2023)
