Oathbreakers: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Ted Nasmith - The King of the Oathbreakers.jpg|thumb|right|''The King of the Oathbreakers'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]] | [[Image:Ted Nasmith - The King of the Oathbreakers.jpg|thumb|right|''The King of the Oathbreakers'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]] | ||
The '''Oathbreakers''', also | The '''Oathbreakers''', known also as the '''Dead Men of Dunharrow''', were the shades of the '''[[Men]] of the [[White Mountains|Mountains]]'''. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
The Men of the Mountains were originally a [[Pre-Númenóreans|Pre-Númenórean]] people that lived in the [[White Mountains]] during the [[Second Age]] and were related to the [[Dunlendings]]<ref>{{App|Men}}, p. 1129</ref> and to the [[House of Haleth|folk of Haleth]]<ref>{{PM|Atani}}</ref>. They had worshipped [[Sauron]] in the [[Dark Years]] before the foundation of [[Gondor]].<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}, p. 782</ref> | |||
After Gondor was founded in the last years of the [[Second Age]], [[King of the Dead|their King]] swore allegiance to [[Isildur]] at the Stone of Erech on the Hill of [[Erech]]. When Sauron returned and grew in might, Isildur commanded the Men of the Mountains to fulfil their oath and fight beside | After Gondor was founded in the last years of the [[Second Age]], [[King of the Dead|their King]] swore allegiance to [[Isildur]] at the Stone of Erech on the Hill of [[Erech]]. When Sauron returned and grew in might, Isildur commanded the Men of the Mountains to fulfil their oath and to fight beside him against their ancient master. For reasons unstated, they refused to join the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]], thus breaking their oath. in his wrath, Isildur cursed them to remain without rest until their oath was fulfilled; foretelling that the war against Sauron would last for years uncounted and that they would be summoned again before the end. The Men of the Mountains fled from Isildur and hid in secret places within the mountains. With no contact with other men, they slowly dwindled. Afterwards, terror was spread by the Sleepless Dead around the Hill of Erech and the places where the Men of the Mountains lingered when they were alive.<ref name=Company/> | ||
The Dead Men haunted the [[Paths of the Dead|caverns]] beneath the [[Dwimorberg]] and their [[wraiths]] appeared in the valley of [[Harrowdale]] that lay | The Dead Men haunted the [[Paths of the Dead|caverns]] beneath the [[Dwimorberg]] and their [[wraiths]] appeared in the valley of [[Harrowdale]] that lay beneath the mountain's shadow. In times of trouble and coming death, this caused the local people to lock themselves in their houses,<ref>{{RK|Muster}}, p. 787</ref> being filled with fear by the wraiths of the dead. The population nearest to the hill of Erech held the most dread, as it was they who knew that the host of wraiths was led by the [[King of the Dead]].<ref name=Company/> | ||
During the [[War of the Ring]], Isildur's Heir, [[Aragorn]], commanded the Dead to let them pass | During the [[War of the Ring]], Isildur's Heir, [[Aragorn]], commanded the Dead to let them pass to the Stone of Erech when he encountered them in the Paths of the Dead. The Dead followed him through their paths and the [[Blackroot Vale]] south of the White Mountains to the Stone of Erech. There, Aragorn commanded the Oathbreakers to follow him to [[Pelargir]], announcing that he would hold the oath fulfilled when all the servants of Sauron have been removed from this land.<ref name=Company/> The Dead fulfilled their oath, driving away the allies of Sauron through fear at the fords over the river [[Gilrain]] at [[Linhir]] and again at [[Pelargir]]. At the shore of the river [[Anduin]] at Pelargir, Aragorn held their oath fulfilled, commanding them to never again trouble the valleys, and to depart and be at rest.<ref>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> | ||
==Other names== | ==Other names== |
Revision as of 16:53, 5 May 2022
This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality. |
The Oathbreakers, known also as the Dead Men of Dunharrow, were the shades of the Men of the Mountains.
History
The Men of the Mountains were originally a Pre-Númenórean people that lived in the White Mountains during the Second Age and were related to the Dunlendings[1] and to the folk of Haleth[2]. They had worshipped Sauron in the Dark Years before the foundation of Gondor.[3]
After Gondor was founded in the last years of the Second Age, their King swore allegiance to Isildur at the Stone of Erech on the Hill of Erech. When Sauron returned and grew in might, Isildur commanded the Men of the Mountains to fulfil their oath and to fight beside him against their ancient master. For reasons unstated, they refused to join the Last Alliance, thus breaking their oath. in his wrath, Isildur cursed them to remain without rest until their oath was fulfilled; foretelling that the war against Sauron would last for years uncounted and that they would be summoned again before the end. The Men of the Mountains fled from Isildur and hid in secret places within the mountains. With no contact with other men, they slowly dwindled. Afterwards, terror was spread by the Sleepless Dead around the Hill of Erech and the places where the Men of the Mountains lingered when they were alive.[3]
The Dead Men haunted the caverns beneath the Dwimorberg and their wraiths appeared in the valley of Harrowdale that lay beneath the mountain's shadow. In times of trouble and coming death, this caused the local people to lock themselves in their houses,[4] being filled with fear by the wraiths of the dead. The population nearest to the hill of Erech held the most dread, as it was they who knew that the host of wraiths was led by the King of the Dead.[3]
During the War of the Ring, Isildur's Heir, Aragorn, commanded the Dead to let them pass to the Stone of Erech when he encountered them in the Paths of the Dead. The Dead followed him through their paths and the Blackroot Vale south of the White Mountains to the Stone of Erech. There, Aragorn commanded the Oathbreakers to follow him to Pelargir, announcing that he would hold the oath fulfilled when all the servants of Sauron have been removed from this land.[3] The Dead fulfilled their oath, driving away the allies of Sauron through fear at the fords over the river Gilrain at Linhir and again at Pelargir. At the shore of the river Anduin at Pelargir, Aragorn held their oath fulfilled, commanding them to never again trouble the valleys, and to depart and be at rest.[5]
Other names
Before breaking their oath, these men were known simply as the Men of the Mountains. Afterwards, they were referred to as the Dead of Dunharrow, the Sleepless Dead or just the Dead, the Grey Host, the Shadow Host, the Shadow-men, the Shadows of Men or simply the Shadows.
The "Army of the Dead" was only used in The Lord of the Rings (film series).
Portrayal in adaptations
2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King:
- The Dead were originally envisioned as walking skeletons, but this had to be revised after Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl came out and portrayed a similar idea with its undead hosts. The Dead were instead shown as glowing green ghosts. Contrary to the book, the Dead follow Aragorn all the way to Minas Tirith, and destroy Sauron's troops. It is after this that they are ultimately set free.
2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:
- The Oathbreakers of Dunharrow are the inspiration for several other factions of Oathbreakers and other cursed shades, such as former soldiers of Arthedain cursed for betraying Fornost to the forces of Angmar. The King of the Dead was named Rioc. Some of the Dead Men of Dunharrow refused to follow Aragorn, and reaffirmed their allegiance to Sauron. These were known as the Ruthless Dead.
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age", "Of Men", p. 1129
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "X. Of Dwarves and Men", "The Atani and their Languages"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Passing of the Grey Company", p. 782
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Muster of Rohan", p. 787
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Last Debate"