THE FOUNDING OF THE RIDDERMARK

 The Rohirrim are the descendants of a branch of Northmen who under their leader, Frumgar, founded a realm known as The Éothéod near the source of Anduin the Great, around (III) 1977.

The Mark came into existence in (III) 2510, when Eorl and The Éothéod rode from the distant North to aid Cirion, Steward of Gondor, in battle against the Balchoth (Men of Rhun) and the orcs of Mordor and the Misty Mountains. 

Eorl's host arrived upon the field to find the men of Gondor vastly outnumbered and hard pressed by the foemen, but the arrival of the fierce Northmen, upon their great steeds, tipped the balance and the minions of The Enemy were routed upon the Field of Celebrant. 

In recognition of Eorl's valour and succor Cirion ceded Calenardhon, a province of Gondor, as a land to be settled by his Eorl and his people. In return Eorl pledged his folk's abiding friendship and allegiance to Gondor, so that down the centuries the Rohirrim, as they became known ever after, rode often to the aid of Gondor in times of need.


THE WAR OF THE RING: DECISIVE BATTLES:

Click the sword to access schematics of the battle of Helm's Deep and the Pelennor Fields



HISTORICAL SYNOPSIS:  (extracted from The Annals of the Lines of the Lords of the Mark)



FIRST LINE

(III) 2510-2545 Eorl the Young Eorl rides with his folk to Gondor's aid. They help secure a great victory over the armies of the Enemy and are granted an independent homeland by Cirion, Steward of Gondor. Eorl establishes his seat at Aldburg. The settlement at Edoras is begun. Eorl falls in battle in the Wold.

(III) 2545-2570 Brego The Éothéod  complete their migration from the Northlands. Border wars with Dunlendings and Easterlings and expansion of the Mark's lands. Brego completes the construction of Meduseld and names Edoras as capital of the Riddermark. Baldor, Brego's heir, ventures unto the Paths of the Dead and is lost. Brego dies of grief.

(III) 2570-2645 Aldor the Old Dunlendings are finally ejected from the hinterland of Rohan and pushed westward over the Isen and Adorn Rivers. The vale of Harrowdale is settled and the Hold of Dunharrow is founded. A time of peace and prosperity, which spans the lives of three generations, begins.

(III) 2645-2659 Fréa The peace won during Aldor's reign continues. The Mark prospers and her people and herds grow in number

(III) 2659-2680 Fréawine The time of peace and plenty continues throughout Fréawine's reign, but across the western borders of the Mark the disgruntled Dunlendings are mustering.

(III) 2680-2699 Goldwine Vigilance wanes upon the western marches. Dunlendings begin making stealthy incursions into the northern provinces.

(III) 2699-2718 Déor Escalating conflict with Dunlending invaders. The province of West-march, and the Ring of Isengard, is occupied by the Wildmen. 

(III) 2718-2741 Gram Constant strife and war with the Dunlendings who launch ceaseless raids from their impregnable stronghold at Isengard.

(III) 2741-2759 Helm Hammerhand Helm slays Freca the Half-Blood for his impertinence. Dunlendings led by Freca's son, Wulf, assail Meduseld. Haleth, Helm's son, is murdered. Wulf proclaims himself king of the Mark. Rohan is invaded by Corsairs from the East and an army of Dunmen from the west. The Rohirrim flee into the holds and refuges of the mountain vales. Helm withstands a siege at the Hornburg until his mysterious death in March 2759. Fréaláf, Helm's nephew, leads a surprise attack on Meduseld. Wulf is killed and the Wildmen, greatly weakened by the deprivations of the Long Winter, are driven from Mark.



SECOND LINE

(III) 2759-2798 Fréaláf Hildeson Fréaláf reclaims the throne of Rohan in an audacious raid which results in the death of Wulf the Usurper. The Rohirrim, aided by the stout men of Gondor, drive the Dunlendings over the Isen and recapture Isengard. Saruman reappears at this time and is entrusted with the keeping of Isengard.

(III) 2798-2842 Brytta Léofa Despite Fréaláf's victory over the Dunlendings the western borders of the Mark are subject to sustained attacks by Wildmen. A new threat to the Mark's safety occurs: tribes of orcs, displaced from their homes in the Misty Mountains during their bitter wars with Durin's folk, began incursions into the White Mountains. The Rohirrim resist these sallies with merciless vigour. When Brytta is laid beneath his mound it is assumed this new peril has been eradicated. But it is not so.

(III) 2842-2851 Walda A time of restless peace culminating in the slaying of Walda by Orcs near Dunharrow. 

(III) 2851-2864 Folca the Huntsman The last orc bands are hunted down ruthlessly by the new king, Folca, who swears never to hunt a living creature whilst orcs roam the Mark. Folca is mortally wounded by a boar tusk after fulfilling this oath. 

(III) 2864-2903 Folcwine The Wildmen are driven from the West-march. Folcred and Fastred, the King's twin sons and heirs, are slain in battle against the Haradrim near the River Poros.

(III) 2903-2953 Fengel The greed of King Fengel causes disquiet in the Mark. His heir, Thengel, goes into voluntary exile amongst his wife's kin in Gondor. Théoden born in Gondor, (III) 2948.

(III) 2953-2980 Thengel Thengel reluctantly ascends to the throne, but proves a wise and worthy king. He eschews the traditional language of the Mark. In its stead the High Speech of Gondor (and Westron) becomes the lingua franca of the courts of Edoras. Elfhild, wife of Théoden, dies whilst giving birth to Théodred, (III) 2978. Aragorn, in the guise of Thorongil, bears arms in the service of the Lord of the Mark. Saruman begins building an army of his own. 

(III) 2980-3019 Théoden Endew
(The Renewed)		 Saruman is ensnared by Sauron. Uruks and Wildmen begin raiding Rohan at his behest. Grima Wormtongue becomes a spy in the service of Saruman and begins his poisonous ministries to the King. Orcs of Mordor cross the eastern borders and carry off black horses. Grima's treachery weakens Théoden's will and marginalizes those who would resist the threat from Isengard. Gandalf escapes from Orthanc. He is treated with disdain when seeking aid at Théoden's hall. To the King's displeasure he tames Shadowfax and rides from the Mark. Saruman's Uruks roam freely across large areas of the Mark. First battle at Fords of Isen. Théodred is slain. The coming of the Holbyta and Three Hunters. Éomer is arrested. Gandalf returns from beyond the shadow. Théoden is cured and Wormtongue cast out of Meduseld. Second battle at the Fords. The great victory at Helm's Deep and capture of Isengard. The Great Muster at Dunharrow. The Rohirrim ride to Gondor. Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Théoden is slain in his moment of glory. He passes the kingship to his nephew, Éomer.


THIRD LINE

(III) 3019 - (IV) 63 Éomer Éadig
(The Blessed)		 Triumph of the Pelennor Fields. The Rohirrim ride with Gondor against Mordor. Battle at the Black Gate. The Ring is destroyed and Sauron's power broken forever. Théoden is laid to rest. Coronation of Éomer. Éowyn marries Faramir, Prince of Ithilien. Many campaigns are fought aiding King Elessar in restoring the Ancient Kingdom. The borders of the Mark expand and its people know peace and prosperity not seen since the days of Aldor. Éomer marries Lothíriel, daughter of Imrahil of Dol Amroth. Their son Elfwine the Fair is born. Éomer is laid to rest after sixty-five years on the throne. Elfwine ascends to the throne.

(IV) 63 - (IV) ??? Elfwine the Fair No part of this king's deeds are recorded in these annals...