Rohan

Rohan, called by its own people the Mark or the Riddermark, is a kingdom of Men in the grassy plains of central Middle-earth, north of Gondor and west of Fangorn forest and the Misty Mountains. Its people, the Rohirrim, the Horse-lords, are a proud, hardy folk renowned above all for their horses and their cavalry, the finest in Middle-earth. Allied of old to Gondor, Rohan plays a decisive part in the War of the Ring.

The Rohirrim are descended from the Northmen, a fair-haired and horse-loving people who came south to settle the plains they call the Mark. They dwell in a land of rolling grassland and keep the memory of their forefathers in song, valuing courage, loyalty, and the bond between rider and steed.

Geography

Rohan lies between the rivers Isen and Anduin, bounded by the Misty Mountains and Fangorn to the north, the White Mountains to the south, and the gap of Rohan to the west, where it borders Isengard. Its capital is Edoras, the hill-city crowned by the golden hall of Meduseld. Other key places are Helm's Deep and the Hornburg, the great refuge fortress in the White Mountains; the Fords of Isen on the western border; Dunharrow, a refuge in the mountains; and the Wold and the Eastemnet, broad pasturelands where the great horse-herds run.

History

Rohan was granted to the Rohirrim by Gondor in gratitude for their aid in a great battle, when Eorl the Young led his riders to the rescue of Gondor at the Field of Celebrant. In return the Steward gave the Rohirrim the land of Calenardhon, which became Rohan, and the two realms swore an enduring oath of mutual aid. From Eorl descend the kings of the Mark, who held the land through centuries of war against orcs, Dunlendings, and other enemies.

In the story

In the War of the Ring, Rohan under King Théoden is at first weakened and misled by the poisonous counsel of Gríma Wormtongue, the agent of Saruman, until Gandalf frees the king from his thrall. Rohan endures the assault of Saruman's hosts and wins the desperate Battle of the Hornburg at Helm's Deep. Then, answering the call of Gondor, Théoden leads the Riders to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, where the king falls but his charge helps break the siege of Minas Tirith. His niece Éowyn slays the Lord of the Nazgûl, and his nephew Éomer succeeds him as king.