Théoden
| House / Order | The Royal House of Eorl; the Rohirrim |
|---|---|
| Race / Culture | Man (of Rohan) |
| Status | Slain |
| Origin | Edoras, Rohan (the Riddermark) |
| Born | T.A. 2948 |
| Died | 15 March T.A. 3019, on the Pelennor Fields |
| Weapon | Herugrim, his sword |
| Fate | Freed from Gríma's poison by Gandalf; fell leading the charge of the Rohirrim on the Pelennor |
| Portrayed by | Bernard Hill |
Théoden son of Thengel was the seventeenth King of Rohan, the horse-lords of the Riddermark, during the War of the Ring. Long weakened by sorrow and the whisperings of the traitor Gríma Wormtongue, he was roused by Gandalf to throw off his stupor and lead his people to war — and so won a place among the heroes of the age, falling gloriously at the head of his Riders on the Pelennor Fields.
His arc is one of restoration: an old king robbed of his vigour and will, brought back to himself, who chooses to ride to the aid of Gondor when he might have hidden, and dies a king rather than a thrall.
Origins
Théoden was born in T.A. 2948, son of King Thengel of Rohan and Morwen of Gondor. He spent part of his youth in Gondor, where his father had dwelt, and so spoke its tongue. He came to the throne of the Riddermark in T.A. 2980 as its seventeenth king, ruling from the golden hall of Meduseld at Edoras. He had one son, Théodred, and raised in his house his sister-son Éomer and his sister-daughter Éowyn, the children of his sister Théodwyn.
Biography
The shadow of Wormtongue
As Saruman's designs on Rohan grew, the king's counsellor Gríma Wormtongue — secretly in Saruman's pay — worked to weaken Théoden, feeding his fears and counselling inaction until the king seemed aged far beyond his years, bent and palsied, scarcely lifting his head. Under this poison Rohan drifted leaderless while Isengard's armies massed, and Gríma even sought Éowyn as his reward.
The renewal
- Main article: Meduseld
When Gandalf the White came to Edoras with Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, he cast down Gríma's influence and bade the king come out into the light. Théoden rose, cast aside his staff, and grasped his sword Herugrim once more — restored in body and will. He banished Wormtongue, mustered the Rohirrim, and led his people in the war against Saruman. For this renewal he was after called Théoden Ednew, "the Renewed."
Helm's Deep
Théoden led the defence at the Battle of the Hornburg (Helm's Deep), where the host of Isengard nearly overwhelmed Rohan. At the dawn he rode out at Aragorn's side in a desperate charge as Gandalf arrived with reinforcements and the trees of the Huorns destroyed the fleeing enemy. Rohan was saved, and the king's spirit was wholly his own again.
The ride to Gondor and the Pelennor
- Main article: Battle of the Pelennor Fields
When the beacons of Gondor called for aid, Théoden answered, mustering the full strength of Rohan and leading the long ride south to the relief of besieged Minas Tirith. At dawn on the Pelennor Fields he led the great charge of the Rohirrim that broke the host of Mordor before the city — his finest hour. But his horse Snowmane was struck by a dart from the Witch-king of Angmar and fell upon him. Crushed and dying, Théoden bade farewell, naming Éomer his heir, and died at peace, knowing he had not shamed his fathers. Unknown to him, his sister-daughter Éowyn, who had ridden in secret to the battle, slew the Witch-king at his side.
Character
Théoden is the portrait of a good king nearly lost and gloriously regained. In his renewal he shows courage, generosity, and a deep care for his people, balanced against grief for his son and the knowledge of his own decline. His defining choice is to ride to Gondor's aid though Rohan owed no certain debt and the road was perilous — choosing honour and alliance over self-preservation. He dies content, "a king worthy of his house," his end the redemption of his long shadowed years.
Relationships
- Éomer — his sister-son and heir, marshal of the Mark.
- Éowyn — his sister-daughter, whom he loved as a child of his own.
- Théodred — his son, slain at the Fords of Isen before the war's height.
- Gandalf — who freed him from Gríma's spell and counselled him in war.
- Gríma Wormtongue — his treacherous counsellor and Saruman's tool.
- Merry — the hobbit who became his esquire and loved him as a father.
Appearances
In Peter Jackson's film trilogy (2001–2003), Théoden was portrayed by Bernard Hill. The films depict Gríma's hold as a literal possession by Saruman broken in an exorcism-like scene; the book frames it as long poisoning by counsel and despair rather than outright sorcery, and there Théoden recovers simply by walking into the open air at Gandalf's word.
Quotes
Arise now, arise, Riders of Théoden! Dire deeds awake, dark is it eastward. Let horse be bridled, horn be sounded! Forth Eorlingas!
I go to my fathers. And even in their mighty company I shall not now be ashamed.