Post by Eomer on May 22, 2005 7:21:15 GMT -5
Theoden was the King of Rohan during the War of the Ring. He had fallen under the sway of Saruman but he was able to overcome the Wizard's influence and lead his people to victory against the armies of Isengard. Then, like his ancestor Eorl before him, Theoden answered Gondor's call and rode to their aid against Sauron's forces at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. There Theoden lost his life, but the timely arrival of the Rohirrim helped turn the tide of the battle to victory.
Theoden was born in Gondor in 2948. His father Thengel had married Morwen of Lossarnach - a fiefdom of Gondor - and the family remained in Gondor until Thengel became King of Rohan in 2953. Theoden was about five years old when his family returned to Rohan. He had one older sister and three younger sisters. The youngest was Theodwyn, whom he loved dearly. They lived in the Golden Hall of Meduseld in Edoras.
Theoden married Elfhild. She died giving birth to their only child Theodred in 2978.
In 2980, Thengel died and Theoden became King of Rohan at the age of thirty-two. He was much loved by his people. In the early part of his reign, Theoden was a strong and vital king. He acted in the capacity of the First Marshal of the Mark and commanded the Muster of Edoras himself. Theoden was a skilled horseman and he frequently rode out with his knights. He wielded the ancient sword Herugrim. Rohan remained at peace, but a threat was growing in both Mordor and Isengard.
Theoden's chief Marshal of the Mark was Eomund of Eastfold, who married Theoden's sister Theodwyn. Eomund was killed by Orcs raiders in 3002, and Theodwyn sickened and died soon afterwards. Theoden took his sister's two young children - Eomer and Eowyn - to live with him at Meduseld. Theoden loved his nephew and niece and he raised them as his own.
Theoden named his son Theodred the Second Marshal of the Mark, and when Eomer grew to manhood he became the Third Marshal of the Mark. Hama was the Captain of the King's Household and Elfhelm commanded the garrison at Edoras.
Early in the year 3014, Theoden became ill. He appeared to age prematurely and he was bent and withered like a very old man. Theoden was sixty-six years old, but the Rohirrim often lived into their eighties and Theoden had previously been strong and hale. At the time, it was not clear what had happened to Theoden, but it was later learned that the King's counsellor Grima played a role in his decline.
Unbeknownst to Theoden and the people of Rohan, Grima was an agent of the Wizard Saruman, who wanted to take over Rohan. Saruman used Grima to weaken King Theoden and thereby leave Rohan open to attack. Theoden's illness may have been in part due to natural causes, but it was suspected that Grima may have administered poisons to the King that hastened his decline.
Even more significant was the effect that Grima's skill with words and persuasion had on Theoden. Theoden's judgment was clouded and he became dependent on Grima's advice. The King seldom left Meduseld and he began to issue orders through Grima. Grima hoped to weaken Rohan's central command and discredit the King's commanders. He insinuated that Eomer was power-hungry and disobedient, but Eomer and the other commanders remained loyal to Theoden. They resented Grima's intrusion and did everything in their power to thwart his influence, but they would not defy their King.
On September 19, 3018, Gandalf the Grey came to Edoras but was refused admittance. The next day, King Theoden granted Gandalf an audience. Gandalf claimed that he had been imprisoned by Saruman and that Saruman was preparing to launch an attack on Rohan. Theoden did not listen to Gandalf and he told the Wizard to take any horse of his choosing and go. Gandalf chose Shadowfax, one of the mearas descended from Eorl's horse Felarof of old. This made Theoden even more angry, for the mearas were traditionally ridden only by the King of Rohan.
After Gandalf's departure, Rohan began to be troubled by Orcs, Wolf-riders, and evil Men in the service of Saruman. Saruman's stronghold of Isengard was near the Gap of Rohan and that passage between the White Mountains and Misty Mountains was closed to the Rohirrim by the Wizard's vigilance. Saruman claimed lordship over Rohan's lands, and there was war between his forces and the Rohirrim.
Without any orders from King Theoden, his son Theodred assumed command of Rohan's forces and organized the defenses. Saruman perceived Theodred to be a threat to his plans for Rohan, and in February of 3019 the Wizard sent out a force with the express purpose of killing Theodred. At the First Battle of the Fords of Isen on February 25, Theodred's position was relentlessly assailed and he was slain.
Theoden was born in Gondor in 2948. His father Thengel had married Morwen of Lossarnach - a fiefdom of Gondor - and the family remained in Gondor until Thengel became King of Rohan in 2953. Theoden was about five years old when his family returned to Rohan. He had one older sister and three younger sisters. The youngest was Theodwyn, whom he loved dearly. They lived in the Golden Hall of Meduseld in Edoras.
Theoden married Elfhild. She died giving birth to their only child Theodred in 2978.
In 2980, Thengel died and Theoden became King of Rohan at the age of thirty-two. He was much loved by his people. In the early part of his reign, Theoden was a strong and vital king. He acted in the capacity of the First Marshal of the Mark and commanded the Muster of Edoras himself. Theoden was a skilled horseman and he frequently rode out with his knights. He wielded the ancient sword Herugrim. Rohan remained at peace, but a threat was growing in both Mordor and Isengard.
Theoden's chief Marshal of the Mark was Eomund of Eastfold, who married Theoden's sister Theodwyn. Eomund was killed by Orcs raiders in 3002, and Theodwyn sickened and died soon afterwards. Theoden took his sister's two young children - Eomer and Eowyn - to live with him at Meduseld. Theoden loved his nephew and niece and he raised them as his own.
Theoden named his son Theodred the Second Marshal of the Mark, and when Eomer grew to manhood he became the Third Marshal of the Mark. Hama was the Captain of the King's Household and Elfhelm commanded the garrison at Edoras.
Early in the year 3014, Theoden became ill. He appeared to age prematurely and he was bent and withered like a very old man. Theoden was sixty-six years old, but the Rohirrim often lived into their eighties and Theoden had previously been strong and hale. At the time, it was not clear what had happened to Theoden, but it was later learned that the King's counsellor Grima played a role in his decline.
Unbeknownst to Theoden and the people of Rohan, Grima was an agent of the Wizard Saruman, who wanted to take over Rohan. Saruman used Grima to weaken King Theoden and thereby leave Rohan open to attack. Theoden's illness may have been in part due to natural causes, but it was suspected that Grima may have administered poisons to the King that hastened his decline.
Even more significant was the effect that Grima's skill with words and persuasion had on Theoden. Theoden's judgment was clouded and he became dependent on Grima's advice. The King seldom left Meduseld and he began to issue orders through Grima. Grima hoped to weaken Rohan's central command and discredit the King's commanders. He insinuated that Eomer was power-hungry and disobedient, but Eomer and the other commanders remained loyal to Theoden. They resented Grima's intrusion and did everything in their power to thwart his influence, but they would not defy their King.
On September 19, 3018, Gandalf the Grey came to Edoras but was refused admittance. The next day, King Theoden granted Gandalf an audience. Gandalf claimed that he had been imprisoned by Saruman and that Saruman was preparing to launch an attack on Rohan. Theoden did not listen to Gandalf and he told the Wizard to take any horse of his choosing and go. Gandalf chose Shadowfax, one of the mearas descended from Eorl's horse Felarof of old. This made Theoden even more angry, for the mearas were traditionally ridden only by the King of Rohan.
After Gandalf's departure, Rohan began to be troubled by Orcs, Wolf-riders, and evil Men in the service of Saruman. Saruman's stronghold of Isengard was near the Gap of Rohan and that passage between the White Mountains and Misty Mountains was closed to the Rohirrim by the Wizard's vigilance. Saruman claimed lordship over Rohan's lands, and there was war between his forces and the Rohirrim.
Without any orders from King Theoden, his son Theodred assumed command of Rohan's forces and organized the defenses. Saruman perceived Theodred to be a threat to his plans for Rohan, and in February of 3019 the Wizard sent out a force with the express purpose of killing Theodred. At the First Battle of the Fords of Isen on February 25, Theodred's position was relentlessly assailed and he was slain.
