Editing Rohan, Middle-earth (section)

== History ==

=== Early history ===
In the 13th century of the [[Third Age]], the Kings of Gondor made close alliances with the Northmen of [[Rhovanion]], a people said in ''The Lord of the Rings'' to be akin to the [[Three Houses of Men]] (later the [[Dúnedain]]) from the [[First Age]]. In the 21st century, a remnant tribe of such Northmen, the '''Éothéod''', moved from the valleys of [[Anduin]] to the northwest of [[Mirkwood]], disputing with the [[Dwarf (Middle-earth)|Dwarves]] over the treasure-hoard of [[Scatha the Worm|Scatha the dragon]].<ref name="House of Éorl" group=T>{{harvnb|Return of the King|loc=Appendix A, II The House of Éorl|ref={{harvid|Tolkien|1955}}}}</ref>

In 2509, Cirion the [[Steward of Gondor]] summoned the Éothéod to help repel an invasion of Men from [[Rhûn]] and [[Orc (Middle-earth)|Orcs]] from [[Mordor]]. Eorl the Young, lord of the Éothéod, answered the summons, arriving unexpected at a decisive battle on the Field of Celebrant, routing the orc army. As a reward, Éorl was given the Gondorian province of [[Calenardhon]] (except for Isengard).<ref name="House of Éorl" group=T/>

=== Kingdom of Rohan ===
[[File:Gamla uppsala viking grave mounds - panoramio.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|Line of Viking royal [[grave mound]]s at [[Gamla Uppsala]], like those at Edoras{{sfn|Shippey|2001|p=97}}]]

Eorl the Young founded the Kingdom of Rohan in the former Calenardhon; the royal family was known as the House of Eorl. The first line of kings lasted for 249 years, until the ninth king Helm Hammerhand died. His sons had been killed earlier, and his nephew Fréaláf Hildeson began the second line of kings, which lasted until the end of the Third Age. The two lines of kings are buried in two lines of [[grave mound]]s below the royal hall at Edoras,<ref name="House of Éorl" group=T/> like those at [[Gamla Uppsala]] in Sweden, or [[Sutton Hoo]] in England.{{sfn|Shippey|2001|p=97}}

In 2758, Rohan was invaded by [[Dunland|Dunlendings]] under Wulf, son of Freca, of mixed Dunland and Rohan blood. The King, Helm Hammerhand, took refuge in the [[Helm's Deep|Hornburg]] until help from [[Gondor]] and [[Dunharrow]]  arrived a year later. Soon after this [[Saruman]] took over Isengard, and was welcomed as an ally.<ref name="House of Éorl" group=T/>

=== War of the Ring ===
[[Saruman]] used his influence through the traitor [[Grima Wormtongue]] to weaken [[Théoden]]. Saruman then launched an invasion of Rohan, with victory in early battles at the Fords of Isen, killing Théoden's son, Théodred.<ref name="Chronology" group=T>{{harvnb|Return of the King|loc=Appendix B "The Great years"|ref={{harvid|Tolkien|1955}}}}</ref> Saruman was defeated at the [[Battle of the Hornburg]], where the tree-like [[Huorn]]s came from the forest of Fangorn to help the Rohirrim.<ref name="Helm's Deep" group=T/>

Théoden then rode with his army to [[Minas Tirith]], helping to break its siege in the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] and killing the leader of the [[Haradrim]], but was killed when his horse fell. He was succeeded by his nephew [[Éomer]]. His niece [[Éowyn]] and the hobbit [[Merry Brandybuck]] killed the [[Witch-king of Angmar|Lord of the Nazgûl]].<ref name="Siege of Gondor" group=T>{{harvnb|Return of the King|loc=Siege of Gondor|ref={{harvid|Tolkien|1955}}}}</ref>

Éomer rode with the armies of [[Gondor]] to the [[Black Gate (Middle-earth)|Black Gate]] of Mordor and took part in the [[Battle of the Morannon]] against the forces of [[Sauron]]. At this time, the destruction of the [[One Ring|Ruling Ring]] in Mount Doom ended the battle and the war.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Return of the King|loc="The Black Gate Opens", and "The Field of Cormallen"|ref={{harvid|Tolkien|1955}}}}</ref> Éowyn married [[Faramir]], Prince of [[Ithilien]].<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Return of the King|loc="The Steward and the King"|ref={{harvid|Tolkien|1955}}}}</ref>