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Originally dwelt at Aldburg; after becoming King of Rohan, Éomer ruled from Edoras
Pronunciation
Approximately 'ayo'mer'1
Meaning
Probably a compound meaning ' horse-famous' 2
Titles
Indexes:
About this entry:
- Updated 23 June 2002
- Updates planned: 22
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First of the Third Line of the Kings of Rohan
The son of Éomund of Eastfold and Théodwyn, the sister of King Théoden. While still a young man of just twenty-six, Éomer the King's nephew was made Third Marshal of Riddermark, and took command of the Riders of Eastfold. The days of his youth were harsh ones for Rohan; its people were imperilled by Orcs out of the north, while a certain Gríma son of Gálmód, later found to be a spy of Saruman, gained influence over the King.
On 25 February III 3019, Rohan suffered its greatest blow to date; at a skirmish that would become known as the First Battle of the Fords of Isen, Théoden's son and heir Théodred was slain by Saruman's forces, leaving Éomer - who was not at the battle - as the natural heir to Rohan's throne. It was five days later that the tide began to turn in Rohan's favour, when Éomer came across three strangers travelling through the fields of the Mark. These strangers were Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, and from Éomer's wise decision to aid these three came Rohan's ultimate victory.
Because of this, some days later, Gandalf came to Edoras and healed the King of his malaise. The Rohirrim went to war, and though they were defeated at the Second Battle of the Fords of Isen, they held their own at the Battle of the Hornburg and, with the aid of the Ents of Fangorn Forest, defeated Saruman's armies. Then Éomer rode with his King to the aid of Minas Tirith, where they fought in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. There Théoden met his end, and granted Éomer the Kingship, first of the Third Line of the Kings of Rohan.
At the time of the great victories of that year, Éomer was still just twenty-eight years old. He would rule the Rohirrim for another sixty-five years, through which he maintained a great friendship with Gondor. Such was the plenty and peace of his reign that he was given the surname Éadig, 'Blessed'. He was succeeded by his son Elfwine.
Notes
1 |
In Old English, éo represents a diphthong, a single vowel sound combining ay with a short o as in 'dot' or 'cloth'. So éo is pronounced somewhat like 'ayo', but as a single sound.
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2 |
The éo- element of Éomer's name is surely 'horse', but -mer is less certain. It is most likely derived from Old English maer, meaning 'famous, glorious, heroic'. |
See also...
Aldburg, Aragorn Elessar, Arod, Barrowfield, Battle of the Hornburg, Battle of the Pelennor Fields, Captains of the West, Ceorl, Dwimordene, Éadig, East-mark, Elfwine, Entwade, Eofor, Éomund, [See the full list...]Éomund of Eastfold, Éothain, Éowyn, Erkenbrand, Firefoot, Folde, Fourth Age, Full Muster, Gárulf, Great Hall of Feasts, Grishnákh, Gúthwinë, Háma, Hasufel, Hirluin the Fair, Horn of the Mark, Horsemen of Rohan, Horses, King of Rohan, King of the Rohirrim, King of the Second Line, Kings Company, Lady of Rohan, Lady of the Shield-arm, Lord of Deeping-coomb, Lord of Rohan, Lords of the West, Lothíriel, Marshal of the East-mark, Marshal of the Mark, Marshal of the West-mark, Mauhúr, Meduseld, Mering Stream, Moro Burrows, Morwen Steelsheen, Mound of the Riders, Muster of the East-mark, Muster of Westfold, North-borders, Orcs of the White Hand, Prince of Belfalas, Riders of West-mark, Riders of Westfold, Roheryn, Saruman, Second Marshal of the Riddermark, Sorceress of the Golden Wood, The East, The Fair, Théoden, Théodred, Théodwyn, Third Marshal of the Riddermark, Troll-men, Underking, West-march of Rohan, Western Muster, White Horse, White Horse upon Green, Wingfoot
Indexes:
About this entry:
- Updated 23 June 2002
- Updates planned: 22
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