A fictional kingdom of Men in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, Rohan plays a key role in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. A longtime ally of the kingdom of Gondor — the so-called greatest kingdom of Men during the Third Age — Rohan is known for its cavalry, the Rohirrim. In The Two Towers, the second book in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, members of the Fellowship spend time in Rohan, though it’s anything but majestic at first.
King Théoden, who is subject to the machinations of his advisor Gríma Wormtongue, has allowed his kingdom to crumble. Wormtongue is an agent of Saruman, the wizard allied with the Dark Lord Sauron; luckily, Gandalf is able to save King Théoden from Wormtongue, and even rally Rohan’s support in the fight against Sauron.
While Théoden and the Rohirrim are instrumental in winning the War of the Ring, Rohan is also home to other key players, like Éomer, Théoden’s nephew and Third Marshal of the Mark in Rohan’s army, and Éowyn, Théoden’s niece and the eventual slayer of the Witch-King of Angmar. So, what happens to Rohan and these significant characters after the events of The Lord of the Rings?
What Happened To Rohan After The War Of The Ring?
Before the events of The Lord of the Rings, the Kings of Gondor made alliances with the Northmen of Rhovanion; decades later, a remnant tribe of Northmen that survives the invasion of the Easterling Wainriders moves into the Vales of Anduin, just south of Mirkwood. Led by Marhwini, the people take a new name, the Éothéod — forerunners to the Rohirrim — and become Gondor’s greatest allies in the fight against the Wainriders.
While Marhwini was the first Lord of the Éothéod, he wasn’t a king of Rohan as the kingdom hadn’t been established. Some time later, the current Lord of the Éothéod dies unexpectedly, and his teenage son, Eorl the Young, assumes the title of Lord of the Éothéod. After Eorl arrives to aid Gondor — the Éothéod’s long-time allies — in a decisive battle against the orc army, he is rewarded greatly.
Gondor bestowed (most of) the province of Calenardhon on Eorl, and the young ruler founded the Kingdom of Rohan on the newly acquired land. For almost 250 years, the House of Eorl produced the first line of kings of Rohan; when that line of succession ended, a second line of kings began — one that includes King Théoden — and lasted until the end of the Third Age.
During the War of the Ring, Saruman launches a campaign against Rohan, killing Théoden’s son, Théodred. Later, Théoden leads the Rohirrim to defeat Saruman at the Battle of Hornburg, before lending a hand at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields outside of Minas Tirith. Although Théoden dies on the battlefield, his niece, Éowyn, kills the Lord of the Nazgûl, a.k.a. the Witch-King, and his nephew, Éomer, rides to Mordor to fight in the Battle of the Morannon against Sauron’s forces.
Who Became King Of Rohan?
The destruction of the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom put an end to Sauron’s reign, vanquishing his spirit for good. The new age ushers in new beginnings for many, including the people of Rohan. Given that Théoden’s son is dead, that line of kings ends. Instead, Éomer, Théoden’s nephew and adopted son of sorts, becomes king of Rohan. The first of the third line of kings of Rohan, Éomer watches his kingdom prosper.
So, why does Éomer become king of Rohan after Théoden’s death? While he isn’t the late Théoden’s son by blood, Éomer is an adopted son to the king, and, with his dying breaths, Théoden endorses Éomer taking up the throne. Even though Éowyn cared for her uncle while he was under Wormtongue’s influence; stepped in to lead Rohan for a time because of her popularity with the people of Rohan; and vanquished the Witch-King, Théoden’s killer, she is not chosen to be a successor. Instead, Éowyn marries Faramir, Prince of Ithilien.
Still, Éomer needs Aragorn’s blessing, so to speak. At the end of The Lord of the Rings, Aragorn isn’t just crowned King of Gondor, but King of Arnor, too. Both are kingdoms of Men established by Elendil and his sons, Anárion and Isildur, after they survived the sinking of Men’s once-greatest civilization, Númenor. Like Elendil, Aragorn becomes High King of both Arnor and Gondor, with his official title being High King of the Reunited Kingdoms.
Ruler of a vast portion of Middle-earth, Aragorn (or King Elessar) could lay claim to Rohan, but he chose to support Rohan’s independence. Of course, that comes with a caveat. Aragorn has Éomer take the Oath of Eorl, a proclamation that affirms Gondor and Rohan’s lasting alliance. “Their enemies shall be our enemies, their need shall be our need,” the oath proclaims. And it’s certainly put to good use; even though peace looks good on Rohan, the kingdom still aids Gondor in its campaigns against the Easterlings, Southrons, and other enduring enemies of the West.