The history of Rohan

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[Corleone]

This channel is literally like getting a home-cooked meal from your mom after a hard time in the winter.

[angledmusasabi]

I just want to thank you for the regularity of your working pace, the measured tone of your conjecture, and the thoroughness of your scholarship. You're a staple of my regular media consumption and I'm grateful for it. =)

[BensBrickDesigns]

Sign of respect, then from Aragorn. "What news from the Mark?"

[Valkanna.Nublet]

I'm one of those who've always preferred the Riddermark to Gondor. There's just something epic about a culture willing to scream defiance in the face of death. That and I love horse and cavalry.

[Krytuun]

I had tears in my eyes, and chill on my spine by how you delivered the lines about honor and friends. Thank you Robbert for another excellent video.

[rebelsqurl]

A note on Aragorn and Eomer formally renewing the alliance between Gondor and Rohan after the War of the Ring. It was actually legally needed, for the original gift of Calenhardon (Rohan) by Steward Cirion to the Eotheod said that it would last "until the Great King returns." Thus, upon Aragorn's ascension to the throne of Gondor, the gift -- and the alliance -- was made void, and the Rohirrim became, in a strict legal sense, a stateless people living in the territory of a foreign kingdom. This would have been intolerable to both sides' sense of honor and practicality, so Aragorn renewed the Gift of Cirion, and Eomer took again the Oath of Eorl, in that same place it originally happened: Amon Anwar, the "Hill of Awe", where Elendil's tomb once rested on the border between the two kingdoms.

[BasicallyBaconSandvichIV]

Fun fact! Ridder and mark are both real words. In Dutch "Ridder" means "knight", and mark is the old name for a type of border territory which was first used by the Romans and later the Franks and such. We get the word Marquis from mark, as do we get Denmark.
Riddermark is a name which you could very realistically expect to find in a Germanic part of Europe.
And it very fitting for Rohan.

[overseas_demogod]

"People of their word". A part of the movie that resonates, when Theoden responds "Rohan will answer". There was doubt, until there was none.

[Wolfeson]

Great point about how big of a theme the keeping of oaths is in Tolkien's universe. Simply the fact that Theoden or the Rohirrim kept their oaths and aided their friends in times of need is constantly listed alongside the greatest feats of valor that they perform. It seems so simple, but the act of oathkeeping is meant to be held up as just as much an act of honor and courage as standing up to the most terrifying foe on the battlefield. As a counterpoint, we see the horrible dishonor of oathbreaking with the Dead Men of Dunharrow - subjected to a fate worse than death until they finally fulfill their oaths.

[gregsurles]

Thank you for this! The Eorlingas are my favorite culture by far. Forth Eorlingas!!

[stevewebster]

Of all the peoples of Middle Earth that we meet in the LotR books, the Rohirrim seem to be closest to the Anglo-Saxon/Norse/Danish cultures that Tolkien studied and loved. Is this reflected in how he felt about the people of Rohan? He certainly gave them a big part in the story...

[rashkavar]

Growing up, I never felt that the Riddermark was anything less than Gondor's equal, just different in kind. Gondor is a kingdom of great cities and citidels. The Mark is a kingdom of open plains and scattered towns. And both of their armies are specialized to suit their realms - Gondor's stalwart defenders form the core, with small bands of mobile scouts like Faramir's group, and the Riddermark's great cavalry horde, with a small core defensive force garrison in their one great fortress. They're complimentary halves of a whole.

(Though I didn't know about the various names for their land - I'm deliberately using Riddermark here now that I know that's the term they use.)

[isomeme]

The name "Riddermark" is one of the cases where Tolkien's languages have clear northern European cognates.

"Ridder" shares etymology with the English "rider", and forms of the word are used for "knight" in many languages (e.g. German "ritter"). It's worth noting that the English word "knight" is instead based on older forms of "king". Between the two you get the full sense of a knight, a "king's horseman".

"Mark" means "land", especially a borderland. This shows up in the archaic English word "march" for a frontier region, and in the various forms of the noble rank "Marquis" (originally, the ruler of such a frontier region). "Mark" is also on prominent display in the name "Denmark", "land of the Danes".

[deanzaZZR]

‘What do you know of these horsemen, Aragorn”’ he said, ‘Do we sit here waiting for sudden death?’

‘I have been among them’ answered Aragorn. ‘They are proud and willful, but they are true-hearted, generous in thought and deed; bold but not cruel; wise but unlearned, writing no books but singing many songs, after the manner of the children of Men before the Dark Years.’

The Two Towers, The Riders of Rohan

[jeffcordova]

Your channel is amongst the best when the best when it comes to Tolkien lore or Westeros lore

[Dr_Cole]

What an outstanding ending to your video regarding their name for themselves. You don’t ask for it, but by description and juxtaposition, you do call for us to consider what we call them.

[MichaelH]

This is one of the best you’ve ever done!

[shereemcclelland]

Terrific information, love it. As a horse person I love the Rohan people and their horses. Eomer is one of my favourite characters in LOTR, Karl Urban played a top notch job. Of course Eowyn too and Theodan, what the heck the Rohan people gave me chills when they charged wearing the green and the flags of the white horse flying in the wind. Horse lords exactly. 🇦🇺👍

[pluto]

My favourite tale in the unfinished tales. The oath of cirion sends shivers done my spine.

[eveywrens]

Another excellent video. I appreciate learning indepth backstory about peoples in Tolkien's world. The history of Rohan/Riddermark and the Rohirrim/Eorlingas is entirely new to me. Thanks!