Battle of Edoras

The Battle of Edoras occurred during the War between Rohan and Dunland.

History

Background

Led by Wulf, the Dunlendings allied with the Easterlings, the Haradrim and the Corsairs of Umbar attacked Rohan in TA 2758.

The battle

Dunland strategically picked the timing of its attack at a time when Gondor could not aid Rohan as they were fighting a war themselves at the same time. The Rohirrim were overrun from the east over the Undeeps and from Isengard, with the Wildmen reinforced by their Corsair allies who sailed up the rivers Lefnui and Isen. The armies of Rohan were defeated. Helm was forced to retreat to the Súthburg, taking great losses at the Fords of Isen.

Edoras was itself was then attacked, where Helm's elder son Haleth was killed defending the golden hall of Meduseld. Invading forces overwhelmed the remaining defenders in the city. Wulf then took the throne in Meduseld as the self-proclaimed King of Rohan. The Dunlendings occupying the city were cruel, taking many Rohirrim as slaves and forcing others to flee to the dales in the White Mountains.

Aftermath

During the Long Winter many Dunlendings resided in Edoras with Wulf while others camped by the Súthburg, besieging it in the cold.

At winter's end, Fréaláf Hildeson, the nephew of Helm, led his forces down from Dunharrow and reclaimed Edoras. The Dunlendings were routed and Fréaláf killed Wulf.

Together with a force of Gondorian reinforcements led by Beregond, the Rohirrim drove the remnants of Wulf's forces out of Rohan. Fréaláf then marched to Isengard and blockaded it, eventually forcing the Dunlendings within the fortress to surrender.

In adaptations

The battle was featured in the 2024 film The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. A set titled "War of the Rohirrim – Battle of Edoras" for the Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game themed around the battle from the film was also released in 2024, making it an an officially licensed product giving a name to the battle.

References