[Rumil]

Well, I'm back,

what a weekend!

Swiftly moving on [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]
to raids on Rohan from the 2950s. As usual, the key dates first, then some speculation.

In 2953 Fengel, the greedy king of Rohan, died and his son, Thengel, was recalled from Gondor. In that year, probably hoping to profit from the interregnum, Saruman fortified Isengard, started encroaching on Rohan and supporting its enemies. Somewhere between 2957 and the 2970s Aragorn fought for Thengel (in disguise as Thorongil). In 2980 Thengel died and was succeeded by Theoden, who was well liked by the people and whose kingdom was 'at peace for many years'. However by the the time of the births of Eomer and Eowyn (Theoden's nephew and neice) in the 2990s, Sauron's power was becoming menacing. In 3000 Saruman used the palantir and was snared. Around this time Sauron sent orcs over the Anduin to raid the eastern regions of Rohan and kill or capture horses (taking the black ones presumably). More orcs raided from the Misty Mountains, including Saruman's Uruks. One raid is recorded where in 3002 Eomund (Eomer's father) pursued a small band of orcs to the Emyn Muil, on the eastern borders of Rohan, but was ambushed by a larger force amongst the hills and rocks and was killed. By 3014 Theoden had become ill and prematurely aged due to the works of Wormtongue. In 3017 Eomer was appointed as marshal of the Eastfold, Theodred the king's son was Marshal of the Westfold and Elfhelm commanded the muster of Edoras.

Well then, a few things remain unclear.

It seems as if the raiding and encroaching in Thengel's time were small scale, as the first years of Theoden's regin were apparently peaceful. Perhaps the raiding was limited to border skirmishes with the Dunlendings during this time and they were suppressed with the help of Thorongil?

By 3000 the raids became more serious with Sauron's orcs (from Dol Guldur or Mordor?) making incursions into the sparsely populated horse raising regions of the Wold and the East Emnet. Eomund seems to have been set up in a classic ambush. With only 'a few men' (perhaps his Marshal's household eored of approx 120) he pursued into the rough terrain of the Emyn Muil, which sems unsuitable for cavalry, being hilly and rocky. Then he was ambushed (perhaps in a narrow valley) and killed.

I wonder when Rohan truly realised that Saruman had turned against them and was sending Uruk raids? Perhaps Wormtongue's politicking covered it up until a few years before the War of the Ring?

As to the forces involved, the Rohirrim are clearly described as chain mail armoured cavalry with swords, shields and lances. They used stirrups so were very effective in a charge, like Norman knights, but were prepared to fight dismounted if required. A small number of riders were armed with bows. Its likely that the less well-off riders were more lightly equipped. Rohan also had infantry. In HoME 8 (for what its worth) the forces of Rohan are described as 10,000 cavalry and 10,000 infantry, made up of swordsmen, bowmen and light troops from the Dales, some mounted on ponies. The 10,000 cavalry is confirmed in LoTR and we see the infantry at Helm's Deep and the Fords of the Isen, probably they were local militia forces.

The oppositon included the Dunlendings, who had been skirmishing with Rohan for centuries. I see the Dunlendings as similar to the 'barbarians' who fought Rome, ie the Gauls, Germans and British- hard charging, but lightly equipped, ill disciplined, tribal warriors. Sauron and Saruman both employed orcish raiders and Uruk-Hai and probably wolfriders too.

During this time the threats seemed minor but I think Saruman was using these minor skirmishes to spy out the land and to distract Rohan from the massive buidup of forces he intended to use to annihilate their country.