Rohan and the Rohirrim
Jul 3, 2019 15:02:16 GMT -5
Post by DENNY on Jul 3, 2019 15:02:16 GMT -5
Government: Monarchy
Rulers: Queen Goldhild of Rohan and King Hurin
Capital and Stronghold: Helm’s Deep
Race: Primarily human, though they live in close proximity and alliance with the Dwarves of Aglarond.
Naming Tradition: The People of Rohan use “Rohirric” names (Anglo Saxon/Norse), and quite often they are named for their forefathers, either using whole names or parts of their name.
Religion: The Rohirrim know of Eru Illuvatar, but they do not worship him or have any sort of temple. They have a special care for the Valar huntsman, Orome, whom they call Béma, and they may call on him in times of need. Many of the Rohirrim are contently agnostic.
About Rohan
"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 Rohirrim are tall and blonde, and primarily blue eyed, descended from the Éothéod. They are a horse culture; they live for their horses, and their horses are the primary commerce along with sheep, goats, and farming. The countryside of Rohan is described as a land of pastures and lush tall grassland. It looks a lot like the Central Asian steppe or North American Great Plains, as does its climate. The lands of Rohan are frequently described as appearing like "seas of grass". Its warm-continental climate generally brought hot summers and brisk but short winters. The winds and air masses can come from almost any direction and the weather is highly variable in any season.
The Rohirrim are tall and blonde, and primarily blue eyed, descended from the Éothéod. They are a horse culture; they live for their horses, and their horses are the primary commerce along with sheep, goats, and farming. The countryside of Rohan is described as a land of pastures and lush tall grassland. It looks a lot like the Central Asian steppe or North American Great Plains, as does its climate. The lands of Rohan are frequently described as appearing like "seas of grass". Its warm-continental climate generally brought hot summers and brisk but short winters. The winds and air masses can come from almost any direction and the weather is highly variable in any season.
Government
Monarchy:
Rohan is an independent nation, though closely allied with the Reunited Kingdom. It is ruled by a King and a Queen, the heir or heiress being their first born child, no matter the gender.
Marshals:
The Marshal is a high title of rank among the Riders of the Mark, or the Rohirric Military. They are considered leutenants of the King and each Marshal is responsible for one third of the military force of the country. The First Marshal is the King himself who musters out of Helm's Deep. The Second Marshal's home base is Edoras, and the Third musters out of Aldburg.
Thanes:
The lands are Rohan are too vast for the King to oversee alone, thus each of the settlements bears a man named the Thane, and he is is the local governing ruler of location. He is still under the rule of the king, and he gathers the tribute which must be paid and stored at Helm's Deep.
Social Structures
While social classes exist within Rohan, they are not as far divided as those in the Reunited Kingdom. Most people live a relatively similar lifestyle as farmers or horse breeders, aside from the select few who are Thanes and the Royalty themselves. Aside for those dwelling in Helm's Deep, even the thanes and those of higher blood live in wooden houses with thatched roofs.
Gender:
The women of Rohan have more power and status than all other realms of humans on Arda. It is not uncommon to see females serving as Shieldmaidens within the military rank since the days of Eowyn, and many women partake in other fields of work that may be typically masculine. While many women fall into the traditional role of caring for the home, at least while their children are infants, there is no shame when men fall into the task of caring for and defending their home. Children of both genders are taught the skills they will need to succeed, which cover homemaking, skilled trades, and weaponry skills. Raising a family generally has the expectation that both partners will give effort, both provide, and both care for the children. Upon the death of parents, the assets are divided equally between both male and female offspring.
Family:
Most marriages in Rohan are by choice, and if things go awry, both males and females are given leverage for divorce, and the assets are divided by law. Arranged marriages for political prowess and familial bonding, as well as marriages of convenience, are practiced, but both spouses have a say in these matters and must both agree to them. There is no such thing as forced marriage among the Rohirrim, and society has long ago done away with dowries and bride-price. As gender roles have become more diverse over the past century, the Rohirrim take a progressive view of choosing to remain unmarried, and also of relationships and marriages between same-sex partners. Relationships outside of marriage are common in this culture, and the illegitimate children produced of them tend to have more rights than those in other realms.
Foreigners:
The Rohirrim are a proud people, and while they have come a long way in accepting and being close allies with both dwarves and elves, they are still distrustful of the men of the conquered nations, the former servants of Mordor. A man of Rohan would not easily trust one of Khand, Rhun, or Haradwaith.
Cities of Interest
Helm's Deep: The great cleft and network of caverns situated in the foothills of the Ered Nimrais, north west of Edoras. A mighty fortress, built by the men of Númenór in the Second Age, known to the Eorlingas as The Hornburg, guards the entrance to the valley. Helm's Deep was often a place of refuge for the people of the Mark and was named after their mighty king, Helm Hammerhand, who withstood a siege by Wulf the Usurper and his Dunlendings during the Long Winter, (III) 2758-2759. After the armies of Isengard succeed in burning a large portion of the Westfold during the War of the Ring, many of the farmers and herders took refuge in Helm’s Deep for the sheer space and safety it provided. What was once only a fortress became the thriving center of commerce as time passed, especially when the dwarves settled in the Glittering Caves and founded the kingdom of Aglarond, helping improve trade and fortifications of the city. The deep became the both the political and royal seat of the Kingdom, the inner workings now decorated with rich tapestries depicting the history and legends of the Rohirrim. The Hornburg now serves as a home for the King and his kin, a meeting hall for the King and his advisors, and a feast hall, among other uses.
Edoras: A city built on a hill in Harrowdale beneath the Starkhorn mountain. This was the second capital of Rohan, though no longer reserved for royalty, Meduseld, the Golden Hall, still stands upon a green terrace in Edoras. It was topped with a straw roof, which made it appear as if it was made out of gold when seen from far off.
Aldburg: One of the oldest towns and first capital of Edoras, where the muster of the East-mark is held.
Dunharrow: A fortified settlement situated at the southern end of Harrowdale. A steep pathway, lined by ancient statues of the Púkel-men, climbs up to a stepped plateau which lies in the shadow of the Dwimorberg (the Haunted Mountain).