He came to power in a time of great peril.
Son of the royal line of Rohan.
Strong and mighty, his name would live on in the history of Middle-earth as one of the
great kings of the Mark.
Today, on Nerd of the Rings, we celebrate the recent news of the animated film War of
the Rohirrim by covering the life and travels of Helm Hammerhand, the Ninth King of Rohan.
Fair warning, there’s bound to be spoilers for the new movie - as well as the 60 year
old book on which it is based.
Helm is born in 2691 TA, to his father King Gram of Rohan.
(2710 TA) During the reign of Helm’s grandfather, Deor, it was discovered that the Dunlendings
- a group of men who previously allied with Sauron against the Men and Elves of Eriador
- had taken over Isengard.
They did not, however, occupy the tower of Orthanc, as it remained locked to them.
The Dunlendings did possess the circle of Isengard, which itself was a formidable barrier to invasion.
For many years, through the reign of both Deor and Gram - Rohan would be in conflict
with the Dunlendings.
Gram dies in 2741 at the age of 73, leaving Helm to ascend to the throne at the age of 50.
The conflict with the Dunlendings to the north would continue into Helm’s reign.
A short time into his rule, a man who was a descendent both from the Dunlendings and
of Rohan’s 5th King, would cause trouble for the King.
This man, named Freca, has lands on both sides of the Adorn River in the West-march, not
far from Isengard and the Gap of Rohan.
There, Freca builds a stronghold and ignores Helm’s summons to attend councils in Edoras.
Finally, in 2754, Freca comes to a council in Edoras with a host of men, demanding that
Helm’s daughter be married to his son Wulf.
In response, Helm says:
he forced Freca to walk before him out from Edoras into the field.
With that he smote Freca such a blow with his fist that he fell back stunned, and died
soon after.
With his bare hand, Helm kills Freca and earns the name “Hammerhand.
He declares Freca’s followers to be enemies of Rohan.
But the line of Freca would not go quietly.
A few years later, in 2758, these men return with a great force of Dunlendings - and Wulf commanding them.
Helm meets them in battle at the Crossings of Isen, but is defeated and driven back to
the Suthburg - what would be later be known as the Hornburg.
As they make their way to the doors of the Hornbug, Helm’s son Haleth is slain.
There, the survivors would hold out during a prolonged siege by the host of Dunlendings.
Meanwhile, with the king trapped, Wulf captures Edoras, placing himself on the throne in Meduseld.
While Helm’s remaining son Hama was pinned in with his father at the Suthburg, Helm’s
nephew Frealaf fled with a group of Rohirrim to Dunharrow.
November of that year brought what would come to be known as The Long Winter - an extremely
cold winter that would cover the lands of Eriador, Dunland, and Rohan and last until
March of the following year.
For those wondering where Gondor was - this winter, along with corresponding battles with
the Corsairs of Umbar, prevented the southern kingdom from aiding their Northern allies.
As the Long Winter drags on, the food supplies in the Suthburg begin to run low.
Helm’s son Hama goes against his fathers commands and leads a group to fight their
way through their enemies to find food.
However, the group is lost in a snowstorm and are never seen again.
With his sons spent, Helm grows fierce and gaunt.
Famine and grief lead the king to go on missions of his own.
He would leave the Suthburg alone - clad in white, stalking like a snow-troll into the
camps of his enemies - slaying men with his bare hands.
The Dunlendings come to believe that if the king did not find food, he would eat the men themselves.
At the outset of each of his trips, Helm blows his great horn, which echoed in the Deep - leading
to the Suthburg to be named the Hornburg.
Hearing the echoes of his great horn, Helm’s enemies would be struck with such tremendous
fear that rather than gathering to kill him, they would flee.
But finally, Helm too, would meet his end...
'One night men heard the horn blowing, but Helm did not return.
In the morning there came a sun-gleam, the first for long days, and they saw a white
figure standing still on the Dike, alone, for none of the Dunlendings dared come near.
There stood Helm, dead as a stone, but his knees were unbent.
Yet men said that the horn was still heard at times in the Deep and the wraith of Helm
would walk among the foes of Rohan and kill men with fear.
The Long Winter finally breaks in March 2759, and with it, Frealaf, Helm’s nephew, would make his move.
He comes down from Dunharrow with a small company of desperate men and charges into Edoras.
He comes to the very halls of Meduseld, taking Wulf by surprise and slaying him.
Thus, the Kingdom of Rohan was reclaimed.
Frealaf, the sister-son of King Helm, is crowned the 10th King of Rohan.
His line - the second Line of Kings, would last until the death of Theoden 260 years later.
As for Helm, his body is brought from the Hornburg and laid in the ninth mound outside Edoras.
Upon the grave of Helm Hammerhand, the white simbelmyne would grow most thickly, so that
it would seem to be covered in snow.
Not only did Frealaf reclaim the kingdom and bury his uncle, but he would also drive the
Dunlendings from Isengard near the end of 2759.
That very year, Rohan would receive a visitor - a wizard - Saruman the White.
He comes bearing gifts and speaks great praise of the valour of the Rohirrim.
Relieved by the possibility of having an ally to their northern borders, Frealaf agrees
with Beren, the Steward of Gondor, and welcomes Saruman to take up residence in Orthanc.
But over long years, Saruman would weave his own designs, and wield the Palantir which
he had sought in the fortress.
His friends and servants he drew then from all who hated Gondor and Rohan, whether Men
or other creatures more evil.
The gorge where Helm Hammerhand had met his end would one day prove vital in Rohan’s survival.
The gorge that would come to bear his name - Helm’s Deep.
If you’re like me, you’re beyond excited about the new War of the Rohirrim animated film.
Be sure to let me know what you’re most looking forward to seeing in the comments.