Far away to the left the river Entwash wound, a silver thread in a green floor. No moving thing could be seen. Often Aragorn wondered that they saw no sign of beast or man. The dwellings of the Rohirrim were for the most part many leagues away to the South, under the wooded eaves of the White Mountains, now hidden in mist and cloud; yet the Horse-lords had formerly kept many herds and studs in the Eastemnet, this easterly region of their realm, and there the herdsmen had wandered much, living in camp and tent, even in winter-time.
– The Two Towers (Book 3), Chapter 2
Eastemnet is a sparsely populated region of northern Rohan, situated between the rivers Entwash and Anduin. The name Eastemnet comes from the Rohirric term “east-plain”, since the terrain consists mostly of grass-covered plains.
History
Following the foundation of Gondor in S.A. 3320, the Eastemnet became part of the Gondorian province of Calenardhon. Gondor exercised only limited control over the region, maintaining only a select few settlements. As Gondor’s power declined, the region became increasingly vulnerable to raids out of Rhun. In T.A. 2510 the Wold, to the north of the Eastemnet, was invaded by a host of the Balchoth and the orcs of the Misty Mountains. The forces of Gondor eventually prevailed, defeating the Balchoth army at the Field of Celebrant, with much help from the Éothéod, led by King Eorl. As a reward, Steward Cirion gave the Éothéod the province of Calenardhon.
In the late Third Age, the Eastemnet is sparsely populated, much of the population consisting of herdsmen leading a semi-nomadic lifestyle, moving their livestock across the plains and living in camps during the grazing season.
Geography
The Eastemnet is a grassy plains region located in between the rivers Entwash and Anduin (save for the portion of the Emyn Muil on the west bank) with the Mouths of Entwash being its southern border. The entire region is covered by large plains and grasslands perfect for animal grazing, with the Eastemnet Downs occupying the north of the region, near to the border with the Wold. There are no permanent settlements, with herders and their flocks living in camps during the summer months. Some few hardy herdsmen remain in the region for the entire year.
Climate
The Eastemnet has a temperate climate. Its winters are cold, with sudden springs. Snow occurs often, sometimes into late February.
Culture
During the rule of Gondor this land was scarcely populated without any meaningful settlements located in the area. After Calenardhon was granted to Eorl the Young, the Rohirrim used the land as pastures for animal grazing and reared their horses on the grass of the Eastemnet.
Governance
Formerly ruled by Gondor, the lands of Eastemnet are part of the Kingdom of Rohan. Militarily, it is under the control of Théodred, the Second Marshal of the Riddermark.
Economy
The Eastemnet has a pastoral economy, where horses, sheep and other livestock are taken out onto the plains to graze, before returning to the inhabited parts of Rohan to be butchered or sold. Rohan’s renowned horses are grazed on the grasses of the Eastemnet.
