History
The land that would become Rohan was under the control of Gondor from the early Third Age, as the province of Calenardhon. As it was relatively remote from the Gondorian centres of power in Osgiliath and Minas Tirith, few Dúnedain ever dwelt there, and it was little developed or paid attention to during the glory years of Gondor. During the Kin-strife, the men of Calenardhon supported Eldacar against Castamir, and rallied to him upon his return from the North. During the Great Plague of T.A. 1636, the peoples of Calenardhon suffered greatly, and the remaining Dúnedain were further diminished. Four hundred years later, the population of the province began to move eastwards to defend the line of the Anduin, and by T.A. 2460 the old fortresses at Aglarond and Angrenost were abandoned to the care of local lords. Simultaneously, the western parts of Calenardhon were increasingly occupied by Dunlendings migrating eastwards across the Isen. Under the rule of Steward Cirion in T.A. 2509, the province was overrun by Easterlings. Cirion desperately appealed for help from allies in the north, the Éothéod, the descendents of those who had supported Eldacar during the Kin-strife. The Éothéod, led by Eorl the Young, rescued the Gondorian army at the Battle of the Field of Celebrant that same year, saving Gondor. The next year, Cirion summoned Eorl to Amon Anwar, the tomb of Elendil, and granted him the province of Calenardhon as a reward for his assistance. Thus, Rohan was founded.
Eorl’s first task was to drive out the Dunlendings, who had begun to settle more of Rohan in the absence of the Gondorians. He established his capital at Aldburg, but died in T.A. 2545, fighting against Easterlings in the Wold. The migration of the Éothéod southwards continued during the reign of his son Brego, who moved the capital to Edoras and built the Golden Hall of Meduseld. The realm continued to prosper and expand for some years afterwards, as more Rohirrim settled, and control was established to the west. However, as the years passed, Dunlendings gradually began to settle within Rohan once more, harassing the Rohirrim and occupying Isengard. Two and a half centuries after the founding of Rohan, it was invaded by Dunlendings led by Wulf, forcing King Helm to flee to the Hornburg, and hold out there until a relief force from Dunharrow and Gondor arrived the following year. The area was thereafter known as Helm’s Deep, due to the sacrifice of Helm, whose death ended the first line of kings. Though Edoras was recaptured, and the Dunlendings driven back over the Isen and Adorn, Rohan would take 200 years to regather its strength. In T.A. 2759, the wizard Saruman was given the key to Orthanc, and resided there as an ally of Rohan. During the War of Dwarves and Orcs, many Orcs fled from the Misty Mountains to the White Mountains, crossing Rohan to do so. This caused trouble for the Rohirrim, who slew many under the rule of King Brytta, until the region was free of Orcs in T.A. 2864. At some point, the warning beacons of Gondor are built, to alert those in the outermost regions of Gondor of trouble; the westernmost warning beacon of the north, Halifirien, was administered by the people of Rohan as Gondor’s power wanes. Around the year T.A. 2960, the now corrupted Saruman began to subvert the Kingdom of Rohan, attempting to weaken the King, support the Dunlendings and build an army of his own.
Geography
Geographically, Rohan is split in two pieces; the inhabited regions in the foothills of the White Mountains, and the lesser populated plains to the north. In the far north is the Wold, a vast, empty plain, inhabited by nomadic herdsmen with their flocks. South of the Wold are the Eastemnet and Westemnet, similarly grassy regions, though more inhabited, the Eastemnet being hillier and the Westemnet featuring expansive swamplands- these are separated by the Entwash. Along the White Mountains and south of the Entwash and Snowbourne are (named east to west) the Eastfold, Folde and Westfold. Beyond the vale between the Misty Mountains and the White, known as the Gap of Rohan, is the West-march, inhabited by a mix of Rohirrim and Dunlendings, whose loyalty is not entirely to the King. Both the former capital of Aldburg and current capital of Edoras are within the Folde which, along with the East and Westfold, produce the majority of the food for the kingdom. These regions closest to the mountains feature towns, villages, farmsteads and the ruins of forts and watchtowers from when the Gondorians controlled the area. The Hornburg at Helm’s Deep is an excellent example of one such fortress. To the east, Rohan is protected by its ally of Gondor, the marshes of the Mouths of Entwash, the hills of the Emyn Muil (terminating at the East Wall of Rohan) and the river Anduin, though the Undeeps provide opportunities for invading forces to cross the river. The Limlight marks the northern frontier of Rohan, beyond which is the land of Lothlórien, which is feared by the Rohirrim; the similarly feared Fangorn Forest occupies much of the western border, amid the foothills of the Misty Mountains. The Great West Road stretches across the entire width of Rohan, from the Firienwood to the Fords of Isen.
Climate
Though there can be high winds and cold temperatures on the plains of the Wold and the Emnets, the more inhabited regions of Rohan are sheltered by the White Mountains, and have conditions favourable for farming. Storms sometimes come off of the Misties and into Rohan.
Culture
The Rohirrim have a deep love for horses, folklore and song. They live in villages, usually within longhouses consisting of one room. The central building of a settlement is usually a larger longhouse, where a local lord lives. This lord might own some of the land that is farmed, and rent it out. Most of the Rohirrim are competent horsemen, and able to fight if called up by the King.
Governance
Rohan is ruled by the King from the capital of Edoras, though local lords and chieftains have their own influence locally, especially in the further regions of Rohan. Some more important fortresses, such as the Hornburg, have leaders explicitly loyal to the King assigned. Militarily, the King appointed the First, Second and Third Marshals of the Riddermark, whose responsibilities varied, but they generally held authority over military force over certain parts of the realm; the First Marshal in the Folde, the Second and Third over less defined areas. In times of war, the Riders of Rohan would muster to Edoras to await orders. Taxes are paid to the King at Edoras.
Economy
The economy of Rohan is agrarian, mostly arable or livestock farming. Rohan’s most famed export are their horses, which graze on the plains of Rohan in the summer before being brought back to the more populated region for the winter. In larger settlements, more specialised professions, such as saddlers and blacksmiths, can be found.
