Théoden

Théoden, son of Thengel and Morwen Steelsheen, was the seventeenth King of Rohan, last of the Second Line of the royal House of Eorl.
== Biography ==
=== Early years ===
Théoden was the only son of Thengel, and became king after the death of his father in TA 2980. Théoden spoke Sindarin and Westron more often than Rohanese, due to the influence of his father, and spent a part of his youth growing up in the mountain vales of Gondor, his mother's homeland.
His sister Théodwyn lived with him in Edoras, and after she and her husband both died he adopted her children Éomer and Éowyn as his own. He had a son Théodred, whose mother, Elfhild, died at childbirth.
=== War of the Ring ===
By the time of the War of the Ring, Théoden had been king for nearly 40 years, and was becoming old and tired. He was increasingly misled by his chief adviser Gríma (or Wormtongue as most others in the Mark called him), who was secretly in the employ of Saruman the White. Gríma may even have been poisoning Théoden. In the last years before the War of the Ring, Théoden let his rule slip out of his hands, and Gríma gained an increasingly large hold over him. Rohan had been troubled by Orcs and Dunlendings since the time of his father and now by the new fighting Uruk-hai, who operated under the will of Saruman, ruling from Isengard.When Théoden's son Théodred was mortally wounded at the First Battle of the Fords of Isen with the Orcs of Saruman, his nephew Éomer became his heir. Éomer however fell out of favor with Wormtongue and was placed under arrest.
When Gandalf the White, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli appeared before him, Théoden initially rebuked Gandalf's advice to resist Saruman, but after being released from the effects of Gríma, he commanded Háma to release his nephew and bring him his sword. Théoden, under advice from Gandalf, advanced to face the invasion by the forces of Saruman. However on meeting Ceorl on the road and realising the strength of Isengard he rode instead to the fortress of the Hornburg, and shortly thereafter successfully defended the keep at the Battle of the Hornburg despite overwhelming odds. After this, he became known as Théoden Ednew, the Renewed, because he had thrown off the yoke of Saruman.
Following the battle, Théoden came with Gandalf to the ruins of Isengard, where he met Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took. He soon had favor for Merry, and expressed great interest in hearing more about the Shire, especially Hobbit lore surrounding pipe-weed. Riding to Dunharrow by mountain paths, Théoden arrived to find the muster of the Rohirrim in full swing. That night, errand riders from Gondor arrived and presented him with the Red Arrow, a symbol of dire need and summons to fulfill the Oath of Eorl. 
Théoden then led six thousand Rohirrim to the aid of Gondor at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, bravely charging the legions of Sauron, where he won great glory by defeating a chieftain of the Southrons along with the bearer of a banner depicting a black serpent.The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, Book Five, Chapter VI: "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields"
He challenged the Witch-king of the nine Ringwraiths, and was mortally wounded when his horse Snowmane fell upon him after being spooked by the Witch-king's winged steed. He was quickly protected by Éowyn and Merry, both of whom had ridden to war in secret.
Théoden's wounds were mortal and he perished on the Pelennor Fields. His body was preserved in the Hallows of Minas Tirith until Éomer returned with a cortege. Théoden was then buried in the Barrowfield outside Edoras, the last king of the second line.The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, Book Six, Chapter VI: "Many Partings"
After his death, the Rohirrim minstrel Gléowine composed a song for him and the other Kings of Rohan.
Out of doubt, out of dark, to the day's rising
he rode singing in the sun, sword unsheathing.
Hope he rekindled, and in hope he ended;
over death, over dread, over doom lifted
out of loss, out of life, unto long glory.
== Etymology ==
The name Théoden is taken from the Anglo-Saxon word þeoden, meaning "lord". It is related to the Old Norse word þjóðann, meaning "leader of the people" (i.e. "King"). It might have been translated from the original Rohanese Tûrac, an old word for "king".The History of Middle-earth, Vol. XII: The Peoples of Middle-earth, II: "The Appendix on Languages"
== In other versions ==
In one of J.R.R. Tolkien's early drafts of his The Lord of the Rings story, Théoden also had a daughter named Idis. She often appeared alongside her cousin Éowyn, but never spoke, and was always overshadowed by her.The History of Middle-earth, Vol. VII: The Treason of Isengard, chapter XXVI: "The King of the Golden Hall"
== Quotes ==
== In adaptations ==
=== Radio versions (1956) ===
In the The Lord of the Rings (1956 radio series), he was voiced by Valentine Dyall, and in The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series) he was voiced by Erik Bauersfeld, and in 1981 BBC Radio 4 adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, Théoden's healing is described in song rather than dramatised conventionally, which tends to lessen its impact. In this adaptation he was voiced by Jack May of The Archers fame.
thumb|Théoden (1978)|237x237px
=== Ralph Bakshi (1978) ===
In The Lord of the Rings (1978 film), Théoden was voiced by Philip Stone.
thumb|Théoden (1980)
=== Rankin-Bass (1980) ===
In The Return of the King (1980 film), Théoden was voiced by Don Messick.
=== The Lord of the Rings film trilogy ===
Théoden, portrayed by Bernard Hill, is a major character and secondary protagonist in Peter Jackson's film trilogy. He appears in The Two Towers and The Return of the King. Théoden is depicted as a considerate leader and mighty warrior who does not believe that Sauron can be defeated; however, he wishes to die with honor and make him and his people "worthy of remembrance."
In The Two Towers, Théoden is initially outright possessed by Saruman, in a deviation from the books. While under Saruman's spell, Théoden appears extremely aged, with grey hair and glassy eyes, and is unwilling to defend Rohan from the Dunlendings and Uruk-hai pillaging the Westfold. After Théoden's son Théodred is killed by Orcs, the new heir Éomer is banished by Wormtongue (on "orders" of the king) from Edoras; he takes with him some 2,000 Rohirrim riders.
Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas arrive in Edoras and Gandalf frees Théoden from Saruman's spell. The king recovers his sanity and a healthy appearance, and banishes Gríma (though originally desiring to execute the spy). Théoden mourns his son and decides that the best way to defend his people is to evacuate the people of Edoras to Helm's Deep, a decision Gandalf criticizes.
In The Two Towers, Théoden seems unsure as to whether his countrymen can fend off Saruman's hordes. Before the Battle of the Hornburg, he poetically expresses his belief that the world of men is soon to be destroyed. As the Uruk-hai overwhelm the fortress, he seems resigned to his fate; when he "rides out" with Aragorn on a final suicide charge, it is more so in order to die with honor than to actually defeat the Uruk-hai. However, Gandalf arrives during their charge and liberates Helm's Deep. The victors ride to Isengard to challenge Saruman, only to find the Ents have already defeated his forces and sealed him in his tower. Saruman attempts to persuade Théoden to make peace with him, but the king rejects him. Seeing Gríma atop Orthanc, he offers to grant him clemency, but as the former man of Rohan wavers, Saruman strikes him down. In revenge, Gríma stabs his master in the back before being felled by Legolas' arrow.
By The Return of the King, Théoden has become more confident in himself and his people. He boldly declares that Rohan will answer Gondor's call for aid once the Beacons of Minas Tirith are lit, and he assembles an army of 6,000 riders to liberate Gondor from Mordor's armies. Though he does not believe that his men can actually defeat Sauron, he inspires the Rohirrim to ride to Gondor's aid for the sake of honor.
At the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, Théoden leads the Rohirrim in their charge against the Orcish armies. The Rohirrim largely defeat the Orcs only to face a greater challenge in Harad's Mûmakil. Théoden's riders appear well on the way to victory when the Witch-king of Angmar arrives and throws Théoden from his steed. The king is crushed beneath his horse, and is about to be eaten by the Witch-king's Nazgûl-bird when Éowyn intervenes. Théoden lives long enough to witness his niece kill the Witch-king before succumbing to his injuries.
In the epilogue, it is implied that Éomer ascends to the throne of Rohan, although earlier in The Return of the King film, Théoden had suggested that Éowyn should rule if anything were to happen to him in the battle at Minas Tirith.
=== Video games ===
*Théoden also makes a brief appearance in The Lord of the Rings Online, in the Golden Hall of Edoras.
*In The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth and The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II, he is a hero in the Rohan faction, and is voiced by Phil Proctor.
*In The Lord of the Rings: Conquest, Théoden is voiced by Brian George.
*In The Lord of the Rings: Tactics, Théoden is a mounted unit, wielding a sword and a shield in close combat, and a bow at range.
===Voice dubbing actors===
Foreign Language 	Voice dubbing artist
Czech (Czech Republic) 	Jiří Plachý
French (France) 	Roger Mollien
German 	Reinhard Glemnitz
Hungarian 	László Újréti
Italian (Italy) 	Stefano De Sando
Japanese 	Katsuhiko Sasaki
Portuguese (Brazil) (Television/DVD)	Carlos Campanile
Spanish (Latin America) 	Rogelio Guerra
Spanish (Spain) 	Jesús Díez
Turkish 	Erhan Abir
==Gallery==
File:Theoden leads the attack.png|King Théoden rides out of Helm's Deep
File:Theoden's Sword.jpg|Herugrim's depiction in the films
File:Theoden (Tactics) LOTR The Card Game.JPG|King Théoden in The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, The Morgul Vale Adventure Pack
File:Theoden (Spirit) LOTR The Card Game.JPG|King Théoden in The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, The Treason of Saruman Expansion
==Translations==
Foreign Language 	Translated name
Amharic 	ጥሄኦደን
Arabic 	ثيودين
Armenian 	Տհեոդեն
Belarusian Cyrillic	Тhеоден
Bengali 	থথিওডেন
Bulgarian Cyrillic 	Теоден
Burmese 	သီအိုဒမ္
Chinese (Hong Kong)	希優頓
Georgian 	თეოდონი
Greek 	Θέοντεν
Gujarati 	થિઓડેન
Hebrew 	תיאודן
Hindi 	ठेओदेन
Japanese 	セオデン
Kannada 	ಥಿಯೋಡೆನ್
Kazakh 	Теоден (Cyrillic) Teoden (Latin)
Korean 	세오덴
Kyrgyz Cyrillic 	Тhэодэн
Laotian 	ຕຫເໂດເນ
Macedonian Cyrillic	Тхеоден
Marathi 	ठेओदेन
Mongolian Cyrillic 	Тhеоден
Nepalese 	ठेओदेन
Pashto 	طهېودېن ?
Persian 	تئودن
Punjabi 	ਠੇਓਦੇਨ
Russian 	Теоден
Sanskrit 	ठेओदेन्
Serbian 	Теоден (Cyrillic) Teoden (Latin)
Sinhalese 	තියොඩන්
Tajik Cyrillic 	Тҳеоден
Tamil 	ட்ஹெஒதெந்
Telugu 	ఠెఒదెన
Thai 	เธโอเดน
Ukrainian Cyrillic 	Теоден
Urdu 	ٹہیودان
Uzbek 	Тҳеоден (Cyrillic) Théoden (Latin)
Yiddish 	טהעאָדען
== References ==
de:Théoden
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fr:Théoden
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nl:Théoden
pl:Théoden
ru:Теоден
sk:Théoden
uk:Теоден
Category:Rohirrim
Category:Kings of Rohan
Category:The Lord of the Rings characters
Category:Characters in The History of Middle-earth
Category:The Return of the King (film) characters
Category:The Two Towers (film) characters
Category:Old English
Category:Major characters (The Lord of the Rings)
Category:Deaths in battle