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Helm Hammerhand was a Man and the King of Rohan. He led his people during the War of the Rohirrim. Helm's Deep was renamed in his honor following a major battle in the location.
History[]
Early life[]
Helm Hammerhand was born in TA 2691 and was brought up in Rohan. During the reign of his grandfather Déor, the Rohirrim began to see increasing attacks from the wild men of Dunland. In TA 2710, Helm witnessed the wild men occupy the deserted ring of Isengard. While the Rohirrim attempted to drive them out, they were unsuccessful. Helm's father Gram became King in TA 2718 and ruled for a 23 year period in which the Dunlendings led attacks against the Rohirrim.[1]
Coronation[]
Helm succeeded his father as the ninth King of Rohan in TA 2741. He became known as "Hammerhand" through the use of his two-handed warhammer, as well as his incredibly strong punch.[1] Hammerhand and his wife had two sons named Haleth and Háma as well as one daughter named Héra.[2]
Rule[]
As King of Rohan, Helm faced famine and war, ruling to keep the lands united. At some point, one of the princes of Gondor made an offer for Héra's hand in marriage, something that he kept from her but considered accepting to further unite Gondor and Rohan.[3]
Unexpected council[]
In TA 2748, Lord Fréca of the Westmarch sent messengers to Edoras to call for a Witan. The night of the council, Helm arrived in the royal halls and took his seat before the Dunlendings even arrived. Helm assured the council that everything would be dealt with quickly just as Fréca and his men entered the room. Fréca confronted Helm about the rumors that Gondor had made an offer through the marriage of Hèra. Fréca instead put forward a counter-offer, the hand of his son Wulf. Hammerhand watched as Wulf knelt down and asked for Hèra's hand in marriage. Helm threatened Fréca and confronted him, clenching a fist. Fréalaf, Helm's nephew, warned the King that the Halls of Edoras weren't the right place for a confrontation. Helm agreed and decided to confront Fréca outside and fight him hand-to-hand.[3]
As he prepared to face Fréca, Helm spoke to Fréalaf, explaining that he believed the Lord of the Westmarch's intentions were to take his throne rather than strengthen Rohan. Citizens of Edoras gathered around in a circle to watch the brawl. They circled each other, insulting each other as they walked. Fréca swung the first punches but Helm landed one-single punch in his opponents face. While Helm couldn't believe it at first, the punch had proven fatal, killing Fréca. Wulf drew his sword and assaulted the king in rage, who grabbed him by the throat and began to strangle the Dunlending Prince. Helm overheard his daughter yelling to let the prince go and he obliged, stating that enough blood had been spilt. Helm then banished Wulf from the lands of Rohan, warning him that if he returned he would be killed.[3]
In the many seasons that followed, Helm ruled on his throne in Edoras. There were "whispers" amongst the Rohirrim that it was an ill omen for a King to kill one of his own.[3]
Capture of Hèra[]
In TA 2758, Helm and his people began to see deteriorated bodies of wild horses littered around their lands. Hèra continued to search for Wulf but Helm no longer permitted her to go out alone.[3]
During one such search, Fréalaf and Olwyn engaged a Múmakil, causing them to momentarily lose sight of the princess, who led the beast into a nearby forest. She was captured by General Targg, who took her to Isengard, where she is reunited with Wullf. Fréalaf and Olwyn successfully mount a rescue and extract her to the safety of Edoras and her father.[3]
In the halls of Edoras, Helm and his advisers met together to discuss the reemergence of Wullf and his plans to invade and take Rohan. Fréalaf suggested that they immediately evacuate Edoras and make for Dunharrow. Helm was infuriated by Fréalaf, calling him a coward, and blaming him for allowing his daughter to be captured in the first place. Helm then banished Fréalaf, who took a contingent of men, and went to Dunharrow. With Lord Thorne's promise to raise men to meet Wullf in battle, Helm prepared to defend his hometown.[3]
Battle of Edoras[]
Night fell over Edoras, and the Rohirrim rode out to meet Wullf's men in battle. Unbeknownst to Helm, Lord Thorne had betrayed him and was in league with Wullf. Helm led his cavalry into battle alongside his sons Haleth and Háma. After fighting the wild men for some time, Helm realised that Wullf wasn't even present in the battle. He watched in dismay as a force of Variags and Múmakil approached the town of Edoras behind them, springing Wullf's trap. After engaging the Oliphaunts, Helm told Haleth to call the retreat and ordered his son to reach the city before Wullf. Helm and the Rohirrim finally reached the city where Wullf had successfully breached the walls using the Múmakil. Unbeknownst to Helm, his daughter had already called for the citizens of Edoras to retreat and they were already a ways down the road when he arrived back. He approached the Royal Halls, where he witnessed Haleth slay the Múmak that was about to run the building down. Noticing that his son was exposed in the open, Helm yelled his son's name. However, it was too late, and a nearby archer shot Haleth through the neck. Helm fell to his knees in anguish. Hèra and Háma managed to help their father onto a horse as arrows flew over their heads, some of which impaled the King's side. Wullf and his men gave chase out of Edoras. The Royal Guard of Edoras joined the King to protect him as they rode onwards. Háma's horse was old and became worn out, forcing him to fall behind.[3]
Siege of the Hornburg[]
After finally catching up to his people at the entrance of the Hornburg, Helm was weak from his injuries. Hèra searched around for a healer to tend to his wounds. Wullf and Targg finally caught up, with Háma as their prisoner. Just close enough to yell to each other, they presented their prisoner to the King, who offered himself up for his son's life. Despite Targg's advice to take the deal, Wullf slit Háma's throat in front of the people. Helm was quickly extracted into the Hornburg where he fell into a grief-stricken sleep. The wild men arrived and set up camp outside, laying siege. Winter began and the siege continued all throughout the season, Wullf's men building a siege tower to enter the keep. During the siege, Helm disappeared from his bed, nobody knowing his whereabouts. He began entering the siege camps outside and killing wild men one at a time with his bare fists. Wullf's men became aware of a legend of fear that had begun to spread as a result of Helm's attacks. It was said that Helm had already died from his wounds and his wraith was out in the snow, protecting his people and seeking revenge. He successfully messed with the minds of the wild men, who were struck with fear, although Wullf ordered them to remain, unwilling to let a ghost defeat his plans for revenge.
Hèra eventually found a passageway through the back of the Hornburg and stumbled upon a snow-troll and two Orcs outside who were investigating rings that their master had ordered them to find. Helm revealed himself, defending his daughter from the foes and killing the snow-troll with her help. In the chaos of the battle, the passageway was caved in. Helm turned to speak to his daughter, who was looking at him in terror, unsure if he was still all there. He told her that he was wrong not to listen to her when she returned from Isengard. With the wild men closing in, they made a break for the front gate. They were spotted running towards the gates and Lief attempted to open them but they were frozen shut from the cold. Helm used his strength to push open the doors, just enough for Hèra to slip through. Helm chose to stay outside and give his life to protect his people. He bid Hèra farewell through the crack in the door and told her that it was up to her to lead the Rohirrim to safety now. He closed the door and engaged the wild men on the bridge, killing all of them who managed to get near him. He held out for a long time before the temperature dropped below what he could handle and he was frozen, still standing on the bridge, having successfully protected his people.
Legacy[]
Hèra went on to successfully defend the Hornburg, renaming it as Helm's Deep in remembrance of her father. Wullf died to her sword during the battle and Fréalaf returned with his men to push back the wild men.
Many years later during the War of the Ring, King Théoden led his people to Helm's Deep where there was a statue of King Helm Hammerhand. The forces of Saruman the White from Isengard attacked in what became known as the Battle of Helm's Deep.[4] Although casualties were high, the Rohirrim defeated the forces of evil and went on to aid Gondor in the final key battles of the war.[5]
Relationships[]
Family
- Déor - grandfather
- Gram - father
- Hild - sister
- Wife
- Fréaláf - nephew
- Haleth - son
- Háma - son
- Hèra - daughter
Allies
- Rohirrim
- Lief
- Frygt
- Olwyn
- Pryme
Enemies
- Dunlendings
- Thorne's men
- Thorne (former ally)
- Variags
- Mûmakil
- Orcs
- Unidentified Snow Troll (Hornburg)
Appearances[]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim: Visual Companion
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King