Dunhere             

Lord and Master of Harrowdale in Rohan, Dúnhere, a noted warrior, lived during the Third Age serving King Theoden Ednew. *Also called the “Ram-Lord” (Rammhlaford in Rohhiric), Dúnhere was chieftain to the people of the Rohirrim who made their home in the White Mountains (Ered Nimrais), in a valley called Harrowdale. In this valley, where the river Snowbourn cut through the mountains, the stronghold of Dunharrow was maintained by Dúnhere and his folk.

In the Second Battle of the Fords of Isen, which was fought on the night of March 2^nd 3019, the armies of Erkenbrand’s Rohirrim, commanded by Grimbold and Elfhelm, fought Saruman’s forces. The Rohirrim were badly outnumbered and were saved at the last by Dúnhere who led half an eored in a charge against Saruman's forces that allowed most of Grimbold's men to retreat to safety. Dúnhere survived the battle himself through his courage and skill at arms.

After the Battle of the Fords, Dúnhere assembled the remaining strength of Rohan while the Battle of the Hornburg raged to the west. Erkenbrand regrouped his forces and returned to Helm's Deep with Gandalf the White and 1,000 men on foot at dawn on March 4^th to spur an eleventh hour rout of Saruman's forces at the Battle of the Hornburg. Those Orc and Uruk-hai not killed by the Rohirrim were destroyed to the last by the forest.

A week later, the muster of Rohan was held in Dunharrow. Dúnhere greeted King Theoden when he arrived on March 9^th. He told the King that three days before, a “winged Nazgul” had descended on Edoras and Gandalf the White had counselled him to muster in the valley rather than the open fields. Dúnhere dined with the King and the muster was held the next day.

At the Battle of the Pelennor Fields on March 15^th, Dúnhere fought valiantly, felling many foes but was himself slain, pierced by many arrows. *His Lieutenant Ceorl was by his side when he fell and Dúnhere gave to him his Rams Horn to sound in great need. Dúnhere was buried in the Mounds of Mundburg with the other Men of Rohan and Gondor who fell that day. With him was buried his Ram’s Headed Sword and his name was remembered in song.

*During the last battle before the gates of Mordor, when the Nazgul on their Fell Beasts came to attack those that remained of the Gondorians and Rohirrim, it is said that the men of Rohan heard the sound of Dúnhere’s horn echo loudly above the din of battle. There was great amaze in the Rohirrim, for they knew that sound and that Dúnhere was no longer among the living. It was Ceorl blowing upon his lords horn. At that sound, however, there appeared suddenly Gwaihir and his Eagles as they dove hard on and attacked the Fell Beasts, driving them off. For the second time, Gwaihir had come to the aide of Dúnhere’s people in their time of greatest need.

Dúnhere’s Family House

*Dúnhere’s family house is the House Dunwarta.

In runes Dunwarta appears thusly: dunwarta

The House of Dunwarta is said to have been founded in the days of Eorl the Young's father, Leod, although it bore a different name then. One Curwadun of the Eotheod was raised into the ranks of the lords for his great service to Leod. His sons and their sons won great renown in the service of the kings as the new land of Calenardhon was settled.

It was the great-grandson of Curwadun who was bestowed with the lordship of the valleys of Harrowdale, for he was a steadfast and bold man who had shown great prowess conquering the high passes of the southern mountains, and alike were those of his kin. The house was named Dunwarta then, Hill-guardian, and it became the duty of the Dunwartans to watch over the dales of the White Mountains and the fastness of Dunharrow, the last retreat of the Rohirrim in times of danger. The men of Dunwarta have become as their abode, dour and unyielding as the roots of the rocks, yet they retain the worldliness of their forefathers, and care little about their lordly status.

Dúnhere’s Clan

*Dúnhere’s Clan is Clan Ethias:

In runes Ethias appears thusly: eTias

  The emblem of the Ethias clan is a silver fist on a field of red.        

Clan Ethias are the descendants of Helm Hammerhand, 9th and last King of the 1st line. They live in the western part of Rohan, controlling and maintaining the strong hold of Helm's Deep. They are a settled people, preferring to live in small towns instead of following their nomadic heritage. Many Ethians have taken up farming and mining, making them the two biggest industries. There is only a small permanent military force, but in times of need, all able men are expected to answer the Call to Muster.

Clan Ethias controls the Westfold plains, Helm's Deep, the valley of Harrowdale, the village of Dunlostir and the mining town of Grimslade. On the North-Western plains live the horse herds and those that tend them. The horse wards live in small camps near the streams and salt licks frequented by the horses that roam freely. After a month or two in one spot, the warders pick up and move camp, often traveling entirely across the Westfold. But their first concern is always the needs of the horses that pass by them.

Although all Rohirrim love and respect the great horses, most earn their livings in other ways. In the West-mark, farming and mining are their primary means. Farms dot the plains along the Great West Road while vineyards and orchards wind their way into many of the White Mountains' valleys. The main crops are grains for both man and horse as well as barley and hops for ale. The fortress at Helm's Deep, called the Hornburg, is the most formidable defensive structure in Rohan, and possibly the West. It is located deep in a valley, called the Deeping Coomb, in the Ered Nimrais Mountains.

The Ethias Clan House is located in this protected valley. It is the political and military center of the Westfold. Small farms dot the plains just outside of Helm's Deep as well as vineyards in the smaller nearby valleys. At the back of the Coomb, and behind the Burg, lies the wondrous caves of Aglarond. It is in these caves that supplies are stored for the keep. Semi precious stones are also mined there, but that is strictly controlled by the Ethias Clan Master so as to not destroy the natural beauty of the caves.

The people of Ethias are proud and honorable. They have sired more nobility than any other clan. And since they are more settled than the Eowains, they tend to view the East-markers as a bit backward. This has caused problems occasionally as the Ethians sometimes take a superior attitude towards their eastern cousins. The settled nature of the West-mark culture is due in part to the constant attacks of the Dunlendings. It is an old feud, dating back to the days of Eorl and fueled by the Dunlendings' claims that Rohan is their land. Ethians' feelings toward Dunland range from suspicion to full hatred with a very small minority being sympathetic. This sympathy comes mainly from those with some Dunlending blood as there have been times when the cultures intermingled.

 A map of the lands of Rohan

Dúnhere’s Land
The Westfold was the westernmost region of Rohan, lying immediately to the east of the Gap of Rohan, and in which lay the fortress of Helm's Deep. Its border with the Eastfold was marked by the course of the Snowbourn River. Harrowdale was the name given to the deep north-south valley cut out of the White Mountains by the Snowbourn. In this valley the ancient hold of Dunharrow stood above a cliff on the valley's eastern side. At the valleys southern end was the Starkhorn, a mighty snow-clad peak that rose in the inner regions of the White Mountains. From its feet sprang the Snowbourn, whose widening valley ran northwards through the mountains to emerge onto the plains of Rohan. Here at its northern end stood that nation's capital, Edoras. From Edoras, the lonely white peak of the Starkhorn could be seen along the entire straight length of the valley.