Also known as: King Of Rohan, Theoden Ednew
Theoden, son of Thengel, was the seventeenth King of Rohan, called after his renewal Theoden Ednew, the Restored. A good and generous king in his prime, he fell in his later years under a creeping malady of mind fostered by his counsellor Grima Wormtongue, who was secretly Saruman's creature; Theoden aged before his time, sank into passivity and despair, and let the defence of the Mark falter while his only son Theodred was slain in battle at the Fords of Isen.
When Gandalf came to Edoras and cast out the lies of Wormtongue, the king was restored to vigour and took up his sword again. He led his people to the desperate defence of the Hornburg at Helm's Deep, and when the Red Arrow of Gondor came to him he answered it, mustering the Riders and leading them on the long ride south. Upon the Pelennor Fields it was Theoden who led the great charge that broke the siege of Minas Tirith, his golden shield shining as the host of Rohan swept the enemy before them -- until the Witch-king upon his winged beast brought down his horse Snowmane, which fell and crushed the king beneath it. Dying, he took comfort that he would not be ashamed to sit among his fathers, and bade farewell to Merry and to the rider he knew not was Eowyn; he was borne home in honour to rest at last in the mounds of Edoras.