Across the wide plains of Calenardhon the Rohirrim ride—swift horse-lords of the Riddermark who shelter beneath Meduseld at Edoras and sound the horn of the Hornburg at Helm's Deep. From Éorl and the line of kings to Théoden, Éomer, and Éowyn, Rohan is woven of horses, hard riding, mead-hall song, and fierce loyalty. When Saruman and Mordor threaten the West, the cavalry charge of the Riddermark helps turn the War of the Ring. This concise guide gathers Rohan's history, language roots, culture, warcraft, famed steeds, key battles, and heroic figures for readers eager to know why the Rohirrim remain one of Middle-earth's most moving peoples.

With Minas Tirith besieged and Pelennor Fields choked by Mordor's host, the clash of Gondor and Rohan against Haradrim and the Nazgûl became the War of the Ring's turning point. The Rohirrim's thunderous charge, Théoden's leadership, and the brave deeds of Éowyn and the hobbit Merry Brandybuck toppled the Witch-king of Angmar; Denethor's despair and Faramir's rescue exposed Gondor's fragile command. Oliphaunts (mûmakil), siege engines, cavalry tactics, terrain, morale, and Aragorn's late arrival with reinforcements all shaped the result. This concise guide pinpoints the strategies, sacrifices, and pivotal moments that decided the greatest battle of the Third Age.

High on a rocky spur above the Pelennor Fields and the River Anduin, a seven-tiered white citadel watched over Gondor and its broken borders. Born as Minas Anor and later called Minas Tirith, it held the White Tree, proud gatehouses, great walls, and the last hope of men during the War of the Ring—facing the Siege of the Pelennor Fields, Denethor's despair, Gandalf's counsel, the charge of the Rohirrim, and the Witch-king's doom; in the end it was restored as the White City under King Elessar. From strategic watch over Osgiliath to small moments on the battlements with a curious hobbit, Minas Tirith is a story of endurance, heritage, and the turning of ages.

The Rohirrim thunder down from the Riddermark to Minas Tirith in a massive cavalry charge across the Pelennor Fields, answering Gondor’s call. Led by King Théoden and the riders of Rohan on great horses, with lances, banners and war-horns, they smash enemy lines, scatter Haradrim and Orcs, and help shape the clash with the Witch-king. Their bold charge at the heart of the Battle of the Pelennor Fields becomes a turning point in the War of the Ring.

Across the frozen north of Middle-earth, Elves, Men, and Dwarves waged a patient, centuries-long war to contain Morgoth within the iron fortress of Angband. Noldor and Sindar watchers, joined by the Edain and scattered allies, held sieges, launched raids, and guarded the northern marches while secret cities like Gondolin and Nargothrond rose and fell. The struggle mixed siegecraft, endurance, and desperate heroism—feats and losses that shaped the First Age, echoed in lonely rides to the gates by heroes such as Fingolfin, and left a lasting mark on the history of the Eldar and the peoples of Middle-earth.

Elrond is one of Middle-earth’s great figures: a Half-elven lord born in the Years of the Trees whose mixed heritage—son of Eärendil and Elwing and brother of Elros—ties him to Elves, Men, and the old tales of Beren and Lúthien. As Lord of Rivendell, bearer of the Ring Vilya, healer, and lore-master, he guided the Council of Elrond, sheltered the Fellowship, and helped shape the paths of Frodo, Aragorn, Gandalf, and many others. From the Second Age through the Third Age he stood against Sauron’s shadow, making hard choices about fate and mortality that affected Númenor and the Last Alliance. His wisdom, duty, and deep knowledge of Elven lore make him a guardian of the West and a pivotal force in the struggle for Middle-earth.

Mount Doom — Orodruin — stood at the center of Mordor as a smoking, volcanic forge where the One Ring was made in the Sammath Naur. It fed Sauron's power, shaped the War of the Ring, and was the only place the Ring could be unmade. The Fellowship, and especially Frodo and Sam, braved ash, heat, Nazgûl, and despair to reach its churning heart; their journey, the Ring's destruction, and the volcano's final eruption decided the fate of Middle-earth.

In the black shadow of Mordor, Samwise Gamgee slips past Orc sentries and climbs the broken stair to the Tower of Cirith Ungol to perform one of the boldest rescues in Middle-earth. After the horror of Shelob’s lair and Gollum’s treachery, Frodo lies captive and half-dead, bound by ropes and watched by hostile Orcs — captains like Shagrat and the dire quarrels of Mordor’s patrols swirl around the pass. Sam’s fierce loyalty, quiet cunning, and sudden violence fuel a desperate escape: stealth through the darkness, brutal fights with orcs on narrow stairs, freeing Frodo from the tower, and the long, painful retreat toward Mount Doom while the burden of the Ring and the fate of the world press close. It is a tale of small courage, sacrifice, and the stubborn hope that can change the course of the Third Age.

Long ago, beside the still waters known as Cuiviénen — the Waters of Awakening — the first Elves, the Quendi, opened their eyes beneath the starlit sky during the Years of the Trees. Readers will find the tale of their first footsteps, their meeting with the Valar (notably Oromë), the dark shadow of Melkor that delayed the summons of the Eldar, and the great sundering that divided Elves into Eldar and Avari and later into Vanyar, Noldor, and Teleri. This concise guide traces origins, early names and places, the role of the Valar, and how the memory of Cuiviénen echoes through the ages of Middle-earth.

On the mirrored waters of Cuiviénen the Elves first opened their eyes, marking the Awakening that would change Middle-earth. The Valar heard and argued over their fate, Oromë discovered them, and Melkor's shadow touched their early days. The summons to Valinor and the Great Journey split the Eldar into those who would seek the light and those who would remain, beginning a long tale of friendship, exile, and longing that echoes through the Years of the Trees and all later histories.

Dorthonion rose as a high, pine-clad land on the fells of northern Beleriand, watched over by the sons of Finarfin. Its tall pine forests and bright halls became symbols of lore and courage until Morgoth's darkness swept in, twisting Dorthonion into the dread Taur-nu-Fuin—the Nightshade—where black trees, fear, and ruin reigned. This is a haunting story of exile, brave elves and men, and the loss of a once-shining realm.

A thunder of war and the Valar's might smashed the lands of Beleriand: fire, flood, and earthquake tore coasts and mountains apart. The homes of the Noldor and Sindar, the halls of Gondolin, Nargothrond, and Doriath, and the strongholds of Men and Dwarves buckled under Dagor Bragollach, the Nirnaeth, and the final War of Wrath against Morgoth. Seas rose, islands formed, and wide tracts of earth sank beneath the waves, forcing survivors to flee to Lindon, Eriador, and the Havens while songs, kingships, and languages were broken and remade. The tale shows how a single cataclysm ended the First Age and reshaped the map and future of Elves, Men, and all who remained.