BATTLE OF THE HORNBURG

(Redirected from Battle of Helm\'s Deep)

The 'Battle of the Hornburg' is a fictional battle in J. R. R. Tolkien's novel ''The Lord of the Rings''. The battle pitted the forces of Saruman against the Rohirrim under King Théoden, who had taken refuge in the mountain fortress of the Hornburg at Helm's Deep.

Contents

The battle

Background

The battle proper

Terminology

Adaptations

In Ralph Bakshi's animated film

Peter Jackson's "Battle of Helm's Deep"

In other media

See also

References

External links

The battle

Background

After being released from Gríma Wormtongue's influence by Gandalf, Théoden set out to the Fords of Isen, where Erkenbrand was fighting Saruman's forces. However, Théoden found out that they had been scattered, and Gandalf advised him to take refuge in the Hornburg, where many of the folk of the Westfold were taking refuge. Then Gandalf left to find the Rohirrim and bring them back to aid the the defence of Helm's Deep. The Rohirrim went to Helm's Deep, where the people were commanded by a captain called Gamling the Old. Many there were too old or too young, but the women and children of Edoras were at least safe in Dunharrow, led by Éowyn.

The battle proper

The forces of Saruman, common Orcs and Uruk-hai, together with some orc-human hybrids (called "half-orcs and goblin-men" — which may have referred to or included the Uruk-hai themselves) and human Dunlendings, arrived at the valley of Helm's Deep in the middle of the night.
The attackers quickly scaled over the first defence, Helm's Dike, forcing the Rohirrim there to fall back to the fortress. They approached and shot arrows at the defenders, some finding their mark. When they were close, the defenders loosed arrows and threw stones at them, driving them back, but they managed to get close to the wall after multiple charges. They attempted to break down the fortress's gate with a battering ram, but a sortie led by Aragorn and Éomer scattered the forces threatening the doors.
The Orcs and Dunlendings then raised hundreds of ladders to scale the wall. Aragorn and Éomer repeatedly motivated the tired defenders to repel the Orcs coming up the ladders and crossing the wall. However, some Orcs had crept in through a culvert which let a stream out of Helm's Deep, and while the defenders were busy with the assault on the wall, they were suddenly attacked from behind. The defenders, led by Gimli and Gamling, quickly reacted and drove back the Orcs, and the culvert was blocked up under Gimli's expert supervision.
However, the enemies reentered the culvert and made a wide hole in the wall using an explosive device invented by Saruman, a "blasting-fire". The defenders retreated to the Glittering Caves, Éomer and Gimli among them, or to the fortress proper.
Soon Saruman's forces broke through the gate and gained entrance to the fortress. At this moment, however, the horn of Helm's Deep was sounded, and after a moment a sortie led by Théoden and Aragorn rode forth, followed by all the Rohirrim left inside. Théoden and Aragorn cut through the Orcs and Dunlendings and arrived at Helm's Dike.
Both armies then noticed that many Huorns had moved to block a possible escape route for the Orcs. Then Gandalf arrived on Shadowfax, with Erkenbrand and a thousand swordmen on foot - the remaining strength of the Rohirrim that had been routed at the Fords of Isen. They charged into the fray. The Dunlendings were so terrified of Gandalf that they could no longer fight. The Orcs lost control and ran into the "forest" of Huorns, where they were destroyed. Thus, the battle ended with Rohan victorious.
After the battle those Dunlendings who surrendered were given amnesty by King Théoden and allowed to return home (much to their surprise, since Saruman had told them that the men of Rohan would burn all survivors alive). The Rohirrim required that all hostilities cease, and that the Dunlendings retreat behind the River Isen again and never recross while bearing arms. The slain Dunlendings were buried in a mound of their own apart from the Orc carcasses.

Terminology

The event is sometimes called the ''Battle of Helm's Deep'', a title which was never used by Tolkien but which is often used by readers and other fans, this has led to the misconception that the term "Helm's Deep" refers to the fortress. Properly speaking, the fortress is the ''Hornburg'' (Anglo-Saxon = horn fortress) and ''Helm's Deep'' is the ravine behind it. In one of his letters regarding a proposed film adaptation, Tolkien protested the use of ''Helm's Deep'', stating that, "the 'defence of the Hornburg' would be a better title, since Helm's Deep, the ravine behind, is not shown" (''Letters'', 210).

Adaptations

In Ralph Bakshi's animated film

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The Battle of the Hornburg is a key part of Ralph Bakshi's 1978 animated adaptation. However, it is never referred to by that name, or any other name. Bakshi calls the fortress itself "Helm's Deep". As Gandalf says to Aragorn:
:"''Halfway between Edoras and Isengard, there lies an old strong fortress that men call Helm’s Deep.''"
As already given above, this usage of ''Helm's Deep'' is incorrect, as regards to the source material.
Saruman's army is composed of Orcs and a few wolves.
Directly after this sequence, the "blasting-fire" is used to breach the wall, but it is turned into magical projectiles resembling comets coming from Isengard (Aragorn, seeing them, calls out "''Fire of Isengard!''"); it is some sort of explosive in the book.
More importantly, Éomer is not present at the start of the battle. Gandalf rides off to find him and his Riders (and explicitly says so), and returns with them at the end.

Peter Jackson's "Battle of Helm's Deep"

The Battle of the Hornburg is also a key part of Peter Jackson's film adaptation, ''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers''.
In the context of the film, it is referred to as the ''Battle of Helm's Deep'', and like Bakshi, Jackson identifies "Helm's Deep" with the fortress itself. As Gríma says to Saruman:
In the movie, 10,000 of Saruman's Uruk-hai lay siege to the fortress, which is defended by around 300 Rohirrim (before the battle, Legolas states their strength to be "three hundred against ten thousand", but he may have meant ''at that time'', as more were fleeing to the fortress.
The defenders suffer heavy losses, but hold out till dawn, when Gandalf arrives with two thousand riders led by Éomer, who finally turn the tide of the battle and send Saruman's forces into retreat.
The presence of Elven archers other than Legolas are one of the film's major departures from the book. Elrond, at the prompting of Galadriel, sends them under the command of Haldir of Lórien to reinforce the defence of the keep. During the battle, many of the Elves are killed, including Haldir.
Saruman's army in the film is solely composed of Uruks, though some of his Wild Men are shown attacking some farmers early in the film.
Expanding on the book's battering ram and ladders, the Uruks also use ballistae. The "blasting-fire" of the books is interpreted as bombs detonated by a torch-bearing sapper.
Concerning the climax of the battle, there are some other changes from the book to the film. In the original text, Gandalf returns with infantry led by Erkenbrand, whereas in the film they are cavalry led by Éomer (a change already made by Bakshi in his version). In the book, Éomer is of course present at the start of the battle; Théoden's line to Aragorn before they ride out.
Peter Jackson gave himself a cameo appearance as one of the Rohirrim; he throws a spear at the Uruks.

In other media

The battle is featured in the real-time strategy games '', and '', the latter chiefly based on the Jackson films. The former includes lines very close to the book in its cutscenes, notably in Aragorn's parley.
It is also possible to fight the battle with the Games Workshop tabletop miniature wargame ''The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game'', based on the films and the book.

See also

★ Middle-earth warfare

References

External links