Who is Eowyn

• She's a fighter. Eowyn not only knows how to use a sword, she's not at all afraid to fight for those she loves.


• She's pretty. Helps make up for the fact that she's a terrible cook.


• She sticks up for the underdog. The Rohirrim were a bit patronizing towards Merry and wanted to protect him. Eowyn respected Merry and believed in him.

When we think of chivalrous men, we think of knights. But what about chivalrous women? What would we call a lady who is also a warrior? In her case, shieldmaiden would be an appropriate title.

In Scandinavian lore, a shieldmaiden was a woman who would take up a sword and fight as a man would. There are some historical accounts of Norse women fighting alongside men. Tolkien based Eowyn on these women.

In Norse mythology, there are also women deities who are based on shieldmaidens. They are known as valkyries.

You can learn more about shieldmaidens and valkyries at Wikipedia.

Officially? No. She is the niece of King Theoden and of noble blood, but this does not make her a princess. Shieldmaiden of Rohan is her title. However, she is regal and queenly in her way.

Eowyn inherited her strength and pride from her grandmother, Morwen. Eowyn's grandmother was a proud and graceful woman with dark hair. The people of Rohan called Morwen Steelsheen.

Morwen married Thengel of Rohan and bore him several children, including Theoden, Eowyn's uncle. The youngest was Theodwyn, Eowyn's mother.

Theodwyn married Eomund of Eastfold, the chief Marshal of the Mark. They had two children together: Eomer and Eowyn. Eomer was four years older than his sister.

Eowyn's uncle Theoden became king of Rohan and had a son of his own, Theodred. His wife Elfhild died giving birth to their son.

Eowyn's father was killed by orcs. Her mother Theodwyn wasted away and died from illness not long afterwards. Eowyn was only seven years old, and her brother Eomer was eleven.

King Theoden raised his nephew and niece as if they were his own children. Eowyn and Eomer also became like siblings to their cousin Theodred.

When the Rohirrim rode out to Pelennor Fields to fight Sauron's armies, Eowyn was told to stay behind and govern the people of Rohan in her uncle's absence. But she wished to fight with the others, so she disguised herself as a man. She also brought Merry with her, who like her wished to fight but was told to stay behind.

In the movie, Merry recognized Eowyn at once. In the original story, Eowyn maintained her disguise and called herself Dernhelm; Merry didn't recognize her, and instead saw a young man who had lost hope and sought death in battle.

Eowyn stayed close to her uncle during the battle, but she wouldn't be able to protect him. King Theoden was crushed beneath his own horse after the Witch-king descended upon the Rohirrim on his Fell Beast.

Eowyn confronted the Witch-king, blocking his way to Theoden. The Witch-king warned Eowyn not to come between the Nazgul and his prey, and said that no man can kill him.

It seemed that Dernhelm laughed, and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. "But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Eowyn I am, Eomund's daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him."

And when the Fell Beast tried to attack Eowyn, she beheaded it with one stroke. The Witch-king brought her to her knees after shattering her shield and breaking her arm with his mace. He would have finished her off if Merry had not come up behind him and stabbed him behind the knee.

The Witch-king stumbled, and Eowyn struck the blow that killed him.

So the prophecy foretold over a thousand years ago came true: The Witch-king would not fall by the hand of man. Instead he was defeated by a woman and a hobbit.