Post by Móreadhiel on Jan 16, 2007 13:53:55 GMT -5
Grimbold Decipher Card of a Rider named Grimbold
in the New Line film
Rider of Rohan who fought at the Battles of the Fords of Isen and died at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Grimbold was a lesser Marshal of the Westfold under the command of King Theoden's son Theodred. Grimbold's home was Grimslade in the Westfold. He was a man of great strength and stature.
At the First Battle of the Fords of Isen on February 25, 3019, Grimbold covered the retreat to the Fords when the Rohirrim were surprised by Saruman's forces. Grimbold then commanded the defense of the west side of the Fords, while Theodred manned a small island in midstream. The Rohirrim were attacked from the east by Dunlendish horsemen and Orc wolf-riders plus two battalions of Uruk-hai.
A company of axemen who appeared to be part-Man, part-Orc attacked Theodred's position. Grimbold's position was also attacked, but he saw that Theodred was in trouble and ran to his aid. Theodred was struck down before Grimbold could reach him. Grimbold slew Theodred's killer and defended his fallen commander from the axemen.
Then Elfhelm arrived from Edoras with reinforcements. Most of Saruman's forces withdrew, and Grimbold and Elfhelm battled the axemen, each slaying one over Theodred's body. Grimbold and Elfhelm held the Fords through the night, and in the morning there was no sign of Saruman's forces.
Saruman did not proceed immediately with his invasion plans, due in part to the actions of Grimbold and Elfhelm at the Fords of Isen. If Saruman had not delayed, he would most likely have succeeded in conquering Rohan.
Erkenbrand, Lord of the Westfold, became commander of Rohan's western defenses after Theodred's death. He went to gather his scattered forces and left Grimbold in charge of the defenses at the River Isen, while Elfhelm remained in command of the troops from Edoras.
Grimbold and Elfhelm disagreed about their strategy. Elfhelm felt that the Fords of Isen were no longer of strategic importance. Grimbold wanted to defend the Fords as the Rohirrim had traditionally done, and he feared that if they abandoned the Fords, Saruman's forces would cross the Isen behind them and cut them off. It was decided that Grimbold would remain to defend the Fords while Elfhelm aligned his forces on the eastern side of the river.
At noon on March 2, Grimbold's position was attacked by a company of Saruman's best fighters. The Rohirrim were outnumbered, but they managed to hold out until sunset, when they were forced to withdraw to the eastern side of the river. Many of Grimbold's men were killed, but they had slain a greater number of Orcs.
Grimbold was resolved to defend the Fords for as long as he could before Saruman's army overwhelmed them. At midnight, the vanguard of Saruman's army forced the crossing of the Fords and surrounded Grimbold's camp. Grimbold's men formed a shield-wall that Saruman's forces could not breach. But the Rohirrim were trapped and Grimbold realized that he must abandon the Fords so that his men could survive to continue the defense of the Westfold elsewhere. To that end, Grimbold sent half a company of Riders under Dunhere out through the shield-wall. They doubled back and attacked Saruman's forces, causing confusion and panic and allowing most of the Grimbold's forces to safely retreat.
Gandalf arrived on March 3, and he advised Grimbold and his men to head southward to join their lord Erkenbrand. At dawn on March 4, Erkenbrand and Gandalf led 1,000 men of the Westfold to help break the siege of Helm's Deep.
When the Rohirrim rode to Gondor to help fight the forces of Mordor, Grimbold acted in the capacity of Third Marshal of the Mark. He commanded the Muster of the West-mark in place of Erkenbrand, who remained in Rohan. At the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, Grimbold led his riders on the left flank as the Rohirrim charged onto the field. Grimbold was killed in the battle, and he was buried in the Mounds of Mundburg outside Minas Tirith along with many other Men of Rohan and Gondor.
Etymology:
The name Grimbold is composed of the Old English word grim meaning "fierce" and the word bold.
Sources:
The Return of the King: "The Ride of the Rohirrim," p. 111; "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," p. 124-25
Unfinished Tales: "The Battles of the Fords of Isen," p. 355-66, 368-36
in the New Line film
Rider of Rohan who fought at the Battles of the Fords of Isen and died at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Grimbold was a lesser Marshal of the Westfold under the command of King Theoden's son Theodred. Grimbold's home was Grimslade in the Westfold. He was a man of great strength and stature.
At the First Battle of the Fords of Isen on February 25, 3019, Grimbold covered the retreat to the Fords when the Rohirrim were surprised by Saruman's forces. Grimbold then commanded the defense of the west side of the Fords, while Theodred manned a small island in midstream. The Rohirrim were attacked from the east by Dunlendish horsemen and Orc wolf-riders plus two battalions of Uruk-hai.
A company of axemen who appeared to be part-Man, part-Orc attacked Theodred's position. Grimbold's position was also attacked, but he saw that Theodred was in trouble and ran to his aid. Theodred was struck down before Grimbold could reach him. Grimbold slew Theodred's killer and defended his fallen commander from the axemen.
Then Elfhelm arrived from Edoras with reinforcements. Most of Saruman's forces withdrew, and Grimbold and Elfhelm battled the axemen, each slaying one over Theodred's body. Grimbold and Elfhelm held the Fords through the night, and in the morning there was no sign of Saruman's forces.
Saruman did not proceed immediately with his invasion plans, due in part to the actions of Grimbold and Elfhelm at the Fords of Isen. If Saruman had not delayed, he would most likely have succeeded in conquering Rohan.
Erkenbrand, Lord of the Westfold, became commander of Rohan's western defenses after Theodred's death. He went to gather his scattered forces and left Grimbold in charge of the defenses at the River Isen, while Elfhelm remained in command of the troops from Edoras.
Grimbold and Elfhelm disagreed about their strategy. Elfhelm felt that the Fords of Isen were no longer of strategic importance. Grimbold wanted to defend the Fords as the Rohirrim had traditionally done, and he feared that if they abandoned the Fords, Saruman's forces would cross the Isen behind them and cut them off. It was decided that Grimbold would remain to defend the Fords while Elfhelm aligned his forces on the eastern side of the river.
At noon on March 2, Grimbold's position was attacked by a company of Saruman's best fighters. The Rohirrim were outnumbered, but they managed to hold out until sunset, when they were forced to withdraw to the eastern side of the river. Many of Grimbold's men were killed, but they had slain a greater number of Orcs.
Grimbold was resolved to defend the Fords for as long as he could before Saruman's army overwhelmed them. At midnight, the vanguard of Saruman's army forced the crossing of the Fords and surrounded Grimbold's camp. Grimbold's men formed a shield-wall that Saruman's forces could not breach. But the Rohirrim were trapped and Grimbold realized that he must abandon the Fords so that his men could survive to continue the defense of the Westfold elsewhere. To that end, Grimbold sent half a company of Riders under Dunhere out through the shield-wall. They doubled back and attacked Saruman's forces, causing confusion and panic and allowing most of the Grimbold's forces to safely retreat.
Gandalf arrived on March 3, and he advised Grimbold and his men to head southward to join their lord Erkenbrand. At dawn on March 4, Erkenbrand and Gandalf led 1,000 men of the Westfold to help break the siege of Helm's Deep.
When the Rohirrim rode to Gondor to help fight the forces of Mordor, Grimbold acted in the capacity of Third Marshal of the Mark. He commanded the Muster of the West-mark in place of Erkenbrand, who remained in Rohan. At the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, Grimbold led his riders on the left flank as the Rohirrim charged onto the field. Grimbold was killed in the battle, and he was buried in the Mounds of Mundburg outside Minas Tirith along with many other Men of Rohan and Gondor.
Etymology:
The name Grimbold is composed of the Old English word grim meaning "fierce" and the word bold.
Sources:
The Return of the King: "The Ride of the Rohirrim," p. 111; "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," p. 124-25
Unfinished Tales: "The Battles of the Fords of Isen," p. 355-66, 368-36
