Hornburg Castle and Helm’s Deep
The Hornburg Castle was a castle built by Gondor when they’ve ruled the land of Calenardhon before it was handed to Rohan.
The Hornburg Castle was called the Suthburg first, that means the castle of the south as the Hornburg Castle was a strategic point defending the Gap of Rohan.
While the Misty Mountains divided Middle Earth from the west to the east, the Gap of Rohan was furthest end of the Misty Mountains and it was the gateway from Eriador of the west to Gondor to the east.
After the death of Helm Hammerhand, the Suthburg castle was called the Hornburg Castle after Helm Hammerhand’s horn. The valley was also named after Helm Hammerhand as Helm’s Deep.
Glittering Caves – Refugee of the women and children
The women and children that evacuated to the Hornburg Castle took shelter in the Glittering Caves that was a system of caves deep inside the White Mountains.
When Gimli arrived at the Hornburg Castle, he was fascinated by the beauty of the Glittering Caves. After the War of the Ring, Gimli would ask permission to settle down in the Glittering Caves.
Strength of the forces of Rohan at Helm’s Deep
King Thedoen of Rohan could mobilize about 2,000 ~3.000 men that includes the garrison that were defending the lands of Helm’s Deep and the troops of Edoras at the Hornburg Castle. Officers such as Gamling, Hama (king’s guard) and Gimbold were among the ranks of the forces of Rohan.
Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas, the three hunters of the Fellowship of the Ring also joined the defense. In the novel, Eomer was also present at Helm’s Deep since the beginning while another marshal named Erkenbrand came to the rescue.
Also in the novel, the elves didn’t join the battle. In the movie, 200~300 elves from Lothlorien led by Haldir also joins Helm’s Deep. There might be elves that came from Rivendell as Haldir arrived at Helm’s Deep by the orders of Elrond.
The movie depicts the Rohan army with adolescents and old men, but in the novel the Rohan garrison was men that were capable of fighting. This was intended to be a more dramatic effect for the movie.
Strength of the forces of Isengard at Helm’s Deep
The movie Lord of the Ring explicitly shows the Uruk-Hai as the main forces of Isengard. In the novel, there were about 5,000 orcs and 2,000 Dunlendings and half-orcs that also joined the army of Isengard.
In the movie, there were 10,000 Uruk-hai mobilized from Isengard that attacked the Hornburg Castle.
Difference between the armory of Isengard Uruk-Hai and Mordor orcs
In the movie, the armory and weaponry of the Uruk-Hai and orcs were described in different manners by the characteristics of Saruman and Sauron. The Uruk-Hai were armed heavy infantry with a unified standard with different sections infantry that utilized cross bows, pikes, swords.
Among the uruk-hai were also specialized infantry called berserkers that led the assault that had no armor for mobility. Saruman’s main political idea was centralized and organized control by force and power and his characteristics were well shown in the Uruk-hai army.
Saruman’s ideal politics eventually led to his betrayal as well. Sauron, however, was cunning and preferred power by fear that was different from Saruman as Sauron preferred to take any kind of measure to fulfill his purpose and as long as obedience followed, Sauron didn’t care much.
These characteristics were shown on the orcs of Mordor where they didn’t have standardized armor, weapons and only joined Sauron because of their fear of Sauron.
Theoden’s Inner Conflict & Conversation with Aragorn
(The reinforcement of the elves itself and the redemption of Theoden was more of a movie adaptation. Honestly Rohan became the main protagonist in the cinematic series of Lord of the Rings while Gondor was underestimated a lot.
This did frustrate some of the Tolkienists) Aragorn informs King Theoden of the 10,000 Uruk-Hai troops marching to the Hornburg Castle at Helm’s Deep. King Theoden feels agony and despair. Aragorn insists that King Theoden should call upon reinforcements to the dwarves, elves and Gondor.
However, Theoden becomes frustrated but still politely addressed Aragorn as a lord explaining that unlike him, Rohan wasn’t lucky to have an elf and dwarf friend.
Theoden was already in agony as he knew his fall to Saruman’s magic caused the crisis of Rohan. Theoden also knew that Helm’s Deep and the Hornburg Castle wasn’t invincible but he still insists on the final defense of Helm’s Deep despite Aragorn’s words as Theoden knew he had no choice.
Still, Theoden was in stress, agony and pain that his absence of foolishness led to the imminent downfall of Rohan. However, Aragorn’s words eventually helps King Theoden redeem himself and made him stand alone. Well not alone.
The movie focuses on this emotion of King Theoden and Theoden’s hope rises as the elves led by Haldir arrives at the Hornburg Castle for reinforcements. Theoden not only redeems himself but he also gains hope of restoring the old alliances to defeat Saruman and Sauron after his conflicts.
Uruk Hai Berserkers
The strongest Uruk-Hai’s were selected as berserkers that would lead the spearhead of the Uruk-hai. They would use a 5 foot blade that is about 1.5 meters long while armed with almost nor armor at all.
The purpose of the berserkers was to clear out the landing zones of the ladders while killing as many men as possible.
The helmets on the berserkers were also pushed onto their head as their sole purpose was to establish the bridgehead and they were meant not to survive. One berserker would wield the Fire of Orthanc, the Devilry of Saruman that would blow up the Deeping Walls the first line of defense of the hornburg castle.
Beginning of the Battle of the Hornburg Castle
Saruman’s uruk hai forces arrive at Helm’s Deep during the night. In the movie adaptation, there were far less people of Rohan defending the Hornburg Castle and the movie depicts them mostly adolescents and elderly men.
This was to create more of a dramatic effect as the original novel a few thousand men defending the Hornburg Castle. An arrow released by accident starts the battle of the Hornburg Castle in the movie.
