Biography
Grima Wormtongue was a man of Rohan allied with the wizard Saruman during the War of the Ring. He was appointed as the counsellor of King Theoden of Rohan, but betray the King by weakening his mind to prepare for Saruman's invasion of Rohan. Grima followed Saruman until he turned against him at the end of the war, and Grima and his master's deaths were the last deaths during the war.
Grima was the son of Galmod. It remains completely unknown how Grima became counsellor of the King. It also cannot be certain why Grima joined with Saruman. It was possible that Saruman promised Grima power as well as the marriage of Eowyn, King Theoden's nease, whom Grima greatly desired. Grima Wormtongue was told by Saruman to take hold over King Theoden. He was told to weaken the King so that Saruman and Wormongue could take over Rohan. The combined powers of Grima and Saruman nearly drove Theoden mad, and led the Kingdom into decay.
Grima began taking over Theoden's mind in year 3014 of the Third Age. He poisoned the king, which made him seem to be withering away prematurely. Grima also stole valuable items from both the King and the House of Eorl including the King's sword Herugrim, which he locked in a chest. He sent other items of value to Saruman. Grima spent much of his time tormenting the King by convincing him that he was too old for warfare. Theoden had once been a strong warrior, but now he never left Meduseld.
Grima slowly but surely began to influence Theoden's decisions. He advised King Theoden on every matter that came to his court. This meant that every decision made in the Kingdom of Rohan was influenced by Grima. The people of Rohan strongly disliked Grima and his policies, as he was clouding the King's vision. But they did not know that he was a traitor.
In addition to weakening Rohan's government, Grima attempted to weaken Rohan's military. The King's commanders were the Second Marshal of the Mark - the King's son Theodred - and the Third Marshal of the Mark - the King's nephew Eomer. Though he could not get either of them to turn against the King or against each other, he managed to talk Theoden into resenting his own son and nephew. He told Theoden that Eomer was power-hungry and disobedient, even though both Theodred and Eomer refused to disobey the King even when his orders came from Grima.
Grima followed Eowyn much of the time. He loved her and desired her, and he looked forward to the day that they would be married, for Saruman had promised this.
On September 19, 3018, Gandalf the Grey wizard arrived at Edoras. He demanded to speak with Theoden, but Grima refused the wizard admittance. The next day Theoden allowed Gandalf in and he warned the king of Saruman's plan to invade Rohan. After hearing this, Theoden and Grima banished Gandalf.
Grima then rode to Isengard with great speed to tell Saruman of Gandalf's visit. On the return journey, he was confronted by the Witch-King - the Lord of the Nazgul - and told him all that he knew, including the fact that Saruman had hidden his knowledge of the Shire and the Ring-bearer from the dark lord Sauron.
Saruman soon came to realize that Theodred posed a threat to his own plans. He sent out a force to kill him and succeeded in the First Battle of the Fords of Isen on February 25, 3019. Erkenbrand sent a request to Theoden for his armies to return to the Westfold at once, but Grima denied the armies permission. This way, Edoras was left defenseless.
Eomer soon learned of Orcs and Uruk-Hai travelling trough Rohan to Isengard. Eomer wanted to intercept the orcs and slay them, but Grima did not grant permission. Eomer did so anyway, knowing that Theoden would have granted permission on his own free will. Eomer encountered Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli on the way back to Edoras and let them roam freely, for he knew them to be good-willed. Eomer was therefore imprisoned for disobeying the King and for allowing travelers to roam freely.
On March 2, Gandalf arrived again at Edoras, this time with Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. Grima distrusted Gandalf, so he gave orders for his staff to be removed before he could enter Meduseld. However, the Doorward Hama saw Gandalf as a friend and allowed the wizard entrance with his staff.
Grima called Gandalf Lathspell, meaning ill-news. He accused Gandalf of bringing bad tidings. Gandalf then revealed himself to be Gandalf the White and raised his staff high. With a rumble of thunder and a bolt of lightning, Grima fell to the ground, powerless. Gandalf then released Theoden from Saruman and Grima's influence.
Theoden wanted to ride to war against Saruman. Grima began to fear, and he was forced to give up the chest with Herugrim and other stolen Rohirrim heirlooms. A conscious King Theoden offered Grima two options: fighting with Rohan against Saruman or leaving at once. Grima chose to leave, and when Theoden reached out to Grima he spat on his hand and ran.
Grima fled to Isengard to report his defeat to Saruman. On the way he may have been joined by Saruman's orcs, but he arrived at Isengard alone of March 5. He was astonished to find that the entirety of Isengard had been flooded and the walls had been knocked down and everything but the tower of Orthanc had been destroyed. The Ents had taken management of Isengard.
Trrebeard found Grima and lifted him off of his horse and threatened him. Grima, terrified, claimed to be running an errand on behalf of Theoden. He also claimed himself to be the only Rohirrim brave enough to enter Isengard. However, Treebeard had been told about Grima by Gandalf. Treebeard gave Grima a choice: he could wait for Theoden or go inside Orthanc with Saruman. Grima headed to the tower and Saruman yanked him inside with him.
Gandalf, Theoden, Eomer, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli arrived later that day to confront Saruman at Orthanc. Gandalf punished Saruman for his evil by removing the wizard's staff. Grima threw down the palantir of Orthanc in an attempt to hit Gandalf, but Aragorn pointed out that Grima hesitated before throwing - he was not sure if he wanted to hit Gandalf or Saruman. This angered Saruman greatly, and Grima was beaten.
On August 15, after the War of the Ring was won by the free peoples, Saruman convinced Treebeard to release him from Orthanc. Grima followed, and the Ents noticed that he had clearly been beaten by his master.
Saruman and Grima travelled northward. They encountered Gandalf, Frodo and the Hobbits, Galadriel, Celeborn, and Elrond on the road. They offered help and advise, but Saruman bitterly refused them and ordered Grima, telling him to move along. Grima revealed to Gandalf that he hated Saruman because he was cruel to him, and Gandalf only suggested that he leave his master. At this, Grima shuttered and followed his master closely.
Saruman decided to invade the Shire. He named himself chief and moved to Bag End, which was the home of Saruman's supposed ally, a Hobbit called Lotho Sackville-Baggins. However, Saruman ordered Grima to stab Lotho in his sleep, and the wizard spread a rumor that Grima ate Loth's dead body. The accuracy of this rumor is unknown.
On November 3, Saruman's Ruffian men engaged in the Battle of Bywater against uprising Hobbits. The Hobbits were victorious, and Frodo Baggins ordered Saruman to leave Bag End. The wizard did so, and Grima crawled in an attempt to follow him. Frodo offered Grima food and shelter, and the man very much wanted to accept. But Saruman told Frodo then that Grima had killed Lotho in order to disgust him. However, Frodo forgave Grima when he said that Saruman had put him up to it. But this was when Saruman laughed at Grima and kicked him in the face.
Grima had now endure enough torture. He became very angry, so he turned against his master once and for all. Grima jumped on Saruman and slit his throat with his knife. Grima was free. But as he crawled away, three Hobbit archers pierced the man killing him. This was the final act during the War of the Ring.
Grima was the son of Galmod. It remains completely unknown how Grima became counsellor of the King. It also cannot be certain why Grima joined with Saruman. It was possible that Saruman promised Grima power as well as the marriage of Eowyn, King Theoden's nease, whom Grima greatly desired. Grima Wormtongue was told by Saruman to take hold over King Theoden. He was told to weaken the King so that Saruman and Wormongue could take over Rohan. The combined powers of Grima and Saruman nearly drove Theoden mad, and led the Kingdom into decay.
Grima began taking over Theoden's mind in year 3014 of the Third Age. He poisoned the king, which made him seem to be withering away prematurely. Grima also stole valuable items from both the King and the House of Eorl including the King's sword Herugrim, which he locked in a chest. He sent other items of value to Saruman. Grima spent much of his time tormenting the King by convincing him that he was too old for warfare. Theoden had once been a strong warrior, but now he never left Meduseld.
Grima slowly but surely began to influence Theoden's decisions. He advised King Theoden on every matter that came to his court. This meant that every decision made in the Kingdom of Rohan was influenced by Grima. The people of Rohan strongly disliked Grima and his policies, as he was clouding the King's vision. But they did not know that he was a traitor.
In addition to weakening Rohan's government, Grima attempted to weaken Rohan's military. The King's commanders were the Second Marshal of the Mark - the King's son Theodred - and the Third Marshal of the Mark - the King's nephew Eomer. Though he could not get either of them to turn against the King or against each other, he managed to talk Theoden into resenting his own son and nephew. He told Theoden that Eomer was power-hungry and disobedient, even though both Theodred and Eomer refused to disobey the King even when his orders came from Grima.
Grima followed Eowyn much of the time. He loved her and desired her, and he looked forward to the day that they would be married, for Saruman had promised this.
On September 19, 3018, Gandalf the Grey wizard arrived at Edoras. He demanded to speak with Theoden, but Grima refused the wizard admittance. The next day Theoden allowed Gandalf in and he warned the king of Saruman's plan to invade Rohan. After hearing this, Theoden and Grima banished Gandalf.
Grima then rode to Isengard with great speed to tell Saruman of Gandalf's visit. On the return journey, he was confronted by the Witch-King - the Lord of the Nazgul - and told him all that he knew, including the fact that Saruman had hidden his knowledge of the Shire and the Ring-bearer from the dark lord Sauron.
Saruman soon came to realize that Theodred posed a threat to his own plans. He sent out a force to kill him and succeeded in the First Battle of the Fords of Isen on February 25, 3019. Erkenbrand sent a request to Theoden for his armies to return to the Westfold at once, but Grima denied the armies permission. This way, Edoras was left defenseless.
Eomer soon learned of Orcs and Uruk-Hai travelling trough Rohan to Isengard. Eomer wanted to intercept the orcs and slay them, but Grima did not grant permission. Eomer did so anyway, knowing that Theoden would have granted permission on his own free will. Eomer encountered Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli on the way back to Edoras and let them roam freely, for he knew them to be good-willed. Eomer was therefore imprisoned for disobeying the King and for allowing travelers to roam freely.
On March 2, Gandalf arrived again at Edoras, this time with Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. Grima distrusted Gandalf, so he gave orders for his staff to be removed before he could enter Meduseld. However, the Doorward Hama saw Gandalf as a friend and allowed the wizard entrance with his staff.
Grima called Gandalf Lathspell, meaning ill-news. He accused Gandalf of bringing bad tidings. Gandalf then revealed himself to be Gandalf the White and raised his staff high. With a rumble of thunder and a bolt of lightning, Grima fell to the ground, powerless. Gandalf then released Theoden from Saruman and Grima's influence.
Theoden wanted to ride to war against Saruman. Grima began to fear, and he was forced to give up the chest with Herugrim and other stolen Rohirrim heirlooms. A conscious King Theoden offered Grima two options: fighting with Rohan against Saruman or leaving at once. Grima chose to leave, and when Theoden reached out to Grima he spat on his hand and ran.
Grima fled to Isengard to report his defeat to Saruman. On the way he may have been joined by Saruman's orcs, but he arrived at Isengard alone of March 5. He was astonished to find that the entirety of Isengard had been flooded and the walls had been knocked down and everything but the tower of Orthanc had been destroyed. The Ents had taken management of Isengard.
Trrebeard found Grima and lifted him off of his horse and threatened him. Grima, terrified, claimed to be running an errand on behalf of Theoden. He also claimed himself to be the only Rohirrim brave enough to enter Isengard. However, Treebeard had been told about Grima by Gandalf. Treebeard gave Grima a choice: he could wait for Theoden or go inside Orthanc with Saruman. Grima headed to the tower and Saruman yanked him inside with him.
Gandalf, Theoden, Eomer, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli arrived later that day to confront Saruman at Orthanc. Gandalf punished Saruman for his evil by removing the wizard's staff. Grima threw down the palantir of Orthanc in an attempt to hit Gandalf, but Aragorn pointed out that Grima hesitated before throwing - he was not sure if he wanted to hit Gandalf or Saruman. This angered Saruman greatly, and Grima was beaten.
On August 15, after the War of the Ring was won by the free peoples, Saruman convinced Treebeard to release him from Orthanc. Grima followed, and the Ents noticed that he had clearly been beaten by his master.
Saruman and Grima travelled northward. They encountered Gandalf, Frodo and the Hobbits, Galadriel, Celeborn, and Elrond on the road. They offered help and advise, but Saruman bitterly refused them and ordered Grima, telling him to move along. Grima revealed to Gandalf that he hated Saruman because he was cruel to him, and Gandalf only suggested that he leave his master. At this, Grima shuttered and followed his master closely.
Saruman decided to invade the Shire. He named himself chief and moved to Bag End, which was the home of Saruman's supposed ally, a Hobbit called Lotho Sackville-Baggins. However, Saruman ordered Grima to stab Lotho in his sleep, and the wizard spread a rumor that Grima ate Loth's dead body. The accuracy of this rumor is unknown.
On November 3, Saruman's Ruffian men engaged in the Battle of Bywater against uprising Hobbits. The Hobbits were victorious, and Frodo Baggins ordered Saruman to leave Bag End. The wizard did so, and Grima crawled in an attempt to follow him. Frodo offered Grima food and shelter, and the man very much wanted to accept. But Saruman told Frodo then that Grima had killed Lotho in order to disgust him. However, Frodo forgave Grima when he said that Saruman had put him up to it. But this was when Saruman laughed at Grima and kicked him in the face.
Grima had now endure enough torture. He became very angry, so he turned against his master once and for all. Grima jumped on Saruman and slit his throat with his knife. Grima was free. But as he crawled away, three Hobbit archers pierced the man killing him. This was the final act during the War of the Ring.
References
The Lord of the Rings:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Council of Elrond," page 275
The Two Towers: "The Riders of Rohan," pages 38-39; "The King of the Golden Hall," passim; "Helm's Deep;" "The Road to Isengard," pages 149-162; "Flotsam and Jetsam," pages 178-179; "The Voice of Saruman," passim; "The Palantír," page 205
The Return of the King: "The Houses of Healing," page 143; "Many Partings," pages 258-262; "The Scouring of the Shire," page 300
The Unfinished Tales: "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields," page 277; "The Hunt for the Ring," page 340; "The Battles of the Fords of Isen," pages 355-368
The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Council of Elrond," page 275
The Two Towers: "The Riders of Rohan," pages 38-39; "The King of the Golden Hall," passim; "Helm's Deep;" "The Road to Isengard," pages 149-162; "Flotsam and Jetsam," pages 178-179; "The Voice of Saruman," passim; "The Palantír," page 205
The Return of the King: "The Houses of Healing," page 143; "Many Partings," pages 258-262; "The Scouring of the Shire," page 300
The Unfinished Tales: "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields," page 277; "The Hunt for the Ring," page 340; "The Battles of the Fords of Isen," pages 355-368
Timeline
Year 3014 of the Third Age:
Grima Wormtongue, counsellor to King Theoden, began poisoning the King's mind.
3018
September 19: Grima refused Gandalf the Grey admittance to Edoras.
September 20: Grima led Theoden to believe that Saruman was an ally despite Gandalf's warning. Gandalf was banished from Edoras. Grima went to Isengard to tell Saruman of Gandalf's visit.
3019
February 25: Saruman launched the First Battle of the Fords of Isen. Theodred was killed.
February 27: Grima advised Theoden not to send reinforcements to aid Erkenbrand. He also advised not to let Eomer pursue a clan of Orcs headed for Isengard. Theoden followed his advise, but Eomer did not.
February 30: Grima arrested Eomer for disobeying the King.
March 2: Gandalf reached Meduseld with Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli and he released Theoden from Grima's influence. Grima chose to leave and headed toward Isengard.
March 5: Grima arrived in Isengard and found it flooded and ruined. He was astonished. He chose to see Saruman in his tower. Later, Gandalf and Theoden confronted Saruman at Isengard and Saruman's staff was removed.
August 15: Treebeard was convinced to release Saruman from Orthanc with Grima.
August 28: Saruman and Grima saw Gandalf, Hobbits, and elves on the road. Grima revealed to Gandalf how Saruman mistreated him.
September 22: Saruman and Grima reached the Shire. They took rule of the land and ruined it. Saruman moved to Bag End.
Late September - October: Grima killed Lotho Sackville-Baggins in his sleep by orders of Saruman.
November 3: Hobbits win the Battle of Bywater against Saruman's forces. Grima turned against Saruman and killed him for his evil, but Grima was only killed by three Hobbits himself.
Names & Meanings
Gríma:
Gríma means "mask" in Old English and Old Norse. This is likely a reference to Gríma's acting as a servant of Saruman.
Wormtongue:
Grima was referenced as Wormtongue by many of the people of Rohan who did not trust him. The names suggests that Grima lied with his forked tongue. In the New Line film trilogy, Wormtongue is used as if it is Grima's last name.
Worm:
Saruman called Grima the Worm during the Battle of Bywater. This is likely short for Wormtongue.
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