Wulf
Commander of Dunland declared an enemy of Rohan. Wulf was the son of Freca. Freca's people were descended from both the men of Rohan and the men of Dunland.
Wulf's father Freca had made his home west of the Gap of Rohan on both sides of the River Adorn. Freca had multiple strongholds on either side of the Adorn, and he lived with many people who also came from mixed backgrounds. Freca was very rich and he had power over his people. Freca and his people did not interact with the men of Dunland nor the men of Rohan.
In 2754 of the Third Age, Freca attended a council held by King Helm of Rohan. Freca suggested that Wulf marry the king's daughter to keep peace between Freca's people and the Rohirrim. Helm firmly rejected this idea, such an idea made him laugh. But Freca warned Helm that he would regret making enemies. Hearing this, Helm killed Freca with only his fist. From then on, Helm became known as Helm Hammerhand.
After Freca's death, Wulf was driven out of Rohan. His expulsion across the Adorn and his father's death inspired a new rage inside him. Wulf rallied both his father's men and men from Dunland. Wulf's army was ready to invade Rohan in 2758.
Wulf attacked at a strategic time in which Rohan was also under attack from the east by Easterlings and Rohan's allies in Gondor were under attack by three fleets of Corsairs from Umbar. Wulf led his invasion into Rohan where they were somehow joined by some of the Corsairs. Now a force of increased strength, Wulf led his Dunlendings and Corsairs across the Isen where they defeated an army of King Helm Hammerhand. The few Rohirrim survivors fled to to the Hornburg. Wulf did not bother putting the Hornburg under siege. Instead, he forced his way to Rohan's capital city of Edoras, which he occupied for a short period of time. While Wulf named himself King of Rohan, Helm's nephew Frealaf rallied the remaining Rohirrim forces in Dunharrow.
Helm Hammerhand died during the Long Winter. Both of his sons had now died as well: Haleth had been killed at Edoras while Hama died during the Long Winter. But Helm's nephew Frealaf was still living and he took Wulf by surprise in 2759, when he retook Edoras and slew Wulf in the hall of Meduseld. Frealaf was then named King of Rohan.
After Frealaf's reoccupation of Edoras, the Dunlendings were driven back into Dunland. The Dunlendings and the Rohirrim remained hostile enemies.
Wulf's father Freca had made his home west of the Gap of Rohan on both sides of the River Adorn. Freca had multiple strongholds on either side of the Adorn, and he lived with many people who also came from mixed backgrounds. Freca was very rich and he had power over his people. Freca and his people did not interact with the men of Dunland nor the men of Rohan.
In 2754 of the Third Age, Freca attended a council held by King Helm of Rohan. Freca suggested that Wulf marry the king's daughter to keep peace between Freca's people and the Rohirrim. Helm firmly rejected this idea, such an idea made him laugh. But Freca warned Helm that he would regret making enemies. Hearing this, Helm killed Freca with only his fist. From then on, Helm became known as Helm Hammerhand.
After Freca's death, Wulf was driven out of Rohan. His expulsion across the Adorn and his father's death inspired a new rage inside him. Wulf rallied both his father's men and men from Dunland. Wulf's army was ready to invade Rohan in 2758.
Wulf attacked at a strategic time in which Rohan was also under attack from the east by Easterlings and Rohan's allies in Gondor were under attack by three fleets of Corsairs from Umbar. Wulf led his invasion into Rohan where they were somehow joined by some of the Corsairs. Now a force of increased strength, Wulf led his Dunlendings and Corsairs across the Isen where they defeated an army of King Helm Hammerhand. The few Rohirrim survivors fled to to the Hornburg. Wulf did not bother putting the Hornburg under siege. Instead, he forced his way to Rohan's capital city of Edoras, which he occupied for a short period of time. While Wulf named himself King of Rohan, Helm's nephew Frealaf rallied the remaining Rohirrim forces in Dunharrow.
Helm Hammerhand died during the Long Winter. Both of his sons had now died as well: Haleth had been killed at Edoras while Hama died during the Long Winter. But Helm's nephew Frealaf was still living and he took Wulf by surprise in 2759, when he retook Edoras and slew Wulf in the hall of Meduseld. Frealaf was then named King of Rohan.
After Frealaf's reoccupation of Edoras, the Dunlendings were driven back into Dunland. The Dunlendings and the Rohirrim remained hostile enemies.
Names & Meanings
The name wulf means "wolf" in Old English.
References
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A: "The House of Eorl," page 346-348
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