Find out what became of King Eomer Eadig following the events of The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
As The Lord of the Rings: The War for Rohirrim approaches its December 2024 release, it’s worth wondering where some of the most glaringly absent characters have gone since Peter Jackson’s landmark movie trilogy concluded. In the case of Eomer Eadig, played by Karl Urban in the award-winning fantasy trilogy, the 18th King of Rohan was crowned at the end of The Return of the King. Although his time on the throne was not explored in detail, the character’s lasting contributions to the Rohirrim remain a valuable part of the culture and customs of the kingdom.
Inspired by the ancient poem Beowulf, Eomer translates as “Old Horse” and Eadig translates as “Blessed.” The name Eomer Eadig is thought to mean “Blessed War Horse,” indicating the King’s divine leadership and fierce warrior’s gallant skills on the battlefield. To create Eomer Eadig, Tolkien combined aspects of Anglo-Saxon mythology with Gothic origins, setting the character up as the eventual Marshal of the Mark in the Third Age of Rohirrim. With nearly 20 years since the character was last seen on screen, it’s time to find out what became of Eomer Eadig following the events of Lord of the Rings.
What Was Eomer Doing at the End of Lord of the Rings?
Following the death of his cousin Theoden (Don Messick) in Peter Jackson’s acclaimed movie The Return of the King, Eomer eventually ascends to the throne. As he leads the Rider of Rohan into the Battle of Black Gate, Gandalf orders Eomer to join forces with Gondor to attack Mordor with a diversionary sacrifice. Despite the potential for certain death, Eomer fulfills his duty and distracts Sauron long enough to allow Frodo to deliver the One Ring to Mount Doom. For his reward, Eomer is bolstered by Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), who arrives with his forces to assist the Rider of Rohan at Helm’s Deep.
Standing firm with Gondor and defeating Sauron, Eomer returns to Edoras to bury Theoden and is eventually crowned the King. Upon assuming the throne, Eomer swears The Oath of Eorl with Aragorn, the newly appointed King Elessar of The Reunited Kingdom of Gondor. The oath promises an eternal alliance and friendship between Gondor and Rohan, with King Eomer beholden to King Elessar for the remainder of their time in power in the kingdoms of Gondor and Rohan.
During his reign of power and responsibility for returning Rohan to prominence, Eomer earned the divine surname Eadig, which translates as “Blessed.” A time of peace, prosperity, and wealth brings Rohan back to a thriving kingdom. However, while the mighty Sauron was defeated, enemies from the West continued to seize control of the land. As such, Eomer and the likable main character Aragorn often ride out of Rohan together to fight enemies outside their territory.
What Happened to Eomer After The Lord of the Rings?
In Peter Jackson’s The Return of the King, Eomer’s big moment comes during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. During the battle, Eomer rescues Eowyn (Miranda Otto) and slays Chief Mumakil Mahud (Shane Rangi). Aragorn arrives in the nick of time to assist Eomer in the battle and the Rohan army easily overpowers the Orcs. Unfortunately, the movie does not depict Eomer’s rule of Rohan as the King of the Mark. However, some signs in the book indicate what he was up to following the events depicted in the Oscar-winning trilogy.
After restoring the Kingdom of Rohan to a place of riches, wealth, and advanced culture, Eomer eventually met and married a woman named Lothiriel in Gondor. Lothiriel is the daughter of the 22nd Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth, a rural area in the southern part of Gondor. Eomer and Lothiriel had one son named Elfwine The Fair, who eventually succeeded Eomer as the King of Rohan. Although none of this is depicted in Peter Jackson’s trilogy, Eomer Eadig ultimately dies in the year FO 63 in Tolkien’s Return of the King novel.
Eomer’s Lasting Legacy in Rohan
On his deathbed, Eomer called for his friend Mary Pippin to be by his side. Mary remained with Eomer until he eventually passed away after 65 years as the blessed ruler of Rohan. Following his death, Elfwine ascended to the throne and kept the family legacy alive while continuing the alliance between Rohan and Gondor. For his leadership duties and protection of Rohan, Eomer earned Gandalf’s respect, and his legacy was forever set in stone.
Although the details of Eomer Eadig’s time after Lord of the Rings are not definitive, the 18th King of Rohan lived a long and prosperous life once he assumed the throne in The Return of the King. In addition to fighting several battles in LoTR alongside Aragorn in Rohan, Gondor, and elsewhere, Eomer restored his kingdom to peace and prosperity. Eomer found true love, had a child, and passed on his legacy to a new generational leader before dying peacefully with his loved ones surrounding him.
Although his fate wasn’t portrayed onscreen, fans should rest easy knowing that Eomer Eadig came in and went out like a true king following the events in Lord of the Rings. Perhaps more about the character will be revealed when The Lord of the Rings: The War for Rohirrim is released in December 2024. Stream The Lord of the Rings series on Max.
