Hello, I just wanted to tell you that the name "middle earth" is copyrighted by amazon, I have alredy seen one chanel being striked because of this. Though you might wamt to know.
This was a fine video. I've always loved Return of the King. Ever since I saw the one made by Rankin Bass so long ago. That cartoon movie made me love this a lot.
“Spears shall be shattered, Shields shall be splintered, a Sword day, A RED DAY! , eere the sun RISES!” -King Theoden Hands-down my favorite quote from any fantasy battle
The moment that made King Théoden a legend among his ancestors "With that he seized a great horn from Guthláf his banner-bearer, and he blew such a blast upon it that it burst asunder. And straightaway all the horns in the host were lifted up in music, and the blowing of the horns of Rohan in that hour was like a storm upon the plain and a thunder in the mountains."
"Behind him thundered the knights of his house, but Theoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, or the battle fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne upon Snowmane, like a god of old, even as Orome in the Battle of the Valar when the world was young."
@@SH19922x Dragons? Elves with powers to wipe put entire armies? Dark lords? Yeah all that is fine but a dude boosted enough to shatter a horn with his lungs? Nah that's too much.
A note to add, as the Rohirrim charged and fought, they sang, the whole host sang together as they slew. This absolutely terrified the orcs, who feared death much more then Men did. It was anathema to the orcs that Men greeted Death in such a manner, and it led them to flee in huge numbers. Also note how Eomer reponds to his sister's supposed death, he goes absolutely wild.
Thank god they left the singing out of the movies. Just would have ruined the moment so much lol. Imagine them singing a tune over the glorious music we instead got?
@@mattrasp1615 That entirely depends. A cavalry charge accompanied by a war song, if done right, could have been every bit as epic as what we got in the film.
Correction about the siege, many Gondorians actually panicked at the sheer host of Mordor and the presence of the Nazgul and retreated to the second ring. Only the bravest or those lead by inspiring commanders remained to stop the siege towers and those scaling the wall. The defenders on the first wall were undermanned but they were still able to hold the forces of Mordor back for almost an entire day. The force meant to blockade the Rohirrim would later be destroyed after the battle of the Pelennor by a force lead by the Elfhelm. When Grond struck for the first time it left no visible damage to the gate, only when the Witch King appeared and started an incantation did Grond start damaging the gate. Three times he repeated it and three times Grond struck. With the first strike all defenders felt the blow reverberate. At the second the gate was completely cracked. At the third strike the gate blew apart. Thank you Wolfseson28 for pointing out my mistakes on the points of the Rohirrim and Grond
As long as we're correcting details... The Rohirrim did not attack the army that had been deployed to block their road through Druadan forest immediately. I think you're confusing that with when the Rohirrim killed or scattered a handful of orcs around the northern part of the Rammas Echor before the main charge. The intended blocking force wasn't engaged until after the main battle, when the majority of the remaining Rohirrim force was sent under Elfhelm's command to attack it. Also, Grond only made one failed stroke before the Witch-King started shouting his spell. Then "Thrice he cried. Thrice the great ram boomed." and all of that. So actually the animation was exactly right: one ineffectual stroke, then three damaging ones, the last of which broke the gate completely.
I still tear up at the scene where Theoden speaks to Eowynn before passing. The film did one better over the books in this regard. It's a heartbreaking, but uplifting and beautiful moment...one that will live long in the annals of movie history!
Theoden just single handedly changed the tides of the battle twice . Once through his charge leading the men of Rohirrim from the front and next by fighting to death against the witch king .
Except the Winged Hussars had more than twice as many the Rohirrim, over 20,000 cavalry vs 10,000 Rohirrim. I love LOTR with the passion of a thousand suns but, as usual, history is just better than fiction
Arise! Arise riders of Theoden! Spear shall be shaken! Shield shall be splintered! A sword day! A red day! Ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now, ride! Ride for ruin and the world's ending! Death! Death! Death! Forth Eorlingas!
10:35 Denethor was not the last Ruling Steward, this fell to Faramir who offers his white rod to Aragorn at his coronation. Aragorn graciously returns the rod of office to Faramir, now simply the Steward of Gondor. Aragorn gives Faramir the lands of Emyn Arnen in Ithilien, where he will live. Faramir's status as Steward does not change, and when Aragorn is out of Gondor Faramir would be expected to sit on his father's seat in Minas Tirith and rule in the king's stead. Eowyn was called DernHELM not Dernheim. 12:54 it's worth mentioning that in the charge Theoden engaged and killed a king of the Haradrim, a man with a serpent banner. Eomer kills this man in the movie who was instead an Oliphaunt rider. 18:28 Sauron had unleashed the uruks much earlier before even Saruman released his own Uruk-hai. He also didn't just have the Orcs of Mordor he had many more armies of Men and even the new Olog-hai trolls all of whose numbers were several times that of the Army of the Men of the West. The Haradrim alone were six times that of the entire Army of the West. Sauron was not afraid of this small force at all, but Gandalf surmised that Sauron would allow this small army to go all the way to the Black Gate, before striking to "trap the fly and take its sting".
I think what they were going for was simply that Denethor would be the last steward of his kind, that is to say, de facto sole ruler of the country due to a lack of kings at hand. That’s not the role that Faramir inherited.
It’s a crime how Gondor was portrayed in the movies. Gondor has been the stalwart holding back Mordor and her allies for millennia. They have repelled many invasions. Their soldiers are some of the most elite and veteran soldiers that are produced in the entire LOTR saga.Their infantry is simply the best, their archers are some of the best that the world of Men have produced and their knights rival even the Rohirrim. The reason Sauron throws his first massive army against Gondor (which isn’t even his greatest) and focuses so much energy on her is the fact that she is literally the one country that has to be beat.The leadership of Gondor is portrayed as wise in the books. When we meet Denethor, he is a little paranoid and antagonistic towards Gandalf. But he has already dispatched messengers to get aid from the fiefdoms of Gondor such as Pelegair and has lit the beacons and sent the Red Arrow to Theoden, asking for aid against Mordor. He is a wise leader and his captains are equally good.Even with superior numbers, it took Mordor several days to break through Osgiliath, penetrate the Rammas Echor that encircled the entire Pelleanor Field and reach the walls of Minas Tirith. Even then, many men held firm, even when the Nazgul came swooping down, scaring the men and holding their own.When the Rohirrim arrived, they still held the First Circle and charged out to assist the Rohirrim. Many perished bringing down the Mumakil, since the Rohirrim’s horses refused to go near them.These are the greatest warriors men has to offer…..and yet….what are we shown in the movies? Soldiers that can barely fight. Orcs simply are better warriors and these troops act like they’ve never lifted a sword. Hell, even the Rohirrim peasants showed a better fight, and they weren’t even trained!.Leaders making incredibly stupid decisions. In what universe does Denethor possibly think 200 horsemen can defeat thousands of orcs? It’s been literally hours since the city fell and yet he sends out this small force? Why aren’t people questioning his orders? Denethor isn’t some wise leader and he has no one telling him no. In the books, he’s a wise ruler who only falls due to Sauron’s manipulations that breaks his mind in the end. This Denethor is a man who is so paranoid and uncaring that he has let his kingdom fall into ruins without doing anything to prevent it. Then he freaks out when Rohan doesn’t arrive to prevent Mordor from arriving when he refused to send for aid! Then you have the whole Gondor soldiers end up being man-sized versions of Kick-the-Can for the orcs. There is one part of the battle that you see an orc running up behind a line of archers and hitting each one on the back, (the scene where Gandalf is going all martial arts with his staff and Glamdring on orcs on the wall) not one of these archers turns to see what is going on, even when they are reloading, and yet their comrades are falling right next to them! There is simply no excuse for how poorly they were portrayed in the movie
So much in agreement. Peter Jackson really made a crime when he made the Last Film. We need a revised version some time in the future. Also, stop putting that "democracy" crap at the time of Aragon's coronation. That was IDIOTIC and OUT OF CONTEXT.
I don't agree at all with this. In the movies we see them ambush the haradrim in TTT and in ROTK they literally fought like eight hours in Osgiliath, and when the gate fell they formed up and resisted the orcs until the freaking trolls came.
@@EarthForces I know what changes he made, I read the books like three times. In the movies they literally never said the word democracy or something like that. Again, what the fluff are you talking about
Lord of The Rings re-defined epic scale battles. Modern U.S. cinemas rarely try to recreate it, but a lot of foreign films have epic scale battles, which owe Peter Jackson and his art department .
@@mokarokas-1727 Sure, "Ran", "Baahubali", "Golden Flower.". There are quit a few Chinese movies that get epic. Mostly Romance of Three Kingdoms. There are a lot of old ones, like King Lear, Braveheart, Zulu... Bahhubali is Indian, and goofy by western audiences, but very fun.
Love hearing this lore. Would also love listening to things from Stormlight Archive as well. Battle of the Tower, Battle of Narak, The Battle of Thaylen Field, etc are all amazing. Plus the battles from Rythem of War could use some expansion content like this 😀
little trivia, which everyone probably knows when they shouted "Death!" it means they`re embracing the most possible outcome of their charge which is dying, given the odds that they`ve faced. and it`s also a slap to sauron since he manipulates other by giving them a vision of what they most fear, most commonly death
Beautifully written and expertly narrated!! Even though I know the story, you've kept me clinging to my screen throughout the whole video! Loved every minute of it!! 😍
How well written is the tale, when a documentary summarizing it can fill you with dread, then hope and joy as the tide of the battle turns. Tolkien was an absolute genius, and the people involved in this documentary are doing an exceptional job.
The LOTR trilogy are my favourite movies, and i get goosebumps everytime during the battle of the pelennor fields, but damn the real version is way more epic.
Excellent video…I’ve read LOTR so many times but having the Battle of the Pelennor Fields laid out so perfectly in a moving diagram (with memorable quotes from the book) was GREAT! Thank you.
The Drúedain were so skilled woodcraft and stealth that when they guided Rohirrim secretly through the forest's, Ghâns and Woses were thought to have used their illusion.
I still tear up whenever I remember reading the Battle of the Pelenor Fields for the first time. Suffice to say, I was speechless when I actually saw it in the cinema.
You missed mentioning the Grey Company (thirty-one Dúnedain Rangers) at the battle of Pelargir which was led by Halbarad and the twin sons of Elrond, Elladan and Elrohir. They actually followed Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn at the Paths of the Dead. Ghan-Buri-Ghan are the Woses, which are descendents of the Pukel men, who were related to the Army of the dead! Ghan-Buri-Ghan showed the Rohirrim army an overgrown hidden path that was cut through the forest and hills (Stonewain Valley) by Gondor in its heyday. Theoden's horse is Snowmane not Shadowmane btw! Strong and swift yet Master's Bane, Gandalf predicted he could have saved the sorrow the Witch King caused if Denethor wasn't deceived into madness.
There is so much glory in Theoden, the Rohirrim charge, and Eowen slaying that bastard that it almost makes me emotional. Automatic goosebumps if I even think about it.
This is amazing content. There seem to be some liberties that you take mixing the movies and books though - ex: the Rohirrim didn’t chant “DEATH!” until Eomer saw his sister apparently dead on the Pelennor - whereas in the movie Theoden leads that shout from the outset. Edit: also, Theoden’s horse is named Snowmane. Not Shadowmane. Eowyn’s alter ego is Dernhelm, not Dernheim. Know I’m being a stickler but your content is truly amazing and if it’s truly a lore documentary as you market it, I do think accuracy is paramount.
@@chefitaly7339 Yeah I was just about to say this! And also, it wasn't just Grond. The Witch King's sorcery weakened the gate / reinforced Grond. "Then the Black Captain rose in his stirrups and cried aloud in a dreadful voice, speaking in some forgotten tongue words of power and terror to rend both heart and stone. Thrice he cried. Thrice the great ram boomed."
I haven't read the books in years. I have a remembrance, and this could be wrong, that part of the reason that the Rohirrim were able to enter the Pelennor fields was the destruction of a section of the wall by orcs. They had been so hasty in their quest to destroy everything of man they had weakened their defense in the process. I could be totally wrong but thought i remember from the book.
I would love for you guys to cover the northern theatre of the war of the ring too, with the siege of Erebor and the battle under the trees! Great video!
I cried when I read the chapter of the Battle of the Fields of Pellenor, I cried when I saw them through the movie and I still get very emotional even when I see this video. A red day, sword day, ere sun rises (Sounds of violins in my memories).
6:00 that's not Minas Morgul, that's Cair Andros, a fortress placed on an island of the Anduin that guarded one of the crossings of the river in northern Ithilien. The island fortress was guarded by a gondorian garrison prior to the siege of Minas Tirith. Minas Morgul was right in front of "the white city".
There is nothing wrong with the placement, you can see the tiny island of Cair Andros west of Minas Morgul on this map, it's because the icons are big and this map is zoomed out I think
been looking forward to this well done, one minor criticism, during the battlefield map of Pelennor no units where shown to be destroyed on the Rohan/Gondor side even though they suffered heavy loses?
The battle was long and hard, and while none could lay a blade on Aragon, Eomer and a handful of named others, no other in the Rohirrim/ Gondorian host remained unwounded. So all those they had left afterwards would be healed wounded
Brilliant. Simply delightful. I wonder if eventually you might make a short series like this on the Legacy of Kain universe. Soul Reaver, Blood Omen, and Defiance.
I remember getting goosebumps when reading about this battle. The movies, outstanding as they are, failed to give me the same sense of awe and excitement when it came to this battle.
@@Darkestestmatter That moment was trully amazing and outstanding. No doubt. :) But as a whole, the book Pelennor Fields experience still trumps what i saw on the screen. And i am a HUGE fan of Peter Jackson' s adaptation of Tolkien' work. Lettuce not speak of The Hobbit though.
@@Numtalegau Agree on the book being better than the movie (they usually are). The movies are still some of the best book adaptations ever made and some of the best movies ever made as well :)
It doesn't get any more epic than this passage from the chapter, "Suddenly, the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Éomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first éored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Théoden could not be over taken. Fey he seemed, or the battle fury of his fathers ran like new fire within his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a God of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. His golden shield was uncovered, and lo! it shown like an image of the sun, and the grass flamed into green about the white feet of his steed."
I must say, the lines of Number One during the battle, both against Gandalf and Eowyn, are in my eyes pure gold. I have hardly ever read a dark servant with such good words. And I must say the Easterlings and Haradrim were truly brave fighters - many fought on even after they had experienced two mayor setbacks and the fall of their commanders. The hate of men in the East and South would life on for decades, a bitter fruit of Gondorian ambitions.
Yes I was taken aback by the heffalumps being shown as like 70 feet or more tall, instead of elephant or slightly larger sized creatures. And showing the forces of Mordor numbering a million or more in the movie.
You forgot one wonderful bit....as Gandalf and the Witch King stared one another down..the screaming on both sides fell to silence, and from behind Gandalf, in the city, a cock crowed, reckoning nothing of war and slaughter, only welcoming the coming of the light of a new day in the east. And then, only then, did the horns of the Rohirim sound in the north, and the Witch king heard them...and simply disappeared. One of my favorite episodes from the entire Legendarium and beautifully told by Tolkien...
Correction, I think: I do not recall it ever being explicitly stated that the Oathbreakers/Army of the Dead/etc ever actually killed anyone by their swords. Tolkien's descriptions focus not on their martial impact, but on their morale impact. Battles are not won by slaughter, they are won by rout.
@@sjonnieplayfull5859 But it made more sense. Why would Aragorn release them after just one small battle? It made perfect sense in the movie to use them exactly as a deus ex machina. They're an unkillable mass of spectres! I even liked the part where Gimli suggested they keep them around but Aragorn honoured his pledge. So I'm on the other side of the fence: I really liked the change. Even if it does somewhat take victory away from only men's struggle. It would just be a much better strategy.
Eowyn laughing at the witch king before she says “no living man am I ”is one of my favorite parts. They left it out of the movie and this video. I just picture merry on the bloody field surrounded by death and despair, hearing of all sounds, a women laughing. 😢😢
This was the best narrative about the best war I've ever read. If I may, there's one thing the video failed on saying: while lady Eowing faced the leader of the nine and introduced herself she laughted. The woman, agains't one of the most deadlyer and ferared creatuers on the face of middle earth laughter saing she was no men. Jesus that woman was insanely brave.
As I mentioned in my comment on the 1st vid of this series, I wish to provide my judgement on this series. Bar a few minor oopsies, I suggest your efforts have proven to be excellent and I thank you for doing these. I see you have also provided vids of other fantasy series as well. I very much look forward to viewing them. Thanks again.
That was indeed, the best synopsis of the Battle of the Pelennor fields I have seen. The only criticism I have it is the map that shows Minas Moghul in the wrong position. Well done!
I always found it a little odd Aragorn didn’t wait until after the battle-y’know, the one to decide the fate of all life in middle earth-before setting the army of dead free. Like, imagine how many characters stay alive if they just had the dead army take out those elephants. Even THE EAGLES showed up to that! Even Terrell Owens played on a broken leg!!
it was the decisive battle as Aragorn prevailed , sending Sauron's gaze firmly in his direction and enabling Frodo and Sam to reach Mount Doom. The Black Gate was pretty much lost the moment they got there, relying on Sauron's arrogance and firm belief in attacking the Heir of Isildur. The aftermath of the Pelennor also laid the foundations of Harad suing for peace as well as the loss of the entire Morgul garrison of Orcs.
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Wow
Hello, I just wanted to tell you that the name "middle earth" is copyrighted by amazon, I have alredy seen one chanel being striked because of this. Though you might wamt to know.
This was a fine video. I've always loved Return of the King. Ever since I saw the one made by Rankin Bass so long ago. That cartoon movie made me love this a lot.
FYI, @Wizards and Warriors, Theoden's horse was SNOWMANE, not Shadowmane...
They can't, @@jakubpraznovsky8999; they don't own it.
The Tolkien estate still own the rights; they were only licenced to Jackson, New Line, et. al.
“Spears shall be shattered, Shields shall be splintered, a Sword day, A RED DAY! , eere the sun RISES!”
-King Theoden
Hands-down my favorite quote from any fantasy battle
DEATHHHHHHH!
DEAATHH
DEEAAAATTHHH!
DEEEEAAAATTTHHHHH!!!!
Hands down the best moment of the best trilogy ever made
the heroism and feats of Theoden and the men of the Rohirrim were legendary and worthy of remembrance by song in the halls of Rohan
And not the men, but the women too.
Theoden us based on a real King named Theoden and his charge at the Mongols to help the Romans.
and in the halls of Gondor
The moment that made King Théoden a legend among his ancestors "With that he seized a great horn from Guthláf his banner-bearer, and he blew such a blast upon it that it burst asunder. And straightaway all the horns in the host were lifted up in music, and the blowing of the horns of Rohan in that hour was like a storm upon the plain and a thunder in the mountains."
"Behind him thundered the knights of his house, but Theoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, or the battle fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne upon Snowmane, like a god of old, even as Orome in the Battle of the Valar when the world was young."
Such brilliant language in the era of valiant deeds.
Thanks to the Tolkien lore bearers.
The power of the mans lungs though
Either that or it was a very bad horn
Thats pretty stupid writing tbh. Yeah he really able to blow the horn apart smh
@@SH19922x Dragons? Elves with powers to wipe put entire armies? Dark lords? Yeah all that is fine but a dude boosted enough to shatter a horn with his lungs? Nah that's too much.
A note to add, as the Rohirrim charged and fought, they sang, the whole host sang together as they slew. This absolutely terrified the orcs, who feared death much more then Men did. It was anathema to the orcs that Men greeted Death in such a manner, and it led them to flee in huge numbers.
Also note how Eomer reponds to his sister's supposed death, he goes absolutely wild.
Thank god they left the singing out of the movies. Just would have ruined the moment so much lol. Imagine them singing a tune over the glorious music we instead got?
I also like that when the orcs fled the men loyal to Sauron stood and fought
I saw the extended cut last year, and was shocked by Eomers reaction
And how it was cut out
Man pit his heart inti that reaction, god damn
@@mattrasp1615 That entirely depends. A cavalry charge accompanied by a war song, if done right, could have been every bit as epic as what we got in the film.
Depending on the song chosen this would be either hilarious or terrifying beyond comprehension
Correction about the siege, many Gondorians actually panicked at the sheer host of Mordor and the presence of the Nazgul and retreated to the second ring.
Only the bravest or those lead by inspiring commanders remained to stop the siege towers and those scaling the wall.
The defenders on the first wall were undermanned but they were still able to hold the forces of Mordor back for almost an entire day.
The force meant to blockade the Rohirrim would later be destroyed after the battle of the Pelennor by a force lead by the Elfhelm.
When Grond struck for the first time it left no visible damage to the gate, only when the Witch King appeared and started an incantation did Grond start damaging the gate.
Three times he repeated it and three times Grond struck.
With the first strike all defenders felt the blow reverberate.
At the second the gate was completely cracked.
At the third strike the gate blew apart.
Thank you Wolfseson28 for pointing out my mistakes on the points of the Rohirrim and Grond
Thank you. At first I wasn’t going to say anything but the inaccuracies started to mount to a point that they couldn’t be ignored.
correction about the subject...it is a made up siege....who cares about a made up detail....
@@n.v.9000 all words are made up - like your name. Shall we skip over that detail as well?
As long as we're correcting details...
The Rohirrim did not attack the army that had been deployed to block their road through Druadan forest immediately. I think you're confusing that with when the Rohirrim killed or scattered a handful of orcs around the northern part of the Rammas Echor before the main charge. The intended blocking force wasn't engaged until after the main battle, when the majority of the remaining Rohirrim force was sent under Elfhelm's command to attack it.
Also, Grond only made one failed stroke before the Witch-King started shouting his spell. Then "Thrice he cried. Thrice the great ram boomed." and all of that. So actually the animation was exactly right: one ineffectual stroke, then three damaging ones, the last of which broke the gate completely.
@@Wolfeson28 You are correct, thank you for pointing these out. I shall correct my mistakes.
I still tear up at the scene where Theoden speaks to Eowynn before passing. The film did one better over the books in this regard. It's a heartbreaking, but uplifting and beautiful moment...one that will live long in the annals of movie history!
She is one of my fav characters in fantasy, and in a film 20 years old, and a book 80!
"I know your face."
I agree. The movie was actually better than the source material.
I think this might be the one thing that is better from the books personally.
@@DRFESTERPUS69 yet the actual Return of the King to Gondor scene was such a huge letdown.
"You are soldiers of Gondor. Whatever comes through that gate, you will stand your ground!"
Grond: Here's *MORDOR!*
me playing the return of the king game as a kid: I hope it's puppies!
Theoden just single handedly changed the tides of the battle twice .
Once through his charge leading the men of Rohirrim from the front and next by fighting to death against the witch king .
Winged hussars: we did the greatest cavalry charge of all time!
Rohirrim: hold my ale
They did several amazing cavalry charges during the war
Except the Winged Hussars had more than twice as many the Rohirrim, over 20,000 cavalry vs 10,000 Rohirrim.
I love LOTR with the passion of a thousand suns but, as usual, history is just better than fiction
@@AeneasGemini
But beeing outnumbered makes it even more Epic.
Arise! Arise riders of Theoden!
Spear shall be shaken!
Shield shall be splintered!
A sword day!
A red day!
Ere the sun rises!
Ride now, ride now, ride! Ride for ruin and the world's ending!
Death! Death! Death!
Forth Eorlingas!
DDEEAATTHHHH!!!!
Deeeaattthhhh ✊
*shield shall be splintered
Deeeaath!
10:35 Denethor was not the last Ruling Steward, this fell to Faramir who offers his white rod to Aragorn at his coronation. Aragorn graciously returns the rod of office to Faramir, now simply the Steward of Gondor. Aragorn gives Faramir the lands of Emyn Arnen in Ithilien, where he will live. Faramir's status as Steward does not change, and when Aragorn is out of Gondor Faramir would be expected to sit on his father's seat in Minas Tirith and rule in the king's stead.
Eowyn was called DernHELM not Dernheim.
12:54 it's worth mentioning that in the charge Theoden engaged and killed a king of the Haradrim, a man with a serpent banner. Eomer kills this man in the movie who was instead an Oliphaunt rider.
18:28 Sauron had unleashed the uruks much earlier before even Saruman released his own Uruk-hai. He also didn't just have the Orcs of Mordor he had many more armies of Men and even the new Olog-hai trolls all of whose numbers were several times that of the Army of the Men of the West. The Haradrim alone were six times that of the entire Army of the West. Sauron was not afraid of this small force at all, but Gandalf surmised that Sauron would allow this small army to go all the way to the Black Gate, before striking to "trap the fly and take its sting".
it is all made up....why give it any importace?
And Theoden's horse was Snowmane, not Shadowmane
I think what they were going for was simply that Denethor would be the last steward of his kind, that is to say, de facto sole ruler of the country due to a lack of kings at hand. That’s not the role that Faramir inherited.
@@prestonchrisman7382 came into the comments to make that same correction. Otherwise an excellent video. Hope they keep up the good work.
Most "🤓☝️" comment I've seen
It’s a crime how Gondor was portrayed in the movies. Gondor has been the stalwart holding back Mordor and her allies for millennia. They have repelled many invasions. Their soldiers are some of the most elite and veteran soldiers that are produced in the entire LOTR saga.Their infantry is simply the best, their archers are some of the best that the world of Men have produced and their knights rival even the Rohirrim. The reason Sauron throws his first massive army against Gondor (which isn’t even his greatest) and focuses so much energy on her is the fact that she is literally the one country that has to be beat.The leadership of Gondor is portrayed as wise in the books. When we meet Denethor, he is a little paranoid and antagonistic towards Gandalf. But he has already dispatched messengers to get aid from the fiefdoms of Gondor such as Pelegair and has lit the beacons and sent the Red Arrow to Theoden, asking for aid against Mordor. He is a wise leader and his captains are equally good.Even with superior numbers, it took Mordor several days to break through Osgiliath, penetrate the Rammas Echor that encircled the entire Pelleanor Field and reach the walls of Minas Tirith. Even then, many men held firm, even when the Nazgul came swooping down, scaring the men and holding their own.When the Rohirrim arrived, they still held the First Circle and charged out to assist the Rohirrim. Many perished bringing down the Mumakil, since the Rohirrim’s horses refused to go near them.These are the greatest warriors men has to offer…..and yet….what are we shown in the movies?
Soldiers that can barely fight. Orcs simply are better warriors and these troops act like they’ve never lifted a sword. Hell, even the Rohirrim peasants showed a better fight, and they weren’t even trained!.Leaders making incredibly stupid decisions. In what universe does Denethor possibly think 200 horsemen can defeat thousands of orcs? It’s been literally hours since the city fell and yet he sends out this small force? Why aren’t people questioning his orders?
Denethor isn’t some wise leader and he has no one telling him no. In the books, he’s a wise ruler who only falls due to Sauron’s manipulations that breaks his mind in the end. This Denethor is a man who is so paranoid and uncaring that he has let his kingdom fall into ruins without doing anything to prevent it. Then he freaks out when Rohan doesn’t arrive to prevent Mordor from arriving when he refused to send for aid!
Then you have the whole Gondor soldiers end up being man-sized versions of Kick-the-Can for the orcs. There is one part of the battle that you see an orc running up behind a line of archers and hitting each one on the back, (the scene where Gandalf is going all martial arts with his staff and Glamdring on orcs on the wall) not one of these archers turns to see what is going on, even when they are reloading, and yet their comrades are falling right next to them!
There is simply no excuse for how poorly they were portrayed in the movie
So much in agreement. Peter Jackson really made a crime when he made the Last Film. We need a revised version some time in the future. Also, stop putting that "democracy" crap at the time of Aragon's coronation. That was IDIOTIC and OUT OF CONTEXT.
I don't agree at all with this. In the movies we see them ambush the haradrim in TTT and in ROTK they literally fought like eight hours in Osgiliath, and when the gate fell they formed up and resisted the orcs until the freaking trolls came.
@@EarthForces Democracy crap? Wtf are you talking about???
@@franciscosouzaaguirre9688 watch Peter Jackson's changes on LOTR:Return of the King that deviated from the books. You will understand.
@@EarthForces I know what changes he made, I read the books like three times. In the movies they literally never said the word democracy or something like that. Again, what the fluff are you talking about
Lord of The Rings re-defined epic scale battles. Modern U.S. cinemas rarely try to recreate it, but a lot of foreign films have epic scale battles, which owe Peter Jackson and his art department .
Yeah marvel Avengers was just a big marshpit sad they dont know how battle works
Do you have any examples for foreign films living up to this epic scale for battles? I'd love to see them!
@@mokarokas-1727 Sure, "Ran", "Baahubali", "Golden Flower.". There are quit a few Chinese movies that get epic. Mostly Romance of Three Kingdoms. There are a lot of old ones, like King Lear, Braveheart, Zulu... Bahhubali is Indian, and goofy by western audiences, but very fun.
@@Vandelberger - Thanks!
@@samanyupalthi I hardly think Endgame was meant to be a strategic battle.
Theoden death and Eowyn fight always makes me tear up, even on now on a documentary... i cant be the only one.
Legolas kills elephant:.....?
Gimli: That still only counts as one!!!!!
I have been waiting ages for this thank you legends 🙏👏
Love hearing this lore. Would also love listening to things from Stormlight Archive as well.
Battle of the Tower, Battle of Narak, The Battle of Thaylen Field, etc are all amazing. Plus the battles from Rythem of War could use some expansion content like this 😀
little trivia, which everyone probably knows when they shouted "Death!" it means they`re embracing the most possible outcome of their charge which is dying, given the odds that they`ve faced. and it`s also a slap to sauron since he manipulates other by giving them a vision of what they most fear, most commonly death
I'd love to see a series detailing the culmination of the 13 black crusades to the final siege of cadia.
The planet broke before the guard!
Man that would be awesome
For the Emperor of mankind
Beautifully written and expertly narrated!! Even though I know the story, you've kept me clinging to my screen throughout the whole video! Loved every minute of it!! 😍
Will you also do the battles Tolkien described in the Silmarillion?
PLEASE they are sooo epic
Seconded. Tolkien's works are so far ahead to other fantasy literature and would really love for Warriors and Wizards to cover them all up.
How well written is the tale, when a documentary summarizing it can fill you with dread, then hope and joy as the tide of the battle turns. Tolkien was an absolute genius, and the people involved in this documentary are doing an exceptional job.
The LOTR trilogy are my favourite movies, and i get goosebumps everytime during the battle of the pelennor fields, but damn the real version is way more epic.
Excellent video…I’ve read LOTR so many times but having the Battle of the Pelennor Fields laid out so perfectly in a moving diagram (with memorable quotes from the book) was GREAT! Thank you.
That speech from Theoden is my favorite in all of Fantasy works, and was captured so perfectly in the movie adaptation!
The Drúedain were so skilled woodcraft and stealth that when they guided Rohirrim secretly through the forest's, Ghâns and Woses were thought to have used their illusion.
Who else likes the shattering sound when a unit is destroyed?
This is a Sword Day Indeed,
Kudos guys this is fantastic!
The actions of King Theoden on the fields of Pelennor alone make him my favorite Middle Earth King of Men.
This new channel has exceeded my expectations. I particularly love the illustrations that your team is producing. 👑
I still tear up whenever I remember reading the Battle of the Pelenor Fields for the first time. Suffice to say, I was speechless when I actually saw it in the cinema.
This is the only new Lord of the Rings series I need. Thank you very much.
These videos are great! Fantastic work you guys are doing!
7:13 *GROND! GROND! GROND! GROND!*
7:45 And a great many trolls indeed to spread the word of Grond on Facebook.
Reading this battle the first time was one of the most exciting moments of my life and this is coming from a cliff diver/snowboarder
You missed mentioning the Grey Company (thirty-one Dúnedain Rangers) at the battle of Pelargir which was led by Halbarad and the twin sons of Elrond, Elladan and Elrohir. They actually followed Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn at the Paths of the Dead.
Ghan-Buri-Ghan are the Woses, which are descendents of the Pukel men, who were related to the Army of the dead! Ghan-Buri-Ghan showed the Rohirrim army an overgrown hidden path that was cut through the forest and hills (Stonewain Valley) by Gondor in its heyday.
Theoden's horse is Snowmane not Shadowmane btw! Strong and swift yet Master's Bane, Gandalf predicted he could have saved the sorrow the Witch King caused if Denethor wasn't deceived into madness.
There is so much glory in Theoden, the Rohirrim charge, and Eowen slaying that bastard that it almost makes me emotional. Automatic goosebumps if I even think about it.
This is amazing content. There seem to be some liberties that you take mixing the movies and books though - ex: the Rohirrim didn’t chant “DEATH!” until Eomer saw his sister apparently dead on the Pelennor - whereas in the movie Theoden leads that shout from the outset.
Edit: also, Theoden’s horse is named Snowmane. Not Shadowmane. Eowyn’s alter ego is Dernhelm, not Dernheim. Know I’m being a stickler but your content is truly amazing and if it’s truly a lore documentary as you market it, I do think accuracy is paramount.
And the witch king rode a horse at the broken gate not a fell beast
@@chefitaly7339 facts - although that one is kinda forgivable because the fell beast is so iconic
@@chefitaly7339 Yeah I was just about to say this! And also, it wasn't just Grond. The Witch King's sorcery weakened the gate / reinforced Grond. "Then the Black Captain rose in his stirrups and cried aloud in a dreadful voice, speaking in some forgotten tongue words of power and terror to rend both heart and stone. Thrice he cried. Thrice the great ram boomed."
such a good battle and a great example of how plot lines converge so it doesn't seem like the win is out of no where or a contrivance
Thank you a lot wizards and warriors for this exceptional video
Amazing job. This is probably the most well know fantasy battle in history. You guy hit it out of the park
I'd love to see some Malazan content, Chain of Dogs, Pannion Domin, etc.... Also, Glen Cook Dread Empire stuff would rock!
These videos are done incredibly well. Your maps, visuals, and narrative are all top tier. Keep up the great work.
Such a good battle and the way you explain this is very informative. I needed to know more. 👏🏿
Wonderful! The whole W&W team has outdone itself with this superb presentation!🧙⚔🏹
I haven't read the books in years. I have a remembrance, and this could be wrong, that part of the reason that the Rohirrim were able to enter the Pelennor fields was the destruction of a section of the wall by orcs. They had been so hasty in their quest to destroy everything of man they had weakened their defense in the process. I could be totally wrong but thought i remember from the book.
You remember correctly
I would love for you guys to cover the northern theatre of the war of the ring too, with the siege of Erebor and the battle under the trees! Great video!
Absolutely wonderful video!
I haven't been so emotional over a TH-cam video in a long time. It is my honor to be a member of your Patreon.
Lol @ “our primary source for the battle”
I really like middle-earth videos keep up the good work!
I cried when I read the chapter of the Battle of the Fields of Pellenor, I cried when I saw them through the movie and I still get very emotional even when I see this video.
A red day, sword day, ere sun rises (Sounds of violins in my memories).
Yeah, me too bro!
Thanks. I’ve been waiting for this.
6:00 that's not Minas Morgul, that's Cair Andros, a fortress placed on an island of the Anduin that guarded one of the crossings of the river in northern Ithilien. The island fortress was guarded by a gondorian garrison prior to the siege of Minas Tirith. Minas Morgul was right in front of "the white city".
Yeah i think they know that as well, kr else how canthey make such a bui mistake wen their job is literally to make mapped events.
I think they just messed up the placement of Minas Morgul a bit too far north-west, and didn't mean to have Cair Andros on the map at all.
That's one of the two weaknesses from this channel: the maps. They do commit a lot of innacuracies when making them.
I think they put it their because it would interfere with the rest of the portraits if you look closely you can clearly see that is not on the island
There is nothing wrong with the placement, you can see the tiny island of Cair Andros west of Minas Morgul on this map, it's because the icons are big and this map is zoomed out I think
been looking forward to this well done, one minor criticism, during the battlefield map of Pelennor no units where shown to be destroyed on the Rohan/Gondor side even though they suffered heavy loses?
The battle was long and hard, and while none could lay a blade on Aragon, Eomer and a handful of named others, no other in the Rohirrim/ Gondorian host remained unwounded. So all those they had left afterwards would be healed wounded
Correction about the Siege, Grond did not break the gate, nothing could. Only the Witch King's might could burst it open
To be precise, it's Grond, boosted by the WK's spell, that broke the gate
Brilliant. Simply delightful. I wonder if eventually you might make a short series like this on the Legacy of Kain universe. Soul Reaver, Blood Omen, and Defiance.
I remember getting goosebumps when reading about this battle.
The movies, outstanding as they are, failed to give me the same sense of awe and excitement when it came to this battle.
You must be made of stone if you didn't get goosebumps when the Rohirrim charged at Pellenor ;)
@@Darkestestmatter
That moment was trully amazing and outstanding. No doubt. :)
But as a whole, the book Pelennor Fields experience still trumps what i saw on the screen. And i am a HUGE fan of Peter Jackson' s adaptation of Tolkien' work.
Lettuce not speak of The Hobbit though.
@@Numtalegau Agree on the book being better than the movie (they usually are). The movies are still some of the best book adaptations ever made and some of the best movies ever made as well :)
I can only agree. Also the build Up to the Siege was amazoning in the books.
Please cover the War of the Shattered Plains in Stormlight Archive, the battle of the tower would be an excellent episode
It doesn't get any more epic than this passage from the chapter, "Suddenly, the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Éomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first éored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Théoden could not be over taken.
Fey he seemed, or the battle fury of his fathers ran like new fire within his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a God of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. His golden shield was uncovered, and lo! it shown like an image of the sun, and the grass flamed into green about the white feet of his steed."
There was one particular member of the rohirrim who was so inspired he drove his horse as fast as the great shadowfax
Any more details on this?
I've read the books many times and don't remember this part
@Lonadar13 don't even need to see it again to know exactly who you are talking about.
My boy was so hyped
I must say, the lines of Number One during the battle, both against Gandalf and Eowyn, are in my eyes pure gold. I have hardly ever read a dark servant with such good words. And I must say the Easterlings and Haradrim were truly brave fighters - many fought on even after they had experienced two mayor setbacks and the fall of their commanders. The hate of men in the East and South would life on for decades, a bitter fruit of Gondorian ambitions.
loved the design for Pelargir
This one i liked even before watching. Thank you !
Fantastic- my favourite battle from the War of the Ring. Brilliant vid guys
Please can you do one of the battlefield of the hornburg. I love you’re video’s. Never stop making them. Greeting from The Netherlands
Great video. Snowmane was his his name,
Faithful servant yet master’s name, Lightfoot’s foal, swift Snowmane.
Great stuff guys, a lot to learn from this
It's interesting to see how the Peter Jackson movies took some liberties with how they portrayed these events VS the books.
Yes I was taken aback by the heffalumps being shown as like 70 feet or more tall, instead of elephant or slightly larger sized creatures. And showing the forces of Mordor numbering a million or more in the movie.
I like the Riders Of Rohan, but man I love me some Swan Knights even more.
this channel was a great idea
respect ♥️♥️
You forgot one wonderful bit....as Gandalf and the Witch King stared one another down..the screaming on both sides fell to silence, and from behind Gandalf, in the city, a cock crowed, reckoning nothing of war and slaughter, only welcoming the coming of the light of a new day in the east. And then, only then, did the horns of the Rohirim sound in the north, and the Witch king heard them...and simply disappeared. One of my favorite episodes from the entire Legendarium and beautifully told by Tolkien...
You guys should really do a series on the great battles of Beleriand in the Simarillion.
Correction, I think: I do not recall it ever being explicitly stated that the Oathbreakers/Army of the Dead/etc ever actually killed anyone by their swords. Tolkien's descriptions focus not on their martial impact, but on their morale impact. Battles are not won by slaughter, they are won by rout.
Correct. Gimli says as much. Their weapon was fear.
I was SO let down by the movie when they changed it to a green wave deus ex machina...
@@sjonnieplayfull5859 That was the other thing, why bright green? Looked very dumb...just make them dark and shadowy.
@@desmondd1984 because we would not understand them to be ghosts? Like, being see-through skeletons was not enough...
@@sjonnieplayfull5859 But it made more sense. Why would Aragorn release them after just one small battle? It made perfect sense in the movie to use them exactly as a deus ex machina. They're an unkillable mass of spectres! I even liked the part where Gimli suggested they keep them around but Aragorn honoured his pledge.
So I'm on the other side of the fence: I really liked the change. Even if it does somewhat take victory away from only men's struggle. It would just be a much better strategy.
Eowyn laughing at the witch king before she says “no living man am I ”is one of my favorite parts. They left it out of the movie and this video. I just picture merry on the bloody field surrounded by death and despair, hearing of all sounds, a women laughing. 😢😢
This was the best narrative about the best war I've ever read. If I may, there's one thing the video failed on saying: while lady Eowing faced the leader of the nine and introduced herself she laughted. The woman, agains't one of the most deadlyer and ferared creatuers on the face of middle earth laughter saing she was no men.
Jesus that woman was insanely brave.
As I mentioned in my comment on the 1st vid of this series, I wish to provide my judgement on this series.
Bar a few minor oopsies, I suggest your efforts have proven to be excellent and I thank you for doing these.
I see you have also provided vids of other fantasy series as well. I very much look forward to viewing them.
Thanks again.
7:15 GROND!!! Everyone's favorite character
Please keep making more of these videos I love this stuff
Cannot wait for the siege of Dale vid in the future
Amazing vids as always!
Technically the true last words of Théoden are adressed to Éomer: "Hail, King of the Mark! Ride now to victory. Bide Éowyn farewell."
That was indeed, the best synopsis of the Battle of the Pelennor fields I have seen. The only criticism I have it is the map that shows Minas Moghul in the wrong position. Well done!
I’m a month behind but wow! Explicit details and definitely opened my eyes about what actually happened compared to the movie.
Brooo best channel on youtube. Do the Old Republic 🤜🤛
Thank you for all the work done. You made some wonderful documentaries. Could you also do Eragon written by Christopher Paolini?
First video I've seen from you guys, loved it keep it up!
I would certainly like to see your cover on Battle of Erebor during war of the ring.
Man I really love this channel , great work as always .. keep up .
Great video. I didnt know you guys had another channel!! I look forward to being a stalwart subscriber!!!
Love this so much!!
Nice work dude
Theoden is probably my personal favorite character in trilogy.
Epic battle, cheers
"GROND! GROND! GROND! GROND! GROND! GROND!" -Orcs in 3019 TA probably
Using the dogs from the Ghostbusters movie as the fell beast :)
Loved this video!!
I always found it a little odd Aragorn didn’t wait until after the battle-y’know, the one to decide the fate of all life in middle earth-before setting the army of dead free.
Like, imagine how many characters stay alive if they just had the dead army take out those elephants. Even THE EAGLES showed up to that! Even Terrell Owens played on a broken leg!!
The battle of Pelennor fields was not the decisive battle technically, but rather the battle of the black gate.
it was the decisive battle as Aragorn prevailed , sending Sauron's gaze firmly in his direction and enabling Frodo and Sam to reach Mount Doom. The Black Gate was pretty much lost the moment they got there, relying on Sauron's arrogance and firm belief in attacking the Heir of Isildur. The aftermath of the Pelennor also laid the foundations of Harad suing for peace as well as the loss of the entire Morgul garrison of Orcs.