Places in Middle-earth
West-mark
Type: Kingdoms, Realms, Lands
Region: Rohan
Other Names West Marches
Location: The western military sector of Rohan; based at Helm's Deep.
Description:
West-mark The western half of Rohan in the military organisation of the Rohirrim.
Unfinished Tales, Index
[West-mark and East-mark] were terms only used with reference to military organisation. Their boundary was the Snowbourn River to its junction with the Entwash, and thence north along the Entwash. [Author's note.]
Unfinished Tales, Part 3, Ch 5, The Battles of the Fords of Isen: Appendix
Marshal of the Mark (or Riddermark) was the highest military rank and the title of the King's lieutenants (originally three), commanders of the royal forces of fully equipped and trained Riders. ... The Second and Third Marshals were assigned commands according to the needs of the time. In the beginning of the year 3019 the threat from Saruman was the most urgent, and the Second marshal, the King's son Théodred, had command over the West-mark with his base at Helm's Deep....
Unfinished Tales, Part 3, Ch 5, The Battles of the Fords of Isen: Appendix
It is recorded that after Théoden's funeral, when Éomer reordered his realm, Erkenbrand was made Marshal of the West-mark....
Unfinished Tales, Part 3, Ch 5, The Battles of the Fords of Isen: Appendix
Etymology
The term Mark signified a borderland, especially one serving as a defence of the inner lands of a realm.
Unfinished Tales, Part 3, Ch 2, Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan: Cirion and Eorl
Contributors: Elena Tiriel 22Dec04, 13Jan05
