Summary
Described as “shapes of Men” with “spears like winter-thickets on a misty night”, the Dead Men of Dunharrow are some of the most feared characters inThe Lord of the Rings. In Peter Jackson’s movie adaptation,The Return of the King, they are referred to as the Army of the Dead, and appear as green and glowing creatures.
Originally known as the Men of the Mountains, they dwelled in the White Mountains during the Second Age. They existed before the Númenóreans arrived, and were related to the Dunlendings as well as the folk of Haleth. Although the film depicts the pivotal role they play in the War of the Ring, it fails to show where they fit in the larger world ofThe Lord of the Rings.
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The Men of the Mountains servedthe Dark Lord Sauronduring the Dark Years (the first millennium of his rule over Middle-earth in the late Second Age). When Isildur, who later becamethe High King of Arnor and Gondor, founded Gondor with his brother Anárion, the King of the Mountains pledged allegiance to him at the Stone of Erech. However, when Isildur commanded the Men of the Mountains to fight beside him inthe War of the Last Allianceagainst their former master, they refused to participate. They chose to hide in the mountains, and joined neither side. As a result, Isildur cursed them to remain in Middle-earth without rest until he or his heirs summon them again to fight Sauron: “Thou shalt be the last king, and if the west prove mightier than thy Black Master, this curse I lay upon thee and thy folk; to rest never until your oath is fulfilled.”
The Men of the Mountains fled and hid in secret spots in the mountains, maintaining no contact with others. Their line gradually dwindled over the years until only their ghosts remained by the end of the Third Age. The wraiths of the Oathbreakers haunted the caverns beneath Dwimorberg, and appeared in the valley of Harrowdale in times of trouble or death. Those who lived near the hill of Erech greatly feared the Sleepless Dead, especially the King of the Dead. Brego, the second Lord of the Mark, and his son Baldor once passed along the Paths of the Dead, where they encountered a man who told them that the Dead will keep the Dark Door shut “until the time comes”. Later, Baldor vowed that he would walk the Paths of the Dead — only to never return.
Malbeth the Seer, a royal counselor of Arthedain, once prophesied that a day would come when the “forgotten people” will hear “a horn in the hills ringing”, and will be called by the “heir of him to whom the oath they swore”, whose “need shall drive him”. This comes true in TA 3019, during the War of the Ring, whenAragorn (a descendant of Isildur)called upon the Dead Men of Dunharrow at the Stone of Erech to fulfill their oath. While the book describes them as being immediately willing to do so, the film shows them as more reluctant and rather hostile. Even before he departs for his mission, Aragorn questions Elrond, the Lord of Rivendell: “Murderers, traitors, you would call upon them to fight? They believe in nothing, they answer to no one.” However, Elrond believes “they will answer to the King of Gondor” — which does happen as soon as Aragorn proves his heritage to them by blocking the King’s bladewith his sword Andúril.
While Minas Tirith is under attack by Sauron’s forces, Aragorn leads the Dead Men through Lamedon. They discover during their journey that everyone has deserted these lands in the fear of coming across the King of the Dead — apart from Angbor, the Lord of Lamedon, who is ordered by Aragorn to gather his forces and follow him to Pelargir. Upon arrival, they find the Corsairs of Umbar, allies of Sauron, assembled there. Even though rumors about the Oathbreakersjoining the Grey Companyhad reached their ears, the Corsairs only laugh when they see Aragorn and his warriors. However, they soon run away in terror when the Dead emerge, leaving their ships behind. Those who do not flee end up drowning in the sea. As Legolas, the Prince of Mirkwood, later tellsMeriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took, “Pale swords were drawn; but I know not whether their blades would still bite, for the Dead needed no longer any weapon but fear.” He also described the scene as if it was “like the echo of some forgotten battle in the Dark Years long ago”.
This allows Aragorn to sail away on the black ships of the Corsairs and turn the tide ofthe Battle of the Pelennor Fields— but not before declaring that the Dead Men of Dunharrow have finally fulfilled their oath. They withdraw to the shore of the river Anduin to the sound of trumpets, where their King breaks his spear and bows down to Aragorn before disappearing forever.
The Dead’s encounter with the Corsairs is only shown briefly in the extended cut of the movie, in which they also accompany Aragorn to gain victory in the battle. Despite the Dwarf Gimli claiming that they can be “very handy in a tight spot”, Aragorn sets them free, and they finally blow away in the wind.
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