In ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,’ King Théoden decides to support Gondor against Sauron’s forces, while Aragorn seeks the aid of the King of the Dead from the haunted Dwimorberg. This ghostly king, once loyal to Sauron, faces a moral dilemma during the Second Age but later vows allegiance to Gondor. Ultimately, Aragorn calls upon him to fulfill an ancient oath, leading to the redemption of the undead and their long-awaited peace.
In ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,’ King Théoden of Rohan (Bernard Hill) makes a pivotal decision to ride to Gondor’s aid against the forces of Sauron. Meanwhile, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) has a crucial plan in mind. He seeks the assistance of the King of the Dead.
The King of the Dead resides in the eerie Dwimorberg, accompanied by his ghostly army. This forsaken fortress can be found in Dunharg, a region nestled at the base of the mountains that lies between Rohan and Gondor. It is within this haunted domain that Aragorn, Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) eventually find the spectral warriors.
To persuade the ghostly army to join their cause, Aragorn invokes an ancient oath that the dead are believed to have sworn. The spirits answer his call, leading to their redemption through Aragorn’s leadership. But who was the King of the Dead in life? Let’s uncover his story.
The Mountain King and His Allegiance to Sauron
During the Second Age of Middle-earth, over three millennia prior to the events of ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ the living King ruled over the mountain folk in the White Mountains, the very same area where the ghosts would later dwell. Like many of his kin, he pledged loyalty to Sauron.
However, when Sauron vanished following the downfall of Númenor, Isildur (as portrayed by Harry Sinclair in the films and Maxim Baldry in ‘The Rings of Power’) established the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor alongside his father and brother. Faced with this new reality, the King had to choose: remain faithful to Sauron or forge an alliance with Isildur.
Given Gondor’s proximity to the White Mountains, the threat posed by the mountain folk was significant. With no sign of Sauron, the King and his people swore an oath of loyalty to Gondor, allowing their realm to exist independently but committing to come to Gondor’s aid in times of war.
The Return of Sauron and Gondor’s Betrayal
When Sauron eventually returned, the Last Alliance of Elves and Men confronted him at the end of the Second Age, as depicted in the prologue of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.’ Isildur summoned the mountain folk of Dunharg to join the fight against their former master.
Yet, as devoted followers of Sauron, they hesitated to oppose him and retreated into their mountainous stronghold. Before the impending battle, Isildur cursed the King and his people, declaring they would never find peace, in life or death, until they honored their oath.
Aragorn: The Key to the King of the Dead’s Redemption
Following the Last Alliance’s battle, Isildur met his end, and soon after, the mountain folk were cursed to become undead. With Gondor now under the stewardship rather than the royal line, the King of the Dead and his ghostly army awaited their chance for redemption for a long time.
It wasn’t until over 3,000 years later that Aragorn arrived, demanding the King of the Dead fulfill his ancient oath. The King complied, playing a crucial role in the downfall of Sauron. With the oath finally fulfilled, the undead were granted the peace they had long sought.
As for whether the tale of the King of the Dead will be explored in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,’ only time will tell. However, as the series aims to cover the events from Númenor’s downfall to the Last Alliance’s battle, it is certainly a possibility.
You can find the complete ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, along with the prequel series ‘The Rings of Power.’ Excitingly, Season 3 of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ series is currently in development.