Audiences may have noticed a group called the Dunlendings supporting Sauron in The Lord of the Rings, and there are some lore reasons that explain why. In Tolkien’s world of Middle-earth, the race of Men typically stands against the evil of Mordor, with their desire for power being their most commonly cited flaw. The Lord of the Rings movies don’t provide an explanation for who these men are or where they come from, but they’re shown in The Two Towers being employed by Saruman to wage war against Rohan.The Dunlendings’ origins can be traced back to the First Age and the Edain, with the coming of theNúmenóreansin the Second Age displacing many cultures of Men from their lands, resulting in some settling in the region that would become Dunland. In the Third Age, Gondor gifted lands to what would become Rohan, with the Dunlendings believing the Rohirrim to be usurpers of that territory. This led to conflicts like the one depicted in War of the Rohirrim and their eventual betrayal of Men in the War of the Ring.

The Dunlendings Wanted Revenge Against Rohan In The Lord Of The Rings

The Dunlendings Feuded With Rohan For Centuries

When Saruman joined forces with Sauron, he intended to capture the more local kingdom of Rohan on behalf of the Dark Lord. He amᴀssed his legion of Uruk-hai from Isengard, but he also offered the Dunlendings an opportunity to wage war on their mutual enemy. The beginning of The Two Towers film depicts these wild men raiding small Rohirrim villages, burning them to the ground, and forcing the people to flee to cities like Edoras or the fortress of Helm’s Deep.

Saruman bred Orcs, allowing him to create his Uruk-hai, but he also bred Orcs with Dunlendings, creating half-orcs. Unlike in the film adaptation of The Two Towers, the book sees Dunlendings and half-orcs aid his forces in the Battle of Helm’s Deep. The Dunlendings and half-orcs also later joined Saruman in the Scouring of the Shire, which is arguably the most crucial book event that Peter Jackson’s film trilogy leaves out entirely, electing to kill off Saruman at the start of The Return of the King instead.

Saruman Promised To Return The Dunlendings’ Land If They Fought For Sauron

The Dunlendings Believed Themselves To Be The Rightful Owners Of Calenardhon

Aside from justice, Saruman promised the Dunlendings the return of their land, once called Calenardhon, a promise he likely could not keep. They started becoming a nuisance to the Rohirrim before the War of the Rohirrim even began, secretly being aided by Saruman. When the Rohirrim eventually won the Battle of Helm’s Deep, they granted mercy to the Dunlendings, allowing them to work to repair the damaged fortress walls, surprising the wild men with their mercy. After The Lord of the Rings, the people of Dunland and Rohan remained at peace in their respective lands.