Dunlendings

The Dunlendings were a people inhabiting the Westfold region of Rohan in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. They were not Rohirrim, but rather a distinct human group with a history of animosity towards the horse-lords. Originally, the Dunlendings were said to be descended from the early Men of the Anduin who had crossed the Misty Mountains long before the arrival of the Éothéod, the ancestors of the Rohirrim.

Their relationship with Rohan was marked by a long-standing grievance, stemming from the fact that the Rohirrim had been granted the lands of the Westfold by the Gondorians. The Dunlendings considered these lands their own ancestral territory and resented the presence of the Rohirrim. This historical claim often fueled their willingness to side with Rohan's enemies, most notably Saruman the White during the War of the Ring.

Under Saruman's influence, many Dunlendings were recruited into his army and fought alongside Orcs and other creatures of Isengard. They were known for their ferocity and their distinctive long, dark hair. Though often depicted as antagonists, their motivations were rooted in a desire to reclaim what they perceived as their rightful homeland. After the defeat of Saruman, the future of the Dunlendings within the rebuilt Rohan remained uncertain, though some appear to have integrated into the wider population.