Erkenbrand

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Character from J. R. R. Tolkien's Legendarium
Name	Erkenbrand
Titles	Lord of the Westfold, Marshal of the Westmark
Race	Men
Culture	Rohirrim
Date of birth	late Third Age
Date of death	early Fourth Age
Book(s)	The Two Towers

In J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, Erkenbrand was lord of the Westfold of Rohan during the War of the Ring.

At the time of the War of the Ring, Erkenbrand had retired from service to Théoden. He was lord of many lands in the Westfold, and after the death of Théoden's son Théodred at the Fords of Isen, he felt it was his duty to command the forces of Rohan in its western regions. Grimbold and Elfhelm took up command on Erkenbrand's behalf when he was delayed. He later plays a critical role in the Battle of the Hornburg when he and Gandalf leads Riders of the Rohirrim in a counter-attack against Saruman's Uruk-hai who had besieged Théoden.

When Théoden rides to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields with Éomer, Grimbold, and Elfhelm, Erkenbrand remains in Rohan in charge of his defence, overseeing the Dunlending prisoners and the repairs to the Hornburg. After the war, Éomer makes Erkenbrand Marshal of the Westmark.

The name Erkenbrand comes from two Old English words: eorcan (meaning "precious") and brand (meaning "sword").

Erkenbrand does not appear in Peter Jackson's film of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Instead, it is Éomer whom Gandalf sets out to find and returns with in the dawn of the final battle at Helm's Deep, to force the Uruk-hai into the Huorns that appeared overnight. However he does make a brief appearance in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. He also appears in The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game by Decipher, primarily based on the Jackson movies. He also appears in the PC real-time strategy game, The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring, based on the book.