First Marshal of the Riddermark

The highest military rank among the Riders of Rohan. Unlike the Second and Third Marshals, whose duties were assigned as the times demanded, the First Marshal always had the same responsibility. He commanded the Riders of the capital Edoras and the surrounding lands, including the King's Lands and Harrowdale.

At the time of the War of the Ring, there was no First Marshal of the Riddermark. In his youth, King Théoden had led the Riders of the Muster of Edoras himself, so that no First Marshal was needed. In Théoden's later years, the Wizard Saruman exerted a malign influence over the King, and Saruman's agent Gríma Wormtongue worked to ensure that no First Marshal was appointed, leaving a vacuum of power for him to exploit.