Dates

Location

Races

Fought between Men on the side of Rohan, and Men, Orcs and Orc-men in the armies of Saruman

Division

Culture

Settlements

The western bank of the Fords was guarded by a pair of earthwork forts

Source

The river Isen flowed through the Fords from the north

Outflow

Isen ran on to the south before looping westward

Pronunciation

Isen is pronounced 'eye-sen' (where 'eye' represents the sound of the English word 'eye')

Meaning

Isen means 'iron'

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Second Battle of the Fords of Isen

Erkenbrand's failed defence of the Fords of Isen

This map shows the armies of Saruman in black, and the main force of the Rohirrim (commanded by Grimbold of Westfold) in white. Green represents the Rohirrim of the Muster of Edoras, commanded by Elfhelm, who ultimately played little direct part in the battle.

(1)	Toward noon, a forward element of Saruman's forces comes down the road from Isengard on the western side of Isen and assaults the forts guarding the Fords of Isen, which the Rohirrim defend.
(2)	Anticipating that a secondary force will approach down the eastern side of Isen, Elfhelm deploys his Riders to screen the defenders against any attack from that direction.
(3)	Saruman's forces push the defenders back from the forts on the western bank, but Grimbold is able to maintain the defence of the eastern bank.
(4)	Under the darkness of night, a much greater army comes down the road out of the north and crosses the Fords. Grimbold is forced to abandon the eastern bank and fall back to his camp.
(5)	Grimbold holds the enemy at bay using a shieldwall. At his orders, his surviving cavalry under Dúnhere break out of the camp and briefly harass the enemy before riding off into the plain.
(6)	As Elfhelm had predicted, a second force comes down the river on its eastern bank, but the Rohirrim are flanked by wolfriders, and forced to make their retreat eastward.
(7)	Having defeated and driven off the Rohirrim, Saruman's combined forces continue down the road into Westfold, and towards the Battle of the Hornburg, which will be fought on the following night.

(1)	Toward noon, a forward element of Saruman's forces comes down the road from Isengard on the western side of Isen and assaults the forts guarding the Fords of Isen, which the Rohirrim defend.
(2)	Anticipating that a secondary force will approach down the eastern side of Isen, Elfhelm deploys his Riders to screen the defenders against any attack from that direction.
(3)	Saruman's forces push the defenders back from the forts on the western bank, but Grimbold is able to maintain the defence of the eastern bank.
(4)	Under the darkness of night, a much greater army comes down the road out of the north and crosses the Fords. Grimbold is forced to abandon the eastern bank and fall back to his camp.
(5)	Grimbold holds the enemy at bay using a shieldwall. At his orders, his surviving cavalry under Dúnhere break out of the camp and briefly harass the enemy before riding off into the plain.
(6)	As Elfhelm had predicted, a second force comes down the river on its eastern bank, but the Rohirrim are flanked by wolfriders, and forced to make their retreat eastward.
(7)	Having defeated and driven off the Rohirrim, Saruman's combined forces continue down the road into Westfold, and towards the Battle of the Hornburg, which will be fought on the following night.

A battle fought in the night of 2 March III 3019. The armies of Erkenbrand's Rohirrim, commanded by Grimbold and Elfhelm, attempted to defend the Fords of Isen against Saruman's forces. Saruman was victorious, and the Riders of Rohan were scattered in retreat.