[Kalythianna]

I’m currently writing a story about a daughter of a Rohan Lord… But I don’t know what to call the Lords lands/village/fortress/home, what would be the Rohirrim equivalent for fief? I’ve tried fief and it just doesn’t seem to work (sounds to strange) especially since that word is used in Gondor. The Lords of Lossarnach, Ringlo Vale, Morthond, Lamedon and Anfalas, and the Prince of Dol Amroth all were fiefs. In Rohan the King had Lords under him as well (Lord of Deeping Comb and the Lord of Harrowdale). But did they have Fiefs? Forts? Villages? None of them seem to fit.

Any ideas?

[Taethowen]

Tolkien never really wrote anything about the Rohirric language, and most people I know of that write Rohirric fanfiction (including me) use Old English as a substitute for Rohirric.

I would suggest reading in the appendices in ROTK, and reading in the Silmarillion to find out about social structure in Rohan. I don't have it all memorized.

The Old English dictionary that I use the most can be found here:
http://home.comcast.net/~modean52/index.htm

Hope that helps some!

[Moralanqua]

I'd go with the good old Feudal system.

http://www.chobham.info/feudal_system.htm

This seems about right. The underlying lords own estates in the lands that belong to the King. They then have tenants who pay them and they then pay the King.

All the terminology should be in that link. Here are some more if you decide to follow this idea.

http://www.trytel.com/~tristan/towns/glossary.html

http://www.hemyockcastle.co.uk/feudal.htm#b

http://www.usm.maine.edu/~flc/emily.htm

The last link is all about woman. This should be helpful in aiding you establish how woman behaved and what they could and couldnt do. May add to the realism of your fic.

[Kalythianna]

Thanks guys for all that info. It helps a lot

[miriel361]

You know I always think of them being like the Scots. Why not call them clans?

You could also use the term 'March' which means a defensive borderland. Or 'protectorate'

[Kalythianna]

You know I always think of them being like the Scots. Why not call them clans?

Thats an awesome idea! Thanks, that should work. I've always kind of subcousiously viewed them like that too.