MOVIE NEWS – The battle sequences in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy are regarded as some of the most iconic in cinematic history. Memorable moments like the Battle of Helm’s Deep in The Two Towers and the Rohirrim’s charge, along with the climactic Battle of the Pelennor Fields in The Return of the King, are celebrated for their epic scale, stunning effects, and outstanding performances. However, you may be surprised to learn that J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantastical world of elves, dwarves, and hobbits also incorporates historically accurate elements in its battles.

Ancient historian Roel Konijnendijk joined Insider to analyze battle sequences in movies, including those from The Lord of the Rings. After reviewing multiple scenes from The Return of the King, Konijnendijk offered high praise for their level of authenticity. Starting with the famed “Ride Now” speech during the charge of the Rohirrim, he noted:
“That moment where he slaps the lances with his sword—it’s not historical at all. Bernard Hill came up with it for the scene,” Konijnendijk explained. Even though it lacks historical grounding, the historian admitted the cinematic impact was undeniable:
“It’s so effective that you almost wish it were real. People often ask me if it’s historically accurate or if medieval commanders actually did that, and I have to say, ‘No, Bernard Hill invented it.’ But now it’s become this extraordinary representation of what premodern warfare might feel like.”

While Konijnendijk appreciated Hill’s speech, he remarked that the Rohirrim’s gallop was far from realistic.
“Cavalry charges in real life would typically have been much slower than what we see in films,” he explained. “In movies, they emphasize galloping for drama and speed, but in reality, riders needed to stay close together, which required maintaining a steady pace.”

The Lord of the Rings Scores Surprisingly High for Historical Accuracy

Konijnendijk later examined the Pelennor Fields battle, particularly focusing on the Oliphaunts.
“Oliphaunts are essentially exaggerated versions of war elephants,” he said. Drawing comparisons to historical accounts, he noted that Persian armies used elephants to intimidate enemies unfamiliar with them. However, these animals weren’t the unstoppable forces portrayed in films. Konijnendijk explained:
“When infantry faced an elephant charge, they would simply create gaps or channels for them to pass through. It was a straightforward strategy to neutralize the threat.”

After watching the clips, Konijnendijk acknowledged the obvious: The Lord of the Rings is a fantasy series.
“From a cinematic and emotional perspective, these are some of the best depictions of ancient warfare you could imagine,” he remarked. “The Return of the King will always be a perfect 10 in terms of epic storytelling.” Yet, he was impressed by how historically grounded the sequences felt:
“If I had to assign a score for historical accuracy, it’s challenging because of the fantasy setting, but I’d probably give it an 8 out of 10,” he concluded.

Source: MovieWeb