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The '''Kings of Arnor''' were the rulers of the Northern kingdom of [[Arnor]], located in [[Eriador]]. They were descended from [[Elendil]] and the [[Lords of Andúnië]]. The line would persist even after the fall of Arnor, and would eventually resurface at the end of the [[Third Age]] to retake the kingship of the North Kingdom.
[[File:Rondador_-_Armor_Emblem.png|thumb|Emblem of Arnor]]The '''Kings of Arnor''' were the rulers of the Northern kingdom of [[Arnor]], located in [[Eriador]]. They were descended from [[Elendil]] and the [[Lords of Andúnië]]. The line would persist even after the fall of Arnor, and would eventually resurface at the end of the [[Third Age]] to retake the kingship of the North Kingdom.


The title is tied to that of the [[Heir of Isildur]] and the [[High King of the Dúnedain]].
==History==
==History==
Originally, Elendil was the [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Gondor]] and Arnor. After his death, he was followed by his son as Isildur, who retained the title of High King. His reign lasted only two years, however, and after his death the realm was split. Valandil his son claimed only the kingship of Arnor, leaving the kingship of Gondor to the house of Anárion.</p>
Originally, Elendil was the High King of both [[Gondor]] and Arnor. After his death, he was followed by his son as Isildur, who retained the title of High King, but didn't rule as he died on his way to Arnor; [[Valandil]] his son, was too young, leaving the kingship of Gondor to the [[House of Anárion]], and when he grew up to rule, he claimed only the kingship of Arnor.<ref name="app">{{App|Exile}}p. 1358</ref>


<p>After Eärendur the realm of [[Arnor]] was split between his three sons, founding the realms of [[Arthedain]], [[Cardolan]] and [[Rhudaur]]. The elder line of Kings continued with the '''Kings of Arthedain'''.</p>
After King [[Eärendur]] the realm of [[Arnor]] was split between his three sons, founding the realms of [[Arthedain]], [[Cardolan]] and [[Rhudaur]]. The [[House of Isildur]] continued with the '''[[Kings of Arthedain]]'''.<ref>{{App|North}}p. 1360</ref> Though also Heirs of Isildur, the kings of Arthedain are listed distinctly from the kings of Arnor. The title of "King of Arnor" would fall into disuse.


By {{TA|1349}}, the House of Isildur had died out in Cardolan and Rhudaur. [[Argeleb I]] of Arthedain again claimed the title '''King of Arnor'''.<ref>{{App|North}} p.1360</ref> However, much of the territory that once belonged to Arnor had fallen out of his hands, and Argeleb and his descendants were counted as kings of Arthedain in the lists of the [[Red Book of Westmarch]].<ref>{{App|North}}p. 1361</ref>


<p>In {{TA|1349}} the descendants of Eärendur had died out in Cardolan and Rhudaur, and [[Argeleb I]] of Arthedain again claimed the title '''King of Arnor'''. The Kings of Arthedain were then added to the elder list of Kings. Argeleb, 7th King of Arthedain, is thus referred to as the 17th of the Kings of Arnor, and Arvedui was the 25th and last King of the Northern Line. </p>
After the death of the last king of Arthedain, [[Arvedui]], the Northern Kingdom was no more. The line of Kings continued in the [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]], ruling over the [[Rangers of the North]].<ref name="app"/>.


<p>After Arvedui the Northern Kingdom was no more, and the line of Kings continued in the [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]], ruling over the [[Rangers of the North]] until the realm of Arnor was restored by Aragorn II Elessar.</p>
Though the kings of Arnor faded, some folk maintained the faint belief that the kings would return, such as the [[Hobbits]], who would retain the saying "until the king comes back" and also attributed their few rules and laws to the king as well. The memory of the northern kings would also not be forgotten in Gondor, where the line of kings had failed altogether.


==Office And Duties==
In F.A. 1, the kings of the North returned in the figure of [[Aragorn II Elessar]], who became king of Gondor and soon afterwards re-established the realm of Arnor, as well as the title of ''King of Arnor''. He and his descendants afterwards would reign the [[Reunited Kingdom]], but after [[Eldarion]] Elessar's son the Red Book records no more of the heirs of Elendil.


The king of Arnor had similar powers and duties to those of the king of Gondor. The king would have control over the militaries of Arnor. He also had the ability to grant lands to others as fiefs or vassals. For instance, the Shire was originally a grant from the king to the hobbits. King Elessar would renew this grant upon his own accession to the throne, naming several officials of the Shire such as the [[Thain]] as a [[Counsellor of the North-kingdom]].<ref name="AppBLater">{{App|B5}}</ref>
==Office and duties==
The king of Arnor had similar powers and duties to those of the king of Gondor. The king would have control over the militaries of Arnor. He also had the authority to grant lands to others as fiefs or vassals. For instance, the Shire was originally a grant from the king to the hobbits. King Elessar would renew this grant upon his own accession to the throne, naming several officials of the Shire such as the [[Thain]] as a [[Counsellor of the North-kingdom]].<ref name="AppBLater">{{App|B5}}p. 1441</ref>


The King would also have the legal right both to use a [[palantìr]] and to appoint someone to do so in his stead.  
The King would also have the legal right both to use a [[Palantíri|palantír]] and to appoint someone to do so in his stead.<ref>{{UT|Palantiri}}</ref> In the days of the split realm, Arthedain controlled the palantíri of [[Elostirion]] and [[Annúminas]], while both Cardolan and Rhudaur contested the ownership of the palantír of [[Amon Sûl]] (later [[Weathertop]]).


There were several heirlooms the King would wear or use as signs of their authority. The most famous of these the shards of [[Narsíl]], the broken sword of Elendil. Another was the [[Ring of Barahir]], received from [[Finrod Felagund]] during the Elder Days by an ancient ancestor. The final heirloom was the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]], a silver rod from the days of Numenor.  
There were several heirlooms the King would wear or use as signs of their authority. The most famous of these were the shards of [[Narsil]], the broken sword of Elendil. Another was the [[Ring of Barahir]], received from [[Finrod Felagund]] during the Elder Days by an [[Barahir|ancient ancestor]]. Additionally, the kings possessed the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]], a silver rod from the days of [[Numenor]].<ref>{{App|North}}p. 1365</ref>


 
There was one more artefact used by the Kings of Arnor: the [[Elendilmir]], a white gem set in a fillet (or crown) made of [[mithril]]. The original gem was a heirloom worn by Isildur, however, it was lost in the river [[Anduin]] upon his death at the [[Battle of the Gladden Fields]]. However, it ended up in [[Orthanc]] after [[Saruman]] stole the body of Isildur from the [[Gladden Fields]]. It was rediscovered during the reign of Elessar who would wear the fillet on his brow on certain high days.<ref>{{UT|Gladden}}</ref> A copy of the Elendilmir was made for the Kings of Arnor by the smiths of Elrond, and this copy was used as an heirloom of the house of Isildur even after they lost the kingship. After the recovery of the original, it would continue to see use on occasions where the original Elendilmir was not worn.
During the reign of Elessar, the [[Elendilmir]] was found in the tower of [[Orthanc]], where it had ended up after [[Saruman]] stole the body of Isildur from the [[Gladden Fields]]. Elessar would wear the fillet on his brow when he was in the North kingdom.


==List of Kings==
==List of Kings==


{| rules="all" align="center" style="border:1px solid darkgrey; border-collapse:collapse" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"
{| rules="all" align="center" style="border:1px solid darkgrey; border-collapse:collapse" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"
| colspan="4" style="background:gray; color:white; text-align:center" | '''First Line of the Kings of Arnor'''
| colspan="4" style="background:gray; color:white; text-align:center" | '''Kings of Arnor'''
|-
|-
| bgcolor="lightgrey" | &nbsp;  
| bgcolor="lightgrey" | &nbsp;  
Line 34: Line 36:
| 1. || [[Elendil]], son of [[Amandil]] || {{SA|3320}} – {{SA|3441}} || Founded the realm
| 1. || [[Elendil]], son of [[Amandil]] || {{SA|3320}} – {{SA|3441}} || Founded the realm
|-
|-
| 2. || [[Isildur]] || {{SA|3441}} – {{TA|2}} ||  
| 2. || [[Isildur]] || {{SA|3441}} – {{TA|2}} || Last High King of the [[Realms in Exile]]
|-
|-
| 3. || [[Valandil (King of Arnor)|Valandil]] || {{TA|2}} – {{TA|249}} ||
| 3. || [[Valandil (King of Arnor)|Valandil]] || {{TA|2}} – {{TA|249}} || First independent King of Arnor
|-
|-
| 4. || [[Eldacar (King of Arnor)|Eldacar]] || {{TA|249}} – {{TA|339}} ||
| 4. || [[Eldacar (King of Arnor)|Eldacar]] || {{TA|249}} – {{TA|339}} ||
Line 50: Line 52:
|9. || [[Elendur (King of Arnor)|Elendur]] || {{TA|652}} – {{TA|777}} ||
|9. || [[Elendur (King of Arnor)|Elendur]] || {{TA|652}} – {{TA|777}} ||
|-
|-
|10. || [[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]] || {{TA|777}} – {{TA|861}} || last King of Arnor
|10. || [[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]] || {{TA|777}} – {{TA|861}} || last King of Arnor before the nation split
|-
| 11. || [[Amlaith]], eldest son of [[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]] || {{TA|861}} – {{TA|946}} || first King of [[Arthedain]].
|-
| 12. || [[Beleg (King of Arthedain)|Beleg]] || {{TA|946}} – {{TA|1029}} ||
|-
| 13. || [[Mallor]] || {{TA|1029}} – {{TA|1110}} ||
|-
| 14. || [[Celepharn]] || {{TA|1110}} – {{TA|1191}} ||
|-
| 15. || [[Celebrindor]] || reigned {{TA|1191}} – {{TA|1272}} ||
|-
| 16. || [[Malvegil]] || {{TA|1272}} – {{TA|1349}} ||
|-
| 17. ||[[Argeleb I]] || {{TA|1349}} – {{TA|1356}}† ||
|-
| 18. || [[Arveleg I]] || {{TA|1356}} – {{TA|1409}}† ||
|-
| 19. || [[Araphor]] || {{TA|1409}} – {{TA|1589}} ||
|-
| 20. || [[Argeleb II]] || {{TA|1589}} – {{TA|1670}} ||
|-
| 21. || [[Arvegil]] || {{TA|1670}} – {{TA|1743}} ||
|-
| 22. || [[Arveleg II]] || {{TA|1743}} – {{TA|1813}} ||
|-
| 23. || [[Araval]] || {{TA|1813}} – {{TA|1891}} ||
|-
| 24. || [[Araphant]] || {{TA|1891}} – {{TA|1964}} ||
|-
| 25. || [[Arvedui]] ||{{TA|1964}} – {{TA|1975}}† || last King of the Northern Kingdom
|-
|-
| 26. ||[[Aragorn|Elessar]] || {{TA|3019}} – {{FoA|120}} || first High King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
|11. ||[[Aragorn|Elessar]] || {{TA|3019}} – {{FoA|120}} || first High King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
|-
|-
| 27. ||[[Eldarion]] || {{FoA|120}} – c. {{FoA|220}} || Last king whose name appears in the [[Red Book]].
|12. ||[[Eldarion]] || {{FoA|120}} – c. {{FoA|220}} || Last king whose name appears in the [[Red Book]].
|}
|}


<references>
{{references}}
[[Category:Mannish titles]]
[[Category:Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers in Middle-earth]]

Revision as of 21:54, 31 December 2021

Emblem of Arnor

The Kings of Arnor were the rulers of the Northern kingdom of Arnor, located in Eriador. They were descended from Elendil and the Lords of Andúnië. The line would persist even after the fall of Arnor, and would eventually resurface at the end of the Third Age to retake the kingship of the North Kingdom.

The title is tied to that of the Heir of Isildur and the High King of the Dúnedain.

History

Originally, Elendil was the High King of both Gondor and Arnor. After his death, he was followed by his son as Isildur, who retained the title of High King, but didn't rule as he died on his way to Arnor; Valandil his son, was too young, leaving the kingship of Gondor to the House of Anárion, and when he grew up to rule, he claimed only the kingship of Arnor.[1]

After King Eärendur the realm of Arnor was split between his three sons, founding the realms of Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur. The House of Isildur continued with the Kings of Arthedain.[2] Though also Heirs of Isildur, the kings of Arthedain are listed distinctly from the kings of Arnor. The title of "King of Arnor" would fall into disuse.

By T.A. 1349, the House of Isildur had died out in Cardolan and Rhudaur. Argeleb I of Arthedain again claimed the title King of Arnor.[3] However, much of the territory that once belonged to Arnor had fallen out of his hands, and Argeleb and his descendants were counted as kings of Arthedain in the lists of the Red Book of Westmarch.[4]

After the death of the last king of Arthedain, Arvedui, the Northern Kingdom was no more. The line of Kings continued in the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, ruling over the Rangers of the North.[1].

Though the kings of Arnor faded, some folk maintained the faint belief that the kings would return, such as the Hobbits, who would retain the saying "until the king comes back" and also attributed their few rules and laws to the king as well. The memory of the northern kings would also not be forgotten in Gondor, where the line of kings had failed altogether.

In F.A. 1, the kings of the North returned in the figure of Aragorn II Elessar, who became king of Gondor and soon afterwards re-established the realm of Arnor, as well as the title of King of Arnor. He and his descendants afterwards would reign the Reunited Kingdom, but after Eldarion Elessar's son the Red Book records no more of the heirs of Elendil.

Office and duties

The king of Arnor had similar powers and duties to those of the king of Gondor. The king would have control over the militaries of Arnor. He also had the authority to grant lands to others as fiefs or vassals. For instance, the Shire was originally a grant from the king to the hobbits. King Elessar would renew this grant upon his own accession to the throne, naming several officials of the Shire such as the Thain as a Counsellor of the North-kingdom.[5]

The King would also have the legal right both to use a palantír and to appoint someone to do so in his stead.[6] In the days of the split realm, Arthedain controlled the palantíri of Elostirion and Annúminas, while both Cardolan and Rhudaur contested the ownership of the palantír of Amon Sûl (later Weathertop).

There were several heirlooms the King would wear or use as signs of their authority. The most famous of these were the shards of Narsil, the broken sword of Elendil. Another was the Ring of Barahir, received from Finrod Felagund during the Elder Days by an ancient ancestor. Additionally, the kings possessed the Sceptre of Annúminas, a silver rod from the days of Numenor.[7]

There was one more artefact used by the Kings of Arnor: the Elendilmir, a white gem set in a fillet (or crown) made of mithril. The original gem was a heirloom worn by Isildur, however, it was lost in the river Anduin upon his death at the Battle of the Gladden Fields. However, it ended up in Orthanc after Saruman stole the body of Isildur from the Gladden Fields. It was rediscovered during the reign of Elessar who would wear the fillet on his brow on certain high days.[8] A copy of the Elendilmir was made for the Kings of Arnor by the smiths of Elrond, and this copy was used as an heirloom of the house of Isildur even after they lost the kingship. After the recovery of the original, it would continue to see use on occasions where the original Elendilmir was not worn.

List of Kings

Kings of Arnor
  Name Reign Notes
1. Elendil, son of Amandil S.A. 3320S.A. 3441 Founded the realm
2. Isildur S.A. 3441T.A. 2 Last High King of the Realms in Exile
3. Valandil T.A. 2T.A. 249 First independent King of Arnor
4. Eldacar T.A. 249T.A. 339
5. Arantar T.A. 339T.A. 435
6. Tarcil T.A. 435T.A. 515
7. Tarondor T.A. 515T.A. 602
8. Valandur T.A. 602T.A. 652 Cause of premature death not recorded
9. Elendur T.A. 652T.A. 777
10. Eärendur T.A. 777T.A. 861 last King of Arnor before the nation split
11. Elessar T.A. 3019Fo.A. 120 first High King of the Reunited Kingdom
12. Eldarion Fo.A. 120 – c. Fo.A. 220 Last king whose name appears in the Red Book.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile"p. 1358
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Northern Line: Heirs of Isildur"p. 1360
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Northern Line: Heirs of Isildur" p.1360
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Northern Line: Heirs of Isildur"p. 1361
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "Later Events Concerning the Members of the Fellowship of the Ring"p. 1441
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Palantíri"
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Northern Line: Heirs of Isildur"p. 1365
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields"