Ecthelion II

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The name Ecthelion refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Ecthelion (disambiguation).
Ecthelion II
Gondorian
Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg
"Ecthelion, Thorongil and Boromir study" by Catherine Karina Chmiel
Biographical Information
TitlesRuling Steward
LocationGondor
LanguageWestron, Sindarin
BirthT.A. 2886
RuleT.A. 2953 - T.A. 2984 (31 years)
DeathT.A. 2984 (aged 98)
Family
HouseHouse of Húrin
ParentageTurgon
ChildrenDenethor II; 2 unnamed daughters[1]
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Ecthelion II

Ecthelion II (Third Age 2886[1] – 2984,[2] aged 98 years) was the twenty-fifth Ruling Steward of Gondor. He succeeded his father Turgon at his death in Third Age 2953.

History[edit | edit source]

Ecthelion was the son of Steward Turgon. Two years before he took the throne, Sauron had declared himself openly.[3][4]

Ecthelion was known as a man of wisdom, and used all his power to strengthen Gondor against the new threat. He encouraged worthy men from Gondor or outside to enter into his service, giving ranks and rewarding the best of them. One was the stranger Thorongil who came from King Thengel of Rohan. Ecthelion loved him above all, and appreciated him more than his own son, Denethor; the Gondorians even believed that there was rivalry between the two. The stranger also advised him not to trust Saruman in Isengard, but to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust).[4]

Gandalf was also a welcome guest in Minas Tirith at the time. Ecthelion also strengthened Pelargir and refortified Cair Andros.[1]

Thorongil warned Ecthelion that if Sauron started open war, the Corsairs of Umbar would be a great threat for the Southern Fiefs. Ecthelion gave his leave to Thorongil to go to Umbar and in T.A. 2980 he severely damaged the Corsairs' fleet in a surprise attack. Great honor awaited Thorongil in Minas Tirith but he never returned; he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion saying that other tasks call him and didn't know if fate would bring him again to Gondor. It later transpired that Thorongil was Aragorn Elessar.[4][3]

Ecthelion was followed by his son Denethor at his death in 2984.[2]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

For the meaning of his name refer to Ecthelion - Etymology. It is possible that Ecthelion II was named after the Noldo hero of the First Age.[5]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
 
 
 
 
Túrin II
2815 - 2914
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Princes of
Dol Amroth
 
 
 
Turgon
2855 - 2953
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adrahil
2917 - 3010
 
 
 
ECTHELION II
2886 - 2984
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finduilas
2950 - 2988
 
Denethor II
2930 - 3019
 
two daughters
unknown
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Boromir
2978 - 3019
 
Faramir
2983 - Fo.A. 82
 
 
 
 


Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

2014: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies:

Although he does not appear in the film, in the Extended Edition, Thranduil mentions "Ecthelion of Gondor" to Bard as someone who could sell the Arkenstone to. At the time of the book, Turgon was still Steward of Gondor.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", p. 206
  2. 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Southern Line: Heirs of Anarion"
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", "The Stewards"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part Two. Body, Mind and Spirit: V. Beards", footnote 3, p. 189
Ecthelion II
House of Húrin
Born: T.A. 2886 Died: T.A. 2984
Preceded by:
Turgon
25th Ruling Steward of Gondor
T.A. 2953 - 2984
Followed by:
Denethor II


The Southern Line and the Heirs of Anárion
Kings of Gondor: Elendil (S.A. 3320 - 3441) · Isildur (S.A. 3441 - T.A. 2) and Anárion (S.A. 3320 - 3440) · Meneldil (T.A. 2 - 158) · Cemendur (158 - 238) · Eärendil (238 - 324) · Anardil (324 - 411) · Ostoher (411 - 492) · Rómendacil I (492 - 541) · Turambar (541 - 667) · Atanatar I (667 - 748) · Siriondil (748 - 830) · Tarannon Falastur (830 - 913) · Eärnil I (913 - 936) · Ciryandil (936 - 1015) · Hyarmendacil I (1015 - 1149) · Atanatar II Alcarin (1149 - 1226) · Narmacil I (1226 - 1294) · Calmacil (1294 - 1304) · Rómendacil II (1304 - 1366) · Valacar (1366 - 1432) · Eldacar (1432 - 1437) · Castamir the Usurper (1437 - 1447) · Eldacar restored (1447 - 1490) · Aldamir (1490 - 1540) · Hyarmendacil II (1540 - 1621) · Minardil (1621 - 1634) · Telemnar (1634 - 1636) · Tarondor (1636 - 1798) · Telumehtar Umbardacil (1798 - 1850) · Narmacil II (1850 - 1856) · Calimehtar (1856 - 1936) · Ondoher (1936 - 1944) · Eärnil II (1945 - 2043) · Eärnur (2043 - 2050)
Stewards of Gondor: Húrin of Emyn Arnen (c. T.A. 1630s) · Pelendur (before T.A. 1944 - 1998) · Vorondil (1998 - 2029) · Mardil Voronwë (2029 - 2080) · Eradan (2080 - 2116) · Herion (2116 - 2148) · Belegorn (2148 - 2204) · Húrin I (2204 - 2244) · Túrin I (2244 - 2278) · Hador (2278 - 2395) · Barahir (2395 - 2412) · Dior (2412 - 2435) · Denethor I (2435 - 2477) · Boromir (2477 - 2489) · Cirion (2489 - 2567) · Hallas (2567 - 2605) · Húrin II (2605 - 2628) · Belecthor I (2628 - 2655) · Orodreth (2655 - 2685) · Ecthelion I (2685 - 2698) · Egalmoth (2698 - 2743) · Beren (2743 - 2763) · Beregond (2763 - 2811) · Belecthor II (2811 - 2872) · Thorondir (2872 - 2882) · Túrin II (2882 - 2914) · Turgon (2914 - 2953) · Ecthelion II (2953 - 2984) · Denethor II (2984 - 3019) · Faramir (T.A. 3019 - Fo.A. 82) · Elboron (Fo.A. 82 onwards)
Kings of Gondor: Elessar (T.A. 3019 - Fo.A. 120) · Eldarion (Fo.A. 120 onwards)
Non-ruling stewards are in italics