Dúnedain of Arnor

"...there is much else that may be told." — Glóin This article or section is a stub. Please help Tolkien Gateway by expanding it.

Men of Arnor
People
General Information
Origins	Descendants of the Númenóreans in Arnor (partly Men of Eriador)
Locations	Eriador, Arnor
Affiliation	Last Alliance of Elves and Men, Host of the West, Grey Company
Rivalries	Hill-men
Languages	Westron, Sindarin, Quenya
Members	Argeleb I, Aragorn II, Gilraen

The Men of Arnor were the inhabitants of Arnor and its successor kingdoms. The Dúnedain of Arnor, also known as the Dúnedain of the North or the Northern Dúnedain, constituted the ruling class and nobility of Arnor being descendants of the Exiles of Númenor who established the North-Kingdom. The history of the Men of Arnor is extensively dominated by the actions of the Dúnedain of the North.

History

Early History

After the Downfall of Númenor, the Exiles of Númenor, led by Elendil, established the Realms in Exile of Arnor and Gondor. Elendil was cast up by the waves in the land of Lindon, and he was befriended by Gil-galad. He then passed up the River Lhûn, and beyond Ered Luin, he established the realm of Arnor. The Exiles and later the Northern Dúnedain dwelt in many places in Eriador about the courses of the Lhûn and the Baranduin; but their chief city was at Annúminas beside Lake Nenuial. At Fornost upon the North Downs also the Northern Dúnedain dwelt, and in Cardolan, and in the hills of Rhudaur; and towers they raised upon Emyn Beraid and upon Amon Sûl.

There, many already dwelt who were in whole or part of Númenorean blood who welcomed Elendil and his sons. In Arnor, these Men of Eriador accepted the new kingdom of Elendil and helped to people and maintain the many places that the Northern Dúnedain built. When Elendil led his people into the south to battle against Sauron, these Men of Eriador marched alongside the Dúnedain.

War of the Last Alliance and Decline

Originally ruled by the High King of the Dúnedain, they were divided as the Dúnedain of Arnor and the Dúnedain of Gondor, following the death of Isildur, son of Elendil, in T.A. 2.

Valandil, Isildur's youngest son, took up his rule in Annúminas, but his people were diminished, and of the Northern Dúnedain and Men of Eriador there remained now too few to people the land or maintain the places Elendil built; many of Dúnedain of Arnor had died in the War of the Last Alliance and at the Disaster of the Gladden Fields.

After the reign of Eärendur, the seventh king that followed Valandil, the Dúnedain of the North became divided into the petty realms and lordships of Arthedain, Cardolan, and Rhudaur, owing to dissensions among his sons.

The Great Plague

The remnants of the Northern Dúnedain were also heavily affected by the Great Plague; the joint garrison (of the North and South Kingdoms) at Tharbad ceased to exist, and the last of the Dúnedain of Cardolan died on the Barrow-downs.

Conflicts with Angmar

"...there is much else that may be told." — Glóin This article or section is a stub. Please help Tolkien Gateway by expanding it.

Rangers of the North

After the Angmar War, the Dúnedain of the North were reduced to Rangers wandering secretly in the wild, and their heritage was forgotten, save in Imladris, where the Heirs of Isildur were harboured and their line, from father to son, remained unbroken.

Culture

"...there is much else that may be told." — Glóin This article or section is a stub. Please help Tolkien Gateway by expanding it.

Characteristics

"...there is much else that may be told." — Glóin This article or section is a stub. Please help Tolkien Gateway by expanding it.