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'''Gondorians''', or the '''Dúnedain of the South''', was a name that referred to the inhabitants of [[Gondor]].<ref>{{L|64}}, also [[Letter 144]], [[Letter 256]]</ref><ref>{{UT|Cirion}}</ref> Although the people of Gondor initially were entirely of [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] descent, called the [[Dúnedain of the South]], they came to mingle with many different [[Pre-Númenóreans|peoples]], notably with the influx of [[Northmen]] from [[Rhovanion]].<ref name=south>{{App|A1iv}}</ref>
'''Gondorians''', or the '''Dúnedain of the South''', was a name that referred to the inhabitants of [[Gondor]].<ref>{{L|64}}, also [[Letter 144]], [[Letter 256]]</ref><ref>{{UT|Cirion}}</ref> Although the people of Gondor initially were entirely of [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] descent, called the [[Dúnedain of the South]], they came to mingle with many different [[Pre-Númenóreans|peoples]], notably with the influx of [[Northmen]] from [[Rhovanion]].<ref name=south>{{App|A1iv}}</ref>
==History==
==History==
The gifts of the Númenóreans were slowly withdrawing since [[Elendil]] came to [[Middle-earth]]. A turning point was the [[Kin-strife]], when many of the great were slain. King [[Eldacar (King of Gondor)|Eldacar]], who himself had [[Northmen|Northmannish]] blood, showed favour to the Northmen who supported him; many noble houses, including the royal [[House of Anárion]] were more mingled with the [[Middle Men|"lesser" Men]].<ref name=south/>
The Dúnedain of the South were the descendants of the Exiles of [[Númenor]] who settled in the southern lands of [[Middle-earth]] and founded the southern kingdom of [[Gondor]]. Their first independent King was [[Meneldil]], the nephew of [[Isildur]], whose line ruled over Gondor for more than two thousand years.
 
However, the gifts of the Númenóreans, like their longevity, were slowly withdrawing since their arrival. A turning point was the [[Kin-strife]], when many of the great were slain. King [[Eldacar (King of Gondor)|Eldacar]], who himself had [[Northmen|Northmannish]] blood, showed favour to the Northmen who supported him; many noble houses, including the royal [[House of Anárion]] were more mingled with the [[Middle Men|"lesser" Men]].<ref name=south/>


The second evil after the Kin-strife was the [[Great Plague]] that greatly diminished their numbers to the point of withdrawing from the fortresses and the watches over Mordor, and abandoning [[Osgiliath]].<ref name=south/>
The second evil after the Kin-strife was the [[Great Plague]] that greatly diminished their numbers to the point of withdrawing from the fortresses and the watches over Mordor, and abandoning [[Osgiliath]].<ref name=south/>


The Dúnedain of the South were the descendants of the Exiles of Númenor who settled in the southern lands of Middle-earth and founded the southern kingdom of Gondor. Their first independent King was Meneldil, the nephew of Isildur, whose line ruled over Gondor for more than two thousand years. Unlike their cousins in the North, the Dúnedain of the South maintained their realm even after the loss of its Kings, and it survived under the rule of the Stewards until the time of the War of the Ring, when the Kingship was restored.
Unlike their cousins in the North, the Dúnedain of the South maintained their realm even after the loss of its Kings, and it survived under the rule of the Stewards until the time of the War of the Ring, when the Kingship was restored.
 
==Culture==
==Culture==
The high men of the South married late in their life and had few children. Several of the [[Kings of Gondor]] were childless.<ref name=south/>
The high men of the South married late in their life and had few children. Several of the [[Kings of Gondor]] were childless.<ref name=south/>

Revision as of 19:04, 21 May 2019

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Gondorians
People
Liz Danforth - Gondorian.jpg]
"Gondorian" by Liz Danforth
General Information
Other namesDúnedain of the South, Men of Gondor, Stone-folk, Stonehouse-folk
OriginsDescendants of the Númenóreans in Gondor (partly Northmen and Pre-Númenóreans)[1][2]
LocationsGondor
AffiliationLast Alliance of Elves and Men, Host of the West
RivalriesHaradrim, Corsairs of Umbar, Wainriders, Balchoth
LanguagesGondor Sindarin, Westron
MembersDenethor, Boromir, Faramir
Physical Description
LifespanThree times the life of a regular man but later considerably diminished[3]
Average height2 rangar, later diminished
GalleryImages of Gondorians

Gondorians, or the Dúnedain of the South, was a name that referred to the inhabitants of Gondor.[4][5] Although the people of Gondor initially were entirely of Númenórean descent, called the Dúnedain of the South, they came to mingle with many different peoples, notably with the influx of Northmen from Rhovanion.[6]

History

The Dúnedain of the South were the descendants of the Exiles of Númenor who settled in the southern lands of Middle-earth and founded the southern kingdom of Gondor. Their first independent King was Meneldil, the nephew of Isildur, whose line ruled over Gondor for more than two thousand years.

However, the gifts of the Númenóreans, like their longevity, were slowly withdrawing since their arrival. A turning point was the Kin-strife, when many of the great were slain. King Eldacar, who himself had Northmannish blood, showed favour to the Northmen who supported him; many noble houses, including the royal House of Anárion were more mingled with the "lesser" Men.[6]

The second evil after the Kin-strife was the Great Plague that greatly diminished their numbers to the point of withdrawing from the fortresses and the watches over Mordor, and abandoning Osgiliath.[6]

Unlike their cousins in the North, the Dúnedain of the South maintained their realm even after the loss of its Kings, and it survived under the rule of the Stewards until the time of the War of the Ring, when the Kingship was restored.

Culture

The high men of the South married late in their life and had few children. Several of the Kings of Gondor were childless.[6]

Gondorian ships were usually black and silver in colour.[7]

Before a meal, the Gondorians looked towards the West.[8]

Lifespan

In the Third Age, the lifespan of the Dúnedain was less than of their ancestors in Númenor; specifically after the end of the Kings of Gondor, the waning was even swifter. In contrast, their cousins, the Dúnedain of the North, maintained significant longevity.[9]

Portrayal in adaptations

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

Gondorians, or Gondorian Commoners, are one of the cultures, suitable for player characters, that are given a detailed description. The Gondorians contain varying degrees of blood from Dúnedain, Northmen and Men from Harad and Dunland.[10][11]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 64, (dated 30 April 1944), also Letter 144, Letter 256
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 64, (dated 30 April 1944), also Letter 144, Letter 256
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan"
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"
  7. Daniel Helen, "Tolkien’s annotated map of Middle-earth transcribed" dated 10 November 2015, The Tolkien Society (accessed 5 August 2018)
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Window on the West"
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur"
  10. S. Coleman Charlton (1993), Middle-earth Role Playing (2nd edition, softcover) (#2001), p. 168
  11. Jason Beresford, Anders Blixt, Mats Blomqvist, Gunnar Brolin, Jeff Hatch, Tim Innes, Martin Rundkvist, Erik Ragvik, Olle Sahlin, Chris Seeman, Magnus Seter (1996), Southern Gondor: The People (#2020)