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{{disambig-two|a conflict in [[Gondor]]|[[Middle-earth Role Playing|MERP]] supplement|[[The Kin-strife]]}}
{{disambig-two|a conflict in [[Gondor]]|[[Middle-earth Role Playing|MERP]] supplement|[[The Kin-strife]]}}
{{War
| previous=[[War of the Last Alliance]]
| next=[[Corsair Wars]]
| name=Kin-strife
| image=
| begin={{TA|1432}}
| end={{TA|1447}}
| place=Fought in the eastern lands of [[Gondor]], most notably in [[Osgiliath]] and [[Pelargir]]
| result=Victory for [[Eldacar]] and his followers
*Line of [[Eldacar]] restored
*Many [[Northmen]] emigrate to [[Gondor]]
*[[Umbar]] secedes under [[Corsair]] rule
| battles=[[Siege of Osgiliath]], [[Battle of the Crossings of Erui]], [[Siege of Pelargir]]
| side1=[[Gondorians]] (loyalists)<br>[[Northmen of Rhovanion]]
| side2=[[Gondorians]] (rebels)
| commanders1=[[Eldacar (King of Gondor)|Eldacar]]
| commanders2=[[Castamir]] †
}}
The '''Kin-strife''' was a disastrous civil war in [[Gondor]].
The '''Kin-strife''' was a disastrous civil war in [[Gondor]].
__NOTOC__
== History ==
=== Prelude ===
The unrest that created the Kin-strife began when prince [[Valacar]], son of [[King of Gondor|King]] [[Rómendacil]], married a woman of the [[Northmen of Rhovanion]], [[Vidumavi]]. She bore him a son [[Eldacar (King of Gondor)|Eldacar]], but many [[Gondorians]] of [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] blood were angered by this mixing of blood of lesser men and Númenóreans.<ref name="Gondor">{{App|Gondor}}</ref>
===Conflicts===
When Eldacar succeeded his father in {{TA|1432}}, the unrest grew into open rebellion, as many Gondorians saw Eldacar as a half-breed who had no right to rule. The chief of them was his second cousin [[Castamir]], who, as [[Captain of Ships]], was supported by [[Umbar]] and [[Pelargir]] and other coastal regions. In {{TA|1437}}, he lead the confederates in open rebellion against the throne, [[Siege of Osgiliath|besieging Eldacar in Osgiliath]]. During the siege, [[Osgiliath]] was left in flames with the great [[Dome of Stars]] lost together with its ''[[palantíri|palantír]]'', the [[Osgiliath-stone]].<ref name="Gondor"/><ref name=ta>{{app|TA}}</ref>
Although he seized the throne for himself, Castamir quickly lost the support of the people of Gondor due to his cruelty and lack of generosity as demonstrated by the unnecessarily brutal sack of the city and the execution of [[Ornendil]], Eldacar's son and heir. His love for ships and fleets over the land which he ruled over added to his negative public approval. He also attempted to move the seat of the throne from Osgiliath to Pelargir, adding to his unpopularity amongst the populace in [[Ithilien]] and [[Minas Anor]].<ref name="Gondor"/>
Eldacar fled in-exile to his mother's kin in [[Rhovanion]] and many Northmen in service to Gondor and Dúnedain of the northern provinces of Gondor flocking to him. Many of the Dúnedain had come to greatly respect him and many more came to hate Castamir, his usurper. There, Eldacar remained for a decade as he mediated war.<ref name="Gondor"/>
A full decade later, in {{TA|1447|n}}, Eldacar returned with a great army from Rhovanion. Castamir's unpopularity resulted in many of the people living in [[Calenardhon]], [[Anorien]], and Ithilien to flock to Eldacar's banner. The two sides met at the [[Battle of the Crossings of Erui]] where much the best blood of Gondor was lost, until Eldacar managed to kill Castamir. But Castamir's sons and many of their supporters retreated to Pelargir. Eldacar [[Siege of Pelargir|besieged them]] by land until [[Third Age 1448|the next year]] when they sailed their way to the Haven of Umbar with all their forces. Eldacar could not follow them for he had no ships to beset them by sea.<ref name="Gondor"/><ref name=ta/>


The unrest that created the Kin-strife began when [[Valacar]], the son of the Gondorian king [[Rómendacil II]], married a woman of the [[Northmen]] of [[Rhovanion (Realm)|Rhovanion]], [[Vidumavi]]. She bore him a son [[Eldacar (King of Gondor)|Eldacar]], but many Gondorians of [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] blood were angered by this mixing of blood of [[Middle Men]] and [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]]s, and the coastal provinces rebelled when Valacar grew old.
===Aftermath===
Not only did Gondor lose the city of [[Umbar]] for four centuries, it gained a new enemy in the [[Corsairs of Umbar]], the followers of the descendants of Castamir's sons. Castamir's descendants established a lordship independent of Gondor's power, and thus a threat to its coastlands and all traffic by sea. The Corsairs remained at war with Gondor for many centuries until the reign of [[Aragorn II Elessar]] and they continuously contested their claim to [[Harondor]]. The loss of Umbar to Gondor also reduced Gondor's realm and influence in the south as its hold upon the [[Haradrim]] was loosened.<ref name="Gondor"/>


When in 1432 of the [[Third Age]] Eldacar succeeded his father the unrest grew into open rebellion, as many Gondorians saw Eldacar as a halfbreed who had no right to rule. The chief of them was his distant relative  [[Castamir|Castamir the Usurper]], Lord of Ships, who in 1437 usurped the throne, forcing Eldacar into exile. During the rebellion [[Osgiliath]] was burned, and the great [[Dome of Stars]] was lost, together with its [[palantíri|palantír]]. Castamir also murdered Eldacar's son and heir [[Ornendil]]. Eldacar fled to Rhovanion, and Castamir ruled in his stead.
Upon Eldacar's return to the throne, the blood of the [[House of Anárion]] and other noble families of the Dúnedain became mingled with lesser men; Gondor's population was replenished by large numbers of [[Northmen of Rhovanion|Northmen from Rhovanion]]. Much of the best blood of Gondor was killed during the [[Battle of the Crossings of Erui]].<ref name="Gondor"/>


A full decade later, in 1447, Eldacar returned with Rhovanion troops, at the same time a rebellion against Castamir's cruel rule took place. Eldacar managed to kill Castamir at the [[Battle of the Crossings of Erui]], but Castamir's sons and many of their supporters fled south to the [[Haven of Umbar]]. Eldacar could not follow them, as the fleet was under Castamir's control.
After the Kin-strife, the [[Kings of Gondor]] were generally cautious and watchful of those of near kin; the suspects often joined the rebels at [[Umbar]], or renounced their heritage and took wives of non-Númenórean blood, further weakening the Númenórean strain of the [[House of Anárion]]. The repercussions were still felt centuries later, in the time of the last king [[Eärnur]], when very few descendants of the Kings were alive; when he was lost in [[Minas Morgul]], no suitable heir could be found to succeed him.<ref name="Gondor"/>


Not only did Gondor lose the city of Umbar for four centuries and gained a new enemy in the [[Corsairs of Umbar]], descendants of Castamir's sons, but also many of the Númenóreans of purest blood were killed during the civil war, leaving Gondor weakened.
{{references}}


The Kin-strife was, along with the [[Great Plague]], one of the chief reasons for the abandonment of the fortresses in and surrounding [[Mordor]].
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-start}}
{{seq
{{seq
| prev=[[War of the Last Alliance]]
| prev=[[War of the Last Alliance]]
| list=Major events of [[Middle-earth]]
| list=Major events of [[Middle-earth]]
| dates={{TA|1342}} - {{TA|1447}}
| dates={{TA|1432}} - {{TA|1447}}
| next=[[Great Plague]]
| next=[[Great Plague]]
}}
}}
{{seq-end}}
{{seq-end}}
[[Category:Conflicts of the Third Age]]
[[Category:Conflicts of the Third Age]]
[[Category:Wars]]
[[de:Sippenstreit]]
[[de:Sippenstreit]]
[[fr:encyclo/evenements/3a/guerres/lutte_fratricide]]
[[fr:encyclo/evenements/3a/guerres/lutte_fratricide]]
[[fi:Sukuriita]]
[[fi:Sukuriita]]

Revision as of 01:41, 6 April 2021

This article is about a conflict in Gondor. For the MERP supplement, see The Kin-strife.
Previous war: War of the Last Alliance
Next war: Corsair Wars
Kin-strife
Beginning: T.A. 1432End: T.A. 1447
Place: Fought in the eastern lands of Gondor, most notably in Osgiliath and Pelargir
Outcome: Victory for Eldacar and his followers
Major battles: Siege of Osgiliath, Battle of the Crossings of Erui, Siege of Pelargir
Combatants

Gondorians (loyalists)
Northmen of Rhovanion

Gondorians (rebels)

Commanders

Eldacar

Castamir

The Kin-strife was a disastrous civil war in Gondor.

History

Prelude

The unrest that created the Kin-strife began when prince Valacar, son of King Rómendacil, married a woman of the Northmen of Rhovanion, Vidumavi. She bore him a son Eldacar, but many Gondorians of Númenórean blood were angered by this mixing of blood of lesser men and Númenóreans.[1]

Conflicts

When Eldacar succeeded his father in T.A. 1432, the unrest grew into open rebellion, as many Gondorians saw Eldacar as a half-breed who had no right to rule. The chief of them was his second cousin Castamir, who, as Captain of Ships, was supported by Umbar and Pelargir and other coastal regions. In T.A. 1437, he lead the confederates in open rebellion against the throne, besieging Eldacar in Osgiliath. During the siege, Osgiliath was left in flames with the great Dome of Stars lost together with its palantír, the Osgiliath-stone.[1][2]

Although he seized the throne for himself, Castamir quickly lost the support of the people of Gondor due to his cruelty and lack of generosity as demonstrated by the unnecessarily brutal sack of the city and the execution of Ornendil, Eldacar's son and heir. His love for ships and fleets over the land which he ruled over added to his negative public approval. He also attempted to move the seat of the throne from Osgiliath to Pelargir, adding to his unpopularity amongst the populace in Ithilien and Minas Anor.[1]

Eldacar fled in-exile to his mother's kin in Rhovanion and many Northmen in service to Gondor and Dúnedain of the northern provinces of Gondor flocking to him. Many of the Dúnedain had come to greatly respect him and many more came to hate Castamir, his usurper. There, Eldacar remained for a decade as he mediated war.[1]

A full decade later, in 1447, Eldacar returned with a great army from Rhovanion. Castamir's unpopularity resulted in many of the people living in Calenardhon, Anorien, and Ithilien to flock to Eldacar's banner. The two sides met at the Battle of the Crossings of Erui where much the best blood of Gondor was lost, until Eldacar managed to kill Castamir. But Castamir's sons and many of their supporters retreated to Pelargir. Eldacar besieged them by land until the next year when they sailed their way to the Haven of Umbar with all their forces. Eldacar could not follow them for he had no ships to beset them by sea.[1][2]

Aftermath

Not only did Gondor lose the city of Umbar for four centuries, it gained a new enemy in the Corsairs of Umbar, the followers of the descendants of Castamir's sons. Castamir's descendants established a lordship independent of Gondor's power, and thus a threat to its coastlands and all traffic by sea. The Corsairs remained at war with Gondor for many centuries until the reign of Aragorn II Elessar and they continuously contested their claim to Harondor. The loss of Umbar to Gondor also reduced Gondor's realm and influence in the south as its hold upon the Haradrim was loosened.[1]

Upon Eldacar's return to the throne, the blood of the House of Anárion and other noble families of the Dúnedain became mingled with lesser men; Gondor's population was replenished by large numbers of Northmen from Rhovanion. Much of the best blood of Gondor was killed during the Battle of the Crossings of Erui.[1]

After the Kin-strife, the Kings of Gondor were generally cautious and watchful of those of near kin; the suspects often joined the rebels at Umbar, or renounced their heritage and took wives of non-Númenórean blood, further weakening the Númenórean strain of the House of Anárion. The repercussions were still felt centuries later, in the time of the last king Eärnur, when very few descendants of the Kings were alive; when he was lost in Minas Morgul, no suitable heir could be found to succeed him.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"
  2. 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
Preceded by:
War of the Last Alliance
Major events of Middle-earth
T.A. 1432 - T.A. 1447
Followed by:
Great Plague