King of Arthedain

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The Kings of Arthedain were the hereditary rulers of Arthedain, one of the three successor kingdoms of Arnor after its division in T.A. 861.[1]

History

The first king of Arthedain was Amlaith, the eldest son of Eärendur the last King of Arnor.[2] The kingdom of Arnor split into three pieces after the death of Eärendur. The other two kingdoms were named Cardolan and Rhudaur.

Beginning with Argeleb I onwards to the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, their names included the Elvish prefix Ar(an)- indicating loyal claim to the whole Arnor, after the lines of Cardolan and Rhudaur failed[3] and the kings of Arthedain claimed the title King of Arnor.[4] Practically speaking, however, their power was limited to the land of Arthedain which gradually diminished over the course of their seven hundred-year struggle with Angmar.

Angmar finally triumphed over Arthedain in T.A. 1974 with the destruction of Fornost. Arvedui, the last king, fled to the north, where he perished in a winter storm while trying to escape the frozen wastes of Forochel. Arvedui's son, Aranath, chose not to claim the kingship and instead became the first Chieftain of the Dúnedain in T.A. 1976.[1] This marked the end of the kingship, though not of the dynasty of Isildur.

Duties and Office

The duties would have been highly similar to those of the Kings of Arnor, though much reduced in scale. Several kings were involved in the wars against Angmar, where they would have led the forces of Arthedain against their foes.

The kings would also share the same badges of office that the Arnorian kings once used: the Shards of Narsil, the Ring of Barahir, and the Sceptre of Annuminas. After the dissolution of the kingship, these would pass to the keeping of Elrond, with the brief exception of the Ring of Barahir, which had to be retrieved from the Lossoth.[2]

The kings controlled two of the three northern Palantíri: those in Elostirion and Annuminas. After the fall of Amon Sûl, they would gain the palantìr formerly housed there as well. However, the latter two palantíri would be lost forever in the shipwreck that killed Arevdui.

List of Kings

The Kings of Arthedain were of the same lineage of those of Arnor, though are listed separately from them within royal chronicles. The Kings of Arthedain and the duration of their reigns[2] were:

Kings of Arthedain
  Name Reign Notes
1. Amlaith T.A. 861-946 eldest son of Eärendur, tenth King of Arnor.
2. Beleg T.A. 946-1029.
3. Mallor T.A. 10291110.
4. Celepharn T.A. 11101191.
5. Celebrindor T.A. 11911272.
6. Malvegil T.A. 12721349.
7. Argeleb I T.A. 13491356†.
8. Arveleg I T.A. 13561409†.
9. Araphor T.A. 14091589.
10. Argeleb II T.A. 15891670.
11. Arvegil T.A. 16701743.
12. Arveleg II T.A. 17431813.
13. Araval T.A. 18131891.
14. Araphant T.A. 18911964.
15. Arvedui T.A. 19641974†, last king of the north kingdom.

See also

For the family tree of the Kings of Arthedain, as well as that of Arnor and the Chieftains, see the House of Isildur.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Northern Line: Heirs of Isildur"
  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", note 4
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur"