Steward of Gondor: Difference between revisions

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'''Steward''' or '''Arandur''' was the traditional title of a chief counselor to one of the [[Kings of Gondor]].  
'''Steward''' ([[Quenya|Q]]. '''''Arandur''''' "King's Servant") was the traditional title of a chief counselor to one of the [[Kings of Gondor]].  


==History of the office==
King [[Rómendacil I]] established the office of Steward, chosen by the King as a man of high trust and wisdom; Stewards were advanced in years since they were not permitted to go to war or to leave the realm. They were never a member of the [[House of Anárion|Royal House]].<ref>{{UT|Cirion}}, note 53</ref>
King [[Rómendacil I]] established the office of Steward, chosen by the King as a man of high trust and wisdom; Stewards were advanced in years since they were not permitted to go to war or to leave the realm. They were never a member of the [[House of Anárion|Royal House]].<ref>{{UT|Cirion}}, note 53</ref>


The Steward to King [[Minardil]], [[Húrin of Emyn Arnen]], was the founder of the famous '''House of Húrin'''. They were of high [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] blood, but not descendants of [[Elendil]] in the ruling line. After the time of Minardil, the Kings established the custom that Stewards are chosen from this House.
The Steward to King [[Minardil]], [[Húrin of Emyn Arnen]], was the founder of the '''[[House of Húrin]]'''. They were of high [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] blood, but not descendants of [[Elendil]] in the ruling line. After the time of Minardil, the Kings established the custom that Stewards are chosen from this House.


During the time of the Steward [[Pelendur]], this title became hereditary, passing the station of counselor from father to son, much like the Kingship.
During the time of the Steward [[Pelendur]], this title became hereditary, passing the station of counselor from father to son, much like the Kingship.
 
===The [[Ruling Stewards]]===
After the death of King [[Eärnur]], who left no heir to the throne of [[Gondor]], the Steward [[Mardil|Mardil Voronwë]] became the first of the Ruling Stewards. Mardil was the first of the Stewards to administer Gondor, and his descendants did so for 25 generations.
After the death of King [[Eärnur]], who left no heir to the throne of [[Gondor]], the Steward [[Mardil|Mardil Voronwë]] became the first of the Ruling Stewards. Mardil was the first of the Stewards to administer Gondor, and his descendants did so for 25 generations. The Stewards watched over the throne until it could be reclaimed by a true King of Gondor, an heir of Elendil.  
 
===[[Reunited Kingdom]]===
The Stewards watched over the throne until it could be reclaimed by a true King of Gondor, an heir of Elendil. When asked by his son [[Boromir]] how long must pass before a Steward could become a King, if the King did not return, [[Denethor|Denethor II]] replied, "Few years, maybe, in other places of less royalty … In Gondor ten thousand years would not suffice" (reported by [[Faramir]] in ''[[The Two Towers]]''). This is a jibe at [[Arnor]], which was split in three and eventually fell into the wilderness, only to be restored by [[Aragorn|Aragorn II]].
Soon after the death of Denethor II, [[Aragorn|Aragorn Elessar]] was crowned King. The Steward [[Faramir]], son of Denethor II, surrendered to the King his rod of office, but it was returned to him. Faramir nominally ruled briefly as Steward until Elessar's coronation, but since Faramir rested in the [[Houses of Healing]], Prince [[Imrahil]] of [[Dol Amroth]] took his place much of that time. Though Faramir became Steward a month and a half before Elessar became King, Faramir is not considered one of the Ruling Stewards. King Elessar confirmed in Faramir and his descendants the office of Steward of Gondor, and granted him in addition the title of [[Prince of Ithilien]], ensuring his line a position as counselor of the King.
 
The Stewards never sat on the throne of the King; instead, they sat on a simple chair of black stone placed below it. The symbol of their office was a white rod.
 
The [[Quenya]] name of the title is ''Arandur'': "Servant of the King".
 
==Ruling Stewards of Gondor==
 
The following is a list of the Ruling Stewards of Gondor. (All dates are from the [[Third Age]].)
*[[Pelendur]] (fl. 1944)
#[[Mardil|Mardil Voronwë]] "[[The Steadfast]]" (2029&ndash;2080)
#[[Eradan]] (2080&ndash;2116) - First Steward to use [[Sindarin]] name
#[[Herion]] (2116&ndash;2148)
#[[Belegorn]] (2148&ndash;2204)
#[[Húrin I]] (2204&ndash;2244) - Had two older sisters
#[[Túrin I]] (2244&ndash;2278) - Married twice, several daughters from both wives
#[[Hador (Steward of Gondor)|Hador]] (2278&ndash;2395) - From Túrin's second wife
#[[Barahir (Steward of Gondor)|Barahir]] (2395&ndash;2412)
#[[Dior (Steward of Gondor)|Dior]] (2412&ndash;2435) - Childless. Succeeded by sister-son Denethor.
#[[Denethor I]] (2435&ndash;2477)
#[[Boromir (Steward of Gondor)|Boromir]] (2477&ndash;2489)
#[[Cirion]] (2489&ndash;2567)
#[[Hallas]] (2567&ndash;2605)
#[[Húrin II]] (2605&ndash;2628)
#[[Belecthor I]] (2628&ndash;2655)
#[[Orodreth (Steward of Gondor)|Orodreth]] (2655&ndash;2685)
#[[Ecthelion I]] (2685&ndash;2698)
#[[Egalmoth (Steward of Gondor)|Egalmoth]] (2698&ndash;2743)
#[[Beren (Steward of Gondor)|Beren]] (2743&ndash;2763)
#[[Beregond (Steward of Gondor)|Beregond]] (2763&ndash;2811)
#[[Belecthor II]] (2811&ndash;2872)
#[[Thorondir]] (2872&ndash;2882)
#[[Túrin II]] (2882&ndash;2914)
#[[Turgon (Steward of Gondor)|Turgon]] (2914&ndash;2953)
#[[Ecthelion II]] (2953&ndash;2984)
#[[Denethor|Denethor II]] (2984&ndash;3019)
<!-- As explained in the paragraph below. Faramir is NOT considered one of the ruling stewards. -->
 
Soon after the death of Denethor II, [[Aragorn|Aragorn Elessar]] was crowned King. The Steward [[Faramir]], son of Denethor II, surrendered to the King his rod of office, but it was returned to him. Faramir nominally ruled briefly as Steward until Elessar's coronation, but since Faramir rested in the [[Houses of Healing]], Prince [[Imrahil]] of [[Dol Amroth]] took his place much of that time. Though Faramir became Steward a month and a half before Elessar became King, Faramir is not considered one of the Ruling Stewards. King Elessar confirmed in Faramir and his descendants the office of Steward of Gondor, and granted him in addition the Princedom of [[Ithilien]], ensuring his line a position as counselor of the King.


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Revision as of 05:19, 18 June 2016

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Steward (Q. Arandur "King's Servant") was the traditional title of a chief counselor to one of the Kings of Gondor.

History of the office

King Rómendacil I established the office of Steward, chosen by the King as a man of high trust and wisdom; Stewards were advanced in years since they were not permitted to go to war or to leave the realm. They were never a member of the Royal House.[1]

The Steward to King Minardil, Húrin of Emyn Arnen, was the founder of the House of Húrin. They were of high Númenórean blood, but not descendants of Elendil in the ruling line. After the time of Minardil, the Kings established the custom that Stewards are chosen from this House.

During the time of the Steward Pelendur, this title became hereditary, passing the station of counselor from father to son, much like the Kingship.

The Ruling Stewards

After the death of King Eärnur, who left no heir to the throne of Gondor, the Steward Mardil Voronwë became the first of the Ruling Stewards. Mardil was the first of the Stewards to administer Gondor, and his descendants did so for 25 generations. The Stewards watched over the throne until it could be reclaimed by a true King of Gondor, an heir of Elendil.

Reunited Kingdom

Soon after the death of Denethor II, Aragorn Elessar was crowned King. The Steward Faramir, son of Denethor II, surrendered to the King his rod of office, but it was returned to him. Faramir nominally ruled briefly as Steward until Elessar's coronation, but since Faramir rested in the Houses of Healing, Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth took his place much of that time. Though Faramir became Steward a month and a half before Elessar became King, Faramir is not considered one of the Ruling Stewards. King Elessar confirmed in Faramir and his descendants the office of Steward of Gondor, and granted him in addition the title of Prince of Ithilien, ensuring his line a position as counselor of the King.

References