Aragorn II: Difference between revisions

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''(See also [[Aragorn I]], an early Chieftain of the Dúnedain)''
#REDIRECT [[Aragorn]]
[[Image:John Howe - Aragorn.jpg|thumb|''Aragorn'' by [[John Howe]]]]
'''Aragorn II''' ([[Third Age]] March 1, 2931 – [[Fourth Age]] 120, aged 210 years) the son of [[Arathorn II]] and his wife [[Gilraen]]. Aragorn was a direct descendant of the elder son of [[Elendil]], [[Isildur]]. Elendil founded the kingdoms of [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]] in [[Middle-earth]] after his homeland of [[Númenor]] was destroyed by the [[Valar]] in [[Second Age]] 3319. Aragorn was named after his ancestor, [[Aragorn I]].
 
== History ==
While Aragorn was still an infant, his father was slain hunting [[Orcs]]. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]]. At the request of his mother, his identity was kept secret, as she feared he would be slain like his father and grandfather. Aragorn was named '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead, and was not told about his heritage until he came of age in 2951.
 
Elrond revealed to "Estel" his true name and ancestry, and delivered to him the shards of [[Narsil]]. In the woods of Rivendell Aragorn met and fell in love with [[Arwen Evenstar|Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lórien in Middle-earth|Lórien]].
 
Aragorn took up his proper name as Aragorn II, sixteenth of the [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]], and went into the Wild.
 
In 2953 he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf the Grey]] in 2956, and they became great friends. At Gandalf's advice he began to get interested in the [[Shire]], and became known around the area as '''''Strider'''''.
 
From 2957 to 2980 Aragorn took great journeys, serving in the armies of King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], and Steward [[Ecthelion II]] of Gondor. Many of his tasks weakened [[Sauron]] and his allies, which during the [[War of the Ring]] helped the West survive. His name in Gondor and Rohan was '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"), and with a Gondorian attack force he led an assault on [[Umbar]] in 2980, taking the city and slaying its lord. Later in 2980 he was in Lórien, and there once again met Arwen. He gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.
 
Elrond gave his foster-son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This may seem a harsh condition, but it should be noted that it is significantly more lenient than the closest precedent, King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren Erchamion|Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].
 
In 3009, Aragorn went into [[Rhovanion]] in search of [[Gollum]] at Gandalf's request, and he finally caught him in the [[Dead Marshes]] in sight of [[Mordor]], and brought him as a captive to King [[Thranduil]]'s halls in [[Mirkwood]], where he questioned him.
 
On September 30, 3018, Aragorn was waiting in the Inn known as [[The Prancing Pony]] in [[Bree]], where he met up with [[Frodo Baggins]], and began his role in the War of the Ring. Aragorn was aged 87 at that time, but because he is of [[Númenórean]] blood he appeared to be in his prime.
 
The restoration of the line of Elendil to the throne of Gondor is a major subplot of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'': Aragorn's adventures not only aid Frodo in his Quest, but also bring him closer to the kingship (a move which is politically very complicated). Upon [[Sauron]]'s defeat, in late 3019, Aragorn is crowned as '''King Elessar''' ([[Quenya]] for "[[Elessar of Eärendil|Elfstone]]"), a name given to him by [[Galadriel]]. He marries Arwen Undómiel shortly afterwards, and rules the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]]. He died after 210 years of life and 122 years of reign. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.
 
He founded the [[House of Telcontar]], and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. He also had a number of daughters, whose names were not mentioned.
 
Through his ancestor Elendil, Aragorn is a descendant of [[Elros|Elros Tar-Minyatur]], Elrond's brother and the first king of [[Númenor]]. Elros was one of the [[half-elven]], and was given the choice as to whether he wanted to become the kindred of the [[Eldar]] (elves), thus being immortal; or whether he wanted to become one of the [[Edain]] (men), thus becoming mortal and dying. Elros, unlike his brother Elrond and father [[Eärendil the Mariner|Eärendil]], chose to be one of the Edain. Eärendil would have rather become one of the [[Edain]], but he chose to be one of the Eldar because his wife [[Elwing]], who was also one of the half-elven, chose to be one of the Eldar.
 
Since Elros had chosen to be one of the Edain, his descendants were not counted as half-elven; however, they were given much longer lifespans by the [[Valar]], thus resulting in Aragorn's long life of 210 years.
 
== Other Names and Titles ==
Aragorn was also known as '''Strider''', '''Elessar Telcontar''' ("Elfstone Strider"), '''Thorongil''', '''The Dúnadan''' ("Man of the West"), '''Longshanks''' (given by [[Bill Ferny]]), '''Wingfoot''' (given by [[Éomer]]), and '''Estel''' ("Hope")
 
== Portrayal in Adaptations ==
[[Image:Aragorn from Rankin-Bass' The Return of the King.jpg|thumb|left|Aragorn as portrayed in [[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]]]]
[[Image:Strider from Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings.jpg|thumb|left|Aragorn as portrayed in [[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]]]]
[[Image:Aragorn grimace.jpg|thumb|left|[[Viggo Mortensen]] as Aragorn in [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]]]]
In the [[Rankin/Bass]] animated version of [[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King|The Return of the King]], Aragorn is voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]].
 
In Ralph Bakshi's animated film [[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings|The Lord of the Rings]], Aragorn is voiced by [[John Hurt]].
 
In [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]], Aragorn is played by American actor [[Viggo Mortensen]]. Instead of explaining the complicated circumstances of an heir of Isildur taking the throne in Gondor (see the article on [[Pelendur]] for an example), in the movie Aragorn must overcome his self-doubt to choose the kingship, a cinematic element that adds appeal to the modern audience.  In the books, however, there is no doubt as to his purposes of returning as the king.
 
== Other Versions of the Legendarium ==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of [[Strider]] and was a [[Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|man]]. He has wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there.
 
== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Aragorn|Images of Aragorn]]
 
== Genealogy ==
<code>
              [[Eärendil the Mariner|Eärendil]] = [[Elwing]]
                      |
                      |            [[Celeborn, Lord of Lórien|Celeborn]] = [[Galadriel]]
              _________|_________            |
            |                  |          |
            |                  |          |
          [[Elros]]              [[Elrond]] = [[Celebrían]]
            :                      |
            :                      |
            :                      |
            :                      |
          [[Elendil]]                    |
            |                      |
      _______|_______                |
    |              |              |
    |              |              |
  [[Isildur]]          [[Anárion son of Elendil|Anárion]]          |
    :              :              |
    :              :              |
    :              :              |
  [[Arvedui]]            :              |
    :            [[Eärnur]]            |
    :              :              |
    :              :              |
    :              :              |
[[Dírhael]] = [[Ivorwen]]  :              |
        |          :              |
        |          :              |
      [[Gilraen]] = [[Arathorn II]]        |
              |                    |
              |                    |
            '''ARAGORN II ELESSAR''' = [[Arwen]]
                                |
                        _______|_______
                        |              |
                        |              |
                    [[Eldarion]]      ''numerous daughters''
</code>
{{sequence
|prev=[[Arathorn II]]
|next=none (abandoned)
|list=[[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]<br><code>III</code> 2933 – 3019
}}
{{sequence
|prev=[[Eärnur]], 971 years earlier
|next=[[Eldarion]]
|list=[[King of Gondor]]<br><code>III</code> 3019 – <code>IV</code> 120
}}
{{sequence
|prev=[[Arvedui]], 1,046 years earlier
|next=[[Eldarion]]
|list=[[King of Arnor]]<br><code>III</code> 3019 – <code>IV</code> 120
}}
{{sequence
|prev=[[Isildur]], 3,017 years earlier
|next=[[Eldarion]]
|list=[[High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]<br><code>III</code> 3019 – <code>IV</code> 120
}}
{{sequence
|prev=none
|next=[[Eldarion]]
|list=[[House of Telcontar]]<br><code>III</code> 3019 – <code>IV</code> 120
}}
{{fellowship}}
 
[[Category:Dúnedain of the North]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Characters]]

Latest revision as of 15:41, 7 August 2010

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