Denethor I: Difference between revisions

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}}'''Denethor I''' ([[Third Age]] 2375 – 2477, aged 102 years) was the tenth [[Ruling Steward]] of [[Gondor]], in whose time the realm suffered perhaps the most calamitous upheaval in its history.
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{{Pronounce|Denethor.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''Denethor I''' ([[Third Age]] 2375<ref>{{PM|Elendil}}, p. 204</ref> – 2477,<ref name="South">{{App|South}}</ref> aged 102 years) was the tenth [[Ruling Steward]] of [[Gondor]].


==History==
==History==
When Denethor succeeded his childless uncle [[Dior (Steward of Gondor)|Dior]] in Third Age 2435, Gondor had known peace for many generations. Nearly four hundred years earlier, during the Stewardship of Denethor's noble ancestor [[Mardil|Mardil Voronwë]], [[Gandalf]] had gone to [[Dol Guldur]] and forced [[Sauron]] to withdraw into the east of [[Middle-earth]]. Though it was known that the [[Nazgûl]] still infested [[Minas Morgul]], they offered no threat to the [[South-kingdom]], and Denethor had every reason to hope that this time of [[Watchful Peace]] would continue in his time.{{Pronounce|Denethor.mp3|Ardamir}}
Denethor was probably named after the son of [[Lenwë]] and leader of the [[Laiquendi]] in the [[First Age]], as it was customary in the [[House of Húrin]] to name sons after legendary figures.<ref>{{PM|Elendil}}, p. 203</ref>


He was wrong. In 2460 the twenty-fifth of Denethor's rule, would be last year to see Gondor fully at peace for nearly six centuries. In that year, Sauron gave up his exile and returned to his fortress of Dol Guldur in [[Mirkwood]]. Just a few years later, it was seen that the Nazgûl had not been idle in the years of the Peace — they unleashed a force of hideous soldier-orcs on Gondor, of the kind that was then unknown, but would become known as the [[Uruk-hai]]. They ravaged [[Ithilien]] and took [[Osgiliath]], but Denethor's heir [[Boromir (Steward of Gondor)|Boromir]] fought them back and recovered Gondor's holdings east of the River, though he was dreadfully wounded. These were the first skirmishes in a conflict that would not truly end until the time of the War of the Ring.
During the time of Denethor’s rule the [[Watchful Peace]] came to an end (in {{TA|2460}}) when [[Sauron]] returned with increased strength to [[Dol Guldur]].<ref>{{App|TA}}</ref>  Unbeknownst to Gondor, the lords of [[Minas Morgul]] had secretly bred a fell race of black Orcs, the [[Uruk-hai]], and in {{TA|2475}} these creatures assailed and overran [[Ithilien]].  Although they captured [[Osgiliath]] and destroyed the great stone-bridge, Denethor’s son, [[Boromir (Steward of Gondor)|Boromir]], defeated the host of Morgul and regained Ithilien.  However, from that time on no people dwelt in that region, and for Gondor there was never full peace again until after the defeat of Sauron.<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref>


Denethor I ruled as Steward for forty-two years, and was succeeded by his son Boromir.<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref>
Denethor I ruled as Steward for forty-two years, and was succeeded by his son Boromir.<ref name="South"/>


{{references}}
{{references}}

Revision as of 23:37, 9 July 2011

The name Denethor refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Denethor (disambiguation).
Denethor I
Gondorian
Biographical Information
TitlesRuling Steward
LanguageWestron
BirthT.A. 2375
RuleT.A. 2435 - 2477 (42 years)
DeathT.A. 2477 (aged 102)
Family
HouseHouse of Anárion
Children2 daughters,[1] Boromir
Physical Description
GenderMale

Denethor I (Third Age 2375[2] – 2477,[3] aged 102 years) was the tenth Ruling Steward of Gondor.

History

Denethor was probably named after the son of Lenwë and leader of the Laiquendi in the First Age, as it was customary in the House of Húrin to name sons after legendary figures.[4]

During the time of Denethor’s rule the Watchful Peace came to an end (in T.A. 2460) when Sauron returned with increased strength to Dol Guldur.[5] Unbeknownst to Gondor, the lords of Minas Morgul had secretly bred a fell race of black Orcs, the Uruk-hai, and in T.A. 2475 these creatures assailed and overran Ithilien. Although they captured Osgiliath and destroyed the great stone-bridge, Denethor’s son, Boromir, defeated the host of Morgul and regained Ithilien. However, from that time on no people dwelt in that region, and for Gondor there was never full peace again until after the defeat of Sauron.[6]

Denethor I ruled as Steward for forty-two years, and was succeeded by his son Boromir.[3]

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", p. 205
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", p. 204
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Southern Line: Heirs of Anarion"
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", p. 203
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", "The Stewards"
Denethor I
Preceded by:
Dior		10th Ruling Steward of Gondor
T.A. 2435 - 2477		Followed by:
Boromir


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