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{{gondorian
{{gondorian infobox
| image=[[Image:Eldarion from Peter Jackson's The Return of the King.jpg|250px]]
| name=Eldarion
| name= Eldarion
| image=[[File:Sara M. Morello - Eldarion of Gondor.jpg|250px]]
| othernames=[[Scion of the Eldar]]
| caption="Eldarion of Gondor" by [[:Category:Images by Sara M. Morello|Sara M. Morello]]
| position=King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| pronun=[[Quenya|Q]], {{IPA|[elˈdari.on]}}
| birth=Possibly around [[Fourth Age 20]]
| othernames=
| rule= IV 120
| titles=[[High King (Dúnedain)|High King]], King of the Reunited Kingdom
| death=Possibly around [[Fourth Age 220]]
| position=
| location=[[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]]
| affiliation=
| language=[[Westron]]
| birth={{FoA|1}}
| birthlocation=
| rule={{FoA|120}} - c. {{FoA|220|n}}<ref group="note">In a 1972 letter concerning ''[[The New Shadow]]'', Tolkien states, "I have written nothing beyond the first few years of the Fourth Age. (Except the beginning of a tale supposed to refer to the end of the reign of Eldarion about 100 years after the death of Aragorn. ...)"</ref><ref name="L338"/>
| death=Possibly in or after {{FoA|220}}<ref name="L338">{{L|338}}</ref>
| deathlocation=
| age=219+
| notablefor=
| house=[[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Aragorn|Elessar]] & [[Arwen]]
| siblings=At least two sisters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| spouse=
| children=At least one child, descendants in many later generations<ref name="Elendil">{{PM|Elendil}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| gender=Male
| parentage=[[Aragorn II]] + [[Arwen Evenstar]]
| height=
| spouse=
| hair=
| children=
| eyes=
| ref=''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix A]]
| clothing=
|}}  
| weapons=[[Andúril]]<ref name="Tale"/>
'''Eldarion''' was the only recorded son of [[Arwen]] and [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]]. He was born in the [[Fourth Age]], and became King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]] after his father died. He was also recorded to have several sisters.
| steed=
}}
 
'''Eldarion''' was the second [[High King (Dúnedain)|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. He was the only son of King [[Aragorn|Elessar]] and Queen [[Arwen|Arwen Undómiel]].
 
== History ==
Eldarion was born in the first year of the [[Fourth Age]]. He did not inherit the choice of becoming an Elf, but had a long youth like one, having an appeareance of 20 years old until 60.<ref name="NOME">{{NM|P1xi}}</ref>{{rp|78}} Eldarion became the second King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]] after the death of his father [[Aragorn|Elessar]] in {{FoA|120}}.<ref name="Tale"/> At the time of his ascending to the throne, Eldarion was "full ripe and ready for kingship". It is known that Eldarion was given the tokens of kingship ([[Andúril]], etc.) by his father, who died soon after the crowning of his son.<ref name="Tale"/> He was also recorded to have several sisters.<ref name="Tale"/>
 
During Eldarion's reign, [[Findegil]] served as the royal scribe (or King's Writer). In {{FoA|172}}, Findegil wrote a copy of the  [[Thain's Book]] for the [[Thain]] of the [[Shire]], probably at the request of [[Peregrin Took]]'s great-grandson. This copy was the only one to include [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo's]] complete [[Translations from the Elvish]], which Bilbo had composed while at [[Rivendell]] during his 'retirement' there.<ref>{{FR|Records}}</ref>


"Eldarion" means "Scion of Elves".
It was foretold that he should rule a great realm, and that it should endure for a hundred generations of [[Men]] after him, that is until a new age brought in again new things; from him should come the kings of many realms in long days after.<ref name="Third">{{PM|Third}}, text of manuscript T4 events after the end of the Third Age in the year 3021</ref>


The unfinished story ''[[The New Shadow]]'' hints at a renewal of [[Morgoth]]-worship during his reign.
Eldarion's reign as High King of the Reunited Kingdom came to an end in the year {{FoA|220}} of the Fourth Age. Around this time, a [[Dark Tree|dark cult]] rose to power, but was discovered and defeated that same year. Whether the two events are connected with each other remains unknown.<ref name="L338"/>


In [[Peter Jackson's The Return of the King]], Arwen is on her way to the [[Grey Havens]] to leave Middle-earth and Aragorn when she has a vision of Eldarion (although not named in the film), which persuades her to stay. This is a major departure from the events in the novel. Eldarion is played in the film by [[Sadwyn Brophy]].
== Etymology ==
His name is [[Quenya]]. Paul Strack explains it means "Son of the [[Eldar]]", being a compound of ''Eldar'' and patronymic ''[[-ion]]''.<ref>{{webcite|author=Paul Strack|articleurl=http://eldamo.org/content/words/word-3099369985.html|articlename=Q. ''Eldarion'' m.|website=Eldamo|accessed=12 September 2021}}</ref> In [[Letter 338]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] spelled this name '''''Eldaron''''': this is probably a typographic error.<ref name="L338"/>


== Genealogy ==
== Genealogy ==
Eldarion was descended from several royal Elven houses, including the Three High Kings of the Elves, and from the [[Edain]]. He was a grandson of [[Elrond]] and, through his grandmother [[Celebrían]], a great-grandson of [[Galadriel]]. He was the great-grandson of [[Eärendil]] the Mariner (Eldarion is descended from Eärendil on both sides of his family and in him the two genealogical lines of the [[Half-elven]] are reunited), through his Half-elven mother Arwen; he was also the nephew of the Half-elf lords [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]]. He was descended also from the great [[Kings of Númenor|Kings of Westernesse]] on his father's side.<ref name="Elendil"/> Tolkien mentioned the existence of descendants, whose only known fact is that they possessed a normal life span of around 80-90 years.<ref name="NOME"/>{{rp|79}}
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]] }}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=<small>''[[Kings of Númenor]]''</small>}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=<small>''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''</small>}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=<small>''[[Kings of Arnor]]''</small>|KOG=<small>''[[Kings of Gondor]]''</small>}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=<small>''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''</small>}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |y| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=<small>''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''</small>}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA=[[Aragorn|Aragorn II]]|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD='''ELDARION'''|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | |DES| | | | | | | | | | |DES=''descendants''}}
{{familytree/end}}
== Other versions of the legendarium ==
In the twelfth note to a text written around [[1959]] and published in ''[[The Nature of Middle-earth]]'', it is said that either the slow maturity of the [[Half-elven]], or the "choice of kindred"<ref name="NOME"/>{{rp|78}} extended to the third generation, suggesting that Eldarion, and [[Tar-Amandil]], were among the Half-elven.<ref name="NOME"/>{{rp|82}} However, this was changed to the second generation in the actual text.<ref name="NOME"/>{{rp|78}} In the same text, Tolkien wrote that Eldarion had lived until the age of 125, most likely having passed away in [[Fourth Age|Fo.A. 126]].<ref name="NOME"/>{{rp|79}}
== Portrayal in adaptations ==
[[File: The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King - Eldarion.jpg|Eldarion in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]''|thumb|right]]
'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:While Arwen is on her way to the [[Grey Havens]] to leave Middle-earth and Aragorn, she has a [[foresight|vision]] of her future son, which persuades her to stay. The boy (not named until the end credits) is played by [[Sadwyn Brophy]], son of actor [[Jed Brophy]].
{{references|notes}}
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=gondorian
| house=[[House of Telcontar]]<small><br/>Continuation of the senior branch of the [[House of Isildur]]</small>
| born={{FoA|1}}
| died=c. {{FoA|220}}
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Aragorn|Elessar]]
| prow=4
| list=2nd [[High King (Dúnedain)|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates={{FoA|120}} - c. {{FoA|220|n}}
| next=Unknown
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| list=12th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates={{FoA|120}} - c. {{FoA|220|n}}
}}
{{seq
| list=35th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates={{FoA|120}} - c. {{FoA|220|n}}
}}
{{seq
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates={{FoA|120}} - c. {{FoA|220|n}}
}}
{{seq-end}}


[[Eärendil]] = [[Elwing]]
{{northernline}}
  _______|__________________
  |                          |
[[Elrond]] = [[Celebrían]]        [[Elros]]
        |                    :
        |            [[Kings of Númenor]]
        |                    :
        |            [[Lords of Andúnië]]
        |                    :
        |              [[Kings of Arnor]]
        |                    :
        |                [[Aranarth]]
        |                    :---------------
        |                    :              :
        |        [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]  :
        |                    :              :
        |                    :            [[Dírhael]] = [[Ivorwen]]
        |                    :                    |
        |                [[Arathorn II]]    =    [[Gilraen]]
        |                                |
      [[Arwen]]              =          [[Aragorn II]]
                        |
                      Eldarion


[[Category:Dúnedain]]
{{southernline}}
 
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:Gondorians]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Quenya names]]
 
[[de:Eldarion]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:hommes:4a:gondoriens:eldarion]]
[[fi:Eldarion]]

Latest revision as of 08:02, 30 April 2023

Eldarion
Gondorian
Sara M. Morello - Eldarion of Gondor.jpg
"Eldarion of Gondor" by Sara M. Morello
Biographical Information
PronunciationQ, [elˈdari.on]
TitlesHigh King, King of the Reunited Kingdom
LocationGondor and Arnor
LanguageWestron
BirthFo.A. 1
RuleFo.A. 120 - c. 220[note 1][1]
DeathPossibly in or after Fo.A. 220[1] (aged 219+)
Family
HouseHouse of Telcontar
ParentageElessar & Arwen
SiblingsAt least two sisters[2]
ChildrenAt least one child, descendants in many later generations[3]
Physical Description
GenderMale
WeaponryAndúril[2]
GalleryImages of Eldarion

Eldarion was the second High King of the Reunited Kingdom. He was the only son of King Elessar and Queen Arwen Undómiel.

History[edit | edit source]

Eldarion was born in the first year of the Fourth Age. He did not inherit the choice of becoming an Elf, but had a long youth like one, having an appeareance of 20 years old until 60.[4]:78 Eldarion became the second King of the Reunited Kingdom after the death of his father Elessar in Fo.A. 120.[2] At the time of his ascending to the throne, Eldarion was "full ripe and ready for kingship". It is known that Eldarion was given the tokens of kingship (Andúril, etc.) by his father, who died soon after the crowning of his son.[2] He was also recorded to have several sisters.[2]

During Eldarion's reign, Findegil served as the royal scribe (or King's Writer). In Fo.A. 172, Findegil wrote a copy of the Thain's Book for the Thain of the Shire, probably at the request of Peregrin Took's great-grandson. This copy was the only one to include Bilbo's complete Translations from the Elvish, which Bilbo had composed while at Rivendell during his 'retirement' there.[5]

It was foretold that he should rule a great realm, and that it should endure for a hundred generations of Men after him, that is until a new age brought in again new things; from him should come the kings of many realms in long days after.[6]

Eldarion's reign as High King of the Reunited Kingdom came to an end in the year Fo.A. 220 of the Fourth Age. Around this time, a dark cult rose to power, but was discovered and defeated that same year. Whether the two events are connected with each other remains unknown.[1]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

His name is Quenya. Paul Strack explains it means "Son of the Eldar", being a compound of Eldar and patronymic -ion.[7] In Letter 338, J.R.R. Tolkien spelled this name Eldaron: this is probably a typographic error.[1]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

Eldarion was descended from several royal Elven houses, including the Three High Kings of the Elves, and from the Edain. He was a grandson of Elrond and, through his grandmother Celebrían, a great-grandson of Galadriel. He was the great-grandson of Eärendil the Mariner (Eldarion is descended from Eärendil on both sides of his family and in him the two genealogical lines of the Half-elven are reunited), through his Half-elven mother Arwen; he was also the nephew of the Half-elf lords Elladan and Elrohir. He was descended also from the great Kings of Westernesse on his father's side.[3] Tolkien mentioned the existence of descendants, whose only known fact is that they possessed a normal life span of around 80-90 years.[4]:79

Eärendil
 
Elwing
 
Galadriel
 
Celeborn
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elros
 
Elrond
 
Celebrían
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kings of Númenor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lords of Andúnië
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elendil
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Isildur
 
Anárion
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kings of Arnor
 
Kings of Gondor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kings of Arthedain
 
Ondoher
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Arvedui
 
Fíriel
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chieftains of the Dúnedain
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Arathorn II
 
Gilraen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aragorn II
 
Arwen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ELDARION
 
several sisters
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
descendants
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In the twelfth note to a text written around 1959 and published in The Nature of Middle-earth, it is said that either the slow maturity of the Half-elven, or the "choice of kindred"[4]:78 extended to the third generation, suggesting that Eldarion, and Tar-Amandil, were among the Half-elven.[4]:82 However, this was changed to the second generation in the actual text.[4]:78 In the same text, Tolkien wrote that Eldarion had lived until the age of 125, most likely having passed away in Fo.A. 126.[4]:79

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King:

While Arwen is on her way to the Grey Havens to leave Middle-earth and Aragorn, she has a vision of her future son, which persuades her to stay. The boy (not named until the end credits) is played by Sadwyn Brophy, son of actor Jed Brophy.

Notes

  1. In a 1972 letter concerning The New Shadow, Tolkien states, "I have written nothing beyond the first few years of the Fourth Age. (Except the beginning of a tale supposed to refer to the end of the reign of Eldarion about 100 years after the death of Aragorn. ...)"

References

Eldarion
House of Telcontar
Continuation of the senior branch of the House of Isildur
Born: Fo.A. 1 Died: c. Fo.A. 220
Preceded by:
Elessar
2nd High King of the Reunited Kingdom
Fo.A. 120 - c. 220
Followed by:
Unknown
12th King of Arnor
Fo.A. 120 - c. 220
35th King of Gondor
Fo.A. 120 - c. 220
Head of the House of Telcontar
Fo.A. 120 - c. 220


The Northern Line and the Heirs of Isildur
Kings of Arnor: Elendil (S.A. 3320 - 3441) · Isildur (S.A. 3441 - T.A. 2) · Valandil (T.A. 2 - 249) · Eldacar (249 - 339) · Arantar (339 - 435) · Tarcil (435 - 515) · Tarondor (515 - 602) · Valandur (602 - 652) · Elendur (652 - 777) · Eärendur (777 - 861)
Kings of Arthedain: Amlaith (861 - 946) · Beleg (946 - 1029) · Mallor (1029 - 1110) · Celepharn (1110 - 1191) · Celebrindor (1191 - 1272) · Malvegil (1272 - 1349) · Argeleb I (1349 - 1356) · Arveleg I (1356 - 1409) · Araphor (1409 - 1589) · Argeleb II (1589 - 1670) · Arvegil (1670 - 1743) · Arveleg II (1743 - 1813) · Araval (1813 - 1891) · Araphant (1891 - 1964) · Arvedui (1964 - 1975) ·
Chieftains of the Dúnedain: Aranarth (1975 - 2106) · Arahael (2106 - 2177) · Aranuir (2177 - 2247) · Aravir (2247 - 2319) · Aragorn I (2319 - 2327) · Araglas (2327 - 2455) · Arahad I (2455 - 2523) · Aragost (2523 - 2588) · Aravorn (2588 - 2654) · Arahad II (2654 - 2719) · Arassuil (2719 - 2784) · Arathorn I (2784 - 2848) · Argonui (2848 - 2912) · Arador (2912 - 2930) · Arathorn II (2930 - 2933) · Aragorn II (2933 - 3019)
Kings of Arnor: Elessar (T.A. 3019 - Fo.A. 120) · Eldarion (Fo.A. 120 onwards)
The Southern Line and the Heirs of Anárion
Kings of Gondor: Elendil (S.A. 3320 - 3441) · Isildur (S.A. 3441 - T.A. 2) and Anárion (S.A. 3320 - 3440) · Meneldil (T.A. 2 - 158) · Cemendur (158 - 238) · Eärendil (238 - 324) · Anardil (324 - 411) · Ostoher (411 - 492) · Rómendacil I (492 - 541) · Turambar (541 - 667) · Atanatar I (667 - 748) · Siriondil (748 - 830) · Tarannon Falastur (830 - 913) · Eärnil I (913 - 936) · Ciryandil (936 - 1015) · Hyarmendacil I (1015 - 1149) · Atanatar II Alcarin (1149 - 1226) · Narmacil I (1226 - 1294) · Calmacil (1294 - 1304) · Rómendacil II (1304 - 1366) · Valacar (1366 - 1432) · Eldacar (1432 - 1437) · Castamir the Usurper (1437 - 1447) · Eldacar restored (1447 - 1490) · Aldamir (1490 - 1540) · Hyarmendacil II (1540 - 1621) · Minardil (1621 - 1634) · Telemnar (1634 - 1636) · Tarondor (1636 - 1798) · Telumehtar Umbardacil (1798 - 1850) · Narmacil II (1850 - 1856) · Calimehtar (1856 - 1936) · Ondoher (1936 - 1944) · Eärnil II (1945 - 2043) · Eärnur (2043 - 2050)
Stewards of Gondor: Húrin of Emyn Arnen (c. T.A. 1630s) · Pelendur (before T.A. 1944 - 1998) · Vorondil (1998 - 2029) · Mardil Voronwë (2029 - 2080) · Eradan (2080 - 2116) · Herion (2116 - 2148) · Belegorn (2148 - 2204) · Húrin I (2204 - 2244) · Túrin I (2244 - 2278) · Hador (2278 - 2395) · Barahir (2395 - 2412) · Dior (2412 - 2435) · Denethor I (2435 - 2477) · Boromir (2477 - 2489) · Cirion (2489 - 2567) · Hallas (2567 - 2605) · Húrin II (2605 - 2628) · Belecthor I (2628 - 2655) · Orodreth (2655 - 2685) · Ecthelion I (2685 - 2698) · Egalmoth (2698 - 2743) · Beren (2743 - 2763) · Beregond (2763 - 2811) · Belecthor II (2811 - 2872) · Thorondir (2872 - 2882) · Túrin II (2882 - 2914) · Turgon (2914 - 2953) · Ecthelion II (2953 - 2984) · Denethor II (2984 - 3019) · Faramir (T.A. 3019 - Fo.A. 82) · Elboron (Fo.A. 82 onwards)
Kings of Gondor: Elessar (T.A. 3019 - Fo.A. 120) · Eldarion (Fo.A. 120 onwards)
Non-ruling stewards are in italics