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'''Pelargir''' was a great harbour city in southern [[Gondor]].
{{location
| image=[[Image:Pelargir overview.jpg|250px]]
| name=Pelargir
| type=City
| location=Southern [[Gondor]], on the [[Anduin]]
| inhabitants=[[Gondorians]]
| realms=[[Gondor]]<br/>[[Reunited Kingdom]]
| description=Port city
| othernames=Garth of Royal Ships
| etymology=
| events=[[Kin-strife]], [[War of the Ring]]
| references=
|}}
{{quote|At Pelargir the Heir of Isildur will have need of you.|[[Aragorn]]<ref name="tLD">{{HM|RK}}, "[[The Last Debate]]"</ref>}}
'''Pelargir''' was a great city on the river [[Anduin]], and the main harbour of [[Gondor]].


Pelargir was the chief city of the region of [[Lebennin]], built where the river [[Sirith]] joined with the [[Anduin|Great River]].  It was the primary port of Gondor. The name means "Garth of Royal Ships" in [[Sindarin]].
==History==
Pelargir was built in {{SA|2350}} as a haven of the [[Faithful]].<ref name=b1>{{App|B1}}</ref> The [[King's Men]] established havens farther South.<ref>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref> Pelargir was one of the cities that assembled [[Gondor]] when it was founded in {{SA|3320}} by the Faithful.<ref name=b1/>


Pelargir was one of the oldest cities in Gondor, founded by the Faithful [[Númenor|Númenóreans]] in the year 2350 of the [[Second Age]]. During the [[Third Age]], it was under continual threat from the [[Southrons]] and the [[Corsairs of Umbar]].
It became an even greater haven in the days of the [[Ship-kings]]. [[Tarannon Falastur]] built a great house there, with its roots in the water which he so dearly loved. His wife, [[Berúthiel]], did not, however, and preferred to live in [[Osgiliath]] with her [[Cats of Queen Berúthiel|cats]].<ref>{{UT|Cirion}}</ref> Tarannon's nephew [[Eärnil I]], who succeeded him, rebuilt Pelargir and built a great navy to conquer [[Umbar]].<ref name="Anarion">{{App|South}}</ref>


During the [[Kin-strife]], the rebel followers of [[Castamir]] retreated there after his death, led by his sons.  At Pelargir they fought a lengthy siege against the rightful King of Gondor, before fleeing to [[Umbar]].
[[Castamir]] was highly loved in the shore regions of the land, and when he usurped the throne, he purposed to move the throne from Osgiliath to Pelargir.<ref name="Anarion"/> Though he did not do so, he did move his base there. After turning the tide in the [[Kin-strife]] at the [[Battle of the Crossings of Erui]], [[Eldacar (King of Gondor)|Eldacar]] eventually drove Castamir out of Pelargir in {{TA|1447}}.<ref name="tTA">{{App|TA}}</ref> Castamir's great-grandsons [[Angamaitë]] and [[Sangahyando]] eventually retook Pelargir in {{TA|1634|n}}, and slew king [[Minardil]].<ref name="Anarion"/><ref name="tTA"/>


During the [[War of the Ring]], Pelargir was besieged by the Black Ships of the Corsairs, but was liberated by [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]] and the Army of the Dead.
Like his namesake, the great general [[Eärnil II|Eärnil]] took up residence in Pelargir. His Army of the South was stationed there during the [[Wainrider/Balchoth War|long war with the Balchoth]]. News of the [[Disaster of the Morannon]] reached him on [[9 July]] {{TA|1944|n}}, and he set out to [[Battle of the Camp|battle]]. He returned victorious, and with the King and his sons slain, the general (of royal blood) was crowned King Eärnil II.<ref>{{HM|UT}}, "[[Cirion and Eorl]]"</ref>


During the [[War of the Ring]], Pelargir was overrun by [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] once again. Their fleet of some fifty great ships and many more smaller vessels laid in dock, ready to sail to [[Harlond (Gondor)|Harlond]]. It was not to be: [[Aragorn]] and the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men of Dunharrow]] struck fear into the men of Umbar, and they fled or dove into the river [[Anduin]]. After manning the Black Ships with [[Grey Company|his own troops]], Aragorn released the spell that had haunted the Dead Men since the day of [[Isildur]].<ref name="tLD"/>
==Etymology==
''Pelargir'' is [[Sindarin]] for "Garth of (the) Royal Ships".<ref>{{S|Index}}</ref><ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 535 (citing from the [[Unfinished index]])</ref> [[Christopher Tolkien]] has noted that the first element derives from the [[Elvish]] element/root ''[[PEL|pel-]]'' ("go round, encircle");<ref>{{S|Appendix}}</ref> the two other elements appear to be ''[[ar|ar(a)]]'' ("royal, noble") + ''[[cair|cîr]]'' ("ships").<ref>[http://www.tolkiendil.com/langues/english/i-lam_arth/compound_sindarin_names#P Compound Sindarin Names in Middle-earth] at [http://www.tolkiendil.com Tolkiendil.com] (accessed 13 July 2011)</ref>
==Inspiration==
[[Letter to Jennifer Brookes-Smith (28 July 1955)|Writing in a letter]] about an impending trip in [[1955]], Tolkien identified Pelargir as [[Wikipedia:Venice|Venice]].<ref>{{CG|C}}, p. 462</ref>
==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''1980: [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]:'''
:Pelargir appears on a map when Gandalf explains the coming of the Black Ships.
'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Pelargir is one of the settings in which skirmishes can be fought.
{{references}}
[[Category:Gondor]]
[[Category:Gondor]]
[[Category:Cities]]
[[Category:Sieges]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]
[[Category:Harbours]]
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages]]
 
[[de:Pelargir]]
[[fi:Pelargir]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/villes_tours_et_forteresses/gondor/pelargir]]

Revision as of 12:33, 13 December 2014

Pelargir
City
File:Pelargir overview.jpg
General Information
Other namesGarth of Royal Ships
LocationSouthern Gondor, on the Anduin
TypeCity
DescriptionPort city
RegionsGondor
Reunited Kingdom
People and History
InhabitantsGondorians
EventsKin-strife, War of the Ring
GalleryImages of Pelargir
"At Pelargir the Heir of Isildur will have need of you."
― Aragorn[1]

Pelargir was a great city on the river Anduin, and the main harbour of Gondor.

History

Pelargir was built in S.A. 2350 as a haven of the Faithful.[2] The King's Men established havens farther South.[3] Pelargir was one of the cities that assembled Gondor when it was founded in S.A. 3320 by the Faithful.[2]

It became an even greater haven in the days of the Ship-kings. Tarannon Falastur built a great house there, with its roots in the water which he so dearly loved. His wife, Berúthiel, did not, however, and preferred to live in Osgiliath with her cats.[4] Tarannon's nephew Eärnil I, who succeeded him, rebuilt Pelargir and built a great navy to conquer Umbar.[5]

Castamir was highly loved in the shore regions of the land, and when he usurped the throne, he purposed to move the throne from Osgiliath to Pelargir.[5] Though he did not do so, he did move his base there. After turning the tide in the Kin-strife at the Battle of the Crossings of Erui, Eldacar eventually drove Castamir out of Pelargir in T.A. 1447.[6] Castamir's great-grandsons Angamaitë and Sangahyando eventually retook Pelargir in 1634, and slew king Minardil.[5][6]

Like his namesake, the great general Eärnil took up residence in Pelargir. His Army of the South was stationed there during the long war with the Balchoth. News of the Disaster of the Morannon reached him on 9 July 1944, and he set out to battle. He returned victorious, and with the King and his sons slain, the general (of royal blood) was crowned King Eärnil II.[7]

During the War of the Ring, Pelargir was overrun by Corsairs once again. Their fleet of some fifty great ships and many more smaller vessels laid in dock, ready to sail to Harlond. It was not to be: Aragorn and the Dead Men of Dunharrow struck fear into the men of Umbar, and they fled or dove into the river Anduin. After manning the Black Ships with his own troops, Aragorn released the spell that had haunted the Dead Men since the day of Isildur.[1]

Etymology

Pelargir is Sindarin for "Garth of (the) Royal Ships".[8][9] Christopher Tolkien has noted that the first element derives from the Elvish element/root pel- ("go round, encircle");[10] the two other elements appear to be ar(a) ("royal, noble") + cîr ("ships").[11]

Inspiration

Writing in a letter about an impending trip in 1955, Tolkien identified Pelargir as Venice.[12]

Portrayal in adaptations

1980: The Return of the King (1980 film):

Pelargir appears on a map when Gandalf explains the coming of the Black Ships.

2006: The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth:

Pelargir is one of the settings in which skirmishes can be fought.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Last Debate"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age"
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Akallabêth: The Downfall of Númenor"
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan"
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Southern Line: Heirs of Anarion"
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl"
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names"
  9. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 535 (citing from the Unfinished index)
  10. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names"
  11. ↑ Compound Sindarin Names in Middle-earth at Tolkiendil.com (accessed 13 July 2011)
  12. ↑ Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: I. Chronology, p. 462
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