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'''Pelendur''' was Steward of Gondor in the year [[Third Age 1944|1944 Third Age]].
{{gondorian infobox
| image=
| name=Pelendur
| pronun=
| othernames=
| titles=[[Steward of Gondor]]
| position=
| location=[[Gondor]]
| affiliation=
| language=[[Westron]]
| birth={{TA|1879}}
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death={{TA|1998}}
| deathlocation=
| age=119
| notablefor=
| house=[[House of Húrin]]
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=[[Vorondil]]
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
'''Pelendur''' ([[Third Age]] {{TA|1879|n}}<ref>{{PM|Elendil}}, p. 204</ref> – {{TA|1998|n}},<ref name="South">{{App|South}}</ref> aged 119 years) was a Steward of [[Gondor]], serving the Kings [[Ondoher]] and [[Eärnil II]].
==History==
Pelendur was a descendant of [[Húrin of Emyn Arnen]], an earlier Steward.  All Stewards since Húrin had been chosen from among his descendants; after Pelendur the Stewardship became hereditary within the [[House of Húrin]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref>


He was a descendant of [[Húrin of Emyn Arnen]], an earlier Steward of Gondor and the grandfather of [[Mardil Voronwë]], the first [[Steward of Gondor|Ruling Steward of Gondor]].  
In {{TA|1944}} King Ondoher and his two sons, [[Artamir]] and [[Faramir]] fell in battle north of the [[Morannon]].  With the king and all of his male heirs dead, Pelendur ruled Gondor until a new king could be selected.  There were two claimants for the throne:  Prince [[Arvedui]] of [[Arthedain]] and general [[Eärnil II|Eärnil]] who had defeated both the army of [[Harad]] near the River [[Poros]] and the [[Wainriders]] in the [[Battle of the Camp]].


Pelendur helped Gondor through a constitutional crisis following the premature death of King [[Ondoher]] and his heirs in battle. He effectively ruled the kingdom for one year while observing the claims of the two claimants,
Arvedui’s claim was based upon his descent from [[Isildur]] and upon his marriage to [[Fíriel]], Ondoher’s only remaining child.  Pelendur played the chief part in rejecting Arvedui's claim. He contended that the crown belonged to the heirs of [[Meneldil]], son of [[Anárion]], since Isildur had relinquished the realm of Gondor.  Also, he stated that the heritage of royalty was reckoned only through the sons.  Although Arvedui countered Pelendur with strong arguments, in the end the [[Council of Gondor]] chose Eärnil, by virtue of his outstanding victories and because he was of the royal house (to the [[Dúnedain]] of Gondor the realm in [[Arthedain]] seemed a small thing and all of them gave their support to Eärnil).<ref>{{App|Gondor}}</ref>
Prince [[Arvedui]] of [[Arthedain]] and the general [[Eärnil II|Eärnil]] who was victorious in [[Wainrider/Balchoth War|battle against the Wainriders ]] ([[Easterlings]]).


Pelendur dismissed Arvedui's claim maintaining that the rule of Gondor belonged to the heirs of [[Anárion]], even though [[Isildur]] was the [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]] before his death. Arvedui also argued, his wife [[Fíriel]], the daughter of Ondoher should rightfully become Ruling-Queen due to the old Númenorean law of accession, which stated the eldest remaining child of the King should inherit the throne. Pelendur rejected Fíriel's claim saying in [[Númenor]], it was peaceful enough to have women as rulers. However, the [[Realms in Exile]] were constantly under attack and therefore needed a male ruler to lead the armies.
Eärnil was crowned as Eärnil II in {{TA|1945}} and Pelendur continued to serve as his Steward until his death in {{TA|1998|n}}.<ref name="South"/> Upon his death the title of the Steward became hereditary, and the office was assumed by his son, [[Vorondil]].
 
Based on the afore-mentioned data the Council of Gondor, under the influence of Pelendur, threw out Arvedui's claim and chose [[Eärnil II|Eärnil]] as King, defying the [[Law of Succession in Númenor|Númenorean Law of Succession]], which was said to be unappliable in a warring state like Gondor. Although Pelendur's choice denied the heirs of Isildur to re-unite the Realms in Exile, it may have averted another [[kin-strife]]. Eärnil, the victorious general, had become a hero in Gondor and had the support of the populace for his deeds in battle. Installing Arvedui, a foreigner, as king could have stirred up resentment amongst the people of the coastlands and the supporters of Eärnil, who had saved Gondor.
 
This political precedent (choosing a Gondorian rather than an heir of Isildur with a more direct claim to the throne) is one reason for [[Aragorn]]'s caution in assuming the throne of Gondor at the end of the [[Third Age]].


{{references}}
{{references}}
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=gondorian
| house=[[House of Húrin]]
| born={{TA|1879}}
| died={{TA|1998}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Much earlier,<br/>[[Húrin of Emyn Arnen]]
| list=[[Steward of Gondor|Steward to the King of Gondor]]
| dates={{TA|1879}} – {{TA|1998}}
| next=[[Vorondil]]
}}
{{seq-end}}
[[Category:Quenya names]]
[[Category:Stewards]]
[[Category:Stewards]]
[[Category:Quenya names]]
[[de:Pelendur]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/hommes/3a/dunedain/gondoriens/pelendur]]
[[fi:Pelendur]]

Revision as of 01:23, 14 November 2014

Pelendur
Gondorian
Biographical Information
TitlesSteward of Gondor
LocationGondor
LanguageWestron
BirthT.A. 1879
DeathT.A. 1998 (aged 119)
Family
HouseHouse of Húrin
ChildrenVorondil
Physical Description
GenderMale

Pelendur (Third Age 1879[1]1998,[2] aged 119 years) was a Steward of Gondor, serving the Kings Ondoher and Eärnil II.

History

Pelendur was a descendant of Húrin of Emyn Arnen, an earlier Steward. All Stewards since Húrin had been chosen from among his descendants; after Pelendur the Stewardship became hereditary within the House of Húrin.[3]

In T.A. 1944 King Ondoher and his two sons, Artamir and Faramir fell in battle north of the Morannon. With the king and all of his male heirs dead, Pelendur ruled Gondor until a new king could be selected. There were two claimants for the throne: Prince Arvedui of Arthedain and general Eärnil who had defeated both the army of Harad near the River Poros and the Wainriders in the Battle of the Camp.

Arvedui’s claim was based upon his descent from Isildur and upon his marriage to Fíriel, Ondoher’s only remaining child. Pelendur played the chief part in rejecting Arvedui's claim. He contended that the crown belonged to the heirs of Meneldil, son of Anárion, since Isildur had relinquished the realm of Gondor. Also, he stated that the heritage of royalty was reckoned only through the sons. Although Arvedui countered Pelendur with strong arguments, in the end the Council of Gondor chose Eärnil, by virtue of his outstanding victories and because he was of the royal house (to the Dúnedain of Gondor the realm in Arthedain seemed a small thing and all of them gave their support to Eärnil).[4]

Eärnil was crowned as Eärnil II in T.A. 1945 and Pelendur continued to serve as his Steward until his death in 1998.[2] Upon his death the title of the Steward became hereditary, and the office was assumed by his son, Vorondil.

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", p. 204
  2. 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Southern Line: Heirs of Anarion"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", "The Stewards"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"
Pelendur
House of Húrin
Born: T.A. 1879 Died: T.A. 1998
Much earlier,
Húrin of Emyn Arnen

Steward to the King of Gondor
T.A. 1879T.A. 1998
Followed by:
Vorondil