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{{cleanup}}''"How many hundreds of years needs it to make a steward a king, if the king returns not?"''
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'''Steward''' or '''Arandur''' was the traditional title of a chief counselor to one of the [[Kings of Gondor]].


King [[Rómendacil I]] established the office of Steward, chosen by the King as a man of high trust and wisdom; Stewards were advanced in years since they was not permitted to go to war or to leave the realm. They were never a member of the Royal House.
-[[Boromir]]


During the time of the Steward [[Pelendur]], from the famous '''House of Húrin''', this title became hereditary, passing the station of counsellor from father to son, much like the Kingship.
''"Few years, maybe, in other places of less royalty. In Gondor ten thousands years would not suffice."''


The House of Húrin was founded by one Húrin of [[Emyn Arnen]], Steward to King [[Minardil]], the twenty-fifth King of Gondor. They were of high [[Númenórean]] blood, but not descendants of [[Elendil]] in the ruling line.
-[[Denethor|Denethor II]][[Image:Grond - Gondor stewards banner.png|thumb|right|''Gondor Steward's Banner'' by [[User:Grond/Sandbox|Grond]]]]
'''Steward''' was the traditional title of a chief councillor to The [[Kings of Gondor]].  


After the death of King [[Eärnur]], who left no heir to the throne of [[Gondor]], the Steward [[Mardil Voronwë]] became the first of the Ruling Stewards. Mardil was the first of the Stewards to administer Gondor, and his descendants did so for 25 generations.
==History==
King [[Rómendacil I]] established the office of '''Steward of Gondor''', chosen by the King as a man of high trust and wisdom; Stewards were advanced in years since they were not permitted to go to war or to leave the realm. They were never a member of the [[House of Anárion|Royal House]].<ref>{{UT|Cirion}}, note 53</ref>


The Stewards watched over the throne until it could be reclaimed by a true King of Gondor, an heir of Elendil. When asked by his son [[Boromir]] how long must pass before a Steward could become a King, if the King did not return, [[Denethor II]] replied, "Few years, maybe, in other places of less royalty … In Gondor ten thousand years would not suffice" (reported by Faramir in ''[[The Two Towers]]''). This is a jibe at [[Arnor]], which was split in three and eventually fell into the wilderness, only to be restored by [[Aragorn II]]
[[Mardil|Mardil Voronwë]] was the one who started ruling Gondor after the death of its last King [[Eärnur]]. He ruled on the behalf of the King until the throne would be claimed by one of the Royal House.<ref name=":0">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix A]], "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"</ref> The office was in all respects and purposes that of the King.


The Stewards never sat on the throne of the King; instead, they sat on a simple chair of black stone placed below it. The symbol of their office was a white rod.
The Steward to King [[Minardil]], [[Húrin of Emyn Arnen]], was the founder of the '''[[House of Húrin]]'''.<ref name="Stewards">{{App|Stewards}}</ref> They were of [[House of Anárion|royal]] [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] blood, but were not descendants of [[Elendil]] in the ruling line.<ref>{{PM|Elendil}}, pp. 203 & 218</ref>After him all stewards would be chosen from his descendants.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix A]], The Stewards</ref>


The [[Quenya]] name of the title is ''Arandur'': "Servant of the King".
During the time of the Steward [[Pelendur]], who ruled briefly after the death of King [[Ondoher]] and his sons ({{TA|1944}}), this title became hereditary, passing the station of councillor from father to son, much like the Kingship.<ref name="Stewards" /> This line of ruling stewards carried on through twenty-six generations to [[Denethor|Denethor II]], Ruling Steward at the time of the [[War of the Ring]].<ref name=":0" />


==Ruling Stewards of Gondor==
Soon after the death of Denethor II, [[Aragorn|Aragorn Elessar]] was crowned King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. The Steward [[Faramir]], son of Denethor II, surrendered to the King his rod of office, but it was returned to him.<ref name="Steward and King">{{RK|VI5}}</ref> Faramir nominally ruled briefly as Steward until Elessar's coronation, but since Faramir rested in the [[Houses of Healing]], Prince [[Imrahil]] of [[Dol Amroth]] took his place much of that time.<ref>{{RK|Houses}}</ref> Though Faramir became Steward a month and a half before Elessar became King, Faramir is not considered one of the Ruling Stewards. King Elessar confirmed in Faramir and his descendants the office of Steward of Gondor, and granted him in addition the title of [[Prince of Ithilien]], ensuring his line a position as councillor of the King.<ref name="Steward and King" />


The following is a list of the Ruling Stewards of Gondor. (All dates are from the [[Third Age]].)
== List of ruling stewards ==
{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" align="center" style="border:1px solid darkgrey; border-collapse:collapse"
| colspan="4" style="background:gray; color:white; text-align:center" |'''The Line of Ruling Stewards'''
|-
| bgcolor="lightgrey" |&nbsp;
| bgcolor="lightgrey" |'''Name'''
| bgcolor="lightgrey" |'''Reign'''
| bgcolor="lightgrey" |'''Notes'''
|-
|1.||[[Mardil|Mardil Voronwë]]||{{TA|2050}} – {{TA|2080}}||Becomes Ruling Steward after King [[Eärnur]] leaves no descendants. Beginning of the [[Watchful Peace]].
|-
|2. ||[[Eradan]]||{{TA|2080}} – {{TA|2116}}||&nbsp;
|-
|3.||[[Herion]] || {{TA|2116}} – {{TA|2148}} ||&nbsp;
|-
|4.||[[Belegorn]]|| {{TA|2148}} – {{TA|2204}} ||&nbsp;
|-
|5. || [[Húrin I]]||{{TA|2204}} – {{TA|2244}} ||&nbsp;
|-
|6. ||[[Túrin I]]||{{TA|2244}} – {{TA|2278}}|| &nbsp;
|-
|7.||[[Hador (Steward of Gondor)|Hador]]||{{TA|2278}} – {{TA|2395}}||The last [[Stewards of Gondor|Steward of Gondor]] to have the full lifespan of the [[Dúnedain]].
|-
|8.||[[Barahir (Steward of Gondor)|Barahir]]|| {{TA|2395}} – {{TA|2412}}||&nbsp;
|-
|9.||[[Dior (Steward of Gondor)|Dior]]||{{TA|2412}} – {{TA|2435}}||Succeeded by his sister Rian's son.
|-
|10.||[[Denethor I]]||{{TA|2435}} – {{TA|2477}}||The [[Watchful Peace]] is broken. [[Orcs]] attack from [[Minas Morgul]] and people begin to abandon [[Ithilien]].
|-
|11.||[[Boromir (Steward of Gondor)|Boromir]]||{{TA|2477}} – {{TA|2489}}||&nbsp;
|-
|12.||[[Cirion]]||{{TA|2489}} – {{TA|2567}}||Defeats the [[Balchoth]] with the aid of the [[Éothéod]]. As a reward he gives them the land of [[Calenardhon]].
|-
|13.||[[Hallas]]||{{TA|2567}} – {{TA|2605}}||&nbsp;
|-
|14.||[[Húrin II]]||{{TA|2605}} – {{TA|2628}}||&nbsp;
|-
|15.||[[Belecthor I]]||{{TA|2628}} – {{TA|2655}}||The [[Corsairs of Umbar]] again become a threat to [[Gondor]].
|-
|16.||[[Orodreth (Steward of Gondor)|Orodreth]]||{{TA|2655}} – {{TA|2685}}||&nbsp;
|-
|17.||[[Ecthelion I]]||{{TA|2685}} – {{TA|2698}}||&nbsp;
|-
|18.||[[Egalmoth (Steward of Gondor)|Egalmoth]]||{{TA|2698}} – {{TA|2743}}||&nbsp;
|-
|19.||[[Beren (Steward of Gondor)|Beren]]||{{TA|2743}} – {{TA|2763}}||During the [[Long Winter]], [[Gondor]] is besieged by Corsairs and [[Rohan]] by [[Dunlendings]].
|-
|20.||[[Beregond (Steward of Gondor)|Beregond]]||{{TA|2763}} – {{TA|2811}}||Defeats the Corsairs.
|-
|21.||[[Belecthor II]]||{{TA|2811}} – {{TA|2872}}||Death of the [[White Tree of Gondor]].
|-
|22.||[[Thorondir]]||{{TA|2872}} – {{TA|2882}}||&nbsp;
|-
|23.||[[Túrin II]]||{{TA|2882}} – {{TA|2914}}||Defeats an invasion of [[Haradrim]]. [[Orcs]] invade from [[Mordor]] and [[Ithilien]] is evacuated.
|-
|24.||[[Turgon (Steward of Gondor)|Turgon]]||{{TA|2914}} – {{TA|2953}}||[[Sauron]] declares himself openly.
|-
|25.||[[Ecthelion II]]||{{TA|2953}} – {{TA|2984}}||Defeats the Corsairs with the aid of [[Thorongil]]
|-
|26.||[[Denethor|Denethor II]]||{{TA|2984}} – {{TA|3019}}||Ruling Steward during the [[War of the Ring]].
|-
|27.||[[Faramir]]||{{TA|3019}}||Returns the rule of [[Gondor]] to King [[Aragorn|Aragorn Elessar]].
|}
===Duties and office===
Stewards served as chief councillor to the king and when there was no king to serve they would rule until the rightful king returned.<ref name="Stewards" />


#[[Mardil Voronwë]] "[[The Steadfast]]" (2029&ndash;2080)
The Stewards used a simple white rod for their badge of office <ref>{{RK|MT}} page 26</ref>. Additionally, they sat on a small throne that was in front of the throne used by the old kings of Gondor, letting that throne go unused in honor of the fallen kings.<ref name="Stewards" />
#[[Eradan]] (2080&ndash;2116)
#[[Herion]] (2116&ndash;2148)
#[[Belegorn]] (2148&ndash;2204)
#[[Húrin I]] (2204&ndash;2244)
#[[Túrin I]] (2244&ndash;2278)
#[[Hador (Steward of Gondor)|Hador]] (2278&ndash;2395)
#[[Barahir (Steward of Gondor)|Barahir]] (2395&ndash;2412)
#[[Dior (Steward of Gondor)|Dior]] (2412&ndash;2435)
#[[Denethor I]] (2435&ndash;2477)
#[[Boromir (Steward of Gondor)|Boromir]] (2477&ndash;2489)
#[[Cirion]] (2489&ndash;2567)
#[[Hallas|Hallas]] (2567&ndash;2605)
#[[Húrin II]] (2605&ndash;2628)
#[[Belecthor I]] (2628&ndash;2655)
#[[Orodreth (Steward of Gondor)|Orodreth]] (2655&ndash;2685)
#[[Ecthelion I]] (2685&ndash;2698)
#[[Egalmoth (Steward of Gondor)|Egalmoth]] (2698&ndash;2743)
#[[Beren (Steward of Gondor)|Beren]] (2743&ndash;2763)
#[[Beregond (Steward of Gondor)|Beregond]] (2763&ndash;2811)
#[[Belecthor II]] (2811&ndash;2872)
#[[Thorondir]] (2872&ndash;2882)
#[[Túrin II]] (2882&ndash;2914)
#[[Turgon of Gondor|Turgon]] (2914&ndash;2953)
#[[Ecthelion II]] (2953&ndash;2984)
#[[Denethor II]] (2984&ndash;3019)
<!-- As explained in the paragraph below. Faramir is NOT considered one of the ruling stewards. -->


Soon after the death of Denethor II, [[Aragorn II|Aragorn Elessar]] was crowned King. The Steward Faramir, son of Denethor II, surrendered to the King his rod of office, but it was returned to him. Faramir nominally ruled briefly as Steward until Elessar's coronation, but since Faramir rested in the [[Houses of Healing]], Prince [[Imrahil]] of [[Dol Amroth]] took his place much of that time. Though Faramir became Steward a month and a half before Elessar became King, Faramir is not considered one of the Ruling Stewards. King Elessar confirmed in Faramir and his descendants the office of Steward of Gondor, and granted him in addition the Princedom of [[Ithilien]], ensuring his line a position as counsellor of the King.
==Other names==
"Steward" in [[Quenya]] was '''''Arandur''''',<ref>{{UT|8}}, p. 313, note 25</ref> literally "king's servant, minister",<ref>{{L|297}}, p. 386</ref> a combination of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") + ''[[-ndur]]'' ("servant").<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in ''The Lord of the Rings''", in [[Parma Eldalamberon 17|''Parma Eldalamberon'' XVII]] (edited by [[Christopher Gilson]]), p. 40 entry '''aran'''</ref><ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names", ''-(n)dur''</ref>


[[Category:Titles]]
{{references}}
[[Category:Mannish titles]]
[[Category:Stewards| ]]
[[Category:Stewards| ]]
[[de:Gondor#Herrscher_von_Gondor]]
[[de:Gondor#Herrscher_von_Gondor]]
[[de:Haus Húrin]]
[[fi:Gondorin käskynhaltijat]]
[[fi:Gondorin käskynhaltijat]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/hommes/3a/dunedain/gondoriens/intendants_du_gondor]]

Latest revision as of 21:12, 28 March 2024

"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam
 This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality.

"How many hundreds of years needs it to make a steward a king, if the king returns not?"

-Boromir

"Few years, maybe, in other places of less royalty. In Gondor ten thousands years would not suffice."

-Denethor II

Gondor Steward's Banner by Grond

Steward was the traditional title of a chief councillor to The Kings of Gondor.

History[edit | edit source]

King Rómendacil I established the office of Steward of Gondor, chosen by the King as a man of high trust and wisdom; Stewards were advanced in years since they were not permitted to go to war or to leave the realm. They were never a member of the Royal House.[1]

Mardil Voronwë was the one who started ruling Gondor after the death of its last King Eärnur. He ruled on the behalf of the King until the throne would be claimed by one of the Royal House.[2] The office was in all respects and purposes that of the King.

The Steward to King Minardil, Húrin of Emyn Arnen, was the founder of the House of Húrin.[3] They were of royal Númenórean blood, but were not descendants of Elendil in the ruling line.[4]After him all stewards would be chosen from his descendants.[5]

During the time of the Steward Pelendur, who ruled briefly after the death of King Ondoher and his sons (T.A. 1944), this title became hereditary, passing the station of councillor from father to son, much like the Kingship.[3] This line of ruling stewards carried on through twenty-six generations to Denethor II, Ruling Steward at the time of the War of the Ring.[2]

Soon after the death of Denethor II, Aragorn Elessar was crowned King of the Reunited Kingdom. The Steward Faramir, son of Denethor II, surrendered to the King his rod of office, but it was returned to him.[6] Faramir nominally ruled briefly as Steward until Elessar's coronation, but since Faramir rested in the Houses of Healing, Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth took his place much of that time.[7] Though Faramir became Steward a month and a half before Elessar became King, Faramir is not considered one of the Ruling Stewards. King Elessar confirmed in Faramir and his descendants the office of Steward of Gondor, and granted him in addition the title of Prince of Ithilien, ensuring his line a position as councillor of the King.[6]

List of ruling stewards[edit | edit source]

The Line of Ruling Stewards
  Name Reign Notes
1. Mardil Voronwë T.A. 2050 – T.A. 2080 Becomes Ruling Steward after King Eärnur leaves no descendants. Beginning of the Watchful Peace.
2. Eradan T.A. 2080 – T.A. 2116  
3. Herion T.A. 2116 – T.A. 2148  
4. Belegorn T.A. 2148 – T.A. 2204  
5. Húrin I T.A. 2204 – T.A. 2244  
6. Túrin I T.A. 2244 – T.A. 2278  
7. Hador T.A. 2278 – T.A. 2395 The last Steward of Gondor to have the full lifespan of the Dúnedain.
8. Barahir T.A. 2395 – T.A. 2412  
9. Dior T.A. 2412 – T.A. 2435 Succeeded by his sister Rian's son.
10. Denethor I T.A. 2435 – T.A. 2477 The Watchful Peace is broken. Orcs attack from Minas Morgul and people begin to abandon Ithilien.
11. Boromir T.A. 2477 – T.A. 2489  
12. Cirion T.A. 2489 – T.A. 2567 Defeats the Balchoth with the aid of the Éothéod. As a reward he gives them the land of Calenardhon.
13. Hallas T.A. 2567 – T.A. 2605  
14. Húrin II T.A. 2605 – T.A. 2628  
15. Belecthor I T.A. 2628 – T.A. 2655 The Corsairs of Umbar again become a threat to Gondor.
16. Orodreth T.A. 2655 – T.A. 2685  
17. Ecthelion I T.A. 2685 – T.A. 2698  
18. Egalmoth T.A. 2698 – T.A. 2743  
19. Beren T.A. 2743 – T.A. 2763 During the Long Winter, Gondor is besieged by Corsairs and Rohan by Dunlendings.
20. Beregond T.A. 2763 – T.A. 2811 Defeats the Corsairs.
21. Belecthor II T.A. 2811 – T.A. 2872 Death of the White Tree of Gondor.
22. Thorondir T.A. 2872 – T.A. 2882  
23. Túrin II T.A. 2882 – T.A. 2914 Defeats an invasion of Haradrim. Orcs invade from Mordor and Ithilien is evacuated.
24. Turgon T.A. 2914 – T.A. 2953 Sauron declares himself openly.
25. Ecthelion II T.A. 2953 – T.A. 2984 Defeats the Corsairs with the aid of Thorongil
26. Denethor II T.A. 2984 – T.A. 3019 Ruling Steward during the War of the Ring.
27. Faramir T.A. 3019 Returns the rule of Gondor to King Aragorn Elessar.

Duties and office[edit | edit source]

Stewards served as chief councillor to the king and when there was no king to serve they would rule until the rightful king returned.[3]

The Stewards used a simple white rod for their badge of office [8]. Additionally, they sat on a small throne that was in front of the throne used by the old kings of Gondor, letting that throne go unused in honor of the fallen kings.[3]

Other names[edit | edit source]

"Steward" in Quenya was Arandur,[9] literally "king's servant, minister",[10] a combination of aran ("king") + -ndur ("servant").[11][12]

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", note 53
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 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, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", pp. 203 & 218
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, The Stewards
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Steward and the King"
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Houses of Healing"
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith" page 26
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", p. 313, note 25
  10. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 297, (dated August 1967), p. 386
  11. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 40 entry aran
  12. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names", -(n)dur
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