Amlaith

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Amlaith
Arnorian
ElfinFen - Amlaith, king of Arthedain.jpg
"Amlaith, king of Arthedain" by ElfinFen
Biographical Information
TitlesKing of Arthedain
LocationArthedain
LanguageSindarin, Westron
BirthT.A. 726
RuleT.A. 861 - 946
DeathT.A. 946 (aged 220)
Family
HouseHouse of Isildur
ParentageEärendur
Siblingstwo unnamed brothers
ChildrenBeleg
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Amlaith

Amlaith of Fornost (T.A. 726[1] - T.A. 946,[2] died aged 220) was the eldest son of Eärendur, the tenth King of Arnor.

History[edit | edit source]

He was destined to become King of Arnor after his father's death in T.A. 861, but there were constant quarrels between Eärendur's sons. A civil war erupted when Eärendur finally died. Amlaith, however, failed to overcome his two younger brothers, so the Kingdom of Arnor was split into three and Amlaith became the first King of Arthedain. (His brothers founded the kingdoms of Cardolan and Rhudaur).[3]

His reign in Arthedain was largely a peaceful one, although border disputes with the realms of Cardolan and Rhudaur - especially over Amon Sûl and the Weather Hills - never fully ceased. Under his rule the capital was formally removed from Annúminas to Fornost, due to the dwindling of the people.[1]

Unlike his forefathers, he did not take a name in Quenya,[4] the "High-elven Tongue",[5], but instead took a name in Sindarin, as did all the Kings of Arthedain and Chieftains of the Dúnedain that descended from him.[6][7]

Amlaith ruled for eighty-five years, and was succeeded at his death in 946 by his son, Beleg.[2]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Amlaith is a Sindarin name. Its meaning is not glossed, but Mark Fisher suggests it might contain the elements am ("up") and laith (as in the name of the river Limlaith where laith means "light").[8]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
 
 
Elendur
552 - 777
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eärendur
640 - 861
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AMLAITH
726 - 946
 
Kings of
Cardolan
 
Kings of
Rhudaur
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beleg
811 - 1029
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mallor
895 - 1110
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kings of
Arthedain
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", p. 193
  2. 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Northern Line: Heirs of Isildur"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Northern Line: Heirs of Isildur", Arthedain. Amlaith of Fornost, footnote
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age", "Of the Elves", first paragraph
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", manuscript C with corrections and expansions, The Northern Line of Arnor: the Isildurioni, 10. Earendur, p. 192 using Noldorin, which was later renamend to Sindarin.
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VIII. The Tale of Years of the Third Age", manuscript T4, The Third Age year 861 using Noldorin, which was later renamed to Sindarin
  8. Mark Fisher, "Amlaith of Fornost", The Encyclopedia of Arda (accessed 28 January 2022)
Amlaith
House of Isildur
Cadet branch of House of Elros
Born: T.A. 726 Died: T.A. 946
Preceded by:
Eärendur
9th Heir of Isildur
T.A. 861 - 946
Followed by:
Beleg
None
Eärendur, as King of Arnor
1st King of Arthedain
T.A. 861 - 946


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)