Tolkien Gateway - User contributions [en]

Thingol

2009-10-27T03:09:11Z

68.41.135.11: /* The Quest for the Silmaril */

{{sindar infobox
| image=[[Image:Felix Sotomayor - Elu Thingol.jpg|250px]]
| name=Elu Thingol
| othernames=[[Elwë]], [[Singollo]]
| titles=[[King of Doriath]]
| birth=[[Years of the Trees 1050|Y.T. 1050]], [[Cuiviénen]]
| realm=[[Menegroth]], [[Doriath]]
| death=[[First Age 502|F.A. 502]]{{ref|3}}, [[Menegroth]]
| age=4800+
| gender=Male
| hair=Silver
| eyes=
| parentage=
| spouse=[[Melian]]
| children=[[Lúthien Tinúviel]]
|}}
'''Elu''', more commonly known as '''Thingol''', was the [[King of Doriath]] and High King of the Sindar. Born '''Elwë''' during the first years of the [[Eldar]], he was the older brother of [[Olwë]] and [[Elmo]]{{ref|1}}. He was also a good friend of [[Finwë]], [[High King of the Noldor]]. His hair was grey and he was the tallest of all Elves and Men.{{ref|4}} Thingol would become a central figure of ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', instigating the [[Quest for the Silmaril]], the greatest victory of the [[First Age]], but ultimately the cause of his own doom.

== History ==
=== Ambassador of the Valar ===
Thingol was born at [[Cuiviénen]]{{ref|2}} in the days before the [[Sun]] and the [[Moon]], when [[Middle-earth]] was lit only by starlight. Three millennia later, after the [[Chaining of Melkor]], the [[Valar|Vala]] [[Oromë]] took three Elves, [[Ingwë]], Finwë, and Elwë, to [[Valinor]] to convince the [[Eldar]] to join the Valar in the [[Blessed Realm]]. Upon their return, the Elven ambassadors convinced many of the Eldar to join them on the [[Great Journey]] to the [[West]]. During the thousand mile journey, the Elven host separated into three groups, the [[Vanyar]], [[Noldor]], and [[Teleri]]. The Teleri, led by Elwë and his brother Olwë, were the largest and slowest group, and were the last to reach the western shores of [[Middle-earth]]. The Noldorin Elves had already left for Valinor, and the Teleri were forced to wait for the ''"island shuttle"''.

During this time Elwë wandered into the [[Nan Elmoth|Forest of Nan Elmoth]], where he met and fell in love with [[Melian]] the [[Maiar|Maia]]. Caught in an enchantment of their own making, Elwë and Melian could not be found by the searching Teleri. When the Valar returned to take the remaining Elves to Valinor, only some of them followed Olwë across the [[Great Sea]]. The rest had come to love the lands of [[Beleriand]] and refused to leave without their missing lord.

=== King of Doriath ===
[[Image:Elwe Heraldic Device.jpg|left|100px]]Over a thousand years passed before Elwë appeared again with his bride Melian. He gathered his people together and founded the Kingdom of [[Doriath]]. His subjects would become the [[Sindar]], or "Grey Elves", and their language was [[Sindarin]]. From then on Elwë was known as King Elu Thingol, and he claimed lordship over all the lands in Beleriand. While Thingol was King of the Grey Elves, who never saw the light of the [[Two Trees]], as an Ambassador for the Valar he was counted as a [[High Elves|High Elf]], and equal to any lord of the [[Eldar]].

On Melian's advice, Thingol became an ally of the [[Dwarves]] of [[Belegost]], who carved the caverns of [[Menegroth]] for him. In payment he gave them the great pearl [[Nimphelos]].

A thousand years before the first rising of the [[Sun]] and the [[Moon]] the [[Green Elves]] entered Beleriand under [[Denethor of the Nandor|Denethor]]. Thingol welcomed them and gave them the lands of [[Ossiriand]], which they named [[Lindon]]. The Green Elves told of the spread of [[Orcs]] and other foul creatures in the north and east of Middle-earth. The Grey Elves began arming themselves.

Centuries later Melkor returned to Middle-earth. Now named [[Morgoth]], he had destroyed the Two Trees, killed Finwë, the High King of the Noldor, and stolen the fabled [[Silmarils]]. Seeking to claim dominion quickly, he launched a sudden assault on the lands of the Sindar. The [[First Battle of Beleriand]] went well for Thingol, who prevented any Orcs from invading Doriath, but the Green Elves took horrific losses and the [[Falathrim|Elves of the Coasts]] were beseiged.

The Elves of the Coasts were finally saved by the arrival of the Noldor, who launched the [[Dagor-nuin-Giliath]] ("Battle Under the Stars"). Morgoth's forces were crushed and the Noldor began their long [[Siege of Angband]].

=== Thingol and the Noldor ===
After the First Battle of Beleriand, Doriath was encircled by the [[Girdle of Melian]], an impenetrable fog that guarded the kingdom. While his own kingdom was protected, Thingol was still loath to surrender any other lands in Beleriand to the Noldor as he was suspicious of the aggressive new lords in Middle-earth.
{{quote|In [[Hithlum]] the Noldor have leave to dwell, and in the highlands of [[Dorthonion]], and in the lands east of Doriath that are empty and wild... for I am the Lord of Beleriand, and all who seek to dwell there shall hear my word.|''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "Of the Return of the Noldor"}}

King Thingol's relations with the Noldor were strained, and grew worse decades later when he learned the truth of the [[First Kinslaying|Kinslaying]]. Thingol banned the use of [[Quenya]] in his lands, which led to [[Sindarin]] being the common Elven tongue in Middle-earth. The King of Doriath refused to aid the Noldor in the war against Morgoth, and took little part in the Siege of Angband or the [[Dagor Bragollach]] ("War of Sudden Flame").

=== The Quest for the Silmaril ===
Thingol and Melian had one child, a daughter named [[Lúthien]], said to be the fairest woman ever to live. Lúthien fell in love with a man named [[Beren Erchamion|Beren]]. Thingol did not wish for the two to wed, as he valued his daughter very highly and disliked Men. As a bride-price he asked for a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from the crown of [[Morgoth]], thinking there was no way that Beren could fulfill this demand. It was, however, this very bride-price that killed him.

=== The Nauglamír and Thingol's Doom ===
Thingol became obsessed with the Silmaril and hired some [[Dwarves]] to place it in the [[Nauglamír]], the Necklace of the Dwarves. The Dwarven craftsmen also became obsessed with the jewel and slew Thingol for possession of it, setting off a chain of events that led to the destruction of [[Doriath]] and the scattering of its people.

Thingol's heir was [[Dior Eluchíl|Dior]], son of Beren and Lúthien.

Thingol's sword was called '''Aranrúth''' ("King's Ire"). His crown was described in the ''[[Lay of Leithian]]'' as crafted of gold and studded with red rubies and clear crystal.

== Etymology ==
The Elf known as Thingol was born '''''Elwë''''', [[Quenya]] for "Man of the Stars" (where "man" means ''male'', not ''human''). His [[epessë]] (honorary name) was '''''Singollo''''', or "Grey Cloak". Elwë Singollo's preferred language was [[Sindarin]], to which his name translates as '''''Elu Thingol'''''. Among his subjects he went by his honorarium, '''''Thingol''''', King of Doriath.

== Genealogy ==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|.| }}
{{familytree |ELU|y|MEL| |OLW| | |ELM| |ELU='''ELU THINGOL'''|MEL=[[Melian]]|OLW=[[Olwë]]|ELM=[[Elmo]] }}
{{familytree | | | |!| | | | | | | }}
{{familytree | | | |!| | | | |HOB| | | | HOB=[[House of Bëor]]}}
{{familytree | | | |!| | | | | |:| | | }}
{{familytree | | |LUT|~|y|~|BER| | |LUT=[[Lúthien]]|BER=[[Beren Erchamion|Beren]] }}
{{familytree | | | | | | |!| | | | | }}
{{familytree | | | | | |DIO| | | | |DIO=[[Dior Eluchíl]] }}
{{familytree/end}}
{{sequence
|prev=none
|next=[[Dior Eluchíl]]
|list=[[King of Doriath]] YotT 1152 – <code>I</code> 502
}}

== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Thingol|Images of Thingol]]

== Notes ==
# {{note|1}}[[Elmo]] is a later addition by [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] and is not in the published ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.
# {{note|2}}This information is from the ''[[Cuivienyarna]]'', part of ''[[Quendi and Eldar]]'', a late revision of the [[legendarium]] by Tolkien. In the published ''The Silmarillion'', Elu Thingol ''awoke'' at Cuiviénen, instead of being ''born'' there. See [[Awakening of the Elves]].
# {{note|3}}His death is placed under the year 502 in [[The Grey Annals]], but according to the story introduced into The ''[[Silmarillion]]'' by [[Christopher Tolkien]] it should have rather occurred immediately after the reforging of [[Nauglamír]], while the Sack of Doriath remained in the following year.
#{{note|4}}[[Quenta Silmarillion]], [[Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië]]
[[Category:High Elves]]
[[Category:Quest for the Silmaril]]

Thingol

2009-10-27T03:07:14Z

68.41.135.11: /* The Quest for the Silmaril */

{{sindar infobox
| image=[[Image:Felix Sotomayor - Elu Thingol.jpg|250px]]
| name=Elu Thingol
| othernames=[[Elwë]], [[Singollo]]
| titles=[[King of Doriath]]
| birth=[[Years of the Trees 1050|Y.T. 1050]], [[Cuiviénen]]
| realm=[[Menegroth]], [[Doriath]]
| death=[[First Age 502|F.A. 502]]{{ref|3}}, [[Menegroth]]
| age=4800+
| gender=Male
| hair=Silver
| eyes=
| parentage=
| spouse=[[Melian]]
| children=[[Lúthien Tinúviel]]
|}}
'''Elu''', more commonly known as '''Thingol''', was the [[King of Doriath]] and High King of the Sindar. Born '''Elwë''' during the first years of the [[Eldar]], he was the older brother of [[Olwë]] and [[Elmo]]{{ref|1}}. He was also a good friend of [[Finwë]], [[High King of the Noldor]]. His hair was grey and he was the tallest of all Elves and Men.{{ref|4}} Thingol would become a central figure of ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', instigating the [[Quest for the Silmaril]], the greatest victory of the [[First Age]], but ultimately the cause of his own doom.

== History ==
=== Ambassador of the Valar ===
Thingol was born at [[Cuiviénen]]{{ref|2}} in the days before the [[Sun]] and the [[Moon]], when [[Middle-earth]] was lit only by starlight. Three millennia later, after the [[Chaining of Melkor]], the [[Valar|Vala]] [[Oromë]] took three Elves, [[Ingwë]], Finwë, and Elwë, to [[Valinor]] to convince the [[Eldar]] to join the Valar in the [[Blessed Realm]]. Upon their return, the Elven ambassadors convinced many of the Eldar to join them on the [[Great Journey]] to the [[West]]. During the thousand mile journey, the Elven host separated into three groups, the [[Vanyar]], [[Noldor]], and [[Teleri]]. The Teleri, led by Elwë and his brother Olwë, were the largest and slowest group, and were the last to reach the western shores of [[Middle-earth]]. The Noldorin Elves had already left for Valinor, and the Teleri were forced to wait for the ''"island shuttle"''.

During this time Elwë wandered into the [[Nan Elmoth|Forest of Nan Elmoth]], where he met and fell in love with [[Melian]] the [[Maiar|Maia]]. Caught in an enchantment of their own making, Elwë and Melian could not be found by the searching Teleri. When the Valar returned to take the remaining Elves to Valinor, only some of them followed Olwë across the [[Great Sea]]. The rest had come to love the lands of [[Beleriand]] and refused to leave without their missing lord.

=== King of Doriath ===
[[Image:Elwe Heraldic Device.jpg|left|100px]]Over a thousand years passed before Elwë appeared again with his bride Melian. He gathered his people together and founded the Kingdom of [[Doriath]]. His subjects would become the [[Sindar]], or "Grey Elves", and their language was [[Sindarin]]. From then on Elwë was known as King Elu Thingol, and he claimed lordship over all the lands in Beleriand. While Thingol was King of the Grey Elves, who never saw the light of the [[Two Trees]], as an Ambassador for the Valar he was counted as a [[High Elves|High Elf]], and equal to any lord of the [[Eldar]].

On Melian's advice, Thingol became an ally of the [[Dwarves]] of [[Belegost]], who carved the caverns of [[Menegroth]] for him. In payment he gave them the great pearl [[Nimphelos]].

A thousand years before the first rising of the [[Sun]] and the [[Moon]] the [[Green Elves]] entered Beleriand under [[Denethor of the Nandor|Denethor]]. Thingol welcomed them and gave them the lands of [[Ossiriand]], which they named [[Lindon]]. The Green Elves told of the spread of [[Orcs]] and other foul creatures in the north and east of Middle-earth. The Grey Elves began arming themselves.

Centuries later Melkor returned to Middle-earth. Now named [[Morgoth]], he had destroyed the Two Trees, killed Finwë, the High King of the Noldor, and stolen the fabled [[Silmarils]]. Seeking to claim dominion quickly, he launched a sudden assault on the lands of the Sindar. The [[First Battle of Beleriand]] went well for Thingol, who prevented any Orcs from invading Doriath, but the Green Elves took horrific losses and the [[Falathrim|Elves of the Coasts]] were beseiged.

The Elves of the Coasts were finally saved by the arrival of the Noldor, who launched the [[Dagor-nuin-Giliath]] ("Battle Under the Stars"). Morgoth's forces were crushed and the Noldor began their long [[Siege of Angband]].

=== Thingol and the Noldor ===
After the First Battle of Beleriand, Doriath was encircled by the [[Girdle of Melian]], an impenetrable fog that guarded the kingdom. While his own kingdom was protected, Thingol was still loath to surrender any other lands in Beleriand to the Noldor as he was suspicious of the aggressive new lords in Middle-earth.
{{quote|In [[Hithlum]] the Noldor have leave to dwell, and in the highlands of [[Dorthonion]], and in the lands east of Doriath that are empty and wild... for I am the Lord of Beleriand, and all who seek to dwell there shall hear my word.|''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "Of the Return of the Noldor"}}

King Thingol's relations with the Noldor were strained, and grew worse decades later when he learned the truth of the [[First Kinslaying|Kinslaying]]. Thingol banned the use of [[Quenya]] in his lands, which led to [[Sindarin]] being the common Elven tongue in Middle-earth. The King of Doriath refused to aid the Noldor in the war against Morgoth, and took little part in the Siege of Angband or the [[Dagor Bragollach]] ("War of Sudden Flame").

=== The Quest for the Silmaril ===
[[Image:Paula_DiSante_-_Thingol_Melian_Luthien.JPG|thumb|left|260px|''Ar-Pharazon Defies'' by [[Paula DiSante]].]]Thingol and Melian had one child, a daughter named [[Lúthien]], said to be the fairest woman ever to live. Lúthien fell in love with a man named [[Beren Erchamion|Beren]]. Thingol did not wish for the two to wed, as he valued his daughter very highly and disliked Men. As a bride-price he asked for a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from the crown of [[Morgoth]], thinking there was no way that Beren could fulfill this demand. It was, however, this very bride-price that killed him.

=== The Nauglamír and Thingol's Doom ===
Thingol became obsessed with the Silmaril and hired some [[Dwarves]] to place it in the [[Nauglamír]], the Necklace of the Dwarves. The Dwarven craftsmen also became obsessed with the jewel and slew Thingol for possession of it, setting off a chain of events that led to the destruction of [[Doriath]] and the scattering of its people.

Thingol's heir was [[Dior Eluchíl|Dior]], son of Beren and Lúthien.

Thingol's sword was called '''Aranrúth''' ("King's Ire"). His crown was described in the ''[[Lay of Leithian]]'' as crafted of gold and studded with red rubies and clear crystal.

== Etymology ==
The Elf known as Thingol was born '''''Elwë''''', [[Quenya]] for "Man of the Stars" (where "man" means ''male'', not ''human''). His [[epessë]] (honorary name) was '''''Singollo''''', or "Grey Cloak". Elwë Singollo's preferred language was [[Sindarin]], to which his name translates as '''''Elu Thingol'''''. Among his subjects he went by his honorarium, '''''Thingol''''', King of Doriath.

== Genealogy ==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|.| }}
{{familytree |ELU|y|MEL| |OLW| | |ELM| |ELU='''ELU THINGOL'''|MEL=[[Melian]]|OLW=[[Olwë]]|ELM=[[Elmo]] }}
{{familytree | | | |!| | | | | | | }}
{{familytree | | | |!| | | | |HOB| | | | HOB=[[House of Bëor]]}}
{{familytree | | | |!| | | | | |:| | | }}
{{familytree | | |LUT|~|y|~|BER| | |LUT=[[Lúthien]]|BER=[[Beren Erchamion|Beren]] }}
{{familytree | | | | | | |!| | | | | }}
{{familytree | | | | | |DIO| | | | |DIO=[[Dior Eluchíl]] }}
{{familytree/end}}
{{sequence
|prev=none
|next=[[Dior Eluchíl]]
|list=[[King of Doriath]] YotT 1152 – <code>I</code> 502
}}

== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Thingol|Images of Thingol]]

== Notes ==
# {{note|1}}[[Elmo]] is a later addition by [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] and is not in the published ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.
# {{note|2}}This information is from the ''[[Cuivienyarna]]'', part of ''[[Quendi and Eldar]]'', a late revision of the [[legendarium]] by Tolkien. In the published ''The Silmarillion'', Elu Thingol ''awoke'' at Cuiviénen, instead of being ''born'' there. See [[Awakening of the Elves]].
# {{note|3}}His death is placed under the year 502 in [[The Grey Annals]], but according to the story introduced into The ''[[Silmarillion]]'' by [[Christopher Tolkien]] it should have rather occurred immediately after the reforging of [[Nauglamír]], while the Sack of Doriath remained in the following year.
#{{note|4}}[[Quenta Silmarillion]], [[Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië]]
[[Category:High Elves]]
[[Category:Quest for the Silmaril]]

Aragorn II

2009-02-25T02:38:05Z

68.41.135.11:

{{disambig-two|the King of [[Gondor]]|the [[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]|[[Aragorn I]]}}
{{disambig-two|the King of [[Gondor]]|fabled gems|[[Elessar of Eärendil]]}}

{{gondorian
| image=[[Image:John Howe - Elessar (Battlefields boardgame).jpg|250px]]
| name=Aragorn II
| othernames=[[Elessar]], [[Thorongil]] ([[Aragorn II#Names|see more below]])
| position=[[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| birth=[[March 1]], [[Third Age 2931|T.A. 2931]]
| rule=[[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]] - [[Fourth Age 120|Fo.A. 120]]
| death=[[Fourth Age 120|Fo.A. 120]]
| gender=Male
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]] + [[Gilraen]]
| spouse=[[Arwen Undómiel]]
| children=[[Eldarion]], at least two daughters
}}{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', [[The Steward and the King]]}}</center>
'''Aragorn II''' ([[Third Age]] March 1, 2931 – [[Fourth Age]] 120, aged 210 years<ref>''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix B]].</ref>) was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was a [[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest man of his time, leading the [[Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy the [[One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

==History==
===Early Life===
At his birth, he received the name Aragorn from his father as "a name used in the House of the Chieftains". But his grandmother, Ivorwen, noted with foresight that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone; from this would come his royal name [[Elessar]] ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone"), and he would be a healer and a renewer.

When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]]. By Elrond's order, his identity was kept secret, as he feared he would be slain like his father and grandfather. Aragorn was named '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead, and was not told about his heritage until he came of age in [[Third Age 2951|2951]].

Elrond revealed to "Estel" his true name and ancestry in 2951, when Aragorn was twenty years old, and delivered to him the heirlooms of his House: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. The next day, in the woods of Rivendell, Aragorn met and fell in love with [[Arwen Evenstar|Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lórien in Middle-earth|Lórien]].
[[Image:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|200px|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]

===Life as a Ranger===
Aragorn took up his proper name as Aragorn II, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and went into [[The Wild]].
In [[Third Age 2953|2953]] he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf the Grey]] in [[Third Age 2956|2956]], and they became great friends. At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in the [[Shire]], and became known around the area as '''''Strider'''''.
[[Image:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|200px|right|"Thorongil" with [[Ecthelion II]], by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From [[Third Age 2957|2957]] to [[Third Age 2980|2980]] Aragorn took great journeys, serving in the armies of King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], and Steward [[Ecthelion II]] of Gondor. Many of his tasks weakened [[Sauron]] and his allies, which during the [[War of the Ring]] helped the West survive. His name in Gondor and Rohan was '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"), and with a few Gondorian ships he led a [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|Surprise Attack on the Havens of Umbar]], destroying many of their ships and slaying its lord. He later left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. Later in 2980 he was in [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen. He gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.

Elrond gave his foster-son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This may seem a harsh condition, but it should be noted that it is significantly more lenient than the closest precedent, King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren Erchamion|Beren]] obtain a [[Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].

==War of the Ring==
===Fellowship of the Ring and events preceding===
In the year [[Third Age 3001|3001]], as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact the [[One Ring]]. In [[Third Age 3018|3018]] after searching intermittently over the years, Aragorn finally overtakes Gollum in the [[Dead Marshes]] and takes him to Thranduil in Mirkwood to be held captive. He then returns west where he meets with Gandalf and learns of [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the shire with the ring.

Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of the [[Shire]] waiting for sight of Frodo. While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions. He watched as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the [[Black Riders]] and [[Bill Ferny]], then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.

Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the [[Ambush at Weathertop]] and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel of Rivendell|Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[Image:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Aragorn at the death of Boromir, by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]

At the Council of Elrond Aragorn was as a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the company for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir (son of Denethor II)|Boromir)]].

Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He reluctantly conceded to Gandalf’s plan to pass through [[Moria]], though his sense of foresight warned him for Gandalf. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin’s Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn (Lord of Lórien)|Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. Even at the [[Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ringbearer]] chose.

===The early War of the Ring===

After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas of Mirkwood|Legolas]] and [[Gimli Elf-friend|Gimli]], chose to try and save Merry and [[Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day soon Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into Fangorn forest, where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm’s Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshaled the defense against [[Saruman]]’s army. When the Hornburg's gate was going to fall to enemy forces, Aragorn and Théoden led a cavalry charge that raised the morale of the tired forces fighting within the fortress. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

===Return of the King===
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Black Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took the [[Black Ships]] north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counterattacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly. But Aragorn did not enter the city.
[[Image:Luca Michelucci - 1999 - March.jpg|thumb|175px|left|The Black ships, by [[Luca Michelucci]]]]
Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir son of Denethor II|Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Aragorn then left the city, hooded and cloaked, and yet the people of Minas Tirith followed him, for they had heard rumors. Yet when in the morning they saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.

Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the Destruction of the Ring in [[Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]]. Gandalf took him up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there Aragorn found the scion of [[Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

===Reign as Elessar===

Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]]. He died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.

He founded the [[House of Telcontar]], and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. He also had a number of daughters, whose names were not recorded.

Through his ancestor Elendil, Aragorn was a descendant of the [[Númenóreans]], great [[Men]] who were granted long lives by the [[Valar]]. Though [[Númenor]] was destroyed, its people lived on as the [[Dúnedain]], and like their ancestors they too were long-lived. Thus Aragorn lived to a great age, finally passing on at 210 years.

==Etymology==
The name '''Aragorn''' has long been without a clear etymology. [[Ruth S. Noel]] and several others proposed "King of the Tree"<ref>[[Ruth S. Noel]], ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'', page 114.</ref>, but [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] specifically said that this was not the case<ref>''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'', [[Letter 347]].</ref>. [[David Salo]] deduces "Having Kingly Valor" <ref>[[David Salo]], ''[[A Gateway to Sindarin]]'', page 341.</ref> from Tolkien's cryptic "'Kingly Valour (for so is that name interpreted)"<ref>''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]'', Foreword, page xii.</ref>. This is still the most often cited etymology; Robert Ireland's ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'' gives the variation "Royal Zeal"<ref>Robert Ireland, ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'', [http://www.quicksilver899.com/Tolkien/LOTR/LOTR_AC.html The Lord of the Rings A-C].</ref>. [[Carl F. Hostetter]] proposed the meanings "King of the Globe" or "King of the Hill" in his analysis of the [[King's Letter]]<ref>[[Carl F. Hostetter]], "The 'King's Letter': An Historical and Comparative Analysis", [[Vinyar Tengwar 31]], page 18.</ref>. In "Words, Phrases & Passages in ''The Lord of the Rings''", a late 1950's manuscript by Tolkien, the most clear, and apparently final, thoughts of Tolkien indicate the name means '''"Revered King"''', from ''[[aran]]'' "king" and ''ngorn'' "dreaded, revered"<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "Words, Phrases & Passages in 'The Lord of the Rings'", [[Parma Eldalamberon]] 17, page 113.</ref>.

===Names and titles===
* Aragorn II - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was likely named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]].
* [[Elessar]] - The Elfstone, Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King|King Aragorn]]".
* Edhelharn - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter''<ref>[[Sauron Defeated]]'', The Epilogue, page 128 and following.</ref>.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Estel]] - Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose".
* [[Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* [[Wingfoot]] - A honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently.
* [[Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* The Dúnadan - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* Longshanks - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* Arakorno - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya "and"<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "Words, Phrases & Passages in 'The Lord of the Rings'", [[Parma Eldalamberon]] 17, page 71.</ref>.

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
<center><gallery>
Image:Strider from Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings.jpg|<center>''[[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]]''</center>
Image:Aragorn from Rankin-Bass' The Return of the King.jpg|<center>''[[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]]''</center>
Image:Aragorn grimace.jpg|<center>''[[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]]''</center>
Image:Aragorn Anduril viv lotr.JPG|<center>''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring]]''</center>
</gallery></center>

'''1978: ''[[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have accused this character of looking too much like a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotypes_of_Native_Americans stereotype of a Native American].

'''1980: ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]].

'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]].

'''2001: ''[[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though originally, [[Stuart Townsend]] was cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Mortensen portrays Aragorn full of self-doubt; a change that was presumably made to fit him in the modern "anti-hero" jacket.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn.

'''2002: ''[[Peter Jackson's The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part is this film is largely similar to the events in book. The most significant difference being that in the book, their was no [[Warg]] attack on the party travelling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[Peter Jackson's The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn shows great trouble over the choice whether or not he should become king, whereas in the book, there is no doubt of his purpose to return as the king from the very first time his lineage is revealed.

'''See also:''' [http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], comparing the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring (game)|video game]] of ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | | |EAR|y|ELW| | | | | | EAR=[[Eärendil the Mariner|Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | | |GAL|y|CEL| | GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn, Lord of Lórien|Celeborn]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |!|}}
{{familytree | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |!| }}
{{familytree | | |ROS| |RON|~|y|~|CLB| | | ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]] }}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | | |!| | | }}
{{familytree | | |KON| | | | | |!| | | | KON=[[Kings of Númenor]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | | |!| | | }}
{{familytree | | |LOA| | | | | |!| | | LOA=Lords of [[Andúnië]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | | |!| | | }}
{{familytree | | |ELE| | | | | |!| | | ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | | | |!| | | | | | |!| | | }}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | |!| | }}
{{familytree |ISI| |ANA| | | |!| | | ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion son of Elendil|Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | | |!| | }}
{{familytree |KOA| |KOG| | | |!| | KOA=[[Kings of Arnor]]|KOG=[[Kings of Gondor]] }}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | | |!| | }}
{{familytree | |:| | |EAN| | | |!| | | EAN=[[Eärnur]]}}
{{familytree |COD| | | | | | | |!| | COD=[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | | | | | | |!| | | }}
{{familytree |ART|~|y|~|GIL| |!| | ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | |!| | | | | |!| | | }}
{{familytree | | | |ARA|~|y|~|ARW| | | ARA='''ARAGORN II'''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | |!| | | | | }}
{{familytree | | | | |,|-|-|^|-|-|.| | }}
{{familytree | | | | |ELD| | |SDS| | ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several daughters}}
{{familytree/end}}

{{references}}

==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Aragorn|Images of Aragorn]]
*[[Timeline of Aragorn II|Timeline of Aragorn]]

{{sequence
|prev=[[Gandalf]]
|next=none
|list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] [[January 15]], [[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]] - [[February 16]], T.A. 3019
}} 
{{sequence
|prev=[[Arathorn II]]
|next=none (abandoned)
|list=[[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[Third Age 2933|T.A. 2933]] – T.A. 3019
}} 
{{sequence
|prev=[[Eärnur]], 971 years earlier
|next=[[Eldarion]]
|list=[[King of Gondor]] T.A. 3019 – [[Fourth Age 120|Fo.A. 120]]
}} {{sequence
|prev=[[Arvedui]], 1,046 years earlier
|next=[[Eldarion]]
|list=[[King of Arnor]] T.A. 3019 – Fo.A. 120
}} {{sequence
|prev=[[Isildur]], 3,017 years earlier
|next=[[Eldarion]]
|list=[[High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]] T.A. 3019 – Fo.A. 120
}} {{sequence
|prev=none
|next=[[Eldarion]]
|list=[[House of Telcontar]] T.A. 3019 – Fo.A. 120
}}{{fellowship}}

[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]