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Orcrist

2007-03-15T06:59:51Z

84.217.35.239:

[[Image:Audrey Corman - Orcrist.jpg|thumb|''Orcrist'' by [[Audrey Corman]].]]
'''Orcrist''' was the weapon of the [[Dwarves|Dwarf]] Lord [[Thorin Oakenshield]] from [[Tolkien]]'s novel, ''[[The Hobbit]]''. The only description of it is in the above mentioned book, that it had a fancy scabbard and a jeweled hilt.

In [[Sindarin]] Orcrist is said to mean "Goblin Cleaver", ([[Goblins|Goblin]] being a synonym for [[Orcs|Orc]] used mainly in The Hobbit). Goblins called the blade '''Biter'''. Many of the famed weapons in Tolkien's stories had names, such as [[Glamdring]], [[Narsil]] and [[Sting]] (see chart below). It was crafted by the [[Elves]], who not only made it a valuable weapon, also a feared one, particularly among traditional enemies of the Elves: Orcs and other evil creatures of Middle-earth. Like Glamdring and Sting, the blade could detect the presence of Orcs and warn its bearer by glowing blue.

As the "mate" to King [[Turgon]]'s sword [[Glamdring]], Orcrist was likely borne by a high ranking lord in the King's entourage. Ten possibilities present themselves: [[Maeglin]], [[Tuor]], [[Ecthelion of the Fountain]], [[Penlod]], [[Egalmoth of the Heavenly Arch|Egalmoth]], [[Salgant]], [[Duilin of Gondolin|Duilin]], [[Galdor of the Tree|Galdor]], [[Rog]], and [[Glorfindel of Gondolin|Glorfindel]]. Since Maeglin presumably still had his father's sword, Anguirel, it was not his. Duilin bore a bow, while Galdor carried a club and Rog a mace. Tuor seems to have come to [[Gondolin]] after [[Glamdring]] had been forged (see Unfinished Tales), and if this was the mate it should have been forged before his arrival as well. In any case, Tuor bore an axe, not a sword. Glorfindel died outside of the city; Ecthelion perished in Gondolin as he slew [[Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs]]. Because he is the only one of the four lords mentioned in the Silmarillion that seem possible, the most accepted assumption is that Orcrist belonged to Ecthelion, but this is never stated explicitly in any of Tolkien's writings. The other remaining ones, Penlod, Eglamoth, and Salgant, are also possible, though none are mentioned in the Silmarillion and are only found in the [[Fall of Gondolin]].

In ''The Hobbit'', Thorin is mortally wounded at the [[Battle of Five Armies]]. After his death Orcrist is placed upon Thorin's tomb and that it "gleamed ever in the dark if foes approached" (''The Hobbit'' Chapter 18, "The Return Journey").

{{weapons}}

[[Category:Weapons]]
[[Category:Swords]]
[[Category:Gondolin and Turgon]]

Orcrist

2007-03-15T06:58:25Z

84.217.35.239:

Aragorn II

2007-03-12T16:22:33Z

84.217.35.239:

Aragorn II

2007-03-12T16:21:46Z

84.217.35.239: /* War of the Ring */

{{Royalty infobox
| image= [[Image:John Howe - Elessar (Battlefields boardgame).jpg|250px]]
| name= Aragorn Elessar
| othernames= Estel, Thorongil, Strider, Wingfoot, Telcontar, Elfstone, Isildur's Heir, Elessar
| birth= III 2931
| rule= III 3019
| death= IV 120
| age= 210 years
| realms= [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]] (the [[Reunited Kingdom]])
| race= [[Men]]
| gender= Male
| height=
| hair= Dark Brown
| eyes=
|}}
{{quote|...But he was called Estel, that is "Hope", and his true name and lineage were kept secret at the bidding of Elrond; for the Wise then knew that the Enemy was seeking to discover the Heir of Isildur, if any remained upon the earth.|[[Appendix A]]}}
'''Aragorn II''' ([[Third Age]] March 1, 2931 – [[Fourth Age]] 120, aged 210 years) was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was 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]], a reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

Aragorn was named after his ancestor, [[Aragorn I]]. His name means "Lord of the Tree" in [[Sindarin]]. This name, belonging to him, may have been prophetically referring to the [[White Tree of Minas Tirith]].

==History==

===Early Life===
When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when a [[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 2951.

[[Image:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|200px|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]Elrond revealed to "Estel" his true name and ancestry in 2951, when Aragorn was twenty years old, and delivered to him 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]].

===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 2953 he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf the Grey]] in 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:Paula DiSante_-_I Am Called Strider.JPG|thumb|200px|''I Am Called Strider'' by [[Paula DiSante]]]]

From 2957 to 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 night assault on the [[Haven of Umbar]] in 2980, destroying many of 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 Lórien, 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===
[[Image:John Howe - Strider.jpg|thumb|100px|left|''[[Strider]]'' by [[John Howe]]]]On September 30, 3018, [[Third Age|T.A.]] Aragorn joined [[Frodo Baggins]], the adopted heir of [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]], and three of his friends at the [[Inn of the Prancing Pony]] in Bree. These four had set out from the Shire to bring the One Ring to Rivendell. Aragorn was aged 87 at that time, nearing the prime of life for one of royal [[Númenor#culture|Númenórean]] descent. With Aragorn's help the Hobbits managed to escape the pursuing [[Nazgûl]] and reach Rivendell. There, Aragorn was chosen to lead the Fellowship of the Ring that was formed to guard Frodo, who was tasked with destroying the Ring in the fires of [[Mount Doom]] in Mordor. Besides Aragorn, Gandalf, and Frodo, the company included Frodo's cousins [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] and [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]], his best friend [[Samwise Gamgee]], [[Legolas]] the [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elf]] , [[Gimli son of Glóin|Gimli]] the [[Dwarf (Middle-earth)|Dwarf]], and [[Boromir]] of Gondor. Before the group set out, the shards of Narsil were reforged, and the restored blade was named Andúril.

Aragorn accompanied the group through an attempt to cross the pass of [[Caradhras]] and through the mines of [[Moria (Middle-earth)|Moria]]. He became their leader after Gandalf's apparent death. Aragorn led the company to [[Lórien]] and then down the river [[Anduin]] to the [[Falls of Rauros]]. Originally he had planned to go to Gondor and aid its people in the war, but after the loss of Gandalf he also was responsible for Frodo. When Frodo continued his quest alone, Aragorn, together with Legolas and Gimli, went to Rohan to free Merry and Pippin, who had been captured by [[Saruman]]'s [[Uruk-hai]].

Pursuing the Orcs across Rohan, the Three Hunters (as Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli were ever after known) encountered [[Éomer]], who had recently been pursuing rumours of an orc raid in the area. From Éomer Aragorn learned that the orcs who had kidnapped Merry and Pippin had been destroyed and that the hobbits had not been found. Dejected, he led Legolas and Gimli to the site of the battle. Clues led Aragorn to believe that the hobbits might still be alive, and he led the Three Hunters into [[Fangorn Forest]]. They did not find the hobbits, but they did find Gandalf the White, sent back from [[Valinor]] to continue his struggle against Sauron. Gandalf told the Three Hunters that the hobbits were safe with the [[Ents]] of Fangorn. Together, Gandalf and the Three Hunters travelled to [[Edoras]], where Gandalf freed Théoden from Saruman's enchantment and helped him organize the [[Rohirrim]] against Saruman.

Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli then helped the people of Rohan in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]], in which they conclusively defeated Saruman's army. In order to distract Sauron's attention from Frodo, who had gone into Mordor, Aragorn used a ''[[palantír]]'' and revealed himself as the heir of Isildur to Sauron. Sauron probably believed that the One Ring had come into Aragorn's hands; therefore he made his assault on Minas Tirith prematurely and without adequate preparation.

In order to defend the city, Aragorn dared to tread the [[Paths of the Dead]]. He summoned the [[Dead Men of Dunharrow]] who owed allegiance to the king of Gondor which they had sworn to [[Isildur]]. It had been prophesied by Isildur and [[Malbeth the Seer]] that the Dead would be summoned once more to pay their debt for betraying Gondor millennia before. With their aid the [[Corsairs of Umbar]] were defeated. Aragorn, a small force of Rangers, and a large contingent of men and soldiers from the southern regions then sailed up the Anduin to Minas Tirith. When they arrived at the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]], Aragorn unfurled a standard that Arwen had made for him which showed both the White Tree of Gondor along with the jewelled crown and seven stars of the House of Elendil. With the help of the southern forces the armies of Gondor and Rohan rallied and defeated Sauron's army.

The restoration of the line of Elendil to the throne of Gondor is a subplot of ''The Lord of the Rings''; Aragorn's adventures not only aid Frodo in his Quest, but also bring him closer to his own kingship — which, though his by right and lineage, has been left open for centuries due to historical, legal, and military circumstances. The people of Gondor have been under the rule of the Stewards of Gondor for centuries, as it was widely doubted that any of the royal line still lived. Shortly after Isildur's departure, [[Meneldil]], son of Anárion, had severed Gondor from Arnor politically, although the formal title of High King remained with the northern line (as Isildur was Elendil's eldest son). This arrangement had been reinforced by the Steward [[Pelendur]] in T.A. 1945 when he rejected [[Arvedui]]'s claim to the Throne of Gondor during a Gondorian succession crisis ([[Eärnil]], a member of the House of Anárion, was eventually chosen as King instead). It is worth noting, however, that Arvedui had also based his claim on the fact that he had married a descendant of Anárion: thus, Aragorn was technically a descendant of not only Elendil and Isildur but of Anárion as well).

By the time of the War, however, many in Gondor were accustomed to the rule of the Stewards, and felt in any case that the Line of Isildur no longer had enough dignity to claim kingship over Gondor (moreover, most thought that the line of Isildur had died out generations ago). The Steward [[Denethor]], for instance, declared that he would not bow to a descendant of Isildur (years before, he had seen "Thorongil" as a rival to his father's favour; it is thought that he had discerned Thorongil's true identity by the time of the War of the Ring). Thus, Aragorn had to convince the people of Gondor that he "deserved" to be king, which he managed to do by his achievements and qualities of character, especially during and immediately after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

Also essential to Aragorn's personal popularity in Gondor were his abilities as a healer, which he exercised most notably on the evening following the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Among others, Aragorn healed [[Faramir]], [[Denethor]]'s heir, who had been expected to die; this won him the immediate recognition of Faramir as the rightful heir to the throne, and his humility and self sacrifice gained him the hearts of the inhabitants of Gondor's capital city. The people hailed him as King that same evening.

Despite his immediate success and popularity, however, and despite his claim to the throne through raising the royal banner, Aragorn decided to lay aside his claim for the time being. He knew that if he aggressively promoted his claim, rival claimants or debates as to his legitimacy were not out of the question, and this could be a fatal distraction for Gondor at a time when the West needed to be united against Sauron. So, to avoid conflict, after he had healed people during the night of March 15/16, he left Minas Tirith and symbolically refused to enter it again until he was crowned King on May first.

In order to ensure safe passage across Mordor for Frodo to fulfil his quest, Aragorn then led the Army of the West out from [[Minas Tirith]] to make a diversionary feint on the [[Black Gate (Middle-earth)|Black Gate of Mordor]] itself in the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. Gandalf had been given supreme command of the war effort after the Pelennor Fields, and acted as chief spokesman in the parley with the [[Mouth of Sauron]]; but Aragorn commanded the Allied troops during the battle and its aftermath. His role, along with the battle itself, was overshadowed by the collapse of [[Barad-dûr]] and of Sauron's empire, though there is every reason to believe he commanded skillfully throughout the day. Shortly afterwards, he took part in victory celebrations at the [[Field of Cormallen]], and then proceeded to his crowning just outside Minas Tirith. There were no competing claims to the throne.

Upon Sauron's defeat, Aragorn was crowned as '''King Elessar''' ([[Quenya]], translated as ''Elfstone''), a name given to him by [[Galadriel]]. (In [[Sindarin]] this becomes ''Edhelharn''.) He became the '''twenty-sixth [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]''', '''thirty-fifth [[King of Gondor]]''' and the first '''High King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]''', though it would be several years before his authority was firmly reestablished in Arnor. Aragorn married Arwen shortly afterwards, and ruled the Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor until 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

===Reign as Elessar===

The restoration of the line of Elendil to the throne of Gondor is a major subplot of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'': Aragorn's adventures not only aid Frodo in his Quest, but also bring him closer to the kingship (a move which is politically very complicated). Upon [[Sauron]]'s defeat, in late 3019, Aragorn is crowned as '''''King Elessar''''' ([[Quenya]] for "[[Elessar of Eärendil|Elfstone]]"), a name given to him by [[Galadriel]]. He marries Arwen Undómiel shortly afterwards, and rules 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.

==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==
<gallery>
Image:Aragorn from Rankin-Bass' The Return of the King.jpg|Aragorn as portrayed in [[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]]
Image:Strider from Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings.jpg|Aragorn as portrayed in [[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]]
Image:Aragorn grimace.jpg|[[Viggo Mortensen]] as Aragorn in [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]]
</gallery>
In the [[Rankin/Bass]] animated version of [[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King|The Return of the King]], Aragorn is voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]].

In Ralph Bakshi's animated film [[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings|The Lord of the Rings]], Aragorn is voiced by [[John Hurt]].

In [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]], Aragorn is played by American actor [[Viggo Mortensen]]. Instead of explaining the complicated circumstances of an heir of Isildur taking the throne in Gondor (see [[Pelendur]] for an example), in the movie Aragorn must overcome his self-doubt to choose the kingship. This cinematic element adds appeal to a modern audience, but in the books there is no doubt of his purpose to return as the king from the very first time his lineage is revealed.

==Genealogy==
<code>
[[Eärendil the Mariner|Eärendil]] = [[Elwing]]
| [[Celeborn, Lord of Lórien|Celeborn]] = [[Galadriel]]
| |
--------|-------- |
| | |
| | |
[[Elros]] [[Elrond]] = [[Celebrían]]
: |
[[Kings of Numenor]] |
: |
Lords of [[Andúnië]] |
: |
[[Elendil]] † |
| |
------|------ |
| | | † [[High King]] of [[Arnor]] ''and'' [[Gondor]]
| | |
[[Isildur]] † [[Anárion son of Elendil|Anárion]] |
: : |
: : |
''The Kings'' ''The Kings'' |
''of [[Arnor]]'' ''of [[Gondor]]'' |
: : |
: : |
: [[Eärnur]] ‡ | ‡ Last [[King of Gondor]]
: |
[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftains of]] |
[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|the Dúnedain]] |
: |
: |
[[Arathorn II]] = [[Gilraen]] |
| |
| |
'''ARAGORN II ELESSAR''' = [[Arwen]]
|
-------|-------
| |
| |
[[Eldarion]] ''numerous daughters''
</code>

==Other names and titles==
Aragorn was also known as '''Strider''', '''Elessar Telcontar''' ("Elfstone Strider"), '''Thorongil''', '''The Dúnadan''' ("Man of the West"), '''Longshanks''' (given by [[Bill Ferny]]), '''Wingfoot''' (given by [[Éomer]]), and '''Estel''' ("Hope"){{sequence
|prev=[[Arathorn II]]
|next=none (abandoned)
|list=[[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] <code>III</code> 2933 – 3019
}} 
{{sequence
|prev=[[Eärnur]], 971 years earlier
|next=[[Eldarion]]
|list=[[King of Gondor]] <code>III</code> 3019 – <code>IV</code> 120
}} {{sequence
|prev=[[Arvedui]], 1,046 years earlier
|next=[[Eldarion]]
|list=[[King of Arnor]] <code>III</code> 3019 – <code>IV</code> 120
}} {{sequence
|prev=[[Isildur]], 3,017 years earlier
|next=[[Eldarion]]
|list=[[High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]] <code>III</code> 3019 – <code>IV</code> 120
}} {{sequence
|prev=none
|next=[[Eldarion]]
|list=[[House of Telcontar]] <code>III</code> 3019 – <code>IV</code> 120
}}{{fellowship}}

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

[[Category:Dúnedain of the North]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]