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Bree

2010-08-12T10:07:55Z

Commodore1963: /* Portrayal in adaptations */

{{location
| image=[[Image:The White Council - Bree Street View.jpg|250px]]
| name=Bree
| othernames=
| etymology=Celtic, "hill"
| type=Town
| location=[[Eriador]], on [[Bree-hill]]
| inhabitants=[[Men]], [[Hobbits]]
| realms=[[Arnor]] [[Cardolan]] Independent [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| description=
| events=
| references=
|}}

'''Bree''' was a village in [[Middle-earth]], east of [[The Shire]] and south of [[Fornost Erain]].

==History==
Bree was settled in the early [[Third Age]], in the realm [[Cardolan]]. Though the Princes of Cardolan claimed it, Bree continued to thrive without any central authority or government for many centuries. Bree was the most westerly settlement of men in all Middle-earth by the time of the [[War of the Ring]].

The origins of the Men of Bree are obscure, but apparently they were a distant offshoot of the Dunlendings who had moved far to the North, and then were absorbed into Arnor. In any case, the Bree-landers managed to survive through the violent history of Middle-earth up to that point, and they were still thriving in Bree long after Arnor had collapsed and the memory of fallen kings faded into the grass. The Men of Bree were also the only Men in all of Middle-earth who lived with Hobbits on a daily basis: the population of the Bree-land had become a mix of Men and Hobbits, who had migrated from the east some 1,500 years before the War of the Ring. The ratio varied between each of the four townships of the Bree-land, but Bree itself had a sizable Hobbit population.

Bree was by its nature a trading community, due to being located at the major crossroads of the [[Great East Road]]. which ran from the Blue Mountains and the coast to Dale in the far East, and the old north-south road between Arnor and Gondor. The latter had fallen out of much use since the destruction of Arnor, and was more commonly referred to as the [[Greenway]] due to its disrepair. Trade had of course drastically declined in the thousand years since the final destruction of Arnor, but even at the end of the Third Age Bree remained relatively prosperous. As a result of its location on major trade routes, one could encounter travelers from all sorts of distant lands in a bustling Bree inn. The [[Rangers of the North]] also were known to stop in Bree for resupply.

Bree is the place where seemingly by accident, [[Gandalf]] and [[Thorin Oakenshield]] met on [[March 15]], [[Third Age 2941|T.A. 2941]]. They were both thinking about the same problem: the [[Dragons|Dragon]] [[Smaug]] at the [[Lonely Mountain]]. The meeting led to the undertaking of the [[Quest of Erebor]], which resulted in the death of Smaug and the finding of the [[One Ring]] by [[Bilbo Baggins]].

In the night between the [[September 29|29th]] and the [[September 30|30th]] of September, [[Third Age 3018|T.A. 3018]], [[Frodo Baggins]] met [[Aragorn|Strider]] at the largest inn in Bree, [[The Prancing Pony]], owned by [[Barliman Butterbur]]. The inn was raided by servants of the [[Nazgûl|Ringwraiths]], forcing the retreat of Frodo and his companions.

Bree was raided by [[ruffians]] during the [[War of the Ring]], leaving several Men and Hobbits dead. When [[Travellers|Frodo and his companions]] returned in [[October 28]], [[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]], returned to Bree, it seemed like most of the worst had passed. Barliman Butterbur explained to the Hobbits that none of the Bree-landers ever realized how much the Rangers of the North had done for them, but after they all left (to fight in the War of the Ring in the south) all sorts of ruffians and highwaymen and wolves had encroached on the land. The Bree-landers had survived by throwing up some hasty defenses and posting watchmen, but trade had dropped off to almost nothing as they barricaded themselves within their town walls. The Hobbits assured Butterbur that [[Aragorn|Aragorn II]], known to him as his former customer "Strider", had now been crowned King and would soon venture north to restore order.

Presumably, Bree was re-absorbed into the revived Arnor and [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Aragorn, with increased trade allowing Bree to become more prosperous than in generations.

==Surroundings==
Directly west of Bree were the [[Barrow-downs]] and the [[Old Forest]]. Bree was the chief village of [[Bree-land]], a small wooded region near the intersection of the main north-south and east-west routes through Eriador. Bree-land was the only part of Middle-earth where [[Men]] and [[hobbits]] dwelt side by side.

Bree was on the south-western side of [[Bree-hill]], and there were three villages in Bree-land in addition to Bree proper.

*'''[[Staddle]]''' was populated primarily by hobbits who made a living from light agriculture, of pipeweed, primarily. Staddle was on the south-eastern side of Breehill, sitting south of Combe and Archet. It was the only of the villages (other than Bree itself) visible from the [[Great East Road]].

*'''[[Combe]]''' was populated primarily by Men, with some hobbits, all of whom made a living from agriculture. Combe was situated on the borders of the '''[[Chetwood]]''' and on the edge of Breehill, between the villages of Archet and Staddle.

*'''[[Archet]]''' was the furthest north. Located in the [[Chetwood]], it was populated primarily by [[Men]].

==Etymology==
The name ''Bree'' means "hill" in [[wikipedia:Brythonic languages|Brythonic]], referring to the fact that the village of Bree and the surrounding Bree-lands were centered around a large hill. According to [[Tom Shippey]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] was inspired by the actual town of [[wikipedia:Brill|Brill]].

==Portrayal in adaptations==
[[Image:Bree town map.gif|thumb|right|300px|Map of Bree in [[The Lord of the Rings Online]].]]
With the absence of [[Tom Bombadil]] and the [[Barrow-downs]] in most adaptations, the distance between Bree and the Shire seems shorter than it really was.

'''1978: ''[[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:After leaving the [[Old Forest]], the Hobbits appear in the Prancing Pony without delay or introduction. Merry does not go out for a stroll, and the rooms were raided by [[Nazgûl|Ringwraiths]] rather than servants of them.

'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:Here too, Bombadil and the Barrow-downs were omitted. After taking a short walk through Bree, the hobbits enter the Pony. Merry goes out for a walk, and is found by [[Bob]] the ostler. Once again, it is the Ringwraiths rather than servants of them who raid the Pony.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
:Frodo and his companions arrive at Bree almost immediately after the scene in which they leave the Shire. All are present in Strider's room when the Ringwraiths crash the gate, trample the gatekeeper, and raid the Prancing Pony.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:The role of Bree is greatly expanded, due to the interactiveness of the medium. It is the place where the Hobbits meet Strider, and the player shifts perspective. Strider searches the streets of Bree for Merry and materials to make decoys for (once again) the Ringwraiths to slash, while the streets are crowded with robbers and wolves.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Bree is one of the major cities in the game, located in Bree-land. Men are able to quick travel to the city if they have earned the trait, have it equipped and have one travel ration. Bree is also one of the places that players can choose as Mannish character's homeland.

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

[[Category:Eriador]]
[[Category:Bree]]
[[Category:Cities in Eriador]]
[[de:Bree]]
[[fr:encyclo:geographie:villes_tours_et_forteresses:eriador:bree]]
[[fi:Brii]]

The Shire

2010-08-12T09:48:25Z

Commodore1963: /* Inspiration */

{{rewrite}}
{{sources}}
{{kingdom
| image = [[Image:fotr0066.jpg|300px]]
| name = The Shire
| meaning =
| type = Thainship
| hidep=yes
| headofstate = [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]] (de jure), [[Thain]], [[Mayor of Michel Delving]]
| executive = [[Shirriffs]]
| legislative =
| judicial =
| capital = [[Michel Delving]] (de facto)
| size = 18,000 square miles
| language = [[Hobbitish]]
| location = Central [[Eriador]]
| populace= [[Hobbits]]
| currency =
| religious =
| holiday =
| anthem =
| formed = The westward migration of Hobbits led by [[Marcho]] and [[Blanco]]
| established = [[Third Age 1601|T.A. 1601]]
| reorganized = [[Fourth Age 32]]
| fragmented =
| dissolved =
| restored =
}}
'''The Shire''' is the region that is occupied by [[Hobbits]]. It is located in the north-west of Middle-earth, in the 'continent' of [[Eriador]] and the Kingdom of [[Arnor]]. Its name in [[Westron]] was '''[[Sûza]]''' "Shire" or '''Sûza-t''' "The Shire".
==Geography==
The Shire measured 40 leagues (193 km, 120 [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] miles) from the Far Downs in the west to the Brandywine Bridge in the east, and 50 leagues (241 km, 150 miles) from the northern moors to the marshes in the south. All in all, the Shire had an area of 18,000 square miles (47,000 km²). In order for this figure to be accurate it must be assumed that the Shire was roughly rectangular in shape.

The Brandywine ([[Baranduin]]) river bounds the Shire from the east. (Hobbits also live in ''Buckland'', which lies as a narrow slice between the river and [[The Hedge]] but was not formally recognised as part of The Shire until after the [[War of the Ring]]) From the north and the west The Shire has no topographical borders, but rather is bounded by the ancient south and east roads, and by vague geographical features such as the [[Tower Hills]].

The Shire is described as a small but beautiful and fruitful land, beloved by its inhabitants. The Hobbits had an extensive agricultural system in the Shire, but did not proceed with industrialization. Various supplies could be found in the Shire, including cereals, fruit, wood and [[pipe-weed]] (a favourite treat of Hobbits).

The Shire was quite densely populated in parts with many villages and a few towns, but it still was open enough to allow for wide forested areas and marshes.

==History==
The Shire was a fertile and well-tilled part of [[Arnor]], but deserted during the waning days of the Kingdom when it was known as the splinter-realm of [[Arthedain]]; where the Shire was, it had been the King's hunting grounds. The [[Hobbits]] (who lived in [[Dunland]] and parts of depopulated [[Cardolan]] and [[Rhudaur]]) got official permission from King [[Argeleb II]] at Norbury ([[Fornost]]) to settle the lands. This was finally done in [[Third Age 1601]] (Year 1 in Shire Reckoning) by Hobbits from [[Bree]], led by the brothers [[Marcho]] and [[Blanco]].

[[Image:Ted Nasmith - One Morning Long Ago.jpg|thumb|left|250px|''One Morning Long Ago'' by [[Ted Nasmith]].]]
By 30 years later, almost all of the Hobbits of Middle-earth could be found in the Shire, which they divided in 4 [[farthings]], themselves occupied by villages and folklands.

The Hobbits considered themselves as subjects of the King, and sent some support troops to the great battles Arnor fought against [[Angmar]]. After the fall of Arnor, the Shire remained a minor but independent political unit and the title of [[Thain]] was established to fill the absence of the [[Kings of Arthedain|King]].

Its small size, relative lack of importance, and brave and resilient Hobbit population made it too modest an objective for conquest. More important was that the Shire was guarded and protected by the [[Dúnedain]] [[Rangers of the North]] (and [[Gandalf]]), who watched the borders and kept out intruders. The only strangers to enter the Shire were the [[Dwarves]] traveling on the [[Great East Road]] that ran through the Shire to and from their mines in the [[Blue Mountains]], and the occasional [[Elves]] on their way to the [[Grey Havens]].

However Shire faced its adversities since it was inside the range of the [[Great Plague]] of [[Third Age 1636]] and the [[Battle of Greenfields]] ([[Third Age 2747]]) and of course the [[Long Winter]] ([[Third Age 2758]]) soon followed by the [[Days of Dearth]] ([[Third Age 2760]]) and the [[Fell Winter]] ([[Third Age 2911]]). In [[Third Age 2340]] the [[Oldbucks]] of the [[Marish]] because of overpopulation, crossed the [[Brandywine]] and founded [[Buckland]].

During the [[War of the Ring]] the Shire was first visited by the Nine [[Nazgûl|Ringwraiths]] and then, while the Rangers were off to the War, the Shire was defenseless. It was captured by [[Saruman]] and [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins]] who lead evil [[Men]]. It was liberated with the help of [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]], [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] after the end of the War through their victory at the [[Battle of Bywater]].

But the damage which Saruman caused by forced industrialization was undone by the Hobbits' efforts. The Shire was restored with soil from [[Lothlórien]], given to Sam by [[Galadriel]]. [[Third Age 3021]] was considered to be the most productive and prosperous year in their history.

With [[Aragorn]]'s return as the King of [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]], the Shire became in [[Fourth Age 17]] a Free Land, protected enclave inside the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. He is known to have issued an order that forbade the entrance of full-sized [[Men]] into the Shire. In [[Fourth Age 32]] King Aragorn granted Buckland officially as a part of the Shire named [[Eastmarch]], and also extended the land westwards to [[Emyn Beraid]]; this land was named [[Westmarch]].

==Administration==
Initially, The Shire was a part of Arthedain. The Hobbits considered themselves as subjects of the King and only after the fall of Arnor, the Shire became an independent political unit led by the '''[[Thain]]''' from ''[[Tuckborough]]'' who was the head of the important [[Took Family|Took clan]]. While nominally the Thain ruled over the four [[Farthings]], in practice authority was so decentralized that the title was seen as more of a formality and ceremonial.

Official of the Shire was the '''[[Mayor of Michel Delving|Mayor]]''' of [[Michel Delving]] in the [[White Downs]] (by extension seen as the [[Mayor of the Shire]]). The Mayor's chief duties were serving as postmaster of the Shire's [[Messenger Service]], charging the [[Watch]] and presiding at fairs

Finally, the '''[[Master of Buckland]]''' at ''[[Bucklebury]]'' controlled [[Buckland]].
[[Image:fotr0059.jpg|300px|left|thumb|The Shire in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]].]]
The sole law enforcement officials in the Shire were the [[Shirriffs]]. Their job was to protect the Shire from trespassers more than anything. There were three in each Farthing, and were distinguished from "civilians" by a feather worn in their caps. The [[Bounders]] were the land's border-guard, charged with turning back unwanted people or beasts, and their number varied according to need.

The Shire was originally divided in four Farthings (''[[Northfarthing]]'', ''[[Southfarthing]]'', ''[[Eastfarthing]]'', and ''[[Westfarthing]]''), but [[Buckland]] and later the [[Westmarch]] were added to it. Within the Farthings there are some smaller, unofficial divisions such as family lands: the [[Took Family|Tooks]] nearly all live in or near [[Tuckborough]] in [[Tookland]], for instance. In many cases a Hobbit's last name indicates where their family came from: [[Samwise Gamgee]]'s last name derives from ''[[Gamwich]]'', where the family originated. Outside the Farthings, Buckland itself was named for the [[Oldbucks]] (later [[Brandybuck Family|Brandybucks]]). See further ''[[Regions of the Shire]]''.

==Inspiration==
{{quote|Though a Tolkien by name, I am a Suffield by tastes, talents, and upbringing, and '''any comer of that county [Worcestershire] (however fair or squalid) is in an indefinable way 'home' to me, as no other part of the world is.'''|[[Letter 44]]}}
On Tolkien's maps, the Shire is located at about the same position as England is on modern European maps and has been cited as an example of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_England#Deep_England Deep England] ideology (though, of course, England is on an island while the Shire is inside the continent). Throughout the narrative, Tolkien also implies numerous points of similarity between the two, such as weather, agriculture and dialect. One can also see England as Tolkien's source of inspiration for the Shire in its very name.

According to [[Paula Marmor]], the hobbit brothers [[Marcho]] and [[Blanco]] names are related to horses, parallel to [[Wikipedia:Hengest|Hengest]] and [[Wikipedia:Horsa|Horsa]], legendary leaders who brought the Saxons to Britain. Hengest was the founder of [[Wikipedia:Kent|Kent]] whose geography is similar to the Shire (North Downs above, hills to the west, water to the east and marshes to the southeast)<ref>''[[An Introduction to Elvish]]'', An etymological excursion among the Shire Folk</ref>.

The industrialization of the Shire was based on Tolkien's witnessing of the extension of the Industrial Revolution to rural Warwickshire during his youth, and especially the deleterious consequences thereof. The rebellion of the hobbits and the restoration of the pre-industrial Shire may be interpreted as a prescription of voluntary simplicity as a remedy to the problems of modern society.

==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of the Shire|Images of the Shire]]
*[[Thain|Thains of the Shire]]

{{references}}

[[Category:Shire]]
[[Category:Eriador]]
[[Category:Realms]]

[[de:Auenland]]
[[fr:encyclo:geographie:regions:eriador:comte]]
[[fi:Kontu]]

Denethor

2010-08-12T09:39:08Z

Commodore1963: /* Portrayal in Adaptations */

{{disambig-more|Denethor|[[Denethor (disambiguation)]]}}
{{gondorian
| image=[[Image:Catherine Chmiel - Father (Denethor).jpg|250px]]
| name= Denethor II
| othernames=
| position=[[Ruling Steward]]
| birth= [[Third Age 2930|T.A. 2930]]
| rule= [[Third Age 2984|T.A. 2984]]-[[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]]
| death= March 15, [[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]], aged 89 years
| gender= Male
| parentage= [[Ecthelion II]]
| spouse= [[Finduilas of Dol Amroth]]
| children= [[Boromir]], [[Faramir]]
| ref= ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix A]]
|}}
{{quote|Denethor looked indeed much more like a great [[wizard]] than [[Gandalf]] did, more kingly, beautiful, and powerful; and older.|''[[The Two Towers]]'', [[Minas Tirith (chapter)|Minas Tirith]]}}
'''Denethor II''' was the twenty-sixth and last [[Ruling Steward]] of [[Gondor]]. He succeeded his father [[Ecthelion II]] at his death in [[Third Age 2984|2984]]. Denethor was described as appearing noble and powerful, even to rival the lordliness of Gandalf. He was proud, tall, wise, far-sighted, and valiant; "more kingly" than any of his predecessors for a long time. He proved a masterful lord and a great ruler, seeing to all things large and small under his command.<ref name="A">{{HM|AA}}</ref>

==History==
===Pre-Stewardship===
Denethor was born the third child<ref>{{HM|PM}}, [[The Heirs of Elendil]]</ref> and first son of Ecthelion II, [[Ruling Steward]] of [[Gondor]], in [[Third Age 2930|T.A. 2930]].

Denethor was a masterful man, but also a proud one. When a northerner named [[Thorongil]], a year younger, came to Gondor and won Ecthelion's trust and affections, Denethor grew jealous. Thorongil, a war genius and one who looked enough like Ecthelion to be his close kin, won the love of the people, so that Denethor's envy grew. It is possible that he figured out that Thorongil was really [[Aragorn|Aragorn II]], and with [[Mithrandir]] wished to supplant him. He was not sorry when Thorongil vanished to the east.<ref name="A"/>

[[Image:Catherine Chmiel - Denethor and Finduilas.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''Denethor and Finduilas'' by [[Catherine Chmiel]].]]In [[Third Age 2976|2976]] he married [[Finduilas of Dol Amroth]], whom he loved deeply, daughter of [[Prince of Dol Amroth|Prince]] [[Adrahil II]] of [[Dol Amroth]]. She gave birth to two sons: [[Boromir|Boromir]] and [[Faramir|Faramir]]. He doted upon his eldest son, Boromir, while Faramir, his second son, could never please his father nor be seen as Boromir's equal.<ref name="A"/> In the mean time, he studied the lore of Gondor, including the archives that only he and his father could access. Part of his studies were devoted to the lore of the ''[[palantíri]]''.<ref name="pal">{{HM|UT}}, [[The Palantíri]]</ref>

===Early Stewardship===
Nine years after his marriage, Ecthelion died and Denethor became Ruling Steward. Denethor was not viewed very highly in the eyes of his people in comparison to Thorongil, and moreover there were already dark rumors of power rising in the east. For these reasons, Denethor looked into the long-forbidden [[Anor-stone]], seeking to surpass Thorongil and Gandalf in wisdom, and to keep an eye on them.<ref name="pal"/> Because of the manner of his viewing,<ref name="pal"/> he was greatly strained and aged prematurely.<ref name="A"/>

Only three years after the death of Ecthelion, Finduilas died as well. Denethor was grief-stricken, and became more grim and silent.<ref name="A"/>

The palantír showed him much of what he wanted to see, and his knowledge grew exceedingly, so that he was wondered at by the people. But eventually Sauron, looking into the captured [[Ithil-stone]], discovered that Denethor was using the palantír.<ref name="pal"/> Sauron attempted to wrench the Anor stone to his will, but failed due to Denethor's strength of will, his integrity, and his right to the use of the stone.<ref name="pal"/> But this caused even greater stress upon the steward's already weakened body, coupled by the apparent invincibility of Sauron shown him by the stone. Denethor, meanwhile, looked not only at Mordor, but also probably to [[Saruman]], and extracted information from the wizard to his benefit, which Sauron was helpless to prevent.<ref name="pal"/>

He became blind to all struggles save that of him and Sauron, his people and Sauron's [[orcs]]. He mistrusted all others who resisted Sauron but were not under his own rule.<ref name="A"/> He wore mail under his robes, to prevent himself from getting soft in his old age.<ref name="siege">{{HM|RK}}, [[The Siege of Gondor]]</ref>

===Stirring of Trouble===
Faramir, his youngest, began to have dreams, speaking of [[Imladris]] and [[Isildur's bane]]. He disliked Faramir, who although shrewd as himself, was more gentle than Boromir, and furthermore was a friend of Mithrandir, whom Denethor thought wished to remove him from his seat. Boromir shortly after had the same dream, and convinced his father and brother to let him journey northward and find the meaning. Boromir did not return from his quest; he was shot by [[Uruk-hai]] on [[Amon Hen]]. His horn was cloven in two, and was found by watchers below the [[Entwash]], and brought to Denethor. Denethor nearly went mad with grief, and his anger was turned to Faramir, the original recipient of the dream, who in his mind should have gone rather than Boromir.<ref name="A"/>

Knowing of the coming stroke of [[Mordor]], Denethor called in the [[Captains of the Outlands]] to defend [[Minas Tirith]]. [[Nazgûl]] began to fly over the city, out of view but still casting shadows of fear.<ref name="MT">{{HM|RK}}, [[Minas Tirith (chapter)|Minas Tirith]]</ref>

Thirteen days after Boromir's death, Mithrandir arrived with the [[Hobbits|hobbit]] [[Peregrin Took]]. Denethor openly vented his rage at first, but at the same time was curiously attracted to the hobbit, a witness of his son's death, questioning him closely and suspiciously. When Peregrin offered his service in return for Boromir's sacrifice, Denethor was pleased and amused. After examining Pippin's [[barrow-blade]], he accepted the hobbit's service courteously. He then confronted Gandalf. While they supped, Gandalf told of the fall of Isengard. Denethor hinted at his own abilities to see what happened in the world. He racked the hobbit with questions for an hour, and then gave his guests lodging.<ref name="MT"/>

===Siege of Gondor===
{{quote|No tomb! No long slow sleep of death embalmed. We will burn like [[Pre-Númenórean|heathen]] kings before ever a ship sailed hither from the [[Númenor|West]].|Denethor II}}
Soon after the [[Rammas]] was surrounded and Gondor placed under siege. Faramir Denethor's son returned from errands in [[Ithilien]], and told the story of his encounter with [[Frodo Baggins]], who carried the [[One Ring]] on the [[Quest of the Ring]]. Denethor fell into a cold, grim mood, and remained aloof toward Faramir and Gandalf. He let known his feelings about the episode, which were set up against Faramir letting Frodo continuing on the quest, but then moved on to matters of strategy. He decided that while he could not risk sending more men to [[Cair Andros]], he would strengthen the garrison of [[Osgiliath]], leaving his son in charge. Faramir tried to reason with Denethor's strategy and his elevation of the dead Boromir, but it was no use. Denethor admitted coldly and openly that he wished that Faramir was dead and Boromir still lived, and released his son to do his bidding without fondness or farewell.<ref name="siege"/>{{Pronounce|Denethor.mp3|Ardamir}}

Faramir recovered the lost ground all the way back to the [[Anduin]], but was soon faced with fresh troops from [[Minas Morgul]] and [[Harad]], led by the [[Witch-king]], a master strategist and one of terrible presence. Faramir was driven back to the [[Causeway Forts]], but these fell, and Faramir was forced to retreat having lost a third of his men. The retreat was dogged by the [[Nazgûl]], and Faramir was wounded almost to the death by a poisoned dart.<ref name="siege"/>

[[Image:Anke Eissmann - Pyre of Denethor.jpeg|thumb|right|300px|''The Pyre of Denethor'' by [[Anke Eißmann]].]]Denethor, as the outer defenses of the [[Pelennor]] collapsed at many points, looked into his ''palantír'', where he found the Enemy stronger than ever on all fronts, and feared that the Ring was in his hands. Denethor suddenly seemed years older, and his will snapped. He abandoned leadership of the city to Gandalf and [[Imrahil]], staying by his son's side in the [[White Tower]], and bitterly regretting what he had done. Bad news came up from below. [[Rohan]] was cut off and could not come to their aid. The first circle was in flames. As this information came up to him, Denethor gave up hope and chose to commit suicide beside his son.<ref name="siege"/>

As [[Grond (battering ram)|Grond]] pounded on the gates of the city he prepared a pyre for him and Faramir in the [[Rath Dínen]]. He was hampered in his aim by [[Beregond (soldier of Gondor)|Beregond]], one of his own [[Guards of the Citadel]], and Gandalf, who removed Faramir from the pyre. At this, at first Denethor seemed willing to abandon his suicidal designs, but suddenly he raised up the ''palantír'' and prophecied the doom of Gondor. He cursed Gandalf and Aragorn, and then he seized a torch and hurled it on the bier. He took the white rod of his office and broke it on his knee, casting it into the flames, symbolizing the end of his stewardship and the end of the rule of the Stewards. He then laid himself down on the table with the ''palantír'' on his breast and so perished.<ref>{{HM|RK}}, [[The Pyre of Denethor]]</ref>

===Afterward===
Faramir did survive, and the city did not fall due to the miraculous coming of the [[Rohirrim]] and the [[Dúnedain]] with [[Aragorn|Aragorn II]].<ref>{{HM|RK}}, [[The Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]</ref> Faramir kept the title of Steward, but not of Ruling Steward, for he allowed [[Aragorn|Aragorn II]] to take the throne, whom Denethor had cursed.<ref>{{HM|RK}}, [[The Steward and the King]]</ref> Faramir's reaction to his father's death is not recorded.

==Etymology==
''Denethor'' was named after the [[Denethor (Nando)|Nandorin chieftain]] of the [[First Age]]. The name is [[Nandorin]] fit into the [[Sindarin]] sound range, and is said to mean "Lithe and lank" <ref>{{HM|WJ}}, [[Quendi and Eldar]]</ref>.

== Portrayal in Adaptations ==
[[Image:Denethor from Rankin-Bass' The Return of the King.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]]'']]
[[Image:Denethor, Steward of Gondor.jpg|thumb|''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy]]'']]
'''1955: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:The voice of Denethor is provided by [[Robert Farquharson]].

'''1979: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|Mind's Eye's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:The voice of Denethor is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1980: ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]]'':'''
:[[William Conrad]] is the voice of Denethor.

'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:The voice of Denethor is provided by [[Peter Vaughan]].

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Denethor was played by [[John Noble]]. Denethor appears completely irrational; he sends his remaining son on a suicidal mission to enemy-captured [[Osgiliath]] and refuses to light the [[warning beacons of Gondor]] to call for the aid of [[Rohan]]. In the book, the danger of his madness is that it seems to follow a certain logic; Sauron ''does'' have vastly superior forces, all of which he has surely shown to the Steward in the ''palantír''. His actions, however, do not immediately proclaim his insanity; the Osgiliath mission is less obviously suicidal, as the city has not yet been overrun, and the warning beacons have indeed been lit, although Denethor expects little help.

:When Faramir is brought into the throne room, seemingly dead, Pippin attempts to stop Denethor from cremating his son, who he is sure is still alive. After Denethor knocks Pippin away, he falls onto the fire, and, in flames, runs out of the throne room and off the highest ledge of Minas Tirith, killing himself.

==See Also==
* [[:Category:Images of Denethor|Images of Denethor]]
{{sequence
|prev=[[Ecthelion II]]
|next=[[Faramir|Faramir]] (titular only)
|list=26th [[Ruling Steward|Ruling Steward of Gondor]] <code>III</code> 2984 – 3019
}}
{{rulingstewards}}

{{references}}
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Ruling stewards]]
[[de:Denethor II.]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:hommes:3a:dunedain:gondoriens:denethor_ii]]
[[fi:Denethor II]]

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