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Battle of Bywater

2025-10-14T22:00:52Z

InglorFinrod: /* Portrayal in adaptations */

{{disambig-two|the battle|chapter|[[the Scouring of the Shire]]}}
{{battle
| name=Battle of Bywater
| image = Ted Nasmith - Storming the Bank.jpg
| conflict=[[War of the Ring]]
| date=[[3 November]] {{TA|3019}}
| result=Freedom for the Shire and [[Buckland]]
| place=[[Bywater Road]], [[the Shire]]
| side1=[[Shire-hobbits]] and [[Bucklanders]]
| side2=[[Sharkey's Men]]
| commanders1=[[Meriadoc Brandybuck]], [[Peregrin Took]], [[Farmer Cotton]]
| commanders2=[[Saruman]] †
| forces1=*200 Bucklanders
*100 [[Took Family|Tooks]]
*[[Samwise Gamgee]]
*[[Tolman Cotton Junior|Young Tom]], [[Wilcome Cotton II|Jolly]] and [[Bowman Cotton|Nick Cotton]]
*Unknown number of [[Hobbiton]] residents
| forces2=100 [[Ruffians]]
| casual1=19 Hobbits killed, 30 wounded
| casual2=70 Ruffians killed (including [[Gríma|Gríma Wormtongue]]), 12 captured
}}
{{wotr}}
The '''Battle of Bywater''' was the last military engagement of the [[War of the Ring]], and the second and last known battle to have been fought within the bounds of the [[Shire]].

==History==
===Prelude===
When [[Frodo Baggins]] and the other [[Travellers]] returned from the coronation of [[Aragorn|Elessar]], they found their homeland to be under the dominion of [[Sharkey's Men]]. These Ruffians had been pouring into the Shire since late {{TA|3018|n}},<ref>{{RK|Homeward}}</ref> and were under the command of the [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins|Chief]], who himself was under the command of [[Sharkey]], who outlawed everything that the Hobbits held dear; food and inns most notably. It did not take long for [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]], [[Peregrin Took]] and [[Samwise Gamgee]] to violate several of ''[[The Rules]]'':
{{blockquote|You're arrested for Gate-breaking, and Tearin up of Rules, and Assaulting Gatekeepers, and Tresspassing, and Sleeping in Shire-buildings without Leave, and Bribing Guards with Food.}}

The Travellers were arrested, but managed to talk themselves out of custody, and then subsequently rally the Hobbits to overthrow the Chief. A small group of Men was encountered, and Pippin declared the return of the King to them, and the message that emissaries were on their way. When he was scoffed at, he then declared himself the emissary, as he was not released from Elessar's service yet. The group was routed, but managed to get a message to a bigger contingent in [[Waymeet]].<ref name="Scouring">{{RK|Scouring}}</ref>

===Battle===
As twenty Men from [[Hobbiton]] marched towards Bywater, 200 [[Bucklanders]] answered the [[Horn-call of Buckland|call]] of Captain Merry's [[Horn of the Mark|horn]]. In Bywater, barricades were set up at the command of Merry. Meanwhile, the Cottons also joined the group.

When Sharkey's Men came, they did not expect a trap. They walked up [[Bywater Road]], to the point where [[Tolman Cotton Senior|Farmer Cotton]] was standing. They threatened him, but found themselves heavily outnumbered, and as the hobbits closed the barricade behind them, also surrounded. Their leader fell by arrows as he tried to strike at Merry. The rest surrendered.

A larger group of Men from [[Waymeet]] arrived the following day. In the meantime, Pippin had set up a rebellion in [[Tookland]], and returned with one hundred Tooks. Merry set up a defensive pocket on a heavily banked part of the Bywater Road. The Men walked straight into the pocket. Some surrendered, some escaped, and about twenty broke out. Six men and two hobbits were killed. The others now became desperate, and didn't care about escaping, only killing. The banks proved too steep to climb, and many fell before Hobbit axes. Merry and Pippin charged from the eastern bank, and Merry killed the leader.<ref name="Scouring" />

===Aftermath===
In the end, nearly seventy Men were killed and twelve were taken prisoner, while nineteen Hobbits died and about 30 were wounded. The dead Men were buried in a nearby sand-pit known later as the [[Battle Pit]]. The Hobbits were buried separately, and a stone was placed on their grave with a garden around it. A [[The Roll|Roll]] was made of the names of all the Hobbits who fought in the Battle of Bywater, with Captains Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took listed at the top.

[[File:Matěj Čadil - Hobbiton Befouled.jpg|left|thumb|''Hobbiton Befouled'' by [[Matěj Čadil]] ]]
After the victory at Bywater, the Hobbits marched on to [[Bag End]], where they found Sharkey, who was not simply a bigger ruffian as had been thought, but rather [[Saruman]]. Saruman was ordered away by Frodo, and Saruman revealed that his servant [[Gríma]] killed Lotho. Gríma cut Saruman's throat in a rage for years of oppression and abuse, but was himself shot by Hobbit archers. As the spirit of Saruman rose from its bodily form, it was blown away by a wind from the West.<ref name="Scouring" />

The following year, preparations were made to restore the damage done by Saruman. Sam spread the blessed soil from the [[Sam's garden box|box of Galadriel]], and planted the [[mallorn]]-seed where once the [[Party Tree]] had stood. 1420, by Shire Reckoning, became one of the best harvest years ever.<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:The Scouring of the Shire appeared in abridged form. The arrest by the Shirriffs is omitted, as is the second part of the battle and it takes place in Hobbiton rather than Bywater.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:The Battle of Bywater is not featured in the film. However, the scouring of the Shire is referenced in the [[Mirror of Galadriel]] as a vision of a possible future. Hobbits are shown to be enslaved and the [[Ruffians]] are changed to [[Orcs]]; many areas are on fire and the [[Old Mill|New Mill]] is shown.

{{references}}

[[Category:Conflicts of the War of the Ring]]
[[Category:History of the Shire]]
[[de:Schlacht von Wasserau]]
[[fi:Virranvarren Taistelu]]

Shirriffs

2025-10-13T22:02:37Z

InglorFinrod:

[[File:Paula DiSante - Frodo encounters the Shirriff at Frogmorton.png|thumb|''Frodo encounters the Shirriff at Frogmorton'' by [[Paula DiSante]]]]
'''Shirrifs''' were the sole law enforcement officials in [[the Shire]] and the main branch of the [[Watch]]. Since in the Shire, [[The Rules]] were based solely on common sense and the ancient tradition, it was not broken. It was the Shirriffs' job to protect the Shire from various beasts more than anything. There were a total of twelve in all of the Shire, three in each [[Farthings|Farthing]], and they were distinguished from "civilians" by a feather worn in their caps.<ref>{{FR|Ordering}}</ref>

A larger body of the Watch was the "Special Constabulary" power, where [[Hobbits]] were deputized into patrolling the borders, which were called [[Bounders]].

The number of Shirriffs was increased when [[Saruman]] had infiltrated the Shire, and had taken control, with the help of [[ruffians]] like [[Bill Ferny]]. Saruman had increased the number to suppress any revolts, and arrest anybody who broke the rules. They were assigned in companies such as the [[First Eastfarthing Troop]], though that was not enough to prevent [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]], [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]], [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]], and others from liberating the [[Shire-hobbits|Shire-folk]]. After the Shire was retaken, Deputy-Mayor Frodo reduced their numbers to their original size.<ref>{{RK|VI8}}</ref>

[[File:Teodort92 - Hobbit Shirriffs.jpg|thumb|''Hobbit Shirriffs'' by [[:Category:Images by Teodort92|Teodort92]]]]

==Etymology==
Shirriff is an archaic rendition of "sheriff". Both mean "shire-reeve" ([[Old English]] ''scīrgerefa''). The archaism was made to make the connection to [[the Shire]] more obvious.

Shirriff is supposed to be a translation of a [[Hobbitish]] word, derived from their former language related to [[Rohan language|Rohirric]], not necessarily a [[Westron]] word.<ref>{{HM|N}}, p. 763</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==

'''2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of an unnamed First Eastfarthing Troop shirriff is provided by Viliam Polónyi. The shirriff appears in the final episode of the series, in the part of the storyline that adapts the Scouring of the Shire.

==See also==
*[[Shirriff-house]]
{{references}}
[[Category:Organisations in the Shire]]
[[de:Landbüttel]]
[[fi:Toad Guards]]

First Eastfarthing Troop

2025-10-13T22:00:40Z

InglorFinrod:

The '''First Eastfarthing Troop''' was a troop of the [[Watch]] formed during the troubled times in [[the Shire]] under the rule of [[Sharkey]]. The [[Shirriffs]] of the troop was based in the [[Shirriff-house]] at [[Frogmorton]] on the [[East Road]]. It was the First Eastfarthing Troop that attempted to arrest [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and the [[Travellers]] on their return journey to [[Bag End]]. They could not keep up with the mounted Travellers on foot so they parted at [[Three-Farthing Stone]]. They arrived at Bywater shortly before the first skirmish with the [[Ruffians]]. Most of them took off their feathers and joined in the revolt aside from a few who slunk away. <ref>{{RK|VI8}}</ref>

{{References}}
[[Category:Organisations in the Shire]]

[[de:Erste Ostviertel-Schar]]
[[fi:Itäneljännyksen Ensimmäinen Plutoona]]

Robin Smallburrow

2025-10-13T21:57:36Z

InglorFinrod: /* History */

{{infobox character
| people=[[Hobbits|Hobbit]]
| name=Robin Smallburrow
| image=Angelo Montanini - Robin Smallburrow.jpg
| caption="Robin Smallburrow" by [[Angelo Montanini]]
| pronun=
| othernames=Cock-robin
| titles=
| position=[[Shirriff]]
| location=[[Hobbiton]]
| affiliation=
| language=
| birth=late [[Third Age]]
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death=
| deathlocation=
| age=
| notablefor=
| family=[[Smallburrow Family|Smallburrow]]
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
'''Robin Smallburrow''' was a [[Shirriff]] from [[Hobbiton]].
==History==
Born and raised in [[Hobbiton]], Robin was of old a friend of the [[Gamgee Family|Gamgee]]s. He loved being outdoors, and became a [[Shirriff]] so he could meet new people (and, equally important, inns).<ref name="Scouring">{{RK|Scouring}}</ref>

Originally one of only twelve,<ref>{{FR|Prologue}}</ref> during [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins]]' reign, Robin found himself in over his head. He was reassigned to the [[First Eastfarthing Troop]] in [[Frogmorton]], tasked with enforcing [[The Rules]].

Robin was one of the Shirriffs sent to arrest [[Travellers|four Hobbits]] who had illegally entered the Shire at the [[Brandywine Bridge]]. It was more of an escort than an arrest, as Robin and his troops were on foot and the four Hobbits had ponies. At the [[Three-Farthing Stone]], the Shirriffs gave up and let their prisoners go on without them.<ref name="Scouring" /> It's not stated if he was among the Sheriffs who joined in the revolt.

==Etymology==
The name "Smallburrow" may imply Robin came from a poor family, as only the rich lived in [[smials]]. His name bears some resemblance to the mythical [http://www.boldoutlaw.com/puckrobin/puckbals.html Robin Goodfellow].

==Portrayal in adaptations==
===Robin Smallburrow in adaptations===
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="200px" heights="150px">
File:The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game - Robin Smallburrow, Shirriff Cock-Robin.jpg|Robin Smallburrow in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Robin Smallburrow.jpg|Robin Smallburrow in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
</gallery>

'''2001-2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game]]'':'''
:Despite not featuring in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' film series]], Decipher produced a card depicting the character. He was played by Timothy Bartlett.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:Robin Smallburrow can be found at the [[Green Dragon]], voiced by an uncredited [[James Arnold Taylor]]. [[Lobelia Sackville-Baggins]] orders [[Frodo Baggins]] to ring the town bell to warn Robin that wolves are in the Shire, which Robin will dismiss as being a rumour. Later at night, he is attacked by a wolf on the streets of [[Bywater]]. Frodo can either let the wolf kill him, or save him to increase his Purity meter.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Shirriff Robin Smallburrow is found at ''[[The Ivy Bush]]'' tavern in [[Hobbiton]]. He helps the player to deal with a problem in [[Overhill]] and is also involved in several seasonal festivals.

{{references}}
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Smallburrow]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Rudolf Kleinbau]]
[[fi:Tikli Kolonala]]

Ted Sandyman

2025-10-13T21:52:23Z

InglorFinrod: /* History */

{{infobox character
| people=[[Hobbits|Hobbit]]
| name=Ted Sandyman
| image=The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Ted Sandyman.png
| caption=Ted Sandyman from ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
| pronun=
| othernames=
| titles=
| position=Miller
| location=[[Old Mill]], [[Hobbiton]]
| affiliation=
| language=
| birth=late [[Third Age]]
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death=
| deathlocation=
| age=
| notablefor=
| family=[[Sandyman Family|Sandyman]]
| parentage=[[Sandyman]]
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
'''Ted Sandyman''' was the miller of [[Hobbiton]].

==History==
Ted was a miller after [[Sandyman|his father]]. [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] did not like him, and even less when they were arguing in ''[[The Green Dragon]]'' about the strange news reaching [[the Shire]] from afar. Ted claimed he didn't believe in [[dragons]] (except the green one) derided Sam's story that his [[Hal Gamgee|cousin Hal]] had seen an [[elms|elm]]-like [[Ent|Tree-man]] walking in the [[North Downs]], and the bystanding hobbits laughed and clapped at his remarks. He also laughed with Sam's sadness for the [[Elves]] leaving [[Middle-earth]], saying that nobody saw them doing so, and considered [[Bilbo]] and [[Frodo Baggins]] "cracked" who told Sam about those topics. With that, he drained his mug and went out noisily.<ref>{{FR|Shadow}}</ref>

Ted collaborated with [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins|Lotho]] and [[Saruman|Sharkey]], in exchange for a new and much improved mill. When Sam and the [[Travellers]] returned to Hobbiton, Ted taunted Sam over his grief at seeing the [[The Party Tree|Party Tree]] felled and questioned why he returned. When an angry Sam threatened him, Ted boasted of being a friend to the Boss. When he saw the reinforcements riding up behind the Travelers, Ted sounds a horn to warn [[Sharkey]] but Merry promptly winded the [[Horn of the Mark]] to summon the inhabitants of Hobbiton.<ref>{{RK|Scouring}}</ref> Ted's fate afterwards is unmentioned.

==Inspiration==
It is possible [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] was inspired by the miller's son, George Andrew junior, at [[Sarehole Mill]], Warwickshire, England.

{{quote|There were two millers [at Sarehole Mill], father and son. The old man had a black beard, but it was the son who frightened the boys with his white dusty clothes and sharp-eyed face. Ronald named him 'the White [[Ogres|Ogre]]'. When he yelled at them to clear off they would scamper away from the yard...|[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography]], pp. 124-5}}

{{quote|I never liked the looks of the Young miller, but his father, the Old miller, had a black beard, and he was not named Sandyman.|[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]<ref>{{FR|Foreword}}</ref>}}

==Portrayal in adaptations==
[[File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Ted Sandyman.jpg|thumb|150px|Ted Sandyman in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'']]
'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Ted Sandyman is voiced by [[Gordon Reid]]. He is present in the Ivy Bush before [[Bilbo's Farewell Party|Bilbo's Birthday Party]] and in the final episode when he sneers at Sam's return just before the scouring of the Shire.<ref>[[Michael Bakewell]], [[Brian Sibley]] (eds.), [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]], "[[A Long Expected Party (episode)|A Long Expected Party]]"</ref>

'''1992: [[Der Herr der Ringe (1992 German radio series)|''Der Herr der Ringe'' (1992 German radio series)]]:'''
:Ted Sandyman is played by Jochen Stern.

'''2001: {{fotree}}:
:[[Brian Sergent]] plays Ted. He is present during [[Gaffer Gamgee]]'s talk in the [[Green Dragon]] taking over his father's lines.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:Sandyman is standing in front of his mill, looking for an iron pin (that [[Sancho Proudfoot]] later admits to have stolen). Retrieving the pin, which is stuck in the Old Grange's weather vane. He is ill-tempered, but expresses gratitude to Frodo after he is assisted, before moaning the fact that he sent [[Mugwort]] to [[Bree]] to fetch a new pin.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Ted Sandyman can be found at his mill, but is not involved in any regular quests and only has lines during two of the seasonal festivals.

{{references}}
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Sandyman]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Timm Sandigmann]]
[[fi:Ted Hiesuli]]

The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)

2025-10-13T21:35:03Z

InglorFinrod: /* Differences from the book */

{{disambig-more|The Lord of the Rings|[[The Lord of the Rings (disambiguation)]]}}
{{Audiobook infobox
| title=The Lord of the Rings
| image=Hordern, LeMesurier, Holm 1981 lotr.jpg
| caption=[[Michael Hordern]], [[John Le Mesurier]] and [[Ian Holm]], as [[Gandalf]], [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] and [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]].
| work=
| author=
| narrator=
| coverart=
| publisher=
| publisherUK=
| publisherUS=
| date=Original Airing: [[8 March]] – [[30 August]] [[1981]] Audio CD: [[1 December]], [[1999]]
| dateUK=
| dateUS=
| format=Radio broadcast
| runtime=13 hours
| isbn=978-0553456530
| noisbn=
| series=
| precededby=
| followedby=
| audio=
| audiocaption=
}}
In 1981 BBC Radio 4 broadcast a dramatisation of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s '''''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''''' in 26 half-hour stereo instalments.

It followed [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|a previous 12-part BBC Radio version]] from 1955 and 1956, of which no recordings are known to have survived.

==Broadcast history==

Each of the original 26 episodes received two broadcasts per week - standard practice for many BBC radio serials even today. The first broadcast of Episode 2 was blacked out across a large part of south east England because of a transmitter failure (a very rare occurrence even then).

The 26-part series was subsequently edited into 13 hour-long episodes, restoring some dialogue originally cut for timing (since each hour-long episode is actually around 57 minutes, as opposed to 54 minutes for two half-hour episodes), rearranging some scenes for dramatic impact and adding linking narration and music cues. It was broadcast in 13 episodes in [[1982]].

The re-edited version was released on both cassette tape and CD sets which also included the soundtrack album (noticeably taken from a vinyl copy).

A soundtrack album featuring a completely re-recorded and in some cases expanded, suite of [[Stephen Oliver]]'s music was released in 1981.

===1981 broadcast===
#"The Long Awaited Party", [[8 March|March 8]]
#"The Shadow Of The Past", [[15 March|March 15]]
#"The Black Riders", [[22 March|March 22]]
#"Trouble At The Prancing Pony", [[29 March|March 29]]
#"The Knife In The Dark", [[5 April|April 5]]
#"The Council Of Elrond", [[12 April|April 12]]
#"The Fellowship Of The Ring", [[19 April|April 19]]
#"The Mines Of Moria", [[26 April|April 26]]
#"The Mirror Of Galadriel", [[3 May|May 3]]
#"The Breaking Of The Fellowship", [[10 May|May 10]]
#"The Riders Of Rohan", [[17 May|May 17]]
#"Treebeard Of Fangorn", "[[24 May|May 24]]
#"The King Of The Golden Hall", [[31 May|May 31]]
#"Helm's Deep", [[7 June|June 7]]
#"The Voice Of Saruman", [[14 June|June 14]]
#"The Black Gate Is Closed", [[21 June|June 21]]
#"The Window On The West", [[28 June|June 28]]
#"Minas Tirith", [[5 July|July 5]]
#"Shelob's Lair", [[12 July|July 12]]
#"The Siege Of Gondor", [[19 July|July 19]]
#"The Battle Of Pelennor Fields", [[26 July|July 26]]
#"The Houses Of Healing", [[2 August|August 2]]
#"Mount Doom", [[9 August|August 9]]
#"The Return Of The King", [[16 August|August 16]]
#"Homeward Bound", [[23 August|August 23]]
#"The Grey Havens", [[30 August|August 30]]

===1982 broadcast===
#"The Shadow Of The Past", [[17 July|July 17]]
#"The Black Riders", [[24 July|July 24]]
#"The Knife In The Dark", [[31 July|July 31]]
#"The Ring Goes South", [[7 August|August 7]]
#"The Mirror Of Galadriel", [[14 August|August 14]]
#"The Breaking Of The Fellowship", [[21 August|August 21]]
#"The King Of The Golden Hall", [[28 August|August 28]]
#"The Voice Of Saruman", [[4 September|September 4]]
#"The Two Towers", [[11 September|September 11]]
#"The Choices Of Master Samwise", [[18 September|September 18]]
#"The Battle Of Pelennor Fields", [[25 September|September 25]]
#"Mount Doom", [[2 October|October 2]]
#"The Grey Havens", [[9 October|October 9]]

==Differences from the book==
[[File:The Lord of the Rings 1981 Music by Stephen Oliver.jpg|thumb|Vinyl with the soundtrack by [[Stephen Oliver]]]]
The script by [[Brian Sibley]] and [[Michael Bakewell]] attempts to be as faithful as possible to the original books, but there are some errors and alterations. They include:

*Scenes are added at the beginning featuring [[Gollum]]'s torture in [[Barad-dûr|Barad-Dur]] and adapting the riddle-game from [[The Hobbit]].
*The old miller [[Sandyman]] is omitted with his lines given to his son.
*[[Fredegar Bolger]] is entirely omitted
*Gandalf's imprisonment at [[Isengard]], escape via [[Gwaihir]], and his visit to [[Edoras]] are incorporated into the narrative rather then being related at the [[Council of Elrond]].
*The [[Nazgûl]]'s visit to Isengard in search of information on the Shire and their encounter with [[Gríma]] is adapted from [[Unfinished Tales]].
*[[Gildor|Gildor Inglorion]] does not appear in the story.
*The radio serial omits the sequence in the book in which the hobbits visit with [[Tom Bombadil]]. However, in doing so, the Hobbits are never shown to receive their [[Barrow-blade|swords]] from the [[Barrow-downs]], which are enchanted with spells that are proof against the [[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]]. This leaves later references to Frodo having a sword before [[Sting]] and where the swords of the other Hobbits came from unexplained. Sibley acknowledges this later, when Merry stabs him during the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]. Instead of being weakened as in the book, he merely says Merry stings like a gnat. However the Mouth of Sauron still describes Sam's blade as a "Sword of the Downfallen West".
*[[Glóin|Gloin]]'s appearance at Rivendell is cut.
*Any mention of [[Dáin Ironfoot]] is omitted with [[Gimli]] stating his father Gloin was the one who met with Sauron's messenger.
*[[Durin's Bane]] is mistakenly stated to be a "servant of Sauron"
*[[Morgoth]] is oddly referred to by his original name Melkor when [[Legolas]] is discussing the origin of Orcs and when Gandalf refers to Durin's Bane as a "Spawn of Melkor".
*[[Gandalf]]'s physical death is omitted from his account of his battle with Durin's Bane with no mention of his being "sent back back", with the script implying he was merely wounded. Though later when confronting Saruman, Gandalf claims he returned from death.
*[[Quickbeam]] the Ent does not appear in the story.

*At one point when Gandalf is listing the locations of the [[Palantíri]], [[Minas Anor]] and [[Minas Tirith]] are referred to as though they were separate cities; these are merely alternate names for the same city. Later Gandalf does refer correctly to the Palantír of Minas Tirith as the "Stone of Anor."
*[[Beregond]] has his role from the book entirely cut and only appears as the anonymous messenger who brings news of the battle to [[Denethor]].

*Part of the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields|Battle of Pelennor Fields]] sequence is described in song by an opera-style vocalist rather than acted, which may distance some listeners from the action. Others may find the kinship between the sequence and Eddic style of storytelling interesting.

*The journey through [[Drúadan Forest]] and the subsequent alliance with [[Ghân-buri-Ghân]]'s wild men, or "woses" is removed from the radio drama.
*The journey of the army from Minas Tirith to the Morannon is cut including the restoration of the statue at the crossroads and departure of the faint-hearted
*The [[Battle of the Morannon]] is almost entirely cut, including Pippin slaying a troll.
*[[Galadriel]] and Celeborn do not attend the wedding of Aragorn and Arwen
*Legolas and Gimli's visit to the [[Glittering Caves]] is omitted
*The encounter with Saruman and Wormtongue on the way back to Rivendell is omitted.
*[[The Scouring of the Shire]] is significantly cut down. The journey from the [[Brandywine Bridge]] to Hobbiton is skipped over and the Sheriffs are cut. The Hobbiton and Bywater segments are conflated so the [[Battle of Bywater]] takes place in Hobbiton.
*[[Círdan]] is omitted

==Cast==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|-
!Role!!Actor
|-
|Narrator||[[Gerard Murphy]]
|-
|[[Frodo Baggins]]||[[Ian Holm]]
|-
|[[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]]||[[Michael Hordern]]
|-
|[[Aragorn]]||[[Robert Stephens]]
|-
|[[Samwise Gamgee]]||[[Bill Nighy|William Nighy]]
|-
|[[Boromir]]||[[Michael Graham Cox]]
|-
|[[Bilbo Baggins]]||[[John Le Mesurier]]
|-
|[[Gollum|Gollum/Sméagol]]||[[Peter Woodthorpe]]
|-
|[[Gimli]]||[[Douglas Livingstone]]
|-
|[[Meriadoc Brandybuck]]||[[Richard O'Callaghan]]
|-
|[[Legolas]]||[[David Collings]]
|-
|[[Faramir]]||[[Andrew Seear]]
|-
|[[Saruman|Saruman the White]]||[[Peter Howell]]
|-
|[[Denethor]]||[[Peter Vaughan]]
|-
|[[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]]||[[Philip Voss]]
|-
|[[Elrond]]||[[Hugh Dickson]]
|-
|[[Éomer]]||[[Anthony Hyde]]
|-
|[[Éowyn]]||[[Elin Jenkins]]
|-
|[[Théoden]]||[[Jack May]]
|-
|[[Peregrin Took]]||[[John McAndrew]]
|-
|[[Galadriel]]||[[Marian Diamond]]
|-
|[[Gríma|Gríma Wormtongue]]||[[Paul Brooke]]
|-
|[[Odo Proudfoot]]||[[Sean Arnold]]
|-
|[[Gamling]]||[[Patrick Barr]]
|-
|[[Lobelia Sackville-Baggins]]||Diana Bishop
|-
|[[Farmer Maggot]]||[[John Bott]]
|-
|[[Ruffians|Ruffian]]||John Bott
|-
|[[Celeborn]]||[[Simon Cadell]]
|-
|[[Gaffer Gamgee]]||[[John Church]]
|-
|The Bard||Oz Clarke
|-
|[[Tolman Cotton Senior|Farmer Cotton]]||Alan Dudley
|-
|[[Shagrat]]||[[Chris Fairbank]]
|-
|[[Déagol]]||[[Graham Faulkner]]
|-
|[[Bill Ferny]]||Graham Faulkner
|-
|[[Daddy Twofoot]]||[[Leonard Fenton]]
|-
|[[Arwen|Arwen Evenstar]]||[[Sonia Fraser]]
|-
|[[Radagast]]||[[Donald Gee]]
|-
|[[Barliman Butterbur]]||[[James Grout]]
|-
|[[Uglúk]]||[[Brian Haines]]
|-
|[[Rose Cotton]]||[[Kathryn Hurlbutt]]
|-
|The Eagle||David James
|-
|[[Gwaihir]]||[[Alexander John]]
|-
|[[Ioreth]]||[[Pauline Letts]]
|-
|[[Éothain]]||[[John Livesey]]
|-
|[[Otho Sackville-Baggins]]||John Livesey
|-
|[[Ceorl]]||[[Michael McStay]]
|-
|[[Halbarad]]||[[Martyn Read]]
|-
|[[Sandyman]]||[[Gordon Reid]]
|-
|[[Snaga (orc of Isengard)|Snaga of Isengard]]||Gordon Reid
|-
|[[Snaga (orc of Mordor)|Snaga of Mordor]]||Gordon Reid
|-
|[[The Mouth of Sauron]]||[[John Rye]]
|-
|[[Beregond]]||[[Christopher Scott]]
|-
|[[Gorbag]]||David Sinclair
|-
|[[Háma]]||[[Michael Spice]]
|-
|[[Treebeard]]||[[Stephen Thorne]]
|-
|[[Glorfindel]]||[[John Webb]]
|-
|[[Haldir]]||[[Haydn Wood]]
|-
|[[Nob]]||Haydn Wood
|}

==Re-release in 2002==
In 2002, to coincide with the release of Peter Jackson's [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]], the BBC reissued the series in three sets corresponding to the three original volumes (''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', ''[[The Two Towers]]'' and ''[[The Return of the King]]'').

This version omitted the original episode divisions, and included a new opening and closing narration for the first two sets, and an opening narration only for the last, recorded by Ian Holm in character as Frodo Baggins - Frodo's narrations deal with his efforts to write his historical account of the War of the Ring in the [[Red Book]], as well as his own personal reflections and musings on the story's events.

The re-edited version also included some additional music cues, which had to be taken from the soundtrack album because the original master tapes for the series music had been lost.

The soundtrack, now digitally remastered, was also included with ''The Return of the King'' set, with a demo of John Le Mesurier singing ''[[Bilbo's Last Song]]'' included as a bonus track.

The 13-episode series was also rerun on Radio 4 in 2002.

==External links==
*{{WP|The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)}}
*[http://briansibleytheworks.blogspot.com.br/2008/01/this-page-is-still-under-construction_23.html The Making of BBC Radio's ''The Lord of the Rings''] by Brian Sibley
*[http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/i-didnt-know-what-i-was-getting-into/ I Didn’t Know What I Was Getting Into] by [[Christina Scull]]
{{title|italics}}
[[Category:Radio adaptations]]
[[de:Der Herr der Ringe (Hörspiele)]]

Beregond

2025-10-06T18:32:47Z

InglorFinrod: /* Beregond in adaptations */

{{disambig-more|Beregond|[[Beregond (disambiguation)]]}}
{{infobox character
| people=[[Gondorians|Gondorian]]
| name=Beregond
| image=William O'Connor - Beregond and Pippin.jpg
| caption="Beregond and Pippin" by [[William O'Connor]]
| pronun=
| othernames=
| titles="Beregond of the Guard"
| position=[[Guard of the Citadel]] Captain of the [[White Company]]
| location=[[Gondor]]; [[Ithilien]]
| affiliation=
| language=[[Westron]]
| birth=Late [[Third Age]]
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death=During [[Fourth Age]]
| deathlocation=
| age=
| notablefor=
| house=
| parentage=[[Baranor (Man of Gondor)|Baranor]]
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=[[Bergil]]<ref name="MT"/>
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=Black and silver livery
| weapons=Sword
| steed=
}}

{{quote|I am no captain. Neither office nor rank nor lordship have I, being but a plain man of arms of the [[Third Company of the Citadel]].|Beregond, in ''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Minas Tirith (chapter)|Minas Tirith]]"}}

'''Beregond''', son of [[Baranor (Man of Gondor)|Baranor]], was a soldier of Gondor and later Captain of the [[White Company]].

==History==
===Early life===
Beregond's fathers were from the vales of the [[White Mountains]], and prior to that they lived in [[Ithilien]].<ref name="MT" /> Beregond had two sons, [[Bergil]], who was ten years of age at the time of the [[War of the Ring]],<ref name="MT" /> and a younger son named [[Borlas]].<ref name="New">{{PM|Shadow}}</ref>

Beregond was a member of the [[Third Company of the Citadel|Third Company]] of the [[Guard of the Citadel|Citadel]]. He admired Faramir and saw him as a brave warrior and a great leader. Beregond did not travel outside of [[Minas Tirith]] often but understood the threat that [[Sauron]] posed to the city.<ref name="MT">{{RK|MT}}</ref>

===War of the Ring===
On the morning of [[9 March|March 9]]th, {{TA|3019}}, Beregond was assigned to help [[Peregrin Took]] who had just become a Guard of the Citadel. As Beregond had never met a [[Hobbits|hobbit]] before, he was eager to meet Pippin and he was astounded that Pippin looked much like a child yet had faced more dangers than most Men of Gondor.<ref name="MT" />

====Battle of Pelennor Fields====
[[File:Maureval - The judgement on Beregond.jpg|thumb|left|Maureval - ''The judgement on Beregond'']]
During the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields|Battle of Pelennor Fields]], Beregond was on watch as the sentinel at the gate of the Citadel. Pippin rushed to tell him that Denethor was attempting to burn Faramir alive. Beregond knew his duty of protecting Faramir was more important than to remain at his post so he rushed to his Captain at the [[Silent Street]]. The guard to the street would not let him pass and Beregond was forced to kill him so he could enter. He regretted his decision but he was forced to act quickly. Two more servants of Denethor's guard were killed as they attempted to light the funeral pyre. He stood upon the steps with his sword to ward off the rest until [[Gandalf]] arrived. After Faramir was rescued, Denethor would still not give up, and drew a knife to attempt to kill his son, but Beregond stepped forward to block Denethor. Denethor then gave up and set himself on fire and died.<ref name="Siege">{{RK|Siege}}</ref>

After helping to carry Faramir to the [[Houses of Healing]], Gandalf gave the key to the [[Fen Hollen|Closed Door]] to the injured Faramir. Beregond stood guard over Faramir at the Houses of Healing and was present when he awoke.<ref name="houses">{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

====Battle of the Morannon====
Pippin and Beregond served under the command of [[Imrahil]] at the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. When a Troll-chief charged their ranks, Beregond was stunned and nearly killed, but Pippin managed to save his friend by killing the Troll, which fell on top of him.<ref>{{RK|Gate}}</ref>

===Later life===
Upon [[Aragorn]]'s coronation on [[1 May|May 1]]st, Beregond was brought forward to receive judgement for leaving his post and for killing Denethor's guards on hallowed ground. The penalty would have been death, but the King showed mercy as the deeds were done out of love for Faramir, and Beregond was merely dismissed from the Guard of the Citadel. For his bravery in battle, Aragorn appointed him the Captain of the Guard of Faramir, which was also called the White Company. He later went to live in [[Emyn Arnen]] in [[Ithilien]] to serve his lord, Faramir, the new [[Prince of Ithilien]].<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>

==Etymology==
''Beregond'' may stem from ''[[Beren#Etymology|beren]]'' meaning ("bold") and ''[[gond]]'' ("stone").<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}</ref> He was likely named after [[Beregond (Steward of Gondor)|the steward bearing the same name]].

==Genealogy==
Beregond was descended from people of the vales of the White Mountains and Ithilien. What exactly his relation to [[Iorlas]], described only as an uncle of Bergil,<ref name="MT" /> was, is unknown.

{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | |F|~|~|7| | BAR | | | | |BAR=[[Baranor (man of Gondor)]] ''b. late {{TA}}''}}
{{familytree | |:| | |:| | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | IOR | |:| | BER | | | | |IOR=[[Iorlas]] ''b. c. {{TA|2990}}''|BER='''BEREGOND''' ''fl. {{TA|3019}}''<ref name="New">{{PM|Shadow}}</ref>}}
{{familytree | | | | |:|,|-|^|-|.| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | BER | | BOR |y| WIF | | |BER=[[Bergil]] ''b. c. {{TA|3009}}''<ref name="MT">{{RK|MT}}</ref>|BOR=[[Borlas]] ''d. after {{FoA|103}}''<ref name="New"/> |WIF=''unnamed wife'' ''d. {{FoA|93}}''<ref name="New"/>}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | | | DAU | | BER |DAU=''unnamed daughter''<ref name="New"/>|BER=[[Berelach]] ''fl. {{FoA|103}}''<ref name="New"/>}}
{{familytree/end}}

==Portrayal in adaptations==
===Beregond in adaptations===
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:SBG - Beregond.gif|Beregond in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Beregond.jpg|Beregond in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
</gallery>
'''1956: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:[[Derek Prentice]] provided the voice of Beregond in episode 4 of the second half of the series, "The Siege of Gondor".<ref name="RT1726">Radio Times, Volume 133, No. 1726, [[7 December|December 7]], [[1956]]</ref>

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:Beregond - pronounced Buh-ray-gond - appears, though no actor is specified for the part.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]], "The Madness of Denethor"</ref>
'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:[[Christopher Scott]] played the part of Beregond. His scenes from the book are entirely cut and he only has a short dialogue with Denethor to inform him of the state of the battle, taking over the part of an unarmed messenger from the book.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]], "The Battle of Pelennor Fields"</ref>

'''1992: [[Der Herr der Ringe (1992 German radio series)|''Der Herr der Ringe'' (1992 German radio series)]]:'''
:Beregond is played by Klaus Spürkel.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King|Peter Jackson's The Return of the King]]'':'''
:According to actor [[Ian Hughes]], he was cast as Beregond, but the character's name was changed to [[Irolas]] post-production.<ref>"[[Ian Hughes|Irolas]]", ''[http://forums.theonering.com/viewtopic.php?t=74209&start=1620 Marty's spoiler filled ROTK Q&A thread]'', [[TheOneRing.net]]</ref><ref>"Xaonan", "[http://archives.theonering.net/archives/main_news/3.17.03-3.23.03 Hughes IS Beregond?]", [[TheOneRing.net]], [[20 March|March 20]], [[2003]]</ref>

'''2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Beregond is provided by Marek Majeský.

'''2015: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Beregond is first met in the seventh circle of [[Minas Tirith]] shortly before the battle. The player assists Beregond and his brother with their duties around Merethrond and the guest houses. For his actions in killing two guards while saving [[Faramir]]'s life, [[Aragorn|King Elessar]] banishes Beregond from residing in [[Minas Tirith]], although he and his wife Gilithel are still permitted to attend Aragorn and [[Arwen]]'s wedding. After King Elessar charges Steward [[Faramir]] with cleansing the evil of [[Minas Morgul]] and the [[Morgul Vale]], Beregond joins the White Company and can be found in a camp outside the Dead City.

{{references}}
{{title}}
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:Gondorians]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Beregond (Sohn von Baranor)]]
[[fi:Beregond (Valkoisen Komppanian päällikkö)]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:hommes:3a:dunedain:gondoriens:beregond]]

The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)

2025-10-06T18:31:32Z

InglorFinrod: /* Differences from the book */

{{disambig-more|The Lord of the Rings|[[The Lord of the Rings (disambiguation)]]}}
{{Audiobook infobox
| title=The Lord of the Rings
| image=Hordern, LeMesurier, Holm 1981 lotr.jpg
| caption=[[Michael Hordern]], [[John Le Mesurier]] and [[Ian Holm]], as [[Gandalf]], [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] and [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]].
| work=
| author=
| narrator=
| coverart=
| publisher=
| publisherUK=
| publisherUS=
| date=Original Airing: [[8 March]] – [[30 August]] [[1981]] Audio CD: [[1 December]], [[1999]]
| dateUK=
| dateUS=
| format=Radio broadcast
| runtime=13 hours
| isbn=978-0553456530
| noisbn=
| series=
| precededby=
| followedby=
| audio=
| audiocaption=
}}
In 1981 BBC Radio 4 broadcast a dramatisation of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s '''''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''''' in 26 half-hour stereo instalments.

It followed [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|a previous 12-part BBC Radio version]] from 1955 and 1956, of which no recordings are known to have survived.

==Broadcast history==

Each of the original 26 episodes received two broadcasts per week - standard practice for many BBC radio serials even today. The first broadcast of Episode 2 was blacked out across a large part of south east England because of a transmitter failure (a very rare occurrence even then).

The 26-part series was subsequently edited into 13 hour-long episodes, restoring some dialogue originally cut for timing (since each hour-long episode is actually around 57 minutes, as opposed to 54 minutes for two half-hour episodes), rearranging some scenes for dramatic impact and adding linking narration and music cues. It was broadcast in 13 episodes in [[1982]].

The re-edited version was released on both cassette tape and CD sets which also included the soundtrack album (noticeably taken from a vinyl copy).

A soundtrack album featuring a completely re-recorded and in some cases expanded, suite of [[Stephen Oliver]]'s music was released in 1981.

===1981 broadcast===
#"The Long Awaited Party", [[8 March|March 8]]
#"The Shadow Of The Past", [[15 March|March 15]]
#"The Black Riders", [[22 March|March 22]]
#"Trouble At The Prancing Pony", [[29 March|March 29]]
#"The Knife In The Dark", [[5 April|April 5]]
#"The Council Of Elrond", [[12 April|April 12]]
#"The Fellowship Of The Ring", [[19 April|April 19]]
#"The Mines Of Moria", [[26 April|April 26]]
#"The Mirror Of Galadriel", [[3 May|May 3]]
#"The Breaking Of The Fellowship", [[10 May|May 10]]
#"The Riders Of Rohan", [[17 May|May 17]]
#"Treebeard Of Fangorn", "[[24 May|May 24]]
#"The King Of The Golden Hall", [[31 May|May 31]]
#"Helm's Deep", [[7 June|June 7]]
#"The Voice Of Saruman", [[14 June|June 14]]
#"The Black Gate Is Closed", [[21 June|June 21]]
#"The Window On The West", [[28 June|June 28]]
#"Minas Tirith", [[5 July|July 5]]
#"Shelob's Lair", [[12 July|July 12]]
#"The Siege Of Gondor", [[19 July|July 19]]
#"The Battle Of Pelennor Fields", [[26 July|July 26]]
#"The Houses Of Healing", [[2 August|August 2]]
#"Mount Doom", [[9 August|August 9]]
#"The Return Of The King", [[16 August|August 16]]
#"Homeward Bound", [[23 August|August 23]]
#"The Grey Havens", [[30 August|August 30]]

===1982 broadcast===
#"The Shadow Of The Past", [[17 July|July 17]]
#"The Black Riders", [[24 July|July 24]]
#"The Knife In The Dark", [[31 July|July 31]]
#"The Ring Goes South", [[7 August|August 7]]
#"The Mirror Of Galadriel", [[14 August|August 14]]
#"The Breaking Of The Fellowship", [[21 August|August 21]]
#"The King Of The Golden Hall", [[28 August|August 28]]
#"The Voice Of Saruman", [[4 September|September 4]]
#"The Two Towers", [[11 September|September 11]]
#"The Choices Of Master Samwise", [[18 September|September 18]]
#"The Battle Of Pelennor Fields", [[25 September|September 25]]
#"Mount Doom", [[2 October|October 2]]
#"The Grey Havens", [[9 October|October 9]]

==Differences from the book==
[[File:The Lord of the Rings 1981 Music by Stephen Oliver.jpg|thumb|Vinyl with the soundtrack by [[Stephen Oliver]]]]
The script by [[Brian Sibley]] and [[Michael Bakewell]] attempts to be as faithful as possible to the original books, but there are some errors and alterations. They include:

*Scenes are added at the beginning featuring [[Gollum]]'s torture in [[Barad-dûr|Barad-Dur]] and adapting the riddle-game from [[The Hobbit]].
*Gandalf's imprisonment at [[Isengard]], escape via [[Gwaihir]], and his visit to [[Edoras]] are incorporated into the narrative rather then being related at the [[Council of Elrond]].
*The [[Nazgûl]]'s visit to Isengard in search of information on the Shire and their encounter with [[Gríma]] is adapted from [[Unfinished Tales]].
*[[Gildor|Gildor Inglorion]] does not appear in the story.
*The radio serial omits the sequence in the book in which the hobbits visit with [[Tom Bombadil]]. However, in doing so, the Hobbits are never shown to receive their [[Barrow-blade|swords]] from the [[Barrow-downs]], which are enchanted with spells that are proof against the [[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]]. This leaves later references to Frodo having a sword before [[Sting]] unexplained. Sibley acknowledges this later, when Merry stabs him during the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]. Instead of being weakened as in the book, he merely says Merry stings like a gnat. However the Mouth of Sauron still describes Sam's blade as a "Sword of the Downfallen West".
*[[Glóin|Gloin]]'s appearance at Rivendell is cut.
*Any mention of [[Dáin Ironfoot]] is omitted with [[Gimli]] stating his father Gloin was the one who met with Sauron's messenger.
*[[Durin's Bane]] is mistakenly stated to be a "servant of Sauron"
*[[Morgoth]] is oddly referred to by his original name Melkor when [[Legolas]] is discussing the origin of Orcs and when Gandalf refers to Durin's Bane as a "Spawn of Melkor".
*[[Gandalf]]'s physical death is omitted from his account of his battle with Durin's Bane with no mention of his being "sent back back", with the script implying he was merely wounded. Though later when confronting Saruman, Gandalf claims he returned from death.
*[[Quickbeam]] the Ent does not appear in the story.

*At one point when Gandalf is listing the locations of the [[Palantíri]], [[Minas Anor]] and [[Minas Tirith]] are referred to as though they were separate cities; these are merely alternate names for the same city. Later Gandalf does refer correctly to the Palantír of Minas Tirith as the "Stone of Anor."
*[[Beregond]] has his role from the book entirely cut and only appears as the anonymous messenger who brings news of the battle to [[Denethor]].

*Part of the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields|Battle of Pelennor Fields]] sequence is described in song by an opera-style vocalist rather than acted, which may distance some listeners from the action. Others may find the kinship between the sequence and Eddic style of storytelling interesting.

*The journey through [[Drúadan Forest]] and the subsequent alliance with [[Ghân-buri-Ghân]]'s wild men, or "woses" is removed from the radio drama.
*The journey of the army from Minas Tirith to the Morannon is cut including the restoration of the statue at the crossroads and departure of the faint-hearted
*The [[Battle of the Morannon]] is almost entirely cut, including Pippin slaying a troll.

==Cast==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|-
!Role!!Actor
|-
|Narrator||[[Gerard Murphy]]
|-
|[[Frodo Baggins]]||[[Ian Holm]]
|-
|[[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]]||[[Michael Hordern]]
|-
|[[Aragorn]]||[[Robert Stephens]]
|-
|[[Samwise Gamgee]]||[[Bill Nighy|William Nighy]]
|-
|[[Boromir]]||[[Michael Graham Cox]]
|-
|[[Bilbo Baggins]]||[[John Le Mesurier]]
|-
|[[Gollum|Gollum/Sméagol]]||[[Peter Woodthorpe]]
|-
|[[Gimli]]||[[Douglas Livingstone]]
|-
|[[Meriadoc Brandybuck]]||[[Richard O'Callaghan]]
|-
|[[Legolas]]||[[David Collings]]
|-
|[[Faramir]]||[[Andrew Seear]]
|-
|[[Saruman|Saruman the White]]||[[Peter Howell]]
|-
|[[Denethor]]||[[Peter Vaughan]]
|-
|[[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]]||[[Philip Voss]]
|-
|[[Elrond]]||[[Hugh Dickson]]
|-
|[[Éomer]]||[[Anthony Hyde]]
|-
|[[Éowyn]]||[[Elin Jenkins]]
|-
|[[Théoden]]||[[Jack May]]
|-
|[[Peregrin Took]]||[[John McAndrew]]
|-
|[[Galadriel]]||[[Marian Diamond]]
|-
|[[Gríma|Gríma Wormtongue]]||[[Paul Brooke]]
|-
|[[Odo Proudfoot]]||[[Sean Arnold]]
|-
|[[Gamling]]||[[Patrick Barr]]
|-
|[[Lobelia Sackville-Baggins]]||Diana Bishop
|-
|[[Farmer Maggot]]||[[John Bott]]
|-
|[[Ruffians|Ruffian]]||John Bott
|-
|[[Celeborn]]||[[Simon Cadell]]
|-
|[[Gaffer Gamgee]]||[[John Church]]
|-
|The Bard||Oz Clarke
|-
|[[Tolman Cotton Senior|Farmer Cotton]]||Alan Dudley
|-
|[[Shagrat]]||[[Chris Fairbank]]
|-
|[[Déagol]]||[[Graham Faulkner]]
|-
|[[Bill Ferny]]||Graham Faulkner
|-
|[[Daddy Twofoot]]||[[Leonard Fenton]]
|-
|[[Arwen|Arwen Evenstar]]||[[Sonia Fraser]]
|-
|[[Radagast]]||[[Donald Gee]]
|-
|[[Barliman Butterbur]]||[[James Grout]]
|-
|[[Uglúk]]||[[Brian Haines]]
|-
|[[Rose Cotton]]||[[Kathryn Hurlbutt]]
|-
|The Eagle||David James
|-
|[[Gwaihir]]||[[Alexander John]]
|-
|[[Ioreth]]||[[Pauline Letts]]
|-
|[[Éothain]]||[[John Livesey]]
|-
|[[Otho Sackville-Baggins]]||John Livesey
|-
|[[Ceorl]]||[[Michael McStay]]
|-
|[[Halbarad]]||[[Martyn Read]]
|-
|[[Sandyman]]||[[Gordon Reid]]
|-
|[[Snaga (orc of Isengard)|Snaga of Isengard]]||Gordon Reid
|-
|[[Snaga (orc of Mordor)|Snaga of Mordor]]||Gordon Reid
|-
|[[The Mouth of Sauron]]||[[John Rye]]
|-
|[[Beregond]]||[[Christopher Scott]]
|-
|[[Gorbag]]||David Sinclair
|-
|[[Háma]]||[[Michael Spice]]
|-
|[[Treebeard]]||[[Stephen Thorne]]
|-
|[[Glorfindel]]||[[John Webb]]
|-
|[[Haldir]]||[[Haydn Wood]]
|-
|[[Nob]]||Haydn Wood
|}

==Re-release in 2002==
In 2002, to coincide with the release of Peter Jackson's [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]], the BBC reissued the series in three sets corresponding to the three original volumes (''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', ''[[The Two Towers]]'' and ''[[The Return of the King]]'').

This version omitted the original episode divisions, and included a new opening and closing narration for the first two sets, and an opening narration only for the last, recorded by Ian Holm in character as Frodo Baggins - Frodo's narrations deal with his efforts to write his historical account of the War of the Ring in the [[Red Book]], as well as his own personal reflections and musings on the story's events.

The re-edited version also included some additional music cues, which had to be taken from the soundtrack album because the original master tapes for the series music had been lost.

The soundtrack, now digitally remastered, was also included with ''The Return of the King'' set, with a demo of John Le Mesurier singing ''[[Bilbo's Last Song]]'' included as a bonus track.

The 13-episode series was also rerun on Radio 4 in 2002.

==External links==
*{{WP|The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)}}
*[http://briansibleytheworks.blogspot.com.br/2008/01/this-page-is-still-under-construction_23.html The Making of BBC Radio's ''The Lord of the Rings''] by Brian Sibley
*[http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/i-didnt-know-what-i-was-getting-into/ I Didn’t Know What I Was Getting Into] by [[Christina Scull]]
{{title|italics}}
[[Category:Radio adaptations]]
[[de:Der Herr der Ringe (Hörspiele)]]

Durin's Bane

2025-09-29T18:28:37Z

InglorFinrod: /* Durin's Bane in adaptations */

{{short description|Balrog of Moria}}
{{infobox character
| people-duplicated=[[Maiar|Maia]]
| name=Durin's Bane
| people=[[Maiar|Maia]] ([[Balrogs|Balrog]])
| image=Joe Hickman - Durin's Bane.jpg
| caption="Durin's Bane" by [[:Category:Images by Joe Hickman|Joe Hickman]]
| pronun=
| othernames=the Terror Flame of Udûn<ref name=Bridge>{{FR|Bridge}}, pp. 330-1</ref>
| titles=
| position=
| location=[[Dor Daedeloth]] (early) [[Moria]] (after)
| affiliation=[[Morgoth]]
| language=
| birth=[[Creation of the Ainur]]
| birthlocation=[[Timeless Halls]]
| rule=
| death=[[25 January]] {{TA|3019}}
| deathlocation=[[Battle of the Peak]]
| slayer=[[Gandalf]]
| age=
| notablefor=Killing [[Durin VI]] and ruining [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]]
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=
| gender=
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=Whip and a flaming sword
| steed=
}}
{{Quote|It came to the edge of the fire and the light faded as if a cloud had bent over it. [...] The flames roared up to greet it, and wreathed about it; and a black smoke swirled in the air. Its streaming mane kindled, and blazed behind it. In its right hand was a blade like a stabbing tongue of fire; in its left it held a whip of many thongs.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Bridge of Khazad-dûm]]"}}

'''Durin's Bane''' was a [[Balrog]] who had no other recorded names.

Durin's Bane was notable for surviving the [[War of Wrath]]. After sleeping deep within the [[Misty Mountains]] for thousands of years, he was awoken by the [[Dwarves of Moria]] in the [[Third Age]] and was responsible for the death of [[King of Durin's Folk|King]] [[Durin VI]] and the ruin of [[Moria]]. It was this Balrog that was encountered by the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] during the [[Quest of the Ring]].

==History==
===Early history===
Durin's Bane was first created as a [[Maia]]. However, like other [[evil spirits]], the Balrog followed [[Morgoth]] to [[Arda]] soon after its creation, contending with [[Manwë]] and other [[Valar]].<ref>{{S|IId}}</ref>

It is not known in which of the [[Battles of Beleriand]] Durin's Bane fought in until the end of the [[First Age]], nor whether he served under [[Gothmog (Lord of Balrogs)|Gothmog]], the Lord of Balrogs. When the [[Host of the Valar]] defeated the hosts of Morgoth in the [[War of Wrath]], Durin's Bane managed to flee the overthrow of [[Thangorodrim]] and escaped into the east and hid in the roots of the [[Misty Mountains]] beneath [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]].<ref name="Durin">{{App|Durin}}, fourth paragraph, p. 954</ref><ref>{{L|144}}, p. 180</ref>

===Awakening and the Third Age===
[[File:Ted Nasmith - The Dwarves Delve Too Deep.jpg|thumb|left|''The Dwarves delve too deep'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
For more than five millennia, Durin's Bane hibernated in his deep hiding place at the roots of the mountains in Khazad-dûm. He remained undisturbed throughout the [[Second Age]] and most of the [[Third Age|Third]], before the ''[[mithril]]''-miners of [[Dwarves|Dwarven]] King [[Durin VI]] awoke him in {{TA|1980}}.<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 1980, p. 1087</ref> Durin was slain by the Balrog, at which point he became known as "Durin's Bane".<ref name="Durin" />

The Dwarves attempted to fight the Durin's Bane, but his power was far too great. Despite their efforts to hold Khazad-dûm against it, [[Náin I|King Náin]] and many of the Dwarves were killed in {{TA|1981}}<ref name="Year1981">{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 1980, p. 1087</ref>, and the survivors were forced to flee.<ref name="Durin" /> [[Orcs]] were able to creep into Moria<ref>{{UT|Amroth}}, p. 241</ref> and, as a result, many of the [[Silvan Elves]] of [[Lothlórien]] fled to the south.<ref name="Year1981" />

For five hundred years, Moria was left to the Balrog.<ref name="January">{{App|Great}}, entry for the year 3019, 15 January, p. 1092</ref> Over the course of many years, he became acquainted with the ancient tunnels delved by mysterious [[nameless things]] underneath Moria and the Mountains.<ref name="White">{{TT|White}}, p. 501</ref>

Around {{TA|2480}}, [[Orcs]] began to make secret strongholds in the Misty Mountains to block all of the passes, and [[Sauron]] began to send some of his creatures to Moria.<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year ''c.'' 2480, p. 1087</ref> The Balrog allowed the Orcs and trolls to remain in Moria while he dwelt there, but they feared him.<ref name="Bridge" /><ref group="note">It is unknown whether the Balrog knew about Sauron being a new [[Dark Lord]], or if he would submit. Anycase he served Sauron's purposes indirectly.</ref>

The [[Battle of Azanulbizar]] was the climactic battle in the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]]. It took place before the [[Great Gate]] of Moria in [[Third Age 2799|T.A. 2799]] and was a victory for the Dwarves. However, the victors did not conquer Moria because [[Dáin Ironfoot]], having slain the Orc [[Azog]], felt the terror of the Balrog at the gate.<ref>{{App|Durin}}, p. 1075</ref> Despite a failed attempt to recolonize Moria by [[Balin]] in [[Third Age 2989|T.A. 2989]],<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 2989, p. 1090</ref> Durin's Bane remained a menace in the ancient kingdom of the Dwarves, and its nature remained hidden to the outside world.

===Passing of the Fellowship===
[[File:Manuel Castañón - Flame of Udûn.jpg|thumb|<nowiki>'</nowiki>''Flame of Udûn''<nowiki>'</nowiki> by Manuel Castañón]]
In January of [[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]], the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] travelled through Moria on the way to [[Mount Doom]], reaching the [[Bridge of Khazad-dûm]] on [[15 January]] of that year.<ref name="January" /> It was there they encountered the terrible creature, and the Elf [[Legolas]] instantly recognized it as a Balrog, while [[Gimli]] dropped his axe in awe, recognizing Durin's Bane. At once, the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] warned the members of the Fellowship that this creature was beyond them, commanding them to leave while he faced it.<ref name="Bridge" />

Standing firmly in the narrow bridge, Gandalf cried at the Balrog, which remained silent. The creature's fire dimmed and darkness spread around it while Gandalf's light stood. The Balrog struck out at the Wizard, but [[Glamdring]], Gandalf's sword, prevailed and the creature's sword was broken. The Balrog then jumped ahead and Gandalf broke the Bridge in front of him, but as the Balrog fell, he wrapped his whip around Gandalf's knees. This caused Gandalf to stagger and fall, and he was dragged into the abyss as he cried "''Fly, you fools!''" to the Fellowship.<ref name="Bridge" /> Neither he nor the Balrog were killed by the fall, and Gandalf pursued the creature for eight days until they climbed to the peak of [[Celebdil|Zirakzigil]], where [[Battle of the Peak|they fought]] for three days and two nights. In the end, the Balrog was cast down and his body broke the mountain-side as it fell. Gandalf himself died following this ordeal, but was later sent back to Middle-earth with even greater powers as Gandalf the White.<ref name="White" />

==Other versions of the legendarium==
During the composition of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', in the first "Sketch of the Moria chapter", [[Tolkien]] conceived that the Fellowship was pursued by Orcs and a [[Black Rider]], but soon wrote above it was a Balrog.<ref>{{RS|4XXV}}, p. 462</ref>

In the first full narrative of the chapter, the description of the Balrog is more human-like, which Tolkien noted should be changed to be less clear: "''A figure strode to the fissure, no more than man-high yet terror seemed to go before it. They could see the furnace-fire of its yellow eyes from afar; its arms were very long; it had a red [?tongue]. Through the air it sprang over the fiery fissure. The flames leaped up to greet it and wreathed about it. Its streaming hair seemed to catch fire...''". Tolkien also rejected a sentence of Gandalf's cry to the Balrog: "''Go back into the fiery depths. It is forbidden for any Balrog to come beneath the sky since [[Fionwë]] son of [[Manwë]] overthrew Thangorodrim.''"<ref>{{TI|M2}}, pp. 198-199</ref>

Although it had no repercussion on the final version of the story, Tolkien considered in a hasty note that the battle on the Bridge was actually between Gandalf and [[Saruman]], apparently resulting on Gandalf coming out clad in white.<ref>{{TI|XII}}, p. 236</ref>

In the drafts of the "[[Lothlórien (chapter)|Lothlórien]]" chapter, [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]] think that no Balrog could lie in the Misty Mountains, so it should have been sent by Sauron from [[Orodruin]].<ref>{{TI|XIII}}, pp. 247, cf. note 11</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
===Durin's Bane in adaptations===
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="200px" heights="150px">
File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Balrog.jpg|Durin's Bane in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy - Balrog.jpg|Durin's Bane in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Durin's Bane.jpg|Durin's Bane in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
File:The Rings of Power (TV series) - Durin's Bane.png|Durin's Bane in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]'' series
</gallery>

'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:The Balrog has wings and appears capable of limited flight. The head resembles a lion but the rest of the body was rendered in matte black, a technique commonly used for shadowy surreal effect in rotoscope animation.
'''1981:''' [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|'''''The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)''''']]

The identity of Durin's Bane as a Balrog is apparently common knowledge among the Wise as Gandalf explains its history to the Fellowship in Moria before their encounter with it though Celeborn still has no knowledge of it. Balrogs are bafflingly stated to be the deadliest of the servants of Sauron though Gandalf also refers to it as a Spawn of [[Morgoth|Melkor]]

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Durin's Bane has wings. Jackson's Demon of Might was indistinct, a real blend of shadow and fire. Only his horned head, cloven feet, and clawed hands could clearly be seen. In the film continuity, the Orcs of Moria (here specified as "goblins") have crafted their armor and weapons to match the fiery appearance of the Balrog. <ref>Chris Smith, ''The Lord of The Rings: Weapons and Warfare'', p.62</ref> Gandalf is also aware of the creature's identity prior to entering Moria, having previously learned of it from [[Saruman]].

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:The Balrog is the boss of the level "Abyss Fight". He cannot be harmed except when he is stunned with Gandalf's lightning.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age]]'':'''
:The players must assist Gandalf in his fight with the Balrog. This fight is notable among players of the game for its difficulty and the Balrog's very high amount of health points.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Many of the Evil factions can summon a Balrog, specifically Durin's Bane, for a short period of time. He is one of the mightiest units in the game, only able to be summoned with experience points. He is similar in design to the Balrog in the movie.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Like in the previous installment, the Balrog can be summoned by evil factions.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:The real name of Durin's Bane is given as "'''Askâdurs'''" and he is revealed to have fought against Dwarves as part of [[Morgoth]]'s armies during the [[First Age]]. He is encountered in various flashback instances (where the player controls historical characters), which showcase his awakening by Dwarves in [[Third Age 1980|TA 1980]], the fall of Khazad-dûm [[Third Age 1981|the year after]] and the Dwarves of [[Balin]]'s company fleeing from the ancient evil, among others. After Gandalf defeats him, the lifeless body of Durin's Bane can be found on the slopes of Zirakzigil. Despite the players knowing that the Balrog is dead, another Servant of Sauron tests their will and fears by portraying an illusion of him. In the illusion, the fight between Gandalf and the Balrog on the [[Endless Stair]] is recreated, until it ends the opposite way of the actual event: the Balrog defeats the Wizard, throwing his lifeless body from Zirakzigil. Players have to defeat the Balrog in order to combat the illusion.

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Durin's Bane is resurrected after his defeat by Gandalf, and must be fought again in Moria. In the Evil Campaign, Durin's Bane is playable in two battles. He kills Gimli, who makes his last stand in Moria, and [[Treebeard]], who takes part in the final battle for [[the Shire]].

'''2013: ''[[Lego The Lord of the Rings: The Video Game]]'':'''
:Durin's Bane is only seen as a light that chases the player(s) through Moria. When they reach the Bridge of Khazad-dûm, he appears in a cutscene where Gandalf destroys the bridge and the Balrog pulls him down. The player then controls Gandalf and has to grab Glamdring and land on Durin's Bane and stab him while avoiding the Balrog's fiery breath. When this is over, the game starts another cutscene that ends the level. Later, Gandalf appears on a snowy mountain with a tower on top. When he reaches the top of the tower, the Balrog climbs on. The Balrog repeatedly sweeps his fiery whip and strikes the ground with his sword. Lightning then begins to strike at one place and the Balrog breathes fire and is weakened. Gandalf then uses his sword to direct the lightning at Durin's Bane and his health goes down. The lightning will strike at three different places and when the Balrog loses all of his health by being hit three times, he will fall off the mountain and die.

'''2022: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]'', Season One:'''
:'''Episode 7: ''[[The Eye]]'':'''
::Durin's Bane makes an appearance lurking beneath a large [[Mithril]] vein at the very depths of [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]]. When an orange leaf lands directly in front of him and catches on fire, disturbing his slumber, the Balrog roars.

'''2024: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]'', Season Two:'''
:Durin's Bane appears after [[Durin III]] digs into a cavern full of Mithril at the urging of a Dwarven [[Rings of Power|Ring of Power]]. In spite of his son [[Durin IV]]'s attempts at saving him, he is killed after removing his ring and jumping toward the Balrog with his axe before the entire cavern collapses around him.

{{references|notes}}
{{ainur}}

[[Category:Balrogs]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:First Age characters]]
[[Category:Maiar]]
[[Category:Second Age characters]]
[[Category:Servants of Melkor]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Durins Fluch]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:ainur:maiar:balrogs:fleau de durin]]
[[fi:Durinin Turma]]

The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)

2025-09-27T15:24:36Z

InglorFinrod:

{{disambig-more|The Lord of the Rings|[[The Lord of the Rings (disambiguation)]]}}
{{Audiobook infobox
| title=The Lord of the Rings
| image=Hordern, LeMesurier, Holm 1981 lotr.jpg
| caption=[[Michael Hordern]], [[John Le Mesurier]] and [[Ian Holm]], as [[Gandalf]], [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] and [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]].
| work=
| author=
| narrator=
| coverart=
| publisher=
| publisherUK=
| publisherUS=
| date=Original Airing: [[8 March]] – [[30 August]] [[1981]] Audio CD: [[1 December]], [[1999]]
| dateUK=
| dateUS=
| format=Radio broadcast
| runtime=13 hours
| isbn=978-0553456530
| noisbn=
| series=
| precededby=
| followedby=
| audio=
| audiocaption=
}}
In 1981 BBC Radio 4 broadcast a dramatisation of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s '''''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''''' in 26 half-hour stereo instalments.

It followed [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|a previous 12-part BBC Radio version]] from 1955 and 1956, of which no recordings are known to have survived.

==Broadcast history==

Each of the original 26 episodes received two broadcasts per week - standard practice for many BBC radio serials even today. The first broadcast of Episode 2 was blacked out across a large part of south east England because of a transmitter failure (a very rare occurrence even then).

The 26-part series was subsequently edited into 13 hour-long episodes, restoring some dialogue originally cut for timing (since each hour-long episode is actually around 57 minutes, as opposed to 54 minutes for two half-hour episodes), rearranging some scenes for dramatic impact and adding linking narration and music cues. It was broadcast in 13 episodes in [[1982]].

The re-edited version was released on both cassette tape and CD sets which also included the soundtrack album (noticeably taken from a vinyl copy).

A soundtrack album featuring a completely re-recorded and in some cases expanded, suite of [[Stephen Oliver]]'s music was released in 1981.

===1981 broadcast===
#"The Long Awaited Party", [[8 March|March 8]]
#"The Shadow Of The Past", [[15 March|March 15]]
#"The Black Riders", [[22 March|March 22]]
#"Trouble At The Prancing Pony", [[29 March|March 29]]
#"The Knife In The Dark", [[5 April|April 5]]
#"The Council Of Elrond", [[12 April|April 12]]
#"The Fellowship Of The Ring", [[19 April|April 19]]
#"The Mines Of Moria", [[26 April|April 26]]
#"The Mirror Of Galadriel", [[3 May|May 3]]
#"The Breaking Of The Fellowship", [[10 May|May 10]]
#"The Riders Of Rohan", [[17 May|May 17]]
#"Treebeard Of Fangorn", "[[24 May|May 24]]
#"The King Of The Golden Hall", [[31 May|May 31]]
#"Helm's Deep", [[7 June|June 7]]
#"The Voice Of Saruman", [[14 June|June 14]]
#"The Black Gate Is Closed", [[21 June|June 21]]
#"The Window On The West", [[28 June|June 28]]
#"Minas Tirith", [[5 July|July 5]]
#"Shelob's Lair", [[12 July|July 12]]
#"The Siege Of Gondor", [[19 July|July 19]]
#"The Battle Of Pelennor Fields", [[26 July|July 26]]
#"The Houses Of Healing", [[2 August|August 2]]
#"Mount Doom", [[9 August|August 9]]
#"The Return Of The King", [[16 August|August 16]]
#"Homeward Bound", [[23 August|August 23]]
#"The Grey Havens", [[30 August|August 30]]

===1982 broadcast===
#"The Shadow Of The Past", [[17 July|July 17]]
#"The Black Riders", [[24 July|July 24]]
#"The Knife In The Dark", [[31 July|July 31]]
#"The Ring Goes South", [[7 August|August 7]]
#"The Mirror Of Galadriel", [[14 August|August 14]]
#"The Breaking Of The Fellowship", [[21 August|August 21]]
#"The King Of The Golden Hall", [[28 August|August 28]]
#"The Voice Of Saruman", [[4 September|September 4]]
#"The Two Towers", [[11 September|September 11]]
#"The Choices Of Master Samwise", [[18 September|September 18]]
#"The Battle Of Pelennor Fields", [[25 September|September 25]]
#"Mount Doom", [[2 October|October 2]]
#"The Grey Havens", [[9 October|October 9]]

==Differences from the book==
[[File:The Lord of the Rings 1981 Music by Stephen Oliver.jpg|thumb|Vinyl with the soundtrack by [[Stephen Oliver]]]]
The script by [[Brian Sibley]] and [[Michael Bakewell]] attempts to be as faithful as possible to the original books, but there are some errors and alterations. They include:

* Scenes are added at the beginning featuring [[Gollum]]'s torture in [[Barad-dûr|Barad-Dur]] and adapting the riddle-game from [[The Hobbit]].
* Gandalf's imprisonment at [[Isengard]], escape via [[Gwaihir]], and his visit to [[Edoras]] are incorporated into the narrative rather then being related at the [[Council of Elrond]].
* The [[Nazgûl]]'s visit to Isengard in search of information on the Shire and their encounter with [[Gríma]] is adapted from [[Unfinished Tales]].
* [[Gildor|Gildor Inglorion]] does not appear in the story.
* The radio serial omits the sequence in the book in which the hobbits visit with [[Tom Bombadil]]. However, in doing so, the Hobbits are never shown to receive their [[Barrow-blade|swords]] from the [[Barrow-downs]], which are enchanted with spells that are proof against the [[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]]. This leaves later references to Frodo having a sword before [[Sting]] unexplained. Sibley acknowledges this later, when Merry stabs him during the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]. Instead of being weakened as in the book, he merely says Merry stings like a gnat.
* [[Glóin|Gloin]]'s appearance at Rivendell is cut.
* Any mention of [[Dáin Ironfoot]] is omitted with [[Gimli]] stating his father Gloin was the one who met with Sauron's messenger.
* [[Durin's Bane]] is mistakenly stated to be a "servant of Sauron"
* [[Morgoth]] is oddly referred to by his original name Melkor when [[Legolas]] is discussing the origin of Orcs and when Gandalf refers to Durin's Bane as a "Spawn of Melkor".
* [[Gandalf]]'s physical death is omitted with no mention of his being "sent back back", with the script implying he was merely wounded.
* [[Quickbeam]] the Ent does not appear in the story.

*At one point, [[Minas Anor]] and [[Minas Tirith]] are referred to as though they were separate cities; these are merely alternate names for the same city.

*Part of the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields|Battle of Pelennor Fields]] sequence is described in song by an opera-style vocalist rather than acted, which may distance some listeners from the action. Others may find the kinship between the sequence and Eddic style of storytelling interesting.

*The journey through [[Drúadan Forest]] and the subsequent alliance with [[Ghân-buri-Ghân]]'s wild men, or "woses" is removed from the radio drama.

==Cast==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|-
!Role!!Actor
|-
|Narrator||[[Gerard Murphy]]
|-
|[[Frodo Baggins]]||[[Ian Holm]]
|-
|[[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]]||[[Michael Hordern]]
|-
|[[Aragorn]]||[[Robert Stephens]]
|-
|[[Samwise Gamgee]]||[[Bill Nighy|William Nighy]]
|-
|[[Boromir]]||[[Michael Graham Cox]]
|-
|[[Bilbo Baggins]]||[[John Le Mesurier]]
|-
|[[Gollum|Gollum/Sméagol]]||[[Peter Woodthorpe]]
|-
|[[Gimli]]||[[Douglas Livingstone]]
|-
|[[Meriadoc Brandybuck]]||[[Richard O'Callaghan]]
|-
|[[Legolas]]||[[David Collings]]
|-
|[[Faramir]]||[[Andrew Seear]]
|-
|[[Saruman|Saruman the White]]||[[Peter Howell]]
|-
|[[Denethor]]||[[Peter Vaughan]]
|-
|[[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]]||[[Philip Voss]]
|-
|[[Elrond]]||[[Hugh Dickson]]
|-
|[[Éomer]]||[[Anthony Hyde]]
|-
|[[Éowyn]]||[[Elin Jenkins]]
|-
|[[Théoden]]||[[Jack May]]
|-
|[[Peregrin Took]]||[[John McAndrew]]
|-
|[[Galadriel]]||[[Marian Diamond]]
|-
|[[Gríma|Gríma Wormtongue]]||[[Paul Brooke]]
|-
|[[Odo Proudfoot]]||[[Sean Arnold]]
|-
|[[Gamling]]||[[Patrick Barr]]
|-
|[[Lobelia Sackville-Baggins]]||Diana Bishop
|-
|[[Farmer Maggot]]||[[John Bott]]
|-
|[[Ruffians|Ruffian]]||John Bott
|-
|[[Celeborn]]||[[Simon Cadell]]
|-
|[[Gaffer Gamgee]]||[[John Church]]
|-
|The Bard||Oz Clarke
|-
|[[Tolman Cotton Senior|Farmer Cotton]]||Alan Dudley
|-
|[[Shagrat]]||[[Chris Fairbank]]
|-
|[[Déagol]]||[[Graham Faulkner]]
|-
|[[Bill Ferny]]||Graham Faulkner
|-
|[[Daddy Twofoot]]||[[Leonard Fenton]]
|-
|[[Arwen|Arwen Evenstar]]||[[Sonia Fraser]]
|-
|[[Radagast]]||[[Donald Gee]]
|-
|[[Barliman Butterbur]]||[[James Grout]]
|-
|[[Uglúk]]||[[Brian Haines]]
|-
|[[Rose Cotton]]||[[Kathryn Hurlbutt]]
|-
|The Eagle||David James
|-
|[[Gwaihir]]||[[Alexander John]]
|-
|[[Ioreth]]||[[Pauline Letts]]
|-
|[[Éothain]]||[[John Livesey]]
|-
|[[Otho Sackville-Baggins]]||John Livesey
|-
|[[Ceorl]]||[[Michael McStay]]
|-
|[[Halbarad]]||[[Martyn Read]]
|-
|[[Sandyman]]||[[Gordon Reid]]
|-
|[[Snaga (orc of Isengard)|Snaga of Isengard]]||Gordon Reid
|-
|[[Snaga (orc of Mordor)|Snaga of Mordor]]||Gordon Reid
|-
|[[The Mouth of Sauron]]||[[John Rye]]
|-
|[[Beregond]]||[[Christopher Scott]]
|-
|[[Gorbag]]||David Sinclair
|-
|[[Háma]]||[[Michael Spice]]
|-
|[[Treebeard]]||[[Stephen Thorne]]
|-
|[[Glorfindel]]||[[John Webb]]
|-
|[[Haldir]]||[[Haydn Wood]]
|-
|[[Nob]]||Haydn Wood
|}

==Re-release in 2002==
In 2002, to coincide with the release of Peter Jackson's [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]], the BBC reissued the series in three sets corresponding to the three original volumes (''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', ''[[The Two Towers]]'' and ''[[The Return of the King]]'').

This version omitted the original episode divisions, and included a new opening and closing narration for the first two sets, and an opening narration only for the last, recorded by Ian Holm in character as Frodo Baggins - Frodo's narrations deal with his efforts to write his historical account of the War of the Ring in the [[Red Book]], as well as his own personal reflections and musings on the story's events.

The re-edited version also included some additional music cues, which had to be taken from the soundtrack album because the original master tapes for the series music had been lost.

The soundtrack, now digitally remastered, was also included with ''The Return of the King'' set, with a demo of John Le Mesurier singing ''[[Bilbo's Last Song]]'' included as a bonus track.

The 13-episode series was also rerun on Radio 4 in 2002.

==External links==
*{{WP|The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)}}
*[http://briansibleytheworks.blogspot.com.br/2008/01/this-page-is-still-under-construction_23.html The Making of BBC Radio's ''The Lord of the Rings''] by Brian Sibley
*[http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/i-didnt-know-what-i-was-getting-into/ I Didn’t Know What I Was Getting Into] by [[Christina Scull]]
{{title|italics}}
[[Category:Radio adaptations]]
[[de:Der Herr der Ringe (Hörspiele)]]

The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)

2025-09-27T15:11:56Z

InglorFinrod: /* Differences from the book */

{{disambig-more|The Lord of the Rings|[[The Lord of the Rings (disambiguation)]]}}
{{Audiobook infobox
| title=The Lord of the Rings
| image=Hordern, LeMesurier, Holm 1981 lotr.jpg
| caption=[[Michael Hordern]], [[John Le Mesurier]] and [[Ian Holm]], as [[Gandalf]], [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] and [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]].
| work=
| author=
| narrator=
| coverart=
| publisher=
| publisherUK=
| publisherUS=
| date=Original Airing: [[8 March]] – [[30 August]] [[1981]] Audio CD: [[1 December]], [[1999]]
| dateUK=
| dateUS=
| format=Radio broadcast
| runtime=13 hours
| isbn=978-0553456530
| noisbn=
| series=
| precededby=
| followedby=
| audio=
| audiocaption=
}}
In 1981 BBC Radio 4 broadcast a dramatisation of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s '''''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''''' in 26 half-hour stereo instalments.

It followed [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|a previous 12-part BBC Radio version]] from 1955 and 1956, of which no recordings are known to have survived.

==Broadcast history==

Each of the original 26 episodes received two broadcasts per week - standard practice for many BBC radio serials even today. The first broadcast of Episode 2 was blacked out across a large part of south east England because of a transmitter failure (a very rare occurrence even then).

The 26-part series was subsequently edited into 13 hour-long episodes, restoring some dialogue originally cut for timing (since each hour-long episode is actually around 57 minutes, as opposed to 54 minutes for two half-hour episodes), rearranging some scenes for dramatic impact and adding linking narration and music cues. It was broadcast in 13 episodes in [[1982]].

The re-edited version was released on both cassette tape and CD sets which also included the soundtrack album (noticeably taken from a vinyl copy).

A soundtrack album featuring a completely re-recorded and in some cases expanded, suite of [[Stephen Oliver]]'s music was released in 1981.

===1981 broadcast===
#"The Long Awaited Party", [[8 March|March 8]]
#"The Shadow Of The Past", [[15 March|March 15]]
#"The Black Riders", [[22 March|March 22]]
#"Trouble At The Prancing Pony", [[29 March|March 29]]
#"The Knife In The Dark", [[5 April|April 5]]
#"The Council Of Elrond", [[12 April|April 12]]
#"The Fellowship Of The Ring", [[19 April|April 19]]
#"The Mines Of Moria", [[26 April|April 26]]
#"The Mirror Of Galadriel", [[3 May|May 3]]
#"The Breaking Of The Fellowship", [[10 May|May 10]]
#"The Riders Of Rohan", [[17 May|May 17]]
#"Treebeard Of Fangorn", "[[24 May|May 24]]
#"The King Of The Golden Hall", [[31 May|May 31]]
#"Helm's Deep", [[7 June|June 7]]
#"The Voice Of Saruman", [[14 June|June 14]]
#"The Black Gate Is Closed", [[21 June|June 21]]
#"The Window On The West", [[28 June|June 28]]
#"Minas Tirith", [[5 July|July 5]]
#"Shelob's Lair", [[12 July|July 12]]
#"The Siege Of Gondor", [[19 July|July 19]]
#"The Battle Of Pelennor Fields", [[26 July|July 26]]
#"The Houses Of Healing", [[2 August|August 2]]
#"Mount Doom", [[9 August|August 9]]
#"The Return Of The King", [[16 August|August 16]]
#"Homeward Bound", [[23 August|August 23]]
#"The Grey Havens", [[30 August|August 30]]

===1982 broadcast===
#"The Shadow Of The Past", [[17 July|July 17]]
#"The Black Riders", [[24 July|July 24]]
#"The Knife In The Dark", [[31 July|July 31]]
#"The Ring Goes South", [[7 August|August 7]]
#"The Mirror Of Galadriel", [[14 August|August 14]]
#"The Breaking Of The Fellowship", [[21 August|August 21]]
#"The King Of The Golden Hall", [[28 August|August 28]]
#"The Voice Of Saruman", [[4 September|September 4]]
#"The Two Towers", [[11 September|September 11]]
#"The Choices Of Master Samwise", [[18 September|September 18]]
#"The Battle Of Pelennor Fields", [[25 September|September 25]]
#"Mount Doom", [[2 October|October 2]]
#"The Grey Havens", [[9 October|October 9]]

==Differences from the book==
[[File:The Lord of the Rings 1981 Music by Stephen Oliver.jpg|thumb|Vinyl with the soundtrack by [[Stephen Oliver]]]]
The script by [[Brian Sibley]] and [[Michael Bakewell]] attempts to be as faithful as possible to the original books, but there are some errors and alterations. They include:

* Scenes are added featuring [[Gollum]]'s torture in [[Barad-dûr|Barad-Dur]] and the riddle-game from [[The Hobbit]].
* Gandalf's imprisonment at [[Isengard]], escape via [[Gwaihir]], and his visit to [[Edoras]] are incorporated into the narrative rather then being related at the [[Council of Elrond]].
* The [[Nazgûl]]'s visit to Isengard in search of information on the Shire and their encounter with [[Gríma]] is adapted from [[Unfinished Tales]].
* [[Glóin|Gloin]]'s appearance at Rivendell is cut.
* [[Durin's Bane]] is mistakenly stated to be a "servant of Sauron"
*[[Morgoth]] is oddly referred to by his original name Melkor when [[Legolas]] is discussing the origin of Orcs and when Gandalf refers to Durin's Bane as a "Spawn of Melkor", contri
*[[Gandalf]]'s physical death is omitted with no mention of his being "sent back back", with the script implying he was merely wounded.
*At one point, [[Minas Anor]] and [[Minas Tirith]] are referred to as though they were separate cities; these are merely alternate names for the same city.

*Part of the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields|Battle of Pelennor Fields]] sequence is described in song by an opera-style vocalist rather than acted, which may distance some listeners from the action. Others may find the kinship between the sequence and Eddic style of storytelling interesting.

*The journey through [[Drúadan Forest]] and the subsequent alliance with [[Ghân-buri-Ghân]]'s wild men, or "woses" is removed from the radio drama.

*[[Quickbeam]] the Ent does not appear in the story.

*[[Gildor|Gildor Inglorion]] does not appear in the story.

*The radio serial omits the sequence in the book in which the hobbits visit with [[Tom Bombadil]]. However, in doing so, the Hobbits are never shown to receive their [[Barrow-blade|swords]] from the [[Barrow-downs]], which are enchanted with spells that are proof against the [[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]]. This leaves later references to Frodo having a sword before [[Sting]] unexplained. Sibley acknowledges this later, when Merry stabs him during the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]. Instead of being weakened as in the book, he merely says Merry stings like a gnat.

==Cast==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|-
!Role!!Actor
|-
|Narrator||[[Gerard Murphy]]
|-
|[[Frodo Baggins]]||[[Ian Holm]]
|-
|[[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]]||[[Michael Hordern]]
|-
|[[Aragorn]]||[[Robert Stephens]]
|-
|[[Samwise Gamgee]]||[[Bill Nighy|William Nighy]]
|-
|[[Boromir]]||[[Michael Graham Cox]]
|-
|[[Bilbo Baggins]]||[[John Le Mesurier]]
|-
|[[Gollum|Gollum/Sméagol]]||[[Peter Woodthorpe]]
|-
|[[Gimli]]||[[Douglas Livingstone]]
|-
|[[Meriadoc Brandybuck]]||[[Richard O'Callaghan]]
|-
|[[Legolas]]||[[David Collings]]
|-
|[[Faramir]]||[[Andrew Seear]]
|-
|[[Saruman|Saruman the White]]||[[Peter Howell]]
|-
|[[Denethor]]||[[Peter Vaughan]]
|-
|[[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]]||[[Philip Voss]]
|-
|[[Elrond]]||[[Hugh Dickson]]
|-
|[[Éomer]]||[[Anthony Hyde]]
|-
|[[Éowyn]]||[[Elin Jenkins]]
|-
|[[Théoden]]||[[Jack May]]
|-
|[[Peregrin Took]]||[[John McAndrew]]
|-
|[[Galadriel]]||[[Marian Diamond]]
|-
|[[Gríma|Gríma Wormtongue]]||[[Paul Brooke]]
|-
|[[Odo Proudfoot]]||[[Sean Arnold]]
|-
|[[Gamling]]||[[Patrick Barr]]
|-
|[[Lobelia Sackville-Baggins]]||Diana Bishop
|-
|[[Farmer Maggot]]||[[John Bott]]
|-
|[[Ruffians|Ruffian]]||John Bott
|-
|[[Celeborn]]||[[Simon Cadell]]
|-
|[[Gaffer Gamgee]]||[[John Church]]
|-
|The Bard||Oz Clarke
|-
|[[Tolman Cotton Senior|Farmer Cotton]]||Alan Dudley
|-
|[[Shagrat]]||[[Chris Fairbank]]
|-
|[[Déagol]]||[[Graham Faulkner]]
|-
|[[Bill Ferny]]||Graham Faulkner
|-
|[[Daddy Twofoot]]||[[Leonard Fenton]]
|-
|[[Arwen|Arwen Evenstar]]||[[Sonia Fraser]]
|-
|[[Radagast]]||[[Donald Gee]]
|-
|[[Barliman Butterbur]]||[[James Grout]]
|-
|[[Uglúk]]||[[Brian Haines]]
|-
|[[Rose Cotton]]||[[Kathryn Hurlbutt]]
|-
|The Eagle||David James
|-
|[[Gwaihir]]||[[Alexander John]]
|-
|[[Ioreth]]||[[Pauline Letts]]
|-
|[[Éothain]]||[[John Livesey]]
|-
|[[Otho Sackville-Baggins]]||John Livesey
|-
|[[Ceorl]]||[[Michael McStay]]
|-
|[[Halbarad]]||[[Martyn Read]]
|-
|[[Sandyman]]||[[Gordon Reid]]
|-
|[[Snaga (orc of Isengard)|Snaga of Isengard]]||Gordon Reid
|-
|[[Snaga (orc of Mordor)|Snaga of Mordor]]||Gordon Reid
|-
|[[The Mouth of Sauron]]||[[John Rye]]
|-
|[[Beregond]]||[[Christopher Scott]]
|-
|[[Gorbag]]||David Sinclair
|-
|[[Háma]]||[[Michael Spice]]
|-
|[[Treebeard]]||[[Stephen Thorne]]
|-
|[[Glorfindel]]||[[John Webb]]
|-
|[[Haldir]]||[[Haydn Wood]]
|-
|[[Nob]]||Haydn Wood
|}

==Re-release in 2002==
In 2002, to coincide with the release of Peter Jackson's [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]], the BBC reissued the series in three sets corresponding to the three original volumes (''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', ''[[The Two Towers]]'' and ''[[The Return of the King]]'').

This version omitted the original episode divisions, and included a new opening and closing narration for the first two sets, and an opening narration only for the last, recorded by Ian Holm in character as Frodo Baggins - Frodo's narrations deal with his efforts to write his historical account of the War of the Ring in the [[Red Book]], as well as his own personal reflections and musings on the story's events.

The re-edited version also included some additional music cues, which had to be taken from the soundtrack album because the original master tapes for the series music had been lost.

The soundtrack, now digitally remastered, was also included with ''The Return of the King'' set, with a demo of John Le Mesurier singing ''[[Bilbo's Last Song]]'' included as a bonus track.

The 13-episode series was also rerun on Radio 4 in 2002.

==External links==
*{{WP|The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)}}
*[http://briansibleytheworks.blogspot.com.br/2008/01/this-page-is-still-under-construction_23.html The Making of BBC Radio's ''The Lord of the Rings''] by Brian Sibley
*[http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/i-didnt-know-what-i-was-getting-into/ I Didn’t Know What I Was Getting Into] by [[Christina Scull]]
{{title|italics}}
[[Category:Radio adaptations]]
[[de:Der Herr der Ringe (Hörspiele)]]

Peregrin Took

2023-09-13T23:28:09Z

InglorFinrod: Added some brief material on the emergence of Pippin's character.

{{hobbit infobox
| name=Peregrin Took
| image=[[File:Kay Woollard - Pippin.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Pippin" by [[Kay Woollard]]
| pronun=
| othernames=Pippin [[Ernil i Pheriannath]] Thain Peregrin I [[Razanur Tûk]] ''([[Peregrin Took#Names and Titles|see more below]])''
| titles=[[Thain]]
| position=
| location=[[Great Smials]], [[Tuckborough]] [[Gondor]]
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=
| birth=Spring {{TA|2990}}
| birthlocation=
| rule={{FoA|13}} - {{FoA|63|n}}<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>
| death=Between {{FoA|63}} and {{FoA|120|n}}<ref name=later/>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=95+
| notablefor=Accompanying [[Frodo Baggins]] in the early stages of the Ring-quest Participating in the destruction of [[Isengard]] Looking into the [[Orthanc-stone]] Saving [[Faramir]] Co-leading the [[Battle of Bywater]] with [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]]
| family=[[Took Family|Took]]
| parentage=[[Paladin Took II]] and [[Eglantine Banks]]
| siblings=[[Pearl Took|Pearl]], [[Pimpernel Took|Pimpernel]] and [[Pervinca Took|Pervinca]]
| spouse=[[Diamond of Long Cleeve]]
| children=[[Faramir Took I|Faramir]]
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=Almost golden<ref name="SD">{{SD|Epilogue}}, p. 115</ref>
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=[[Daggers of Westernesse|Dagger of Westernesse]]
| steed=
}}
<center>{{quote|There must be someone with intelligence in [[Fellowship of the Ring|the party]]." "Then you certainly will not be chosen, Peregrin Took!|Pippin and [[Gandalf]], ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Ring Goes South]]"}}</center>

'''Peregrin ''"Pippin"'' Took''' was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]], the son of [[Paladin Took II|Paladin Took]]. He was the youngest of the four Hobbits in the [[Fellowship of the Ring]], being in his tweens, but grew up quickly and eventually became a Knight of Gondor. [[Elrond]], at least, seemed to doubt his capability for the quest, but Pippin proved to be a loyal and courageous friend.

After the [[War of the Ring]], Peregrin eventually inherited the [[Thain|Thainship]] in [[the Shire]] after his father's death.

==Ancestry==
He was born in the [[Third Age]] [[Third Age 2990|2990]] (1390 in [[Shire Reckoning]]) to [[Paladin Took II|Paladin Took]] and [[Eglantine Banks]], making him a great-great-grandson of [[Gerontius Took|The Old Took]]. Pippin became Thain in later years, and his father inherited the title in S.R. 1415 from [[Ferumbras Took III]] when he died without an heir. Pippin had three older sisters, [[Pearl Took]], [[Pimpernel Took]], and [[Pervinca Took]].<ref name="Took">{{App|Took}}</ref>

Through his father, Pippin was a first cousin of [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] (the future [[Master of Buckland]]), the second cousin once removed of [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], and the first cousin twice removed of [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]]. He was not blood-related to [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]], but Pippin's son [[Faramir Took I|Faramir]] married Sam's daughter [[Goldilocks Gardner|Goldilocks]] in 1463.

==History==
When he was young he was a guest at [[Bilbo's Farewell Party]] with his family. As his uncle the [[Thain]] [[Ferumbras Took III|Ferumbras]] was childless, Pippin's father, Paladin, became the Thain.<ref name="Took"/> Pippin's closest friends were his cousins, [[Merry Brandybuck]] and [[Frodo Baggins]]<ref name=shadow>{{FR|Shadow}}</ref> (all descendants of the Old Took). Pippin and Merry often wandered at the [[Marish]] and used to visit [[Farmer Maggot]]; he knew the lands around the Marish and enjoyed the beer of the ''[[The Golden Perch|Golden Perch]]'' at [[Stock]].<ref name=short>{{FR|I4}}</ref>

He was one of the [[Conspirators]], who knew the truth behind Frodo's mysterious behaviour and reasons for departure of the Shire. Along with Merry, [[Fredegar Bolger|Fatty Bolger]] and [[Folco Boffin]] they helped Frodo pack his household and send carts to [[Crickhollow]]; they celebrated together his last [[22 September|birthday]] in [[Bag End]], and stayed with Frodo and [[Samwise Gamgee]] when the others left for [[Buckland]].

===Travels with Frodo===
[[File:Campbell White - Peregrin Took.jpg|thumb|left|''Peregrin Took'' by [https://www.campbellwhitedesign.com/ Campbell White]]]
The [[23 September|next day]] he accompanied Frodo and Sam to [[Bucklebury]]. During the first days of the travel, Pippin was he who complained first for being tired, sleepy or hungry. The [[24 September|next day]] they encountered [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] who were turned away by a [[Wandering Companies|company]] of [[High Elves]] led by [[Gildor]], and Pippin greeted them expressing his respect. During their camp he felt he was in a dream, enchanted by the [[Light of Valinor|light]] of their faces and their beautiful voices. Once he fell asleep, the Elves moved and laid him to a soft bed at a bower under the trees.<ref name=":0">{{FR|Three}}</ref>

The [[25 September|other morning]] he woke up first and wanted to finish off the elven bread if not for Sam's insistence to leave some for him and Frodo. When Frodo woke up they had an argument as Frodo wanted to cut through Marish to avoid any Black Riders, and Pippin regretted for not stopping at Stock.<ref name=short/>

In Buckland, they joined Merry and Fatty. It was there that Frodo learned about his friends' "conspiracy" and that they did not intend to let him leave [[The Shire]] without them. They left the Shire to meet [[Gandalf]] in [[Bree]]. Pippin's enthusiasm to accompany Frodo is the result of his adventurous 'Tookish' nature as well as his loyalty and friendship to his cousin.

The stuffiness and eeriness of [[The Old Forest]] made Pippin the most uncomfortable of the four [[Hobbits]] with him becoming more and more suspicious of the intentions of the Forest; Pippin was, however, right to be suspicious as he was trapped by [[Old Man Willow]] before being rescued by [[Tom Bombadil]]. On the way to [[Bree]], from Tom Bombadil's house, Pippin again fell into misfortune as he was trapped by a [[Barrow-wights|Barrow-wight]] on the [[Barrow-downs]].
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Under the Spell of the Barrow-wight.jpg|thumb|[[Ted Nasmith]] - ''Under the Spell of the Barrow-wight'']]
Whilst at [[The Prancing Pony]] Pippin began to recklessly tell the story of [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]]'s birthday and subsequent disappearance. In order to prevent information about the Ring being revealed, Frodo started to sing - during the song Frodo fell from the table and the Ring slipped upon his finger. As a result, The Prancing Pony was attacked by the [[Nazgûl]] during the night, but the four Hobbits were unharmed thanks to the mysterious [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]], [[Aragorn|Strider]].

===Fellowship of the Ring===
When Pippin finally arrived at [[Rivendell]] he was concerned that he and Merry would be left behind whilst both Sam and Frodo get to go on the [[Quest of the Ring|Quest]]. However, his indignant attitude paid off as [[Gandalf]] believed that the friendship between Pippin and the other Hobbits would be beneficial to the Quest.

When in [[Moria]], Pippin incurred the wrath of Gandalf on two separate occasions: Pippin annoyed Gandalf with a foolish question while Gandalf was trying to open the [[Doors of Durin|West-gate of Moria]]; and, when inside the [[Well-chamber]] in Moria,<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[The Chronology of The Lord of the Rings]], p. 40</ref> Pippin's curiosity got the better of him as he dropped a stone down a well which lead to the [[Fellowship of the Ring|the Fellowship]] hearing the drums in the deep - in doing so Pippin gained the retort, "''Fool of a Took!''" from Gandalf.

===With Treebeard===
During the [[Breaking of the Fellowship]], [[Boromir]] died defending Merry and Pippin from capture by the [[Uruk-hai]] who were taking the Hobbits back to [[Saruman]] at [[Isengard]] on the mistaken belief that one of them had [[The One Ring|the Ring]]. On the journey to Isengard, Pippin displayed intelligence and resourcefulness by cutting his own bonds and leaving his [[Elven brooches|Elven brooch]] from [[Lothlórien]] on the ground for Aragorn to find.

Whilst held captive, Merry and Pippin became aware that the [[Orcs|Orc]] [[Grishnákh]] had guessed that they might have the Ring, so they used Grishnákh's greed to untie them and take them away from the other Orcs. When the [[Rohirrim]] attacked the Uruk-hai, Grishnákh was killed by a spear and Merry and Pippin were able to escape into [[Fangorn Forest]] where they encountered [[Treebeard]] and the other [[Ents]].

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Wellinghall.jpg|thumb|200px|left|''Wellinghall'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
Merry and Pippin struck up a friendship with Treebeard, telling him about all that had happened on their journey, whilst Treebeard told the two hobbits about the loss of the [[Entwives]](and much more besides). Treebeard decided to call an [[Entmoot]] at [[Derndingle]] to decide the Ents' next move. While the Entmoot was going on, Pippin and Merry were left in the care of a 'hasty' Ent named [[Quickbeam]] who had already decided to go to battle with the Orcs as many of his tree friends had been killed.

Merry and Pippin [[Ents#The March of the Ents|marched with the Ents]] to Isengard where the Ents killed the remaining servants of Saruman, filled the [[Ring of Isengard]] with water, and kept Saruman hostage in [[Orthanc]]. Whilst sitting on their "field of victory", Merry and Pippin were reunited with Aragorn, [[Gandalf]], [[Gimli]] and [[Legolas]] with whom they shared some [[pipe-weed]] and a meal.

Following Gandalf's confrontation with Saruman, [[Gríma]] threw the [[Orthanc-stone|palantír of Isengard]] out of the window at Gandalf which Pippin subsequently picked up. After Gandalf took it from him, Pippin remained curious about it, and later remarked to Merry about how he would like to look at it again. Unable to sleep, Pippin was finally overcome by curiosity. He stole the palantír from Gandalf's keeping while he slept, but when he looked into it, he was seen by [[Sauron]] who mistakenly believed that Pippin and the Ring were with Saruman in Isengard. After a Nazgul flew by on its [[Fell beasts|Fell beast]], Gandalf realized that war was coming soon, and he rode immediately for [[Minas Tirith]], taking Pippin with him for safe keeping.

===Guard of the Citadel===
[[File:Peter Xavier Price - Pippin Comforts Merry.jpeg|thumb|right|''Pippin Comforts Merry'' by [[Peter Xavier Price]]]]
Upon arriving in Minas Tirith, Pippin went with Gandalf to the [[Citadel of Gondor|Citadel]] and recounted Boromir's death to [[Denethor]], who was Boromir's father as well as the [[Ruling Steward]]. In return for Boromir's untimely death, Pippin decided to pledge his allegiance to the grieving [[Stewards of Gondor|Steward]] and so became a [[Guards of the Citadel|Guard of the Citadel]]. Pippin befriended [[Beregond]], of the Third Company of the Citadel, who showed him 'round the city and told him the secret passwords and ways of the city, and became good friends with Beregond's son [[Bergil]].

[[File:Anke Eißmann - Pyre of Denethor.jpeg|thumb|left|''The Pyre of Denethor'' by [[Anke Eißmann]]]]
Denethor was amused with the Hobbit's manners, especially the way he spoke to him in a very informal and personalized familiar language, as with a close friend or social equal, since the [[Hobbitish]] dialect lacked formal forms. Denethor's servants were astonished to this view, and probably gave strength to the rumor that Pippin was of very high social rank within his own country, and soon a wild rumor circulated, that the "[[Ernil i Pheriannath]]" had promised 5,000 Hobbits to the defence of the city.

During the [[Siege of Gondor]], Pippin was instrumental in saving [[Faramir]]'s life. After Faramir had returned from battle, he was badly wounded and suffering from the [[Black Breath]]; [[Denethor]] looked into the [[Anor-stone|palantír of Minas Tirith]] and saw the full might of [[Mordor]]. Believing that Sauron's forces would prevail in battle, Denethor ordered his servants to set a pyre so both he and Faramir could burn alive, but Pippin was able to fetch Gandalf and Beregond who were both able to help save Faramir.

After the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]], Pippin found [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] all in a daze - due to Merry's confrontation with the [[Witch-king]] of [[Angmar]] - and took him to the [[Houses of Healing]] where he was healed by [[Aragorn]]. Pippin accompanied the forces of [[Rohan]] and [[Gondor]] to the [[Black Gate]] where he participated in the [[Battle of the Morannon]], and saved Beregond's life by slaying a [[Trolls|Troll]]. Pippin was crushed beneath the troll, but he was pulled out by [[Gimli]] who recognized his foot.

===After the War of the Ring===
[[File:Gregor Roffalski - Thain Peregrin I.jpg|thumb|''Thain Peregrin I'' by Gregor Roffalski]]
When Pippin and the other Hobbits returned to The Shire, they were enraged to see what had happened to their peaceful corner of the world. Pippin went off to [[Tookland]] to raise up the [[Took Family|Took]]s in rebellion, and when he returned for the [[Battle of Bywater]] he brought 100 strong hobbits with him. Pippin and Merry jointly commanded the Hobbit victory and their names were placed at the top of [[The Roll]] commemorating those who fought in the battle.<ref name="Scouring">{{RK|Scouring}}</ref>

Pippin and Merry were heroes, and would tell all the other hobbits the stories of their travels to far-off lands. They would often go out abroad wearing their armour (Pippin had remained a Knight of Gondor) and people thought they were lordly - a position likely enforced by their extraordinary height caused by the [[Ent-draughts]] (they were at least 4'5<nowiki>''</nowiki> tall - taller than [[Bandobras Took|Bullroarer Took]]).<ref name="Concerning">{{FR|Hobbits}}</ref>

In {{SR|1427}} (at the age of 37), he married [[Diamond of Long Cleeve]], and they had a child together, [[Faramir Took I|Faramir]], three years later.<ref name=later/>
===Thainship===
In {{SR|1434}} (at the age of 44) Pippin succeeded his father [[Paladin Took II|Paladin]] by becoming the 32nd [[Thain|Thain of the Shire]], and was also made a Counsellor of the North-kingdom by King Elessar.<ref name=later/>

In {{SR|1436}} King Elessar rode north and met Pippin, Merry and Sam at the [[Brandywine Bridge]]. In {{SR|1452}} the King, as a gift, added the [[Westmarch]] to The Shire, and in {{SR|1462}} at Sam's request Pippin appointed [[Fastred of Greenholm|Fastred]] - son-in-law of Sam - as the first [[Warden of Westmarch]].<ref name=later/>

As Thain, Pippin collected a library of historical information at [[Great Smials]], especially information relating to [[Númenor]] and the heirs of [[Elendil]]. It was at Great Smials that ''[[Appendix B|The Tale of Years]]'' was likely put together, with assistance from Merry, although Pippin himself probably didn't write any works. His successors expanded the collection.<ref name="Records">{{FR|Records}}</ref>

In {{SR|1484}}, at the age of 94 and having been Thain for 50 years, Pippin and Merry passed on their possessions and offices to their sons and left [[The Shire]] to visit [[Rohan]] where they stayed until King [[Éomer]] died and then moved to [[Gondor]]. When they died a few years later their bodies were placed in [[Rath Dínen]]; they were later laid beside King [[Aragorn|Aragorn II]] following his death in {{FoA|120}} ({{SR|1541}}).<ref name=later/>

==Genealogy==
<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree |boxstyle=white-space:nowrap;background-color:#FFFFFF;| | | OLD |y| CHU | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |OLD=[[Gerontius Took|The Old Took]] ''1190 - 1320''|CHU=[[Adamanta Chubb|Adamanta Chubb]] ''unknown''}}
{{familytree | |,|-|-|-|^|-|-|-|.| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree |boxstyle=white-space:nowrap;background-color:#FFFFFF;| HIL |y| ROS | | NCH | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |ROS=[[Rosa Baggins]] ''1256 - unknown''|HIL=[[Hildigrim Took|Hildigrim]] ''1240 - 1341''|NCH=''numerous children''}}
{{familytree | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree |boxstyle=white-space:nowrap;background-color:#FFFFFF;| | | ADA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |ADA=[[Adalgrim Took|Adalgrim]] ''1280 - 1382''}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| |}}
{{familytree |boxstyle=white-space:nowrap;background-color:#FFFFFF;| PAL |y| EGL | | | DAU | | | | | | | SAR |y| ESM |PAL=[[Paladin Took II|Paladin II]] ''1333 - 1434''|EGL=[[Eglantine Banks]] ''unknown''|DAU=''3 daughters''|ESM=[[Esmeralda Took|Esmeralda]] ''1336 - unknown''|SAR=[[Saradoc Brandybuck]] ''1340 - 1432''}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| | | | | | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree |boxstyle=white-space:nowrap;background-color:#FFFFFF;| PEA | | PIM | | PER | | PIP |y| DIA | | MER | | |PEA=[[Pearl Took|Pearl]] ''1375 - unknown''|PIM=[[Pimpernel Took|Pimpernel]] ''1379 - unknown''|PER=[[Pervinca Took|Pervinca]] ''1385 - unknown''|PIP='''PEREGRIN I''' ''1390 - 1484+''|DIA=[[Diamond of Long Cleeve|Diamond]] ''1395 - unknown''|MER=[[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Meriadoc]] ''1382 - 1484+''}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree |boxstyle=white-space: nowrap; background: #FFFFFF;| | | | | | | | | | | GOL |~| FAR | | | | | | | | |GOL=[[Goldilocks Gardner|Goldilocks]] ''1431 - unknown''|FAR=[[Faramir Took I|Faramir I]] ''1430 - unknown''}}
{{familytree/end}}
</div>

==Other names==
* '''Peregrin''' - Translation of Pippin's Westron name ''Razanur''<ref name="PM">{{PM|Languages}}</ref>, and is derived from Latin and was used for people who wandered. The English word ''pilgrim'' is derived from the same root.<ref name="Jim Allen">[[Jim Allan]], ''[[An Introduction to Elvish]]'', The Giving of Names</ref> When he became Thain he was registered as '''Thain Peregrin I'''.<ref>{{App|Took}}</ref>
* '''Pippin''' - A 'pet-form' related to the Westron abbreviation ''[[Razar]]'' which is a type of red [[apples|apple]]<ref name="PM">{{PM|Languages}}</ref>; pippin, alos a type of [[apples|apple]], is related to the word ''pip'', perhaps illustrating that Pippin was the youngest member of the Fellowship.
* '''[[Razanur Tûk]]''' - Peregrin's true [[Westron]] name, which contains the elements ''[[raza]]'' "stranger" and ''[[razan]]'' "foreign", and is the name of a legendary traveller.<ref name="PM">{{PM|Languages}}</ref>
* "''Fool of a Took''" and "''Tom-fool of a Took''" - given to him by [[Gandalf]] for his often mischievous behaviour, and, in particular, for dropping a stone down the well in [[Moria]].<ref>{{FR|II4}}</ref>
* ''[[Ernil i Pheriannath]]'' - [[Sindarin]] for "Prince of the Halflings", an erroneous title given to Pippin by the people of [[Minas Tirith]] on the belief he must be of high importance to be travelling with Gandalf.<ref name="Minas">{{RK|V1}}</ref>
* [[Guards of the Citadel|Guard of the Citadel]] - the office Pippin held when he swore fealty to [[Denethor]].<ref name="Minas"/>
* Knight of Gondor - a position which Aragorn confirmed Pippin held;<ref name="Partings">{{RK|Partings}}</ref> it is unclear whether being a Guard of the Citadel equates to being a Knight or if Aragorn elevated him to that position.
* [[Counsellor of the North-kingdom]] - a position granted to Pippin when he became Thain.<ref name=later/>

:''See also: [[Took Family]] for information on Pippin's surname.''

==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]]''), Frodo's counterpart Bingo Baggins was accompanied by his Took nephews, Frodo and Odo. Through what Chistopher Tolkien describes as a "''strangely torturous process''<nowiki>''</nowiki> these characters were gradually folded into the singular character of Peregrin Took. <ref name=":0" />

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Pippin in adaptations
|height=150
|width=200
|lines=2
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Pippin.jpg|Pippin in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Pippin.jpg|Pippin in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy - Pippin.jpg|[[Billy Boyd]] as Pippin in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
}}

'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:[[Basil Jones]] provided the voice of Pippin.

'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:The part of Peregrin Took voiced by [[Dominic Guard]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:[[Mac McCaddon]] provided the voice of Pippin.
'''1980: [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]:'''
:Pippin was voiced by the American actor [[Sonny Melendrez]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Pippin was voiced by [[John McAndrew]].

'''1992: ''[[Tales from the Perilous Realm (1992 radio series)|BBC Radio's Tales from the Perilous Realm]]'':'''
:The role of Pippin is played by [[David Learner]].

'''2001-03: [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]:'''
:[[Billy Boyd]] played Pippin. His characterization differed from the book, as he was more heavily relied upon for comic relief in the movies than in the book. Frodo's move to Crickhollow and the conspiracy are both omitted, so Pippin and Merry instead become entangled in the Quest of the Ring by accident when they run into Frodo and Sam while raiding Farmer Maggot's crop, neither of them having any prior knowledge of the One Ring or Frodo's quest.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Peregrin Took is provided by Robert Roth. He is addressed almost exclusively by his nickname Pippin. Roth portrays Pippin as resourceful, but a bit of a rascal and happy-go-lucky, befitting his position as the youngest and least experienced hobbit of the quartet.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[James Arnold Taylor]] provides the voice of Pippin. He is the comic relief character, and his jokes are primarily centered on food.

==See also==
* [[Bandobras Took|Bullroarer Took]]
* [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]]
* [[Took Family]]
{{references}}
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| name=Peregrin Took I
| race=hobbit
| house=[[Took Family]]
| born={{TA|2990}}
| died=Between {{FoA|63}} and {{FoA|120|n}}
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Paladin Took II]]
| list=32nd [[Thain]] of [[The Shire]]
| dates={{SR|1434}} - {{SR|1484|n}}
| next=[[Faramir Took I]]
}}
{{seq-end}}{{fellowship}}{{FellowshipRoute}}{{thains}}{{lordoftheringsfilms}}
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:Greco-Roman names]]
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Thains]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]
[[Category:Took]]

[[de:Peregrin Tuk]]
[[fi:Peregrin Tuk]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:hobbits:touque:peregrin_touque]]

Aragorn

2023-09-13T23:14:51Z

InglorFinrod: /* Films */

{{disambig-two|the King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]|5th [[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]|[[Aragorn I]]}}
{{sources}}
{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:John Howe - Elessar.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Elessar" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=''See [[Aragorn#Other names|below]]''
| titles=[[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]] Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] (after [[Gandalf]]'s death) King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]] [[Rohan]] [[Rhûn]] and [[Harad]]<ref>{{FR|Council}}, p. 248</ref>
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]] [[Sindarin]] [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]] (father) [[Gilraen]] (mother) [[Elrond]] (foster father)
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] At least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=At least 6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (1.98 m)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref><ref>{{NM|P2vi}}, p. 194</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (as a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (as a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] [[Hasufel]]
}}
<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''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil (King of Arnor)|Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|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 ===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn, and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought [[Elfstone|such a stone]], called the Elessar, from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]], and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").
[[File:Anna Kulisz - Elrond and Estel.jpg|thumb|left|''Elrond and Estel'' by [[:Category:Images by Anna Kulisz|Anna Kulisz]]]]
When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he was his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>

"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]

=== Life as a Ranger ===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from Mordor. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the Steward, whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He 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. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

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 harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

=== Hunt for Gollum ===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

=== The War of the Ring ===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, and Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

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, and 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.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
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]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the company for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

==== Leading the Fellowship of the Ring ====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|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 [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|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|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 defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. 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.

==== The 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 [[Oathbreakers|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.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[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 of Umbar|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 counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

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]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
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 [[Mount Doom|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]].

=== Reign as Elessar ===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. 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.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councellor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.

== Personality ==
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love.<ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> However, he was not immune to self-doubt, as he doubted his decisions in leading the Fellowship after Gandalf's death in Moria, and blamed himself for their hardships.{{fact}}

== Etymology ==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name. It means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

This clear etymology from Tolkien was not revealed until the publication in 2007 of "Words, Phrases & Passages in ''The Lord of the Rings''", a late 1950s manuscript. Before that, several theories were proposed:
*[[Ruth S. Noel]] and several others proposed "King of the Tree",<ref>[[Ruth S. Noel]], ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'', p. 114</ref> but Tolkien specifically said that this was not the case.<ref>{{L|347}}</ref>
*[[David Salo]] deduces "Having Kingly Valor"<ref>[[David Salo]], ''[[A Gateway to Sindarin]]'', p. 341</ref> from Tolkien's cryptic "'Kingly Valour' (for so is that name interpreted)".<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}, p. 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|''Vinyar Tengwar'' 31]], p. 18</ref>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

== Other names ==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> '''Edhelharn''' is the [[Sindarin]] word for [[Elfstone]] ([[Quenya|Q]]. ''[[Elessar]]''). Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer".
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. 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". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|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-landers|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.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

== Genealogy ==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see '''''[[Ancestry of Aragorn II]]''''' for Aragorn's full line of descent.

<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{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 | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}
</div>

=== Relation to Arwen ===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen was also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

== 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 [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there with the character envisioned as a relative of Bilbo and Frodo. This name would carry over when the character was revised into a man and would remain in use for much of the book's composition. During writing of the latter portions of Book II, Tolkien would temporarily rename the character, ''[[Elfstone]]'' on the proposition that a man should not have an Elvish name. Another name considered was ''[[Ingold]].''<ref name="comp">{{HM|RC}}</ref>

== Portrayal in adaptations ==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

=== Films ===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have accused this character of looking too much like a [[wikipedia:Stereotypes_of_Native_Americans|Native American stereotype]].{{Citation needed}}

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film. His role is dramatically reduced to a handful of scenes and there is no mention of any previous involvement with the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally 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]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part is this film is largely similar to the events in book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

=== Television ===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

=== Radio series ===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

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

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

=== Games ===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journey through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him looking in surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about an conservation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search to [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

== See also ==
*'''[[Timeline of Aragorn]]'''
*[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 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]] of ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{references|notes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aragorn}}

== Titles ==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]] Cadet branch of the [[House of Isildur]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}

{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2023-09-13T21:57:36Z

InglorFinrod: /* Other versions of the legendarium */

{{disambig-two|the King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]|5th [[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]|[[Aragorn I]]}}
{{sources}}
{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:John Howe - Elessar.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Elessar" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=''See [[Aragorn#Other names|below]]''
| titles=[[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]] Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] (after [[Gandalf]]'s death) King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]] [[Rohan]] [[Rhûn]] and [[Harad]]<ref>{{FR|Council}}, p. 248</ref>
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]] [[Sindarin]] [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]] (father) [[Gilraen]] (mother) [[Elrond]] (foster father)
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] At least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=At least 6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (1.98 m)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref><ref>{{NM|P2vi}}, p. 194</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (as a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (as a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] [[Hasufel]]
}}
<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''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil (King of Arnor)|Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|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 ===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn, and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought [[Elfstone|such a stone]], called the Elessar, from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]], and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").
[[File:Anna Kulisz - Elrond and Estel.jpg|thumb|left|''Elrond and Estel'' by [[:Category:Images by Anna Kulisz|Anna Kulisz]]]]
When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he was his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>

"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]

=== Life as a Ranger ===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from Mordor. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the Steward, whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He 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. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

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 harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

=== Hunt for Gollum ===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

=== The War of the Ring ===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, and Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

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, and 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.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
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]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the company for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

==== Leading the Fellowship of the Ring ====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|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 [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|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|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 defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. 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.

==== The 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 [[Oathbreakers|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.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[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 of Umbar|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 counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

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]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
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 [[Mount Doom|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]].

=== Reign as Elessar ===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. 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.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councellor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.

== Personality ==
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love.<ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> However, he was not immune to self-doubt, as he doubted his decisions in leading the Fellowship after Gandalf's death in Moria, and blamed himself for their hardships.{{fact}}

== Etymology ==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name. It means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

This clear etymology from Tolkien was not revealed until the publication in 2007 of "Words, Phrases & Passages in ''The Lord of the Rings''", a late 1950s manuscript. Before that, several theories were proposed:
*[[Ruth S. Noel]] and several others proposed "King of the Tree",<ref>[[Ruth S. Noel]], ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'', p. 114</ref> but Tolkien specifically said that this was not the case.<ref>{{L|347}}</ref>
*[[David Salo]] deduces "Having Kingly Valor"<ref>[[David Salo]], ''[[A Gateway to Sindarin]]'', p. 341</ref> from Tolkien's cryptic "'Kingly Valour' (for so is that name interpreted)".<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}, p. 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|''Vinyar Tengwar'' 31]], p. 18</ref>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

== Other names ==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> '''Edhelharn''' is the [[Sindarin]] word for [[Elfstone]] ([[Quenya|Q]]. ''[[Elessar]]''). Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer".
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. 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". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|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-landers|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.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

== Genealogy ==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see '''''[[Ancestry of Aragorn II]]''''' for Aragorn's full line of descent.

<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{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 | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}
</div>

=== Relation to Arwen ===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen was also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

== 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 [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there. During his writing, Tolkien would temporarily rename the character, ''[[Elfstone]]'' and later ''[[Ingold]].''<ref name="comp">{{HM|RC}}</ref>

== Portrayal in adaptations ==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

=== Films ===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have accused this character of looking too much like a [[wikipedia:Stereotypes_of_Native_Americans|Native American stereotype]].{{Citation needed}}

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film. His role is dramatically reduced to a handful of scenes.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally 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]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part is this film is largely similar to the events in book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

=== Television ===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

=== Radio series ===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

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

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

=== Games ===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journey through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him looking in surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about an conservation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search to [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

== See also ==
*'''[[Timeline of Aragorn]]'''
*[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 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]] of ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{references|notes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aragorn}}

== Titles ==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]] Cadet branch of the [[House of Isildur]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}

{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Epic Pooh

2020-01-28T19:44:56Z

InglorFinrod: More Good Counters to Moorcock

'''''Epic Pooh''''' is an article by the British science fiction writer Michael Moorcock, originally written for the BSFA, and revised for inclusion in his 1987 book ''[[Wizardry and Wild Romance]]''. In it, Moorcock reviews the field of epic fantasy, with a particular focus on epic fantasy written for children. The article has proven controversial because of its attack on [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.

Moorcock criticises a group of celebrated writers of epic fantasy for children, including Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and Richard Adams. His criticism is based on two principles: the poverty of their writing style, and a political criticism. Moorcock accuses these authors of espousing a form of "corrupted Romance", which he identifies with Anglican Toryism. The defining traits of this attitude are an anti-technological, anti-urban stance which is ultimately misanthropic, that glorifies a vanished or vanishing rural idyll, and is rooted in middle-class or bourgeois attitudes towards progress and political change.

Writers who Moorcock cites approvingly, in contrast to his treatment of Tolkien, Lewis and Adams, include Terry Pratchett, J. K. Rowling, Ursula LeGuin, Philip Pullman and Alan Garner.

The title arises from Moorcock's claim that the writing of Tolkien, Lewis, Adams and others has a similar purpose to the Winnie-the-Pooh writings of A. A. Milne, another author of whom he disapproves: it is intended to comfort rather than challenge.

Moorcock's most recent revisions to the piece add mention of such authors as Pratchett and Rowling and drop those whose names would be less familiar today. As an example, from the original "...are successful. It is the tone of Warwick Deepings ''Sorrell and Son'', of John Steinbeck at his worst, or, in a more sophisticated form..." and from the revised version "...are successful. It is the tone of many forgotten British and American bestsellers, well-remembered children's books, like The Wind in the Willows, you often hear it in regional fiction addressed to a local audience, or, in a more sophisticated form..."

==External links==
*[http://www.revolutionsf.com/print.php3?id=953 Epic Pooh,] Revised version. Michael Moorcock, (British Fantasy Society, 1978).
* [https://thesilverkey.blogspot.com/2009/11/cimmerian-sighting-knocking-some.html "Cimmerian sighting: Knocking some stuffing out of Moorcock's Epic Pooh"] By Brian Murphy
* [http://www.oldenhammer.com/2015/04/epic-burn-moorcock-versus-tolkien.html "Epic Burn: Moorcock versus Tolkien"] By Matthew J.K. Sullivan
* [https://gwydionmadawc.com/57-about-tolkien/defending-tolkien-against-michael-moorcocks-condemnation/ "Defending Tolkien against Moorcock's Condemnation: Cock and Bull about Epic Fantasy"] By Gwydion Williams
* [https://www.curtisweyant.com/blog/epic-pooh-pooh/ "Epic Pooh-Pooh"] By Curtis Weyant
[[Category:Published articles]]
[[category:Tolkien criticism]]

Epic Pooh

2020-01-28T18:53:03Z

InglorFinrod: Providing links to some good analysis and rebuttal of Epic Pooh.

'''''Epic Pooh''''' is an article by the British science fiction writer Michael Moorcock, originally written for the BSFA, and revised for inclusion in his 1987 book ''[[Wizardry and Wild Romance]]''. In it, Moorcock reviews the field of epic fantasy, with a particular focus on epic fantasy written for children. The article has proven controversial because of its attack on [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.

Moorcock criticises a group of celebrated writers of epic fantasy for children, including Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and Richard Adams. His criticism is based on two principles: the poverty of their writing style, and a political criticism. Moorcock accuses these authors of espousing a form of "corrupted Romance", which he identifies with Anglican Toryism. The defining traits of this attitude are an anti-technological, anti-urban stance which is ultimately misanthropic, that glorifies a vanished or vanishing rural idyll, and is rooted in middle-class or bourgeois attitudes towards progress and political change.

Writers who Moorcock cites approvingly, in contrast to his treatment of Tolkien, Lewis and Adams, include Terry Pratchett, J. K. Rowling, Ursula LeGuin, Philip Pullman and Alan Garner.

The title arises from Moorcock's claim that the writing of Tolkien, Lewis, Adams and others has a similar purpose to the Winnie-the-Pooh writings of A. A. Milne, another author of whom he disapproves: it is intended to comfort rather than challenge.

Moorcock's most recent revisions to the piece add mention of such authors as Pratchett and Rowling and drop those whose names would be less familiar today. As an example, from the original "...are successful. It is the tone of Warwick Deepings ''Sorrell and Son'', of John Steinbeck at his worst, or, in a more sophisticated form..." and from the revised version "...are successful. It is the tone of many forgotten British and American bestsellers, well-remembered children's books, like The Wind in the Willows, you often hear it in regional fiction addressed to a local audience, or, in a more sophisticated form..."

==External links==
*[http://www.revolutionsf.com/print.php3?id=953 Epic Pooh,] Revised version. Michael Moorcock, (British Fantasy Society, 1978).
* [https://thesilverkey.blogspot.com/2009/11/cimmerian-sighting-knocking-some.html "Cimmerian sighting: Knocking some stuffing out of Moorcock's Epic Pooh"] By Brian Murphy
* [http://www.oldenhammer.com/2015/04/epic-burn-moorcock-versus-tolkien.html "Epic Burn:Moorcock versus Tolkien"] By Matthew J.K. Sullivan
[[Category:Published articles]]
[[category:Tolkien criticism]]