King of Arnor: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Rondador_-_Armor_Emblem.png|thumb|Emblem of Arnor]]
[[File:Rondador_-_Armor_Emblem.png|thumb|Emblem of Arnor]]
==History==
==History==
Originally, Elendil was the [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Gondor]] and Arnor. After his death, he was followed by his son as Isildur, who retained the title of High King. His reign lasted only two years, however, and after his death the realm was split. Valandil his son claimed only the kingship of Arnor, leaving the kingship of Gondor to the house of Anárion.<ref>{{App|North}}</ref>
Originally, Elendil was the [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Gondor]] and Arnor. After his death, he was followed by his son as Isildur, who retained the title of High King. His reign lasted only two years, however, and after his death the realm was split. Valandil his son claimed only the kingship of Arnor, leaving the kingship of Gondor to the house of Anárion.<ref name="app">{{App|North}}</ref>


After Eärendur the realm of [[Arnor]] was split between his three sons, founding the realms of [[Arthedain]], [[Cardolan]] and [[Rhudaur]]. The elder line of Kings continued with the '''[[Kings of Arthedain]]'''.<ref>{{App|North}}</ref>
After Eärendur the realm of [[Arnor]] was split between his three sons, founding the realms of [[Arthedain]], [[Cardolan]] and [[Rhudaur]]. The elder line of Kings continued with the '''[[Kings of Arthedain]]'''.<ref name="app" />


In {{TA|1349}}, the descendants of Eärendur had died out in Cardolan and Rhudaur, and [[Argeleb I]] of Arthedain again claimed the title '''King of Arnor'''. The Kings of Arthedain were then added to the elder list of Kings. Argeleb, 7th King of Arthedain, is thus referred to as the 17th of the Kings of Arnor, and Arvedui was the 25th and last King of the Northern Line.
In {{TA|1349}}, the descendants of Eärendur had died out in Cardolan and Rhudaur, and [[Argeleb I]] of Arthedain again claimed the title '''King of Arnor'''.<ref>{{App|Exile}}</ref> The Kings of Arthedain were then added to the elder list of Kings. Argeleb, 7th King of Arthedain, is thus referred to as the 17th of the Kings of Arnor, and Arvedui was the 25th and last King of the Northern Line.{{Fact}}


After Arvedui the Northern Kingdom was no more, and the line of Kings continued in the [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]], ruling over the [[Rangers of the North]] until the realm of Arnor was restored by Aragorn II Elessar.<ref>{{App|North}}</ref>
After Arvedui the Northern Kingdom was no more, and the line of Kings continued in the [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]], ruling over the [[Rangers of the North]] until the realm of Arnor was restored by Aragorn II Elessar.<ref name="app" />
 
Though the kings of Arnor faded, some folk maintained the faint belief that the kings would return, such as the Hobbits, who maintained an idiom related to this hoped for event. The memory of the northern kings would also not be forgotten in Gondor, where the line of kings had failed altogether.


==Office and duties==
==Office and duties==
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{{references}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Mannish titles]]
[[Category:Mannish titles]]
[[Category:Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Middle-earth]]

Revision as of 01:42, 8 May 2021

The Kings of Arnor were the rulers of the Northern kingdom of Arnor, located in Eriador. They were descended from Elendil and the Lords of Andúnië. The line would persist even after the fall of Arnor, and would eventually resurface at the end of the Third Age to retake the kingship of the North Kingdom.

Emblem of Arnor

History

Originally, Elendil was the High King of both Gondor and Arnor. After his death, he was followed by his son as Isildur, who retained the title of High King. His reign lasted only two years, however, and after his death the realm was split. Valandil his son claimed only the kingship of Arnor, leaving the kingship of Gondor to the house of Anárion.[1]

After Eärendur the realm of Arnor was split between his three sons, founding the realms of Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur. The elder line of Kings continued with the Kings of Arthedain.[1]

In T.A. 1349, the descendants of Eärendur had died out in Cardolan and Rhudaur, and Argeleb I of Arthedain again claimed the title King of Arnor.[2] The Kings of Arthedain were then added to the elder list of Kings. Argeleb, 7th King of Arthedain, is thus referred to as the 17th of the Kings of Arnor, and Arvedui was the 25th and last King of the Northern Line.[source?]

After Arvedui the Northern Kingdom was no more, and the line of Kings continued in the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, ruling over the Rangers of the North until the realm of Arnor was restored by Aragorn II Elessar.[1]

Though the kings of Arnor faded, some folk maintained the faint belief that the kings would return, such as the Hobbits, who maintained an idiom related to this hoped for event. The memory of the northern kings would also not be forgotten in Gondor, where the line of kings had failed altogether.

Office and duties

The king of Arnor had similar powers and duties to those of the king of Gondor. The king would have control over the militaries of Arnor. He also had the ability to grant lands to others as fiefs or vassals. For instance, the Shire was originally a grant from the king to the hobbits. King Elessar would renew this grant upon his own accession to the throne, naming several officials of the Shire such as the Thain as a Counsellor of the North-kingdom.[3]

The King would also have the legal right both to use a palantír and to appoint someone to do so in his stead.[4]

There were several heirlooms the King would wear or use as signs of their authority. The most famous of these were the shards of Narsil, the broken sword of Elendil. Another was the Ring of Barahir, received from Finrod Felagund during the Elder Days by an ancient ancestor. The final heirloom was the Sceptre of Annúminas, a silver rod from the days of Numenor.[5]

During the reign of Elessar, the Elendilmir was found in the tower of Orthanc, where it had ended up after Saruman stole the body of Isildur from the Gladden Fields. Elessar would wear the fillet on his brow when he was in the North kingdom[6]

List of Kings

First Line of the Kings of Arnor
  Name Reign Notes
1. Elendil, son of Amandil S.A. 3320S.A. 3441 Founded the realm
2. Isildur S.A. 3441T.A. 2 Last High King of the Realms in Exile
3. Valandil T.A. 2T.A. 249 First independent King of Arnor
4. Eldacar T.A. 249T.A. 339
5. Arantar T.A. 339T.A. 435
6. Tarcil T.A. 435T.A. 515
7. Tarondor T.A. 515T.A. 602
8. Valandur T.A. 602T.A. 652 Cause of premature death not recorded
9. Elendur T.A. 652T.A. 777
10. Eärendur T.A. 777T.A. 861 last King of Arnor before the nation split
11. Amlaith, eldest son of Eärendur T.A. 861T.A. 946 first King of Arthedain.
12. Beleg T.A. 946T.A. 1029
13. Mallor T.A. 1029T.A. 1110
14. Celepharn T.A. 1110T.A. 1191
15. Celebrindor T.A. 1191T.A. 1272
16. Malvegil T.A. 1272T.A. 1349
17. Argeleb I T.A. 1349T.A. 1356 Killed in battle with Angmar
18. Arveleg I T.A. 1356T.A. 1409 Killed at fall of Amon Sûl
19. Araphor T.A. 1409T.A. 1589
20. Argeleb II T.A. 1589T.A. 1670 Granted Hobbits permission to settle in Shire
21. Arvegil T.A. 1670T.A. 1743
22. Arveleg II T.A. 1743T.A. 1813
23. Araval T.A. 1813T.A. 1891
24. Araphant T.A. 1891T.A. 1964
25. Arvedui T.A. 1964T.A. 1975 last King of the Northern Kingdom, drowned in shipwreck
26. Elessar T.A. 3019Fo.A. 120 first High King of the Reunited Kingdom
27. Eldarion Fo.A. 120 – c. Fo.A. 220 Last king whose name appears in the Red Book.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Northern Line: Heirs of Isildur"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "Later Events Concerning the Members of the Fellowship of the Ring"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Palantíri"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen"
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields"