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The unnamed '''last prince of Cardolan''' was the last ruler of [[Cardolan]] during the war against [[Angmar]]. He fell on the war of {{TA|1409}}.
{{unnamed}}
 
The '''last prince of Cardolan''' was a noble during the demise of [[Cardolan]].


== History ==
== History ==
=== Rulers of Cardolan ===
The last prince was the ruler of the splinter-realm of Cardolan after no descendants of [[Isildur]] remained there.<ref name=Eriador>{{App|Eriador}}, ''The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain'', p. 1039</ref> As a consequence, the prince was not a direct descendant of the [[High King (Dúnedain)|High King]].
After King [[Eärendur]] died in {{TA|861}}, his second son assumed the throne of Cardolan as an independent king, in contrast with his brother [[Amlaith]], who took the crown of [[Arthedain]]. While in Arthedain the blood of [[Isildur]] survived, in Cardolan his line soon failed. Cardolan then accepted [[Argeleb I]] as King of Arnor, but probably retained its prince as a vassal ruler.<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref><ref>{{PM|Elendil}}</ref>


=== War against Angmar ===
The prince flourished during the [[Angmar War]]. It is possible that Cardolan had accepted the claim of [[Argeleb I]] to overlordship over Cardolan as [[King of Arnor]],<ref name=Eriador/> being a [[Heir of Isildur|direct descendant]] of Isildur around {{TA|1356}} and that the last prince retained his office as a vassal ruler.<ref group=note>In the entry for the year 1356 of manuscript T4 of {{PM|Third}} king Argeleb is slain in battle with Cardolan and Rhudaur and both realms resist his claim to overlordship, but the section ''The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain'' in {{App|Eriador}} only mentions that his claim was resisted by Rhudaur and that he was slain in battle with Rhudaur and Angmar without mentioning that Cardolan resisted the claim or that he died in battle with Cardolan. In addition Cardolan later helps Arthedain in the wars with Rhudaur and Angmar. Furthermore, a [[Last prince of Cardolan|prince]] of Cardolan, rather than a king of Cardolan is mentioned later.</ref>
The last prince of Cardolan died during the war of {{TA|1409}}, a fierce conflict against the Witch-kingdom of Angmar and its ally [[Rhudaur]]. He was then buried in the [[Barrow-downs]] the same year.<ref name=War1409>{{App|Eriador}}, The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain, entries about the war with Angmar in 1409</ref><ref>{{PM|Elendil}}</ref>  


=== Mentions ===
The prince fell in the war of {{TA|1409}} against Angmar and Rhudaur. He was then buried in the [[Barrow-downs]] the same year.<ref name=Eriador/>
On [[28 September]] {{TA|3018|n}}<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> [[Frodo Baggins]] and his comrades were trapped in the Barrow-downs by a [[Barrow-wight|wight]], probably in the same [[uncommon words|cairn]] which held the grave of the last prince of [[Cardolan]].<ref>{{App|Gondor}}, paragraphs about the war of 1409; Index, ''Barrow-downs, the Barrow where Frodo was buried'' </ref><ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", pp. 144-5; Index, ''Barrow-downs, Barrow of the last prince''</ref><ref>{{PM|Elendil}}</ref> According to the rare manuscript ''[[The Hunt for the Ring|The Hunt for the Ring: Time Scheme - Black Riders]]'', the [[Witch King]] had already risen and empowered the [[Barrow-wights]] of Cardolan<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", p. 145-6</ref> and slain the [[Ranger]]s in order to trap the [[Ring]]-bearer.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}</ref><ref name=RC>{{HM|RC}}, "Flight to the Ford", p. 180</ref> While [[Merry]] was trapped in the mound, he dreamed that he and others were attacked and defeated by “the men of [[Carn Dûm]]” at night and that his heart had been pierced with a spear.<ref>{{FR|Barrow}}, statements of Merry after waking up from his sleep in the barrow</ref>


According to ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]'', Merry could not have seen the memories of the [[Barrow-wight]], since it was sent to the Barrow-downs by the [[Witch King]] of Angmar only in {{TA|1636}}, while the last prince was slain in {{TA|1409}}. Therefore, he was dreaming the last hours of the last prince of Cardolan and his men, specifically their last night, when they fell after valiantly defending their kingdom from the forces of Angmar (“the men of Carn Dûm” are the servants and warriors of the Witch King).<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", pp. 144-5; Index, ''Cardolan, last prince of''</ref>
In that tomb was a pile of treasures, including a blue-jewelled brooch belonging to a "fair" woman that [[Tom Bombadil]] seemingly knew long ago.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", p. 146</ref><ref name=frbarrow>{{FR|Barrow|50}}</ref>{{rp|144-5}} Whether that lady was related to the last prince,<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", pp. 146-7</ref> no tale tells.


== Family ==
==Legacy==
After freeing the [[Hobbits]] from the cairn of the last prince, [[Tom Bombadil]] took for [[Goldberry]] a blue-jewelled brooch belonging to a “fair” woman he seemingly knew long ago.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", p. 146</ref><ref>{{FR|Barrow}}, statements of Tom Bombadil regarding the blue-jewelled brooch</ref> Considering that the kings were very often buried with their wives in the barrows, it has been speculated that the brooch belonged to the wife of the last prince (or, potentially, his daughter), met by Tom centuries before.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", pp. 146-7</ref>
The [[Witch-king]] of Angmar rose and empowered the [[Barrow-wights]] of Cardolan<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", p. 145-6</ref> and slain the [[Rangers of the North]] in order to trap the [[Ring]]-bearer.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}</ref><ref name=RC>{{HM|RC}}, "Flight to the Ford", p. 180</ref> Indeed, on [[28 September]] {{TA|3018|n}}<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> [[Frodo Baggins]] and his comrades were trapped in the Barrow-downs by a [[Barrow-wight]], which some say was the same [[uncommon words|cairn]] which held the grave of the last prince of Cardolan.<ref name=Eriador/><ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", pp. 144-5</ref>
 
While [[Merry]] was trapped in the mound, he dreamed that he and others were attacked and defeated by "the men of [[Carn Dûm]]" at night and that his heart had been pierced with a spear<ref name=frbarrow/>{{rp|p.143}} which probably was a memory of the last moments of the prince.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", pp. 144-5; Index, ''Cardolan, last prince of''</ref>


== Other versions of the legendarium ==  
== Other versions of the legendarium ==  
In the earlier versions of the story, the barrow where the Hobbits were trapped was said to belong to a prince of the men that “fought against the evil foes” long ago, and was slain during the war. The identification of the buried prince with the last prince of Cardolan, as well as the appearance of Angmar and the men of Carn Dûm, are subsequent.<ref>{{RS|Wight}}, p. 127-8</ref><ref>{{TI|From Bree to the Ford and Rivendell}}, p. 37</ref>  
In the earlier versions of the story, the barrow where the Hobbits were trapped was said to belong to a prince of the men that "fought against the evil foes" long ago, and was slain during the war. The identification of the buried prince with the last prince of Cardolan, as well as the appearance of Angmar and the men of Carn Dûm, are subsequent.<ref>{{RS|Wight}}, p. 127-8</ref><ref>{{TI|Bree}}, p. 37</ref>  
Also, in the earlier versions Tom Bombadil’s statement regarding the blue-jewelled brooch he took for Goldberry, and the mysterious lady that once wore it, was almost identical to the published version, although he also mentioned that they will not forgot the kings, the warriors and the fair maidens of the past.<ref>{{RS|Wight}}, p. 128</ref>
 
Also, in the earlier versions Tom Bombadil's statement regarding the blue-jewelled brooch he took for Goldberry, and the mysterious lady that once wore it, was almost identical to the published version, except that he also mentioned that "they shall not forget" the kings, the warriors and the fair maidens of the past.<ref>{{RS|Wight}}, p. 128</ref>


{{References}}
{{References|n}}
[[Category:Dúnedain of the North]]
[[Category:Rulers in Middle-earth]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

Revision as of 19:16, 12 November 2022

This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name.


The last prince of Cardolan was a noble during the demise of Cardolan.

History

The last prince was the ruler of the splinter-realm of Cardolan after no descendants of Isildur remained there.[1] As a consequence, the prince was not a direct descendant of the High King.

The prince flourished during the Angmar War. It is possible that Cardolan had accepted the claim of Argeleb I to overlordship over Cardolan as King of Arnor,[1] being a direct descendant of Isildur around T.A. 1356 and that the last prince retained his office as a vassal ruler.[note 1]

The prince fell in the war of T.A. 1409 against Angmar and Rhudaur. He was then buried in the Barrow-downs the same year.[1]

In that tomb was a pile of treasures, including a blue-jewelled brooch belonging to a "fair" woman that Tom Bombadil seemingly knew long ago.[2][3]:144-5 Whether that lady was related to the last prince,[4] no tale tells.

Legacy

The Witch-king of Angmar rose and empowered the Barrow-wights of Cardolan[5] and slain the Rangers of the North in order to trap the Ring-bearer.[6][7] Indeed, on 28 September 3018[8] Frodo Baggins and his comrades were trapped in the Barrow-downs by a Barrow-wight, which some say was the same cairn which held the grave of the last prince of Cardolan.[1][9]

While Merry was trapped in the mound, he dreamed that he and others were attacked and defeated by "the men of Carn Dûm" at night and that his heart had been pierced with a spear[3]:p.143 which probably was a memory of the last moments of the prince.[10]

Other versions of the legendarium

In the earlier versions of the story, the barrow where the Hobbits were trapped was said to belong to a prince of the men that "fought against the evil foes" long ago, and was slain during the war. The identification of the buried prince with the last prince of Cardolan, as well as the appearance of Angmar and the men of Carn Dûm, are subsequent.[11][12]

Also, in the earlier versions Tom Bombadil's statement regarding the blue-jewelled brooch he took for Goldberry, and the mysterious lady that once wore it, was almost identical to the published version, except that he also mentioned that "they shall not forget" the kings, the warriors and the fair maidens of the past.[13]

Notes

  1. ↑ In the entry for the year 1356 of manuscript T4 of J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VIII. The Tale of Years of the Third Age" king Argeleb is slain in battle with Cardolan and Rhudaur and both realms resist his claim to overlordship, but the section The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain in J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur" only mentions that his claim was resisted by Rhudaur and that he was slain in battle with Rhudaur and Angmar without mentioning that Cardolan resisted the claim or that he died in battle with Cardolan. In addition Cardolan later helps Arthedain in the wars with Rhudaur and Angmar. Furthermore, a prince of Cardolan, rather than a king of Cardolan is mentioned later.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur", The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain, p. 1039
  2. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", p. 146
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings (50th Anniv. Ed.), The Fellowship of the Ring, "Fog on the Barrow-downs"
  4. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", pp. 146-7
  5. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", p. 145-6
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Hunt for the Ring"
  7. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, "Flight to the Ford", p. 180
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years"
  9. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", pp. 144-5
  10. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", pp. 144-5; Index, Cardolan, last prince of
  11. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Return of the Shadow, "The First Phase: VII. The Barrow-wight", p. 127-8
  12. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Treason of Isengard, "III. The Fourth Phase (2): From Bree to the Ford of Rivendell", p. 37
  13. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Return of the Shadow, "The First Phase: VII. The Barrow-wight", p. 128
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