Denethor I

From Tolkien Gateway
The name Denethor refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Denethor (disambiguation).
Denethor I
Gondorian
Biographical Information
TitlesRuling Steward
LocationGondor
LanguageWestron
BirthT.A. 2375
RuleT.A. 2435 - 2477 (42 years)
DeathT.A. 2477 (aged 102)
Family
HouseHouse of Húrin
ParentageRían
Children2 older children,[1] Boromir
Physical Description
GenderMale

Denethor I (Third Age 2375[2] – 2477,[3] aged 102 years) was the tenth Ruling Steward of Gondor and ruled from from T.A. 2435[4] until his death in 2477.

History[edit | edit source]

Denethor was probably named after the leader of the Laiquendi in the First Age, as it was customary in the House of Húrin to name sons after figures from the legends of the Noldor and their interactions with the Edain[5].

During the time of Denethor’s rule the Watchful Peace came to an end (in T.A. 2460) when Sauron returned with increased strength to Dol Guldur.[6] In the last years of his rule the Uruks, black Orcs with great strength, came from Mordor for the first time and assailed and overran Ithilien and captured Osgiliath in T.A. 2475. Denethor’s son, Boromir, defeated the invaders and reconquered Ithilien, but Osigiliath was left in ruins and its great stone-bridge over the river Anduin was broken and Osgiliath was abandoned by its population.[7]

The Rammas Echor was built with a great amount of labour after the province of Ithilien fell under the shadow of the Enemy[8] during the rule of Steward Denethor,[9] but it is not specified if it was during the rule of Steward Denethor I or Steward Denethor II. It is possible that Denethor I had the Rammas Echor constructed after the capture of Osgiliath, to protect the Pelennor Fields which fed Minas Tirith, because the borders of Gondor were under constant threat from his rule on[7].

Denethor I ruled as Steward for forty-two years,[4][3] and was succeeded by his son Boromir[7].

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
Barahir
2290 - 2412
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dior
2328 - 2435
 
Rían
unknown
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DENETHOR I
2375 - 2477
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
two older children
unknown
 
Boromir
2410 - 2489
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cirion
2449 - 2567


References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", manuscript C, The Ruling Stewards, entry 11. Boromir, p. 205
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", manuscript C, The Ruling Stewards of Gondor, entry 10. Denethor I, p. 204
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Southern Line: Heirs of Anarion", Ruling Stewards, entry for Denethor I, p. 1039
  4. 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Southern Line: Heirs of Anarion", Ruling Stewards, entry for Dior, p. 1039
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", manuscript C, The Ruling Stewards of Gondor, p. 203
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 2460, p. 1087
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", "The Stewards", entry for Steward Denethor I, p. 1053
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith", p. 750
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Unfinished index for The Lord of the Rings", in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, entry Rammas Echor, p. 512
Denethor I
House of Húrin
Born: T.A. 2375 Died: T.A. 2477
Preceded by:
Dior
10th Ruling Steward of Gondor
T.A. 2435 - 2477
Followed by:
Boromir


The Southern Line and the Heirs of Anárion
Kings of Gondor: Elendil (S.A. 3320 - 3441) · Isildur (S.A. 3441 - T.A. 2) and Anárion (S.A. 3320 - 3440) · Meneldil (T.A. 2 - 158) · Cemendur (158 - 238) · Eärendil (238 - 324) · Anardil (324 - 411) · Ostoher (411 - 492) · Rómendacil I (492 - 541) · Turambar (541 - 667) · Atanatar I (667 - 748) · Siriondil (748 - 830) · Tarannon Falastur (830 - 913) · Eärnil I (913 - 936) · Ciryandil (936 - 1015) · Hyarmendacil I (1015 - 1149) · Atanatar II Alcarin (1149 - 1226) · Narmacil I (1226 - 1294) · Calmacil (1294 - 1304) · Rómendacil II (1304 - 1366) · Valacar (1366 - 1432) · Eldacar (1432 - 1437) · Castamir the Usurper (1437 - 1447) · Eldacar restored (1447 - 1490) · Aldamir (1490 - 1540) · Hyarmendacil II (1540 - 1621) · Minardil (1621 - 1634) · Telemnar (1634 - 1636) · Tarondor (1636 - 1798) · Telumehtar Umbardacil (1798 - 1850) · Narmacil II (1850 - 1856) · Calimehtar (1856 - 1936) · Ondoher (1936 - 1944) · Eärnil II (1945 - 2043) · Eärnur (2043 - 2050)
Stewards of Gondor: Húrin of Emyn Arnen (c. T.A. 1630s) · Pelendur (before T.A. 1944 - 1998) · Vorondil (1998 - 2029) · Mardil Voronwë (2029 - 2080) · Eradan (2080 - 2116) · Herion (2116 - 2148) · Belegorn (2148 - 2204) · Húrin I (2204 - 2244) · Túrin I (2244 - 2278) · Hador (2278 - 2395) · Barahir (2395 - 2412) · Dior (2412 - 2435) · Denethor I (2435 - 2477) · Boromir (2477 - 2489) · Cirion (2489 - 2567) · Hallas (2567 - 2605) · Húrin II (2605 - 2628) · Belecthor I (2628 - 2655) · Orodreth (2655 - 2685) · Ecthelion I (2685 - 2698) · Egalmoth (2698 - 2743) · Beren (2743 - 2763) · Beregond (2763 - 2811) · Belecthor II (2811 - 2872) · Thorondir (2872 - 2882) · Túrin II (2882 - 2914) · Turgon (2914 - 2953) · Ecthelion II (2953 - 2984) · Denethor II (2984 - 3019) · Faramir (T.A. 3019 - Fo.A. 82) · Elboron (Fo.A. 82 onwards)
Kings of Gondor: Elessar (T.A. 3019 - Fo.A. 120) · Eldarion (Fo.A. 120 onwards)
Non-ruling stewards are in italics