| Gondorian | |
| Denethor I | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Titles | Ruling Steward |
| Location | Gondor |
| Language | Westron |
| Birth | T.A. 2375 |
| Rule | T.A. 2435 - 2477 (42 years) |
| Death | T.A. 2477 (aged 102) |
| Family | |
| House | House of Húrin |
| Parentage | Rían |
| Children | 2 older children,[1] Boromir |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
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
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,[3][4] and was succeeded by his son Boromir.[7]
Etymology
For the meaning of his name refer to Denethor - Etymology. It is possible that Denethor I was named after the Nando chieftain of the Laiquendi of the First Age.[10]
Genealogy
| Barahir 2290 - 2412 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Dior 2328 - 2435 | Rían unknown | ||||||||||||||||||
| DENETHOR I 2375 - 2477 | |||||||||||||||||||
| two older children unknown | Boromir 2410 - 2489 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cirion 2449 - 2567 | |||||||||||||||||||
References
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 3.0 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
- ↑ 4.0 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
- ↑ 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
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 2460, p. 1087
- ↑ 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
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith", p. 750
- ↑ 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
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part Two. Body, Mind and Spirit: V. Beards", footnote 3, p. 189
Born | Denethor I | Died |
Preceded by | Followed by |