.jpg) | |
| Gondorian | |
| Imrahil | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Other names | "the Fair" |
| Titles | Prince of Dol Amroth |
| Location | Dol Amroth |
| Language | Westron |
| Birth | T.A. 2955 |
| Rule | T.A. 3010 - Fo.A. 34 |
| Death | Fo.A. 34 (aged 100) |
| Family | |
| House | House of Dol Amroth |
| Parentage | Adrahil |
| Siblings | Ivriniel and Finduilas |
| Children | Elphir, Erchirion, Amrothos and Lothíriel |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Gallery | Images of Imrahil |
That is a fair lord and a great captain of men. If Gondor has such men still in these days of fading, great must have been its glory in the days of its rising.
Imrahil was the twenty-second Prince of Dol Amroth.
History
Early life
Imrahil was the only son of Adrahil of Dol Amroth. He had two older sisters, Ivriniel and Finduilas. After his father's death, he became Prince in T.A. 3010. Imrahil had four children: Elphir, Erchirion, Amrothos and Lothíriel.[1]
War of the Ring
During the War of the Ring, Imrahil came to the aid of his brother-in-law, Denethor II. On 9 March, T.A. 3019, he came into Minas Tirith with a company of knights and seven hundred soldiers.[2] On 13 March, as Southrons harassed Faramir, Imrahil and his knights, with Gandalf, formed a sortie, and Imrahil himself saved his sister-son from his pursuers.[3] Faramir received a poisonous wound, and Denethor fell to madness. Being the highest ranking officer in Gondor fit for battle, Imrahil took command, and quickly passed it on to Gandalf.
Two days later, the Battle of the Pelennor Fields raged before the city. Imrahil ventured outside the city, and witnessed the funeral procession of Théoden. Here he beheld Éowyn, and wondered that Rohan would send even women in Gondor's great need. Though Théoden had passed, Imrahil recognised that Éowyn still lived (though she was near death), and ordered that she be taken to the Houses of Healing.
Because Éomer and his riders were outnumbered, Imrahil rode into battle, together with Húrin the Tall, Forlong of Lossarnach and Hirluin the Fair, and they were soon joined by Aragorn who landed at Harlond. Imrahil continued East, driving the frightened Variags and orcs away.
Imrahil survived the battle unscathed, and together with Éomer and Aragorn he came to the Great Gate of Minas Tirith.[4] Imrahil recognized that Aragorn was the rightful King, but he agreed that it was wise for Aragorn to wait to enter the city, because he knew Denethor was strong-willed and proud.
When Imrahil learned that Denethor was dead and Faramir dying, he suggested that Aragorn be summoned, remembering that the Kings of old were great healers. Aragorn came at Gandalf's request to heal the wounded Faramir, Éowyn, and Merry, but he declared that Prince Imrahil should rule the City until Faramir awoke, in effect granting Imrahil the temporary position of Steward. Though Aragorn also declared that Gandalf should lead them in all things for the remaining days of the war, to which Imrahil agreed.
On 16 March, T.A. 3019, Legolas recognized that Imrahil had elven-blood when he looked at him during their meeting in Minas Tirith.[5] On the same day Imrahil participated in the debate of the Captains of the West. Gandalf proposed that they march to the Morannon to distract Sauron's attention from Frodo the Ring-bearer. Aragorn agreed to this advice and said that he did not yet claim to command any man, so the others should choose if they wanted to follow it. Imrahil said that he considered Aragorn to be his liege-lord, regardless whether Aragorn claimed it or not and that he would follow him. Imrahil also stated that he stood in the place of the Steward of Gondor and advised that some troops should remain to protect the City. In the end it was decided that an army of 7,000 would ride forth. Imrahil laughed at the thought.[6] Húrin the Tall was left behind in command.
The Host of the West left Minas Tirith on 18 March. Bypassing Minas Morgul and marching North, the heralds announced the coming of King Elessar at Imrahil's advice. When Sauron's forces emerged from the Black Gate on March 25, Imrahil stood on the front line with his men. They fought the Battle of the Morannon until the One Ring was destroyed.[7]
Prince Imrahil was present at the celebrations of the field of Cormallen, and the coronation of Aragorn as King Elessar, and rode with the funeral procession of King Théoden to Rohan, remaining in Edoras after the King's burial on August 10. Imrahil and Éomer became great friends, and in T.A. 3021 Éomer wed Imrahil's daughter Lothíriel.[8]
Later life
After the War of the Ring, Prince Imrahil and his nephew Faramir, Prince of Ithilien, were King Elessar's chief commanders. Imrahil was also part of the Great Council of Gondor, and remained an advisor of the King.[9]
Prince Imrahil died in the year 34 of the Fourth Age, and was succeed by his eldest son Elphir, who continued the line of Princes.[1]
Etymology
Imrahil is an Adûnaic name.[10][11] Its meaning is not glossed.
The second element -hil, also seen in the name Adrahil, is perhaps related to the Westron ending -kil[note 1] and perhaps ultimately related to Elvish "follower" (KHIL).[12][13][14]
Considering the Elvish root KHIL, Carl F. Hostetter and Patrick H. Wynne have proposed as a possible meaning "Heir of Imra" with the first element Imra being the same as the first element in the name Imrazôr and the second element -hil ("heir").[15]
Genealogy
| Angelimir 2866 - 2977 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adrahil 2917 - 3010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ivriniel b. 2947 | Finduilas 2950 - 2988 | Denethor II 2930 - 3019† | IMRAHIL 2955 - Fo.A. 34 | Kings of Rohan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boromir 2978 - 3019† | Faramir 2983 - Fo.A. 82 | Elphir 2987 - Fo.A. 67 | Erchirion b. 2990 | Amrothos b. 2994 | Lothíriel b. 2999 | Éomer 2991 - Fo.A. 63 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elboron unknown | Alphros 3017 - Fo.A. 95 | Elfwine unknown | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Description
Portrayal in adaptations
_-_Imrahil.png)
![The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game[note 2]](/wiki/File:Decipher_-_Imrahil.jpg)
1980: The Return of the King (1980 film):
- Imrahil is not mentioned by name. However, in the film's version of the Last Debate, Aragorn and Gandalf are joined by individuals who, based on the book scene, can be inferred to be Imrahil, Éomer, Elladan, and Elrohir.
1992: Der Herr der Ringe (1992 German radio series):
- Imrahil is played by Gert Andresen.
2004: The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game:
- Imrahil's card in 2004's Siege of Gondor expansion depicts him as the Prince of Dol Amoroth and a knight of Gondor at Minas Tirith.
2015: The Lord of the Rings Online:
- Imrahil is featured prominently in the main storyline and is first met within the gates of Minas Tirith. He is close to Mithrandir and has his trust, so the Wizard often leaves him and the player to take care of certain problems while he is too preoccupied elsewhere.
Notes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", The Line of Dol Amroth, p. 221
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith", p. 771
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Siege of Gondor", pp. 820-21
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields", p. 849
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Last Debate", p. 872
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Last Debate", pp. 878-82
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Black Gate Opens", p. 891
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", "The Kings of the Mark", Third Line, entry 2991-F.A. 63 Éomer Éadig, p. 1070
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 244, (undated, written circa 1963)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E, "Pronunciation of Words and Names", "Consonants", entry CH, p. 1113
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "II. The Appendix on Languages", manuscript F2, §9 footnote concerning names in Quenya
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), entry tark, p. 101
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entry KHIL-, p. 405
- ↑ Andreas Möhn, "Etymologies of Atani languages", Lalaith's Science Pages
- ↑ Carl F. Hostetter, Patrick Wynne, "An Adunaic Dictionary", published in Vinyar Tengwar 25 (September 1992), pp. 16-17
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part Two. Body, Mind and Spirit: V. Beards": I replied that I myself imagined Aragorn, Denethor, Imrahil, Boromir, Faramir as beardless.