Kings of Gondor
Encyclopedia
This is a list of kings of Gondor
from the fictional universe
of Middle-earth
by J. R. R. Tolkien
.
The kings of Gondor through Amandil
claimed descent from the Lords of Andúnië, and from there to Silmariën and the Kings of Númenor
.
Elendil was the first King of Arnor
and was succeeded by Isildur. Elendil ruled over both realms as High King of the Dúnedain
-in-exile. Isildur succeeded as High King as well upon his father's death. Isildur committed Gondor to the rule of Meneldil the son of Anárion as sole King of Gondor, but Isildur's royalty in the South-realm remained, as his line was by right High King over both Arnor and Gondor, though after Isildur's death, the realms were split. Isildur's heirs ruled Arnor and Anárion's heirs ruled Gondor.
Eärnur was taken in Minas Morgul
and never seen again, and the Kingdom of Gondor was ruled by a succession of Stewards until the restoration of the line of Kings with Elessar (Aragorn
, married to the elf
Arwen
, daughter of Elrond
), the first king of the Reunited Kingdom
of Gondor and Arnor.
Gondor
Gondor is a fictional kingdom in J. R. R. Tolkien's writings, described as the greatest realm of Men in the west of Middle-earth by the end of the Third Age. The third volume of The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, is concerned with the events in Gondor during the War of the Ring and with...
from the fictional universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
of Middle-earth
Middle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
by J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
.
The kings of Gondor through Amandil
Amandil
Amandil is a fictional character from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. Amandil was a Lord of Andúnië, succeeding his father Númendil upon his death. Amandil is most noted for being the father of Elendil, founder of the Númenórean Realms in Exile....
claimed descent from the Lords of Andúnië, and from there to Silmariën and the Kings of Númenor
Kings of Númenor
In J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, the Kings of Númenor were Dúnedain men who ruled the kingdom of Númenor. Númenor's twenty-five rulers are listed in simple form at List of rulers of Númenor...
.
- ElendilElendilElendil is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He appears in The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
, son of Amandil. He reigned titularly as High King from . His sons IsildurIsildurIsildur is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He appears in the author's books The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales....
and AnárionAnárionAnárion is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. His name is derived from Anar, which means "Sun" in Tolkien's invented language of Quenya...
were the co-rulers of Gondor itself (until Anárion's death in S.A. 3440.) - Isildur officially ruled Gondor from S.A. 3441–
- Meneldil fourth child and son of Anárion reigned T.A. 2–158
- Cemendur r. 158–238
- Eärendil r. 238–324
- Anardil r. 324–411
- Ostoher r. 411–492. He rebuilt Minas Anor as his summer residence and during his reign the EasterlingsEasterlingsIn the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, "Easterling" and "Easterlings" were generic terms for Men who lived in the east of Middle-earth, who mostly fought under Morgoth and Sauron, not directly but rather on behalf of their own High Lord....
started to attack Gondor. - Rómendacil I (Tarostar) r. 491–541. As crown prince, he rode against the Easterlings and defeated them. Later the Easterlings invaded once again, and he rode to meet them in battle but was slain.
- Turambar r. 541–667. Avenged the death of his father by conquering large parts of RhovanionRhovanionIn the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Rhovanion or Wilderland was a large region of northern Middle-earth. It extended to the east as far as the inland Sea of Rhûn; north to the Grey Mountains and Iron Hills, home of the Dwarves; west to the range of the Hithaeglir, or Misty Mountains; and south to...
from the Easterlings. - Atanatar I r. 667–748
- Siriondil r. 748–840
- Tarannon Falastur r. 840–913. First of the Ship-Kings, died childless. Began a policy of exploration and expansion which greatly increased the power of Gondor. His Queen was the notorious Berúthiel, whom Tarannon was forced to send into exile.
- Eärnil I r. 913–936. Nephew of Tarannon. Second of the Ship-Kings. He captured UmbarUmbarUmbar is a fictional place in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. It was a great haven and seaport to the far south of Gondor in Middle-earth.'Umbar' was a name—of unknown meaning—given to the area by its original inhabitants...
for Gondor, but was lost in a storm off its coast. - Ciryandil r. 936–1015. Third of the Ship-Kings. Died in the defence of Umbar against the Haradrim and Black NúmenoreansBlack NúmenóreansIn author J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional world of Arda, the Black Númenóreans are mentioned briefly at several points in both his published and unpublished writings, as one of many peoples and races inhabiting his Middle-Earth setting....
. - Hyarmendacil I (Ciryaher) r. 1015–1149. Last of the Ship-Kings. He took a great army to avenge his father's death and conquered the southern lands of the Harad. During his reign Gondor reached the height of its power and extended from the Misty MountainsMisty MountainsIn J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy world of Middle-earth, the Misty Mountains is a mountain range, running for 795 miles from north to south, between Eriador and the valley of the Great River, Anduin, and...
south to UmbarUmbarUmbar is a fictional place in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. It was a great haven and seaport to the far south of Gondor in Middle-earth.'Umbar' was a name—of unknown meaning—given to the area by its original inhabitants...
and from the Great Sea east to the Sea of Rhûn. - Atanatar II Alcarin r. 1149–1226. From this point Gondor began a long decline in power and prestige, which was not halted until the reign of Elessar Telcontar at the beginning of the Fourth AgeFourth AgeIn the fictional world of middle earth "'the fourth age'" and the ages that preceded it, are time periods from J. R. R. Tolkien's universe of Middle-earth, described in his fantasy writings...
. - Narmacil I r. 1226–1294. Second childless King. He soon tired of being a king and in III 1240, after just fourteen years on the throne, he turned over the rule of Gondor to his nephew Minalcar, who ruled as Regent through the rest of Narmacil's titular Kingship.
- Calmacil r. 1294–1304. Younger brother of Narmacil. The actual power of the realm during his reign was wielded by his tireless son and regent Minalcar.
- Minalcar was crowned as Rómendacil II, Prince-regent 1240–1304, King 1304–1366
- Valacar r. 1366–1432. Married Vidumavi, princess of Rhovanion. Later in his reign, unrest grew in the coastal provinces.
- Vinitharya, crowned as Eldacar, reigned 1432–1437. Deposed and driven into exile in Rhovanion by his distant relative, Castamir.
- Castamir usurped the throne during the Kin-strife in 1437, killed in 1447
- Eldacar restored, r. 1447–1490
- Aldamir r. 1490–1540. His reign was marked with constant warfare with the Corsairs of UmbarCorsairs of UmbarThe Corsairs of Umbar were a fleet of Men of Umbar in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, allied to Sauron in his war against Gondor.-Literature:...
. - Hyarmendacil II (Vinyarion) r. 1540–1621. In 1551 he accomplished an astounding victory over the Haradrim.
- Minardil r. 1621–1634. Slain at Pelargir by the Corsairs of Umbar
- Telemnar r. 1634–1636. Died in the Great Plague with all his children.
- Tarondor r. 1636–1798. Nephew of Telemnar; the longest-reigning King of Gondor. He removed the capital from Osgiliath to Minas Anor.
- Telumehtar Umbardacil r. 1798–1850
- Narmacil II r. 1850–1856
- Calimehtar r. 1856–1936
- Ondoher r. 1936–1944. Died in battle with his two sons.
- FírielFírielFíriel is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's universe of Middle-earth.As the daughter of King Ondoher of Gondor, Fíriel was wed to Prince Arvedui of Arthedain during a time when Arvedui's father Araphant made an alliance with Ondoher...
daughter of Ondoher; wife of ArveduiArveduiArvedui is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium.Arvedui was the son of King Araphant of Arthedain. He was born in T.A. 1864 and came to the throne in 1964 at the death of his father...
, King of Arthedain. According to the ancient law of NúmenorNúmenorNúmenor is a fictional place in J. R. R. Tolkien's writings. It was a huge island located in the Sundering Seas to the west of Middle-earth, the main setting of Tolkien's writings, and was known to be the greatest realm of Men...
, she could succeed, but instead the crown was given to EärnilEärnil IIEärnil II is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's universe of Middle-earth. He was born in T.A. 1883. In 1945 Third Age he was elected as the thirty-second King of Gondor after his predecessor, King Ondoher, was slain in battle. In the previous year a two-pronged attack had been launched...
- Fíriel
- Eärnil IIEärnil IIEärnil II is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's universe of Middle-earth. He was born in T.A. 1883. In 1945 Third Age he was elected as the thirty-second King of Gondor after his predecessor, King Ondoher, was slain in battle. In the previous year a two-pronged attack had been launched...
r. 1945–2043. Was given the crown after a year of rule by the Steward PelendurPelendurPelendur is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, appearing The Return of the King.He was Steward of Gondor in the year 1944 Third Age. He was born in T.A...
. A descendant of Telumehtar Umbardacil - Eärnur r. 2043–2050 (probably). Last King of Gondor
- ElessarAragornAragorn II is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, one of the main protagonists of The Lord of the Rings. He is first introduced by the name Strider, which the hobbits continue to call him...
r. Fourth Age (F.A) 1–120, was the first king of the Reunited Kingdom - EldarionEldarionEldarion Telcontar is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He was the only recorded son of Arwen and Aragorn, born in the Fourth Age. He became the Second High King of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor after his father died."Eldarion" means "Son of the...
r. F.A. 120 – ?
Elendil was the first King of Arnor
Arnor
Arnor is a fictional kingdom in J. R. R. Tolkien's writings. Arnor, or the Northern Kingdom, was a kingdom of the Dúnedain in the land of Eriador in Middle-earth. The name probably means "Land of the King", from Sindarin Ara- + dor...
and was succeeded by Isildur. Elendil ruled over both realms as High King of the Dúnedain
Dúnedain
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, the Dúnedain were a race of Men descended from the Númenóreans who survived the sinking of their island kingdom and came to Eriador in Middle-earth, led by Elendil and his sons, Isildur and Anárion...
-in-exile. Isildur succeeded as High King as well upon his father's death. Isildur committed Gondor to the rule of Meneldil the son of Anárion as sole King of Gondor, but Isildur's royalty in the South-realm remained, as his line was by right High King over both Arnor and Gondor, though after Isildur's death, the realms were split. Isildur's heirs ruled Arnor and Anárion's heirs ruled Gondor.
Eärnur was taken in Minas Morgul
Minas Morgul
Minas Morgul , also known by its earlier name of Minas Ithil , is a fictional fortified city in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth...
and never seen again, and the Kingdom of Gondor was ruled by a succession of Stewards until the restoration of the line of Kings with Elessar (Aragorn
Aragorn
Aragorn II is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, one of the main protagonists of The Lord of the Rings. He is first introduced by the name Strider, which the hobbits continue to call him...
, married to the elf
Elf (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Elves are one of the races that inhabit a fictional Earth, often called Middle-earth, and set in the remote past. They appear in The Hobbit and in The Lord of the Rings, but their complex history is described more fully in The Silmarillion...
Arwen
Arwen
Arwen Undómiel is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium. She appears in his novel, The Lord of the Rings, usually published in three volumes. Arwen is one of the Half-elven who lived during the Third Age.-Literature:...
, daughter of Elrond
Elrond
Elrond Half-elven is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He is introduced in The Hobbit, and plays a supporting role in The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.-Character overview:...
), the first king of the Reunited Kingdom
Reunited Kingdom
The Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor is a fictional realm from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.When Aragorn became King of Gondor at the end of the War of the Ring, he was also the descendant of the Kings of Arnor, and by right he was crowned High King of both Arnor and Gondor and Reunited the...
of Gondor and Arnor.
See also
- House of AnárionHouse of AnárionIn the literary works of J. R. R. Tolkien the House of Anárion was the Royal House of Gondor, descended from Anárion, joint first King of Gondor with his elder brother Isildur who went north to Arnor...