Fanfic Annals of the Kings of the North

[Valandil]

The Northern Line of Elendil:

Here is written a record of the Kings at Arnor and at Arthedain, and of the Chieftains of the Northern Dunedain.

High Kings of the Dunedain, Kings of Arnor at Annuminas:

The Kings of Arnor were also held to be High Kings of all the Dunedain, nominal overlords of Gondor as well as Arnor. This was most true at the time of Elendil and Isildur, but was still the rule throughout all the days of Arnor. When a new King came to the throne of Gondor, he was required to come north to Annuminas and swear his allegiance to the High King and also the King of Gondor was required to travel to Annuminas and swear his faith when a new High King came to the throne of Arnor. This was largely observed, though Meneldil did not go to the coronation of Valandil and in some other cases a King of Gondor requested to remain at Osgiliath in order to attend to pressing matters and he was permitted to do so. On some occasions, a High King would summon a full council, including those of Gondor, when he intended to lay himself down and allow his son to take the throne, that all might be present for that moment, usually just before a High Day, that the new King could lead in its celebration.

In TA 800, King Siriondil of Gondor sent a delegation to Annuminas, which included his sons Tarannon and Tarcyrian and his grandson Earnil. For they meant to set forth and subdue the kingdoms to their south, as well as those peoples between Gondor and Arnor who were still hostile to the Dunedain. They asked that forces from Arnor combine with theirs, and invited the young noblemen of the realm to join with them and win honour. Amandur, eldest son of King Earendur, desired to go, but the king would not permit it, sending instead his two younger sons, who were joined by not a few other young noblemen. King Earendur sent a great portion of his fighting men as well.

Annuminas itself was a city on a hill – the flat top of a low hill above the south shore of Lake Evendim, while the taller peaks of the Hills of Evendim walled in the west side of the lake. The city was laid out in a grid, with a procession westward through the center to the palace grounds, where stood the great palace of Vinyamar, with the Court of Isildur to its southeast, the Court of Anarion to its northwest, the Winter Garden to the southwest and the Summer Garden to the northeast. Above all stood the tower of Annuminas where Elendil placed a Palantir. It was a white city, with golden domes at prominent buildings and with only low walls for protection, for there had long been peace in Eriador.


I Elendil

Born SA 3119 (*), Established Kingdom SA 3320 (141), Reigned 121 years, Slain SA 3441 (262)

Son of Amandil and Heir of the House of Andunie, Elendil was also accounted a great sea captain in his own right. As a young man, he married the daughter of the Lord of Hyarastorni, with the blessing of his grandfather Numendil and of King Tar-Palantir, for she was of the Faithful. Her name was Nolewen and she gave him two sons, Isildur and Anarion. They also raised a ward, Gilaniel, granddaughter of Amandil’s sister. Elendil was known as ‘the Tall’ for he was said to be nearly half a ranga over two rangar (almost 7’-11” tall). After taking part in the effort to humble Sauron, Elendil helped to construct the Pillar of Ar-Pharazon and sailed with his father up the coasts of Middle Earth to Pelargir, Edhellond, Lond Daer and Lindon, heralding the news of Sauron’s defeat. Gil-galad was greatly pleased to hear this news, and yet feared that great evil might still come of bringing Sauron as hostage to Numenor. Nevertheless, Gil-galad was greatly impressed with Elendil and made a gift to him of the great sword Narsil, for he still feared the influence of Sauron upon Men, and prophesied that this blade might one day defeat him. After Sauron gained influence at Ar-Pharazon’s court, and after his father Amandil sailed away, Elendil gathered the remainder of the Faithful Numenoreans onto nine ships and waited, until they were carried by the waves of Numenor’s destruction to Middle Earth. There, Elendil arrived with four ships at Lindon in the north, and with the support of Gil-galad soon established the Kingdom of Arnor in Eriador and was proclaimed High King over his sons’ co-joint kingdom of Gondor in the south as well (for Gil-galad knew that Men must one day inherit Middle Earth from the Eldar, and rejoiced that it might be Men such as Elendil).

Of Elendil’s nine ships, three were captained by himself or his sons. The other six we captained by men of noble birth who were among the Faithful, each a Count in Andunie. There were lesser nobles among the ships from the other regions of Numenor; Forostar, Orrostar, Mittalmar, Hyarnustar and Hyarrostar, as well as from the noble families of Romenna.

Elendil built the city of Annuminas on Lake Nenuil, to be his capital, and he established his Exiles among the earlier Numenorean colonists and other peoples of Eriador, building also the Bridge of Stonebows, the bridge over Hoarwell, the Tower of Amon Sul and re-building the Bridge at Tharbad, while Gil-galad built for him the Three White Towers of Emyn Beraid. He sailed three times to the south, to view the lands of Gondor and to require the allegiance of Numenorean settlers in Umbar and further southern lands. In Arnor he appointed his other ship captains to serve as princes under him (one each for those peoples along the rivers; Lhun, Baranduin and Mitheithel) and confirmed similar appointments in Gondor, while each prince had several Counts each with Thanes under them to order their lands and forces, for each Thane was placed in command of knights and soldiers. Elendil established a Council of Arnor, similar to that in Numenor, with each Prince, as well as his Chamberlain, Chief Loremaster, Captain of Hosts and Captain of Ships, the Wardens of the Palantiri and the Mayor of Annuminas. Elendil also took the custom of the Numenorean Kings in leading his people in observance of the high days: the Erukyerme, the Erulaitale and the Eruhantale (these three on the highest peak of the Hills of Evendim, just west of Annuminas – and a great eagle would always meet them there) – as well as sanctioning the custom of the Yule celebration held in Eriador. Subsequent kings followed these traditions as well.

Elendil’s wife had grown sick as the time drew near for the flight from Numenor and she did not survive the passage. Upon arriving in Eriador, Elendil first threw himself entirely into the work of building his new kingdom, that he might not have to think about his loss, but in his later years he spent much time at the Tower of Elostirion, gazing west into the Palantir there, at what had once been.

After many years of peace, Sauron returned in force and Elendil gathered his forces to join with those of the Elves, in an attempt to ultimately defeat him. Following four years of preparation and seven years of battle and siege, Elendil fell together with Gil-galad, having mortally wounded Sauron, and his sword Narsil broke beneath him as he fell. His surviving son, Isildur, buried him on the mountain Halifirien in Gondor.



II Isildur

Born SA 3209 (*), Inherited Kingdom SA 3441 (202), Reigned 2 years, Slain TA 2 (204)

As a young man, he accompanied his father Elendil in the forces of Ar-Pharazon which humbled Sauron. He later captained his own ship, bringing Numenorean colonists to Pelargir, where he eventually married ??, the daughter of Pelargir’s governor (After this, Ar-Pharazon, hoping to hold the family of Andunie to himself, required Elendil to take one of his kin as wife for Anarion – the daughter of the Lord of Romenna, who was also Captain of Ships for all Numenor. In this he was foiled, for she proved to be in secret herself among the Faithful). Gilaniel was married to the son of Pelargir’s governor, and it was their son who was made the first Prince of Belfalas by Elendil, and their daughter became the mother of Ohtar, who would later serve as squire to Isildur. In time Isildur’s wife would give him four sons; Elendur, Aratan, Ciryon and Valandil – yet it was Valandil, the youngest, who would succeed him.

Upon hearing that Sauron urged Ar-Pharazon to destroy the White Tree, Isildur disguised himself and secretly entered the palace courts, stealing a fruit from the tree and fighting off the guards who discovered him. This tree was Nimloth the Fair, which Sauron then convinced Ar-Pharazon to cut down and allow him to burn the wood thereof. Isildur captained one of Elendil’s nine ships and arrived after the downfall of Numenor in Pelargir, with his brother Anarion and five of the nine ships. There they established the co-joint Kingdom of Gondor, building first the capital city of Osgiliath over the Anduin and the royal palaces of Minas Ithil (where Isildur planted the seedling from Numenor’s White Tree) and Minas Anor. Isildur also transported the Stone of Erech, from Numenor, into the southern foothills of the White Mountains and sought to bind all the peoples of the region to himself and his kingdom with oaths of loyalty. He and Anarion also built Aglarond and Angrenost, to secure their western borders.

After years of peace, Sauron proved to be alive, striking first at Minas Ithil in 3429. Isildur escaped with his family among the refugees, and after seeing to the defense of Osgiliath, he left his brother Anarion in charge of their combined forces and took ship north to take counsel with his father and to seek his aid. He and his father met with Gil-galad and Elrond to form the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. Upon completing preparations and training at Rivendell, they marched to Mordor in 3434, Isildur bringing his three eldest sons; Elendur, Aratan and Ciryon, while his wife and young son Valandil remained at Rivendell. After the battles and sieges and the loss of his brother, Anarion, Isildur stood with his father Elendil at the fall of Sauron, and cut Sauron’s Ring of Power from his hand, taking it to himself.

Isildur stayed in Gondor for almost two years, ordering the kingdom, making preparations for Meneldil, son of Anarion, to rule the land while he assumed the Kingship of Arnor in Annuminas together with the High Kingship over all the Dunedain. He buried his father on Halifirien and planted a seedling from the tree of Minas Ithil (which Sauron had also destroyed) at Minas Anor, in honor of Anarion. At last he took his leave from Gondor and began his journey to Rivendell, where he intended to join his wife and youngest son before continuing on to Annuminas. However, he was ambushed by Orcs at the Gladden Fields and slain, together with his three eldest sons; Elendur, Aratan and Ciryon. He was the only King of Arnor who never sat upon its throne.


III Valandil

Born SA 3430, Crowned TA 10 (21), Reigned 239 years, Died TA 249 (260)

Born in Rivendell after Isildur arrived to begin building the Last Alliance. Only a small child when Elendil and Isildur marched to Mordor in 3434 and still young when Ohtar delivered Narsil’s shards to him in TA 3, he was crowned King of Arnor and High King of the Dunedain in TA 10. Ohtar had remained near Rivendell and was made the Count (or “Grand-Thane”) of Hoardale when he married the daughter of the Prince of Mitheithel, the grandson of the sea captain who was the first prince of that land. Valandil’s mother had over-seen his choice for a bride, gathering a court of noble ladies to herself from all about Arnor – as well as a few from Gondor – and in TA 83, Valandil married Galeneth (b. 41), a daughter of Ohtar who was from among his mother’s court. Her hope had been to finally see a grandchild ere her passing, and this she did with the birth of Eldacar. All told, Galeneth bore Valandil two sons and two daughters. In 109 TA, Valandil’s mother accompanied him to the wedding of Elrond and Celebrian, where Valandil first met Meneldil face-to-face. His mother stayed then at Rivendell and passed away the following spring, long-lived, even for a Numenorean lady of her time. Valandil’s wife established her own court of ladies in her turn, but their eldest son chose his bride from outside her court.

Valandil’s reign was long and peaceful, and marked the final union of the Exiles and earlier Numenorean colonists into a single people in Arnor. For upon the marriage of his son Eldacar, Valandil made Royal Thanes of three great leaders among the old colonists, one each from the upper Lhun, the lower Baranduin and the lakes above Evendim, the last of whom was father of Eldacar’s bride. Valandil placed these special thanes on the Council of Arnor. Also in his time the Prince of Baranduin made his dwelling at Tyrn Gorthad and the Prince of Lhun brought the greater part of his people eastward and moved his seat to Fornost, which his ancestor had made (~ SA 3400) with the help of dwarvish miners of Ered Luin. Valandil created a structure of government for Arnor, ordering the lands of the realm, recording property, establishing standards for military service and building outposts as way-stations along the kingdom’s major roads. Late in his reign (TA 240) he made a visit to Gondor, bringing with him his son Eldacar and grandson Arantar. He had wished to bring a fruit of the White Tree back to Arnor, but none was found that he could take. Upon his passing, Valandil was buried at Tyrn Gorthad.


IV Eldacar

Born TA 87, Crowned TA 249 (162), Reigned 90 years, Died TA 339 (252)

Married Teleriel (b. 134), the daughter of Telumar (b. 39), Telumar was the most powerful among the descendants of the earlier Numenorean colonists who had long dwelt among the northern chain of lakes in the Hills of Evendim at the head of Lake Nenuil. This man’s people had been reclusive and only nominal members of the realm, although they had sent many men to join with Elendil in the Last Alliance. Indeed, his forebears had even at first resisted the notion of a kingdom and had later doubted the wisdom of placing Valandil on the throne at such a young age. Eldacar met Teleriel while both were swimming in Lake Nenuil. Teleriel was to bear him three sons and two daughters. Eldacar was widely known for his prowess and for feats of strength and stamina.

While he was king, Eldacar instituted a rigorous program of training the king’s sons, as well as other young men of leading families of the realm, in lore, courtesy, longsuffering, warfare and in all the knowledge and skills of the Dunedain. Thus the young men of noble families would gather to the King’s court to gain this training and to win the friendship of their future King.


V Arantar

Born 185, Crowned 339 (154), Reigned 96 years, Died 435 (250)

Married Alatana, the daughter of the Warden of Elostirion of Emyn Beraid, from his mother’s court. She would bear him three sons and one daughter. Arantar valued knowledge of lore and sought to gather knowledge and promote instruction. He compiled the writings of his fore-father Elendil and sought always to add to the library of Annuminas.


VI Tarcil

Born 280, Crowned 435 (155), Reigned 80 years, Died 515 (235)

Married Brecarwen, the daughter of the Prince of Baranduin from his mother’s court. She would bear him three sons and three daughters. Tarcil sought to increase trade with Gondor and with his neighboring realms. He made peace with the tribesmen of Minhiriath and the Lossoth and some among the Dunlendings, as well as the friendly tribes of hill men along the Misty Mountains and the Dwarf realms in Moria and the Ered Luin. He also added the Leader of the Bree-folk and the Mayor of Tharbad to the Council of Arnor.

In TA 500, Tarcil traveled to Gondor, bringing his son Tarondor and grandson Valandur. A bruised sapling of the White Tree was all that could be found for them, so they took it north and planted it in the Court of Isildur at Annuminas. After Tarcil’s death in 515, the young tree withered and died in the harsh winter which followed.


VII Tarondor

Born 372, Crowned 515 (153), Reigned 87 years, Died 602 (230)

Married the daughter of the Prince of Mitheithel, who was among the ladies of his mother’s court. He fostered the arts of poetry, music, sculpture, metal craft and the weaving of tapestries.


VIII Valandur

Born 462, Crowned 602 (140), Reigned 50 years, Slain 652 (190)

Married the daughter of a country thane from Minhiriath, whom he met while riding alone, and he kept his identity a secret from her at first. His wife was to bear him one son and four daughters – three of whom married future Princes of Arnor’s three principalities. As king, Valandur toured his kingdom with an escort of 200 men-at-arms. While visiting his cousin the Prince of Mithiethel, he joined in to support him on the field of battle to aid a friendly tribe of hill people against an invading tribe. The ‘friendly’ tribe proved unfaithful, joining with the invaders and turning on the Arnorian forces, destroying them. Never again, after this and Gladden, would a King of Arnor go forth with an escort of 200 men, for it was deemed unlucky.


IX Elendur

Born 552, Crowned 652 (100), Reigned 125 years, Died 777 (225)

Married the daughter of the Prince of Belfalas of Gondor, who bore him one son. After the death of his father, Elendur went in great force and took vengeance on the hill people who had betrayed them. For the remainder of his reign, he always sought to strengthen Arnor’s borders and to thwart those who seemed to be foes or untrustworthy, but he found that his borders were too long and his forces insufficient. He was particularly wary of the hill men in the region where his father had been slain. He knew he was fortunate to have no major threats but could do little to truly ward off future trouble.

In TA 750, Elendur made a state visit to Gondor to see King Siriondil, bringing his son Earendur and his grandson Amandur. Once more, no fruit of the White Tree could be found to bring back to Arnor.


X Earendur

Born 640, Crowned 777 (137), Reigned 84 years, Died 861 (221)

From the loss of his grandfather, he had resolved to not place himself or his heir at great risk. He married the daughter of a royal official in Annuminas, who bore him three sons, as well as a daughter with a great gift of foresight. When the princes of Gondor came from King Siriondil to the court of Annuminas (~ 800), to seek for aid in suppressing the Dunlendings and carrying out other great conquests, Earendur would not permit his eldest son Amandur to go, but sent his two younger sons, the elder of whom was made a captain of Gondor’s ships, the other a captain of Gondor’s hosts. At that visit, the Prince Tarcyrion sought Earendur’s daughter Palantiel (b. 769) for his son Earnil. Earendur was pleased by this, but Palantiel would not permit it – saying that indeed Earnil would be King of Gondor one day (which surprised Prince Tarannon, who was also present) but that she did not want to live as Erendis, and that Earnil would love the sea more than his home – and yet that the sea would take him. She also advised her father that it would be best to send Amandur himself to Gondor – even if him alone and not his brothers, but her father did not heed her.

Some years later, Earendur’s two younger sons returned victorious – particularly the elder of the two. As the time of his passing drew near, Earendur contemplated passing over Amandur and naming his second son as King after him, for he already had great support among the people, especially among the warriors. Earendur relented of this in the end, and ultimately named Amandur his successor, but factions had already been at work and his younger sons each split off a part of the kingdom for himself – the second son aligned with the Prince of Baranduin (who had accompanied him to Gondor while a young man) and the Captain of Ships, who kept Arnor’s fleet harbored at Tharbad – and established the Kingdom of Cardolan, while the third son aligned with the Prince of Mitheithel, whose daughter he married – and established the Kingdom of Rhudaur.

 

[Valandil]

Kings of Arthedain at Fornost:

While Annuminas was white and low and laid-out in a regular grid, Fornost was gray and tall and irregular. It stood atop a plateau at the southwest fringes of the North Downs. The plateau was somewhat pear-shaped, elongated and curved, such that the wider southern end faced due south while the narrower end faced northeast, and the overall length was about 1200 rangar. The main plateau stood about 60 rangar above the plain below, while the northeastern portion stepped up to a second plateau, 90 rangar above the plain. Along the edges of the plateau, low walls had been built and at the south apex, a great gate-house which stood slightly above the plateau itself at the top. Straight south from the gate went the Great South Road, which began and ended before the Gate to Fornost, and west from this road, just 100 rangar from the gate, ran the road to Annuminas. Going in, the gate opened into a passage leading up an incline through the rock, so that passing through it brought one a good deal into the city. There were low guard towers along the walls at compass points and another gate-house on the path to the upper plateau.

It was on the upper plateau that the princely family had dwelt, with their nobles and officials. When Amlaith wished to abandon Annuminas for a more suitable location, the Prince of Fornost bid him come dwell with him. He did so, and a portion of the upper plateau was given to him, where he built his own royal palace (24 rangar high) beside the princely palace, as well as a new tower, 60 rangar high (150 rangar – 475 feet, above the plain below) to house the palantir and the Hall of Fornost, where many of the people could be assembled together, which were all arranged about the Court of Fornost, an outdoor area where all the people of the town could be gathered together at one time. The buildings were of rough-hewn stone and timber and the roofs were steeply pitched to shed the heavy snows. The lower portion of the town was filled with Dunedain people of all classes and all manner of professions – and in the days before those of Annuminas came to join them, was open enough that some of their herds and flocks could graze there (indeed, the royal palace was built upon former grazing lands of the princes’ herds). Devices were made to bring water up from pools hidden in chambers down below. In later days, as people fled the countryside and gathered to Fornost, the town spread outside the plateau and small houses were built all about it down below. Those later kings walled in this outer area as a defense against their foes in Angmar.

The Kings at Fornost still kept the High Days, but they did so at the Court of Fornost, with the King leading the people from a balcony of the palace. At times, some of the surest of eye saw an eagle in flight, far overhead.

As the years wore on, Arthedain became more isolated. Their people had initially been widely scattered over the realm, but as they became fewer, they drew closer to Fornost, especially with the rise of Angmar. Before long, the Dunedain of Arthedain no longer lived among other Men, but mostly by themselves, although they still attempted to maintain some influence, and to provide some protection for others, in all the lands which they had once occupied, and still considered as their domain.


XI (A) Amlaith

Born 726, Crowned 861 (135), Reigned 85 years, Died 946 (220)

First named Amandur, married the daughter of the Prince at Fornost (formerly the Prince of Lhun). When his father drew near the end and his brothers sought to seize the realm, or part of it, for themselves, he would neither fight them with open war, nor have them put to death. Some considered him weak (though those who knew him best knew that it was not so), even those of his own people, and they began to call him ‘Amlaith’ – which name he accepted as his own.

Seeing the crisis in the land, and knowing that Annuminas was both depopulated and not easily defensible, he moved his royal household to Fornost, for his wife’s family there stood firmly by him, and he renamed the country ‘Arthedain’. The remainder of Annuminas’ population soon dwindled further, as well as those Dunedain west of Baranduin.

Amlaith’s sister Palantiel had married a common man, much to their father’s chagrin, but she and her family were welcome in Amlaith’s court, where she continued to aid her eldest brother with her forsight as the King’s Seer, as did her daughter, and her daughter’s-daughter and many after them.

Throughout Amlaith’s reign he strove to keep the peace with his brothers and between the two of them, for they had begun to quarrel over Amon Sul. Amlaith had established that all three should share it, but he himself cared little for it, and the contact it gave with Gondor, while his brothers ever sought the favor of Gondor over the other. No open war broke out between Cardolan and Rhudaur for as long as Amlaith was King of Arthedain. He was ever hopeful that Arnor might be re-united one day. At his passing, his son would not treat with Cardolan to bury him with his fathers at Tyrn Gorthad, but instead established a tomb for him at the old capital of Annuminas.


XII Beleg

Born 811, Crowned 946 (135), Reigned 83 years, Died 1029 (218)

Beleg was born with the name Valagon, but changed his name from the Quenya to the Sindarin on coming to the throne, as his father had done, and he began the tradition of naming sons in Sindarin rather than Quenya. Beleg was more bitter over the division of Arnor than his father had been, for he was a young man when these events came to pass and felt his father deeply wronged. He married Hiruial, a young noblewoman from those Dunedain who had until that time remained along the upper Lhun, for they were furthest from Cardolan or Rhudaur and were loyal in support of his father. She was in fact the widow of a Count. Both her first husband and her brother were slain in skirmishes at the time of Arnor’s Division. Her elder sons, the step-sons of Beleg, received the lands of their father and their uncle. Beleg hated his own uncles and the cousins they bore – and would not mediate between them, so that Cardolan and Rhudaur began to make war upon one another in his day.

In Beleg’s day, some who had joined the rebellion of Amlaith’s brothers in their youth repented and sought to make amends with King Beleg, but he mostly rebuffed them. He also refused the invitation of King Ciryandil to visit Gondor with his son and grandson in the year 1000. The Istari first visited Fornost in Beleg’s reign, though Saruman hastened away to meet with Elrond and then to see Gondor at its height, while Gandalf lingered for a time.


XIII Mallor

Born 895, Crowned 1029 (134), Reigned 81 years, Died 1110 (215)

An active man and stern, yet he rued his father’s inaction in preventing spillage of Dunedain blood in civil war. He sought to make peace between Cardolan and Rhudaur, but only with limited success. He had married Tiriel, a niece of the Warden of the White Towers of Emyn Beraid.


XIV Celepharn

Born 979, Crowned 1110 (131), Reigned 81 years, Died 1191 (212)

Considered a dreamer by some, particularly in his youth, Celepharn had always yearned to re-establish the city of Annuminas and the Kingdom of Arnor. He met Gandalf while he was still a very young man, soon after Gandalf’s arrival to Middle-Earth, and later (1099) traveled with him to Cardolan and Rhudaur at a relatively peaceful time, hoping to strengthen ties among the kingdoms and work toward an eventual reunion of their peoples. Nonetheless, in his reign, even Arthedain was brought into the fighting between the other two kingdoms. He married the daughter of the Thane of Stonebows Bridge, who changed his allegiance from Cardolan to Arthedain in the latter years of King Beleg.


XV Celebrindor

Born 1062, Crowned 1191 (129), Reigned 81 years, Died 1272 (210)

Struck decisively, yet sparing all that he could, at the forces of both Cardolan and Rhudaur and re-took for Arthedain the Tower of Amon Sul. Neither of Arthedain’s sister realms was strong enough to oppose this. This effectively ended the all-out civil war between Cardolan and Rhudaur, but treachery still abounded. Celebrindor had married a daughter of the Prince of Fornost.


XVI Malvegil

Born 1144, Crowned 1272 (128), Reigned 77 years, Died 1349 (205)

In his time, Orcs again became a menace in Eriador and the Misty Mountains. Also during his reign, he laid claim to the lands of Cardolan and Rhudaur, as the heirs of Isildur were no more there. Cardolan accepted this, but Rhudaur resisted. His reign was more peaceful, yet in his reign was it found that Rhudaur had not come to war because of internal warrings – and that a new kingdom, the evil realm of Angmar, had arisen to the north of Rhudaur. Malvegil had married the daughter of the Thane of the North Marches.


XVII Argeleb I

Born 1226, Crowned 1349 (123), Reigned 7 years, Slain 1356 (130)

He was named ‘Celebrindol’ at birth, but changed his name on his ascension in token of Arthedain’s claim of lordship over Cardolan and Rhudaur. Argeleb had married a daughter of the Warden of Amon Sul. When Argeleb took the throne, Cardolan accepted this and the Prince of Tyrn Gorthad made peace with Argeleb. Rhudaur, however, rejected his claim. Argeleb strengthened the fortifications around Amon Sul but was slain when he took his men from those fortified places and went forth onto the plain to fight the forces of Rhudaur and Angmar.


XVIII Arveleg I

Born 1309, Crowned 1356 (47), Reigned 53 years, Slain 1409 (100)

He was named ‘Beleg’ at birth, and like his father, changed his name on coming to the throne. In his youth he undertook an adventure. Just before the passing of his grandfather, Arveleg gathered to himself the young heirs to the Princes of both Fornost and Tyrn Gorthad and convinced them to ride with him to seek what they could find out in Rhudaur – and if they might save any from the royal or princely houses there. He was later to marry Mitheiwen ((b. 1332), a young maiden he rescued at this time, who was the last of the House of the Prince of Mitheithel. Once he was king, Arveleg gathered his forces, together with those of Cardolan and help from Lindon, and drove back the enemy. He then re-initiated trade with Moria, in order to gain mithril, which the Dunedain combined with steel to make weapons which had great effect in fighting their foes of Angmar, when worked by master craftsmen who renewed the making of such swords, daggers and axes. Arveleg was slain when Angmar attacked with great force in 1409, surrounding him at Amon Sul – though he managed to send the palantir of the tower away to Fornost ere their attack began. It was in this assault that the Tower of Amon Sul was destroyed.


XIX Araphor

Born 1391, Crowned 1409 (18), Reigned 180 years, Died 1589 (198)

He was the second son of Arveleg I, for his elder brother Arvegil was slain at Amon Sul with their father. His name at birth was ‘Malvegil’, but he followed the tradition of changing his name to have the ‘Ara’ prefix when he was named King. He came to the throne at a young age, his father having just been slain by foes who were crossing his borders and ravaging the countryside. Araphor resolved to fight to the last, if need be. He called on Lindon for assistance, and Cirdan indeed sent help. Their combined forces kept the enemy at bay from Fornost and Tyrn Gorthad, until forces from Rivendell, strengthened by Lorien, came to their aid and subdued the enemy hosts.

Once the land was secured, Araphor commanded those exiles from Rhudaur who practiced the black arts to set aside their former practice, burn all of such implements and devices and return to obedience to the Valar and Eru, or else to depart from his land. Most obeyed, but some left and wandered back to the east or south of Eriador. As a young king he had many adventures, including the last recorded encounter with Morgwen, if it was indeed her, and many others besides.

He married Galien (b. 1408) the daughter and only surviving child of the last Prince of Cardolan, Herunarth (b. 1313), whose sons and other kin were slain in Angmar’s attack of 1409. The great kin-strife of Gondor came while he was King in Arthedain. Some of Araphor’s knights departed to Rhovanion to aid Eldacar of Gondor in the recovery of his throne. Few of these returned, for some fell in battle, winning the glory for which they had sought, while others remained in the service of King Eldacar and his heirs for the rest of their days. The remainder of Araphor’s reign was mostly peaceful, but always watchful, and he reigned longest of the Kings of Arthedain at Fornost, and the deeds of his youth and the peace of his reign were sung for long after among his people.


XX Argeleb II

Born 1473, Crowned 1589 (116), Reigned 81 years, Died 1670 (197)

Argeleb II had married a daughter of the Prince of Fornost. It was he who gave the land-grant of ‘The Shire’ to halflings led by Marcho and Blanco Fallohide, because of their growing numbers and the depopulation of that area – which had left fertile fields fallow for many years. The Great Plague struck while Argeleb II was king, but it did not have such great effect as far north as Fornost. Gondor’s garrison at Tharbad was removed though, and what little garrison Arnor had there was greatly reduced. Argeleb provided what relief he could to those who survived the plague and had been reduced to great want. Also after the Plague, evil spirits came out of Angmar and Rhudaur to dwell in the hills and tombs of Tyrn Gorthad, and they became places where men feared to walk.


XXI Arvegil

Born 1553, Crowned 1670 (117), Reigned 77 years, Died 1743 (190)

Arvegil married the daughter of the Thane of Tharbad. Even this did not prevent the further consolidation of the Dunedain to the area about Fornost – north of the Great Road and between the Baranduin and the Weather Hills. Soon after his wedding, in fact at the Great Plague, the Dunedain of Tharbad dwindled even further and the people of that city chose a new leader, whose lineage was only in small part Dunedain.


XXII Arveleg II

Born 1633, Crowned 1743 (110), Reigned 70 years, Died 1813 (180)

In his reign was born Malbeth, last and greatest of Arthedain’s Seers – and all the others were women. For Amlaith’s sister gave birth to a few sons, but only one daughter, who was Seer after her, and it was the same with her daughter and her daughter after her, each having only one daughter, who would become Seer in her turn and no daughter marrying back into the royal household or a noble family, but always marrying only common men – though their children were treated as “sister’s sons” by each king and given a place at the King’s table. Finally, the mother of Malbeth died giving birth to him, her firstborn, so that she had no daughter. His grandmother, who was Seer at that time, prophesied that he would be the next Seer after her, and the last one.

Arveleg II himself married the daughter of the Thane of Sarn Ford and his reign was mostly a time of peace and recovery for the Dunedain of the North.


XXIII Araval

Born 1711, Crowned 1813 (102), Reigned 78 years, Died 1891 (180)

Won a great battle over Angmar in 1851, with help from Lindon and Imladris. He sought to re-occupy Cardolan, but the evil wights terrify all who seek to dwell near. He had married the daughter of the Warden of Elostirion on the Tower Hills, but in his time as king, that post was abandoned and those who had tended it were recalled to Fornost, although the Palantir of Elostirion was left in its place.


XXIV Araphant

Born 1789, Crowned 1891 (102), Reigned 73 years, Died 1964 (175)

During his reign the attacks of Angmar increased once more. At last, he renewed Arthedain’s ties with Gondor and consulted with them, for King Ondoher of Gondor was of like mind – that a single will meant to wage war on the survivors of Numenor. They agreed to come to one another’s aid, and in token of this, Arvedui, son of Araphant, was wedded to Firiel, daughter of Ondoher. Araphant himself had married Elenawen, a niece of the House of Fornost’s Prince, and she gave him two sons and three daughters.


XXV Arvedui

Born 1864, Crowned 1964 (100), Reigned 10 years, Kingdom Destroyed 1974, Drowned 1975 (111)

Arvedui was named according to the instruction of Malbeth the Seer, last of the line of Seers. As a young man, he was an able warrior, leading in the defenses against Angmar’s attacks in the time of his grandfather and his father. He found none in his mother’s court, nor indeed among the ladies of the kingdom, whom he wished to marry, but in 1940, his father began to communicate with King Ondoher of Gondor, and the two kingdoms came to terms once more. Arvedui wedded Firiel, the daughter of Ondoher, and took her with him to Arthedain. She would give him three sons and three daughters.

Arvedui ruled for only 10 years before Angmar launched a decisive attack in the cold of winter. Fornost was over-run, and many of those who escaped to flee were cut down all across the land. Refugees, including the King’s family, reached Lindon, where Cirdan’s people gave them aid. Arvedui had fled to the north with a small band of warriors, and with them, he harassed the enemy with guerilla tactics. Finally, he and his men were forced further north, first to abandoned mines, then to the homes of the Lossoth, who provided them food and shelter.

As winter neared an end, a ship from Cirdan came into the Bay of Forochel and found Arvedui. Against the urgings of the Lossoth, and his own misgivings, he boarded the ship in order to sail back to his family and his people. The ship was crushed however, in the grinding of the ice, and Arvedui drowned and the palantiri which he held with him were lost (those formerly of Annuminas and Amon Sul, which had both been in Fornost).

 

[Valandil]

Chieftains of the Northern Dunedain:

After the fall of Fornost and the destruction of a large part of the people of Arthedain, those who remained became a reclusive folk. They first settled in lands close to their former homes, or their abandoned ancestral lands, or in an area unspoiled by war, but never in large groups or making use of enough land to draw attention to themselves. Eventually, many of the people drifted eastward, for Angmar and Rhudaur were both no more and those lands were desolate – and there, they felt they could rely on some protection or aid from Elrond and his people. Thus, most of the people lived in very small settlements, discretely situated and unknown to any but to one another. It fell out of memory among other Men that these had been the Kings of Men, and they were despised and derided.

The royal line forsook the title of ‘king’ and called themselves only the ‘chieftain’ of their people, though their people still revered them as kings. Each heir was taken as a small child to be fostered in Rivendell. When he became a man, he rode about among his people with his father and only about 20 or 30 retainers, for the chieftains themselves had no permanent home. They traveled about mostly at night, when the moon was new, and stayed one month at every place they visited. Whenever each heir took a wife, she was kept among her father’s people, unless she dwelt in Rivendell with their son or with her aged husband. For when the heir became chieftain, he continued to journey about, until old age took him, and his time drew near and he returned to Rivendell to live out his days. In some cases, an heir who already had a son, or a young chieftain newly come into his own and who had an heir, would wander in the wild beyond the former lands of Arnor – even journeying unknown in lands far away.

The young men of the Dunedain who wished to serve their chieftain were sent out in bands of 3 or 4 or 5 – or even alone – to watch over all the former lands of Arnor and to guard the folk who lived therein, although those people were suspicious of them and despised them, calling them ‘Rangers’.


XXVI Aranarth

Born 1942 (revsd*), Chieftain in 1976 (34), Led people 130 years, Died 2106 (164)

After joining in with the forces of Gondor and Lindon which crushed Angmar’s hosts, Aranarth waited until final word could be heard of his father. When word finally came by the arrival of a man of the Lossoth, it was also clear that there could be no more Arthedain, for the people were too few. Therefore, Aranarth forsook the title of ‘king’ and chose instead to be called ‘chieftain’ for he said that he no longer had the force to rule the land, but that he only ruled over his people – and that he was chieftain of his people, not king of a kingdom.

Aranarth saw to the re-ordering of his people, placing them in small bands and seeing that they all learned woodcraft – and to survive on little. He taught them to live in secret and determined that they would still provide to others whatever protection they could against the evil creatures of the dark forces. Arthedain had always maintained close friendship with the Elves, especially those of Lindon and of Imladris, but under the leadership of Aranarth, they drew even closer to them, for indeed, they needed their help so much more.

When Aranarth died, he had no grand funeral, but his body was placed in an unmarked tomb just outside of Rivendell, where he had spent his final years.


XXVII Arahael

Born 2012, Chieftain in 2106 (94), Led people 71 years, Died 2177 (165)

Arahael was the first to be fostered in the time of his youth at Rivendell, where the heirlooms of their house were kept.


XXVIII Aranuir

Born 2084, Chieftain in 2177 (93), Led people 70 years, Died 2247 (163)

Aranuir lived his entire life during the ‘Watchful Peace’. He was indeed ever vigilant and gathered what information he could from throughout Eriador and even across the Misty Mountains.


XXIX Aravir

Born 2156, Chieftain in 2247 (91), Led people 72 years, Died 2319 (163)

Like his father Aranuir, Aravir kept ever watchful, but the peace held throughout his lifetime.


XXX Aragorn I

Born 2227, Chieftain in 2319 (92), Led people 8 years, Slain 2327 (100)

Slain in the wild by wolves when traveling alone just before the Yule. As his people were living in such a time of peace until then, and the memory of Arthedain’s fall having become dim, the watch had become less vigilant in his time, which led to his demise. His loss greatly disheartened the Dunedain, for his presence had filled them with great hope. He was taller than the other Chieftains before him, capable and confident in all that he did, well-skilled at living in the wild and with an air of greatness about him, he had been the pride of his people until he perished.


XXXI Araglas

Born 2296, Chieftain in 2327 (31), Led people 128 years, Died 2455 (159)

In his day, more of the Dunedain left their former scattered dwellings and settled in the lands closer about Rivendell. Araglas renewed the watchfulness which had been neglected in his father’s day.


XXXII Arahad I

Born 2365, Chieftain in 2455 (90), Led people 71 years, Died 2523 (158)

Only five years into his reign did the ‘Watchful Peace’ come to an end. It was in the time of Arahad I that Celebrian was waylaid by Orcs (2509), wounded and then departed over the Sea (2510). Also in his time, the Eorlingas came from the north to the aid of Gondor and established their kingdom of Rohan (also 2510).


XXXIII Aragost

Born 2431, Chieftain in 2523 (92), Led people 65 years, Died 2588 (157)

As a young man in service to his father the Chieftain, Aragost traveled far and wide in search of whatever tidings he might find of the forces at Dol Guldur and Minas Morgul. It was in his rule as Chieftain that Baldor, son of Brego of Rohan, vanished into the Paths of the Dead.


XXXIV Aravorn

Born 2497, Chieftain in 2588 (91), Led people 66 years, Died 2654 (157)

Soon after the passing of his father, distant word came that the Dwarves of the Grey Mountains had been harassed by dragons, and their king was slain. Aravorn would have gone himself, but being now Chieftain, sent instead his elder sons, with a few companions.


XXXV Arahad II

Born 2563, Chieftain in 2654 (91), Led people 65 years, Died 2719 (156)

“The Dragonslayer” – journeyed in his youth (2590) to the far north of Wilderland with a small band of companions and slew the dragon which had slain Dain I and Thror (in 2589). He received a severe wound and lost his memory for a time, continuing to travel about. At last he came to himself and made his way home after 36 years away (and in fact, Hurin II, the Steward of Gondor, had guessed of whose line he might be and sent him as far as Tharbad before his memory was restored to him). His reign as chieftain was more peaceful and his former deeds were not sung abroad, owing to the secrecy of his people. For himself he made little of his title and always claimed that from what he could recall, he had only survived with much help, but he spoke little more of it.


XXXVI Arassuil

Born 2628, Chieftain in 2719 (91), Led people 65 years, Died 2784 (156)

Journeyed in secret to Gondor in his youth, that he might behold the rebuilding of the White Tower by Ecthelion (completed 2698), for which he served as a stone mason. In his time as chieftain, Orcs again began to ravage the land of Eriador, and he led his people against them alongside the forces of Rivendell. In his day was the Long Winter (2758-59), although those in Eriador were less troubled at that time than those of Rohan and Gondor.


XXXVII Arathorn I

Born 2693, Chieftain in 2784 (91), Led people 64 years, Died 2848 (155)

In his youth he also journeyed secretly to Gondor and beheld the blossoming of the White Tree which followed the birth of he who would be Belecthor II, Steward of Gondor (in 2752).

The Dunedain continued their resistance to the Orc incursions into Eriador. Early in his time had been the War of the Dwarves and Orcs, and it was thought that the Orcs fled west into Eriador to escape the wrath of the Dwarves.


XXXVIII Argonui

Born 2757, Chieftain in 2848 (91), Led people 64 years, Died 2912 (155)

Argonui married Magwiel, a tall dark woman of nearly pure Beoran descent, who seemed more a serving girl to his companions, but who was descended from a family of thanes and knights of the old kingdoms, and whose father had been a companion of Arassuil. She bore Argonui six sons and six daughters, all tall and strong and sharp of mind, and all the Dunedain rejoiced at the renewal within the royal family line. Argonui lived out his years until the end of the Fell Winter, when he died in peace, just before the melting snows ruined at last the city of Tharbad and it was deserted.


XXXIX Arador

Born 2820, Chieftain in 2912 (92), Led people 18 years, Slain 2930 (110)

In his youth Arador had visited Gondor in secret and had met and spoken with Belecthor II on the eve of his passing (in 2872).

Arador sought to stem the increase of Orcs and Trolls in Eriador along the Misty Mountains. Finally, he was taken by Trolls in the Coldfells, together with all his brothers, his nephews and his second son, for they came upon their camp at night and slew most of them even as they slept and briefly kept the rest as captives. All were slain but one nephew, who escaped and made his way to some of their folk, mortally wounded, living only long enough to tell the tale of what had befallen.


XXXX Arathorn II

Born 2873, Chieftain in 2930 (57), Led people 3 years, Slain 2933 (60)

He married Gilraen, the daughter of Dirhael and Ivorwen. Soon after the birth of their only son, Arathorn was slain by an Orc arrow while riding against the Orcs with Elladan and Elrohir, sons of Elrond.


XXXXI Aragorn II

Born 2931, Chieftain in 2933 (2), Led people 208 years, King of Gondor and Arnor 3019 (88), Reigned 122 years, Died 120 - Fourth Age (210)

This Aragorn is he who grew in skill and power until he played his role in the downfall of Sauron at the end of the Third Age, becoming King Elessar of Gondor and marrying Arwen, daughter of Elrond Half-Elven. Their son Eldarion ruled after him, and their four daughters were wedded to sons of; King Eomer, Faramir the Steward, a later Prince of Dol Amroth and the Warden of Arnor.

 

[Valandil]

Kings of Cardolan at Tyrn Gorthad:

The first King of Cardolan was Caryontar, the second son of Earendur, born only one year after Amlaith. At the time he went into Gondor’s service (TA 800), Caryontar had an informal understanding with the young daughter of the Prince of Mitheithel that they would wed upon his return. However, when he finally returned in triumph to Arnor, as captain of a fleet, bringing forces to free Tharbad from attacks by the Dunlendings and other hostile hill folks, she had waited for him, but he had already married a woman from Umbar, the niece of Beruthiel whom Tarannon had married – for more than thirty years had passed. Caryontar had great renown in Arnor though, and men gathered to him and longed for his company. He was tall and strong of body, with red hair, boastful and yet generous. He favored expanding relations with Gondor and with Umbar and the other southern kingdoms, although many there were still envious of the Eldar and distrustful of the Valar. His close companion was the young son of Cardolan’s prince, for they had served together. When the time came for Earendur to depart this world, he considered passing over Amlaith in Caryontar’s favor – and Gondor supported this, for he seemed to them a more suitable King for Arnor than his elder brother. King Earendur relented before the end and chose Amlaith, which the Council confirmed, but the vote was split. Therefore Caryontar was able to break his allies off from Arnor and form the kingdom of Cardolan.

In its first decades, Cardolan prospered by trade through her port at Tharbad and by its relationships with Gondor and the southern kingdoms. King Caryontar sought to bring the tribes of Minhiriath into forced service. This enriched the kingdom for a time, but planted the seeds for further strife to come. At the first of his reign, Caryontar reinforced his north border, for he feared attack from Arthedain, but he spent most of his time at Tharbad. Only in his later years did his fortress at Tyrn Gorthad become his palace, and there his heirs remained. The outer wall of his fortress was a great ring of rough-hewn stones about a low depression, shaped like a bowl and the inner circle was kept clear as a great round courtyard. The Prince of Baranduin held a similar site nearby.

When it came time for his son to marry, Caryontar asked King Earnil for one of his daughters or nieces, but King Earnil reminded him that Caryontar’s own sister had once refused to marry him, so why should he now give a daughter for one of his sons? And besides, Caryontar’s own wife was from Umbar, with whom Gondor was again at war. So instead Earnil gave the daughter of the Prince of Calenardhon for him. However, this Prince was bereft of power, for the princes of Gondor, those of Lebennin and Calenardhon leastwise, had already been diminished by Tarannon Falastur, who had built for them mansions at Osgiliath and stately homes in Minas Anor and estates in Pelargir, that they might be drawn into life at Gondor’s court, while he appointed governors to supervise those lands as was done in newly conquered lands, and in Anorien (the lands directly held of the King of Gondor) and in Ithilien (which had remained under the care of Gondor’s King since Isildur departed for the North). Only the Prince of Belfalas refrained from court and retained control of his lands, so that he, alone of Gondor’s Princes, maintained power within his ancestral lands.

Cardolan then diminished, having ever yearned to be great and to be an ally of Gondor, it now found itself discarded as Gondor grew stronger. It turned to warfare with Rhudaur, and even to petty squabbling among its own thanes and was further weakened by uprisings from those it had oppressed. The last of their royal line died during the reign of Malvegil in Arthedain, soon after his predecessor had been betrayed and slain by Rhudaur, under pretext of a truce.


XI (C) Caryontar

Born 727, Crowned 861 (134), Reigned 68 years, Died 929 (202)

Caryontar was the second son of King Earendur of Arnor. Before his older brother Amandur (later Amlaith) chose his wife, Caryontar won the heart of a young lady of the Queen’s Court, Dorien, the daughter of the Prince of Mitheithel (this was not considered entirely proper, for another couple of the court to pair until the Heir had chosen, but it happened at times, and the couple remained discrete, although none in the court could miss their intentions). However, when couriers from Gondor came in the year 800, bidding adventurous young nobles of Arnor to join in Gondor’s exploits, Caryontar left for the campaigns of the south, promising to come back to his love. Caryontar returned some 30 years later, leading ships of Gondor up the Gwathlo to Tharbad, and Dorien and her father came to meet him on news of his coming. But he was already married to a princess from a southern realm, and had a son who was half-grown.

Caryontar grew in favor among the men of Arnor, especially the fighting men and the young nobles and those who longed for adventure and conquest. He was not quite so tall as Amandur, but larger of frame, hearty and boisterous, generous with his followers and known as a teller of tales, though he was not given to lore. He removed himself from Annuminas and spent his time with either the family of Baranduin’s Prince, or in Tharbad, where Arnor’s modest navy was harboured, which Caryontar strove to strengthen.

As the days of his father King Earendur came toward an end, Caryontar found that many would support him over his elder brother as King of Arnor, so he worked toward that end. Nonetheless, the succession fell to Amandur, so Caryontar gathered his followers and claimed the southern portion of the realm as his own, naming it Cardolan. After this his younger brother alike claimed the eastern part of Arnor, calling it Rhudaur, and the High Kingship passed away from the North.

Caryontar sought to make closer ties with Gondor and with the southern realms beyond. Trade with those regions flourished for a time. He desired the Palantir at Amon Sul and went there often to confer with the Kings of Gondor. At first, his brother the King of Rhudaur was a friend, for they had jointly opposed Arnor’s control and both desired contact with Gondor and the south beyond, but they soon became rivals for Gondor’s favor. When King Earnil of Gondor refused to give one of his own daughters or grand-daughters as a wife to Caryontar’s son Tarennor, Caryontar took it hard, and turned to strong drink, which ruled his life in the final years of his reign. For he saw at last that, while upon his birth, Arnor held overlordship of Gondor and that now Arnor’s successors were not seen as partners, but mere vassal states of Gondor – and in this he blamed himself.


XII Tarennor

Born 819, Crowned 929 (110), Reigned 84 years, Died 1013 (194)

As a young man he consorted with all manner of women throughout the kingdom, which the Faithful among the Dunedain had never done. By this the faith of the Princely House of Baranduin in their new line of kings was greatly lost. Some also held that this caused the displeasure of King Earnil of Gondor, such that he sent the daughter of Calenardhon’s Prince to wed him, not a daughter of his own. When he was king, it was he who first began open warfare with Rhudaur for control of Amon Sul. He first seized it in 957, after King Beleg of Arthedain had withdrawn his forces.


XIII Menelmir

Born 916, Crowned 1013 (97), Reigned 99 years, Died 1112 (196)

Menelmir was accounted great in speech, wit and arms, as well as fair in face, form and manner. In his youth, he caught the eyes of all the young ladies who beheld him, of all the Three Kingdoms, including Mahrwen, the daughter of King Ruhendir of Rhudaur, who would have no other. He most desired the daughter of Tharbad’s Lord, but she was taken off by Ruhendir’s son, Hyarandil. At last he married another, for by this time Cardolan and Rhudaur were at war.

Menelmir lost Amon Sul to Rhudaur, but King Ruhendir held him for ransom. He did this for the sake of the love of his daughter for Menelmir, but in this he misjudged, for she became furious. She would have him either slain or brought to her in chains, not returned to his own people for gold and promises, as had already been done.

Many years later Menelmir re-took Amon Sul from Hyarandil who was then King of Rhudaur, and he remembered not the mercy he had received, but destroyed all he could of Rhudaur’s forces and people who were within his reach.


XIV Anardur

Born 990, Crowned 1112 (122), Reigned 30 years, Slain 1142 (152)

King Anardur attacked Arthedain in 1140, finally drawing it into the armed conflict which had before been limited to Cardolan and Rhudaur. He was beaten back and suffered great losses and surrendered control of the town of Bree to King Celepharn. Two years later he rallied his forces in an attempt to fend off an attack on Amon Sul by Rhudaur, but Rhudaur was triumphant and Anardur, hoping to be held for ransom as his father had once been, was slain upon his capture there by King Histendil, grandson of Ruhendir.


XV Gilantar

Born 1054, Crowned 1142 (88), Reigned 105 years, Died 1247 (193)

Gilantar was suspicious and fearful of all those around him. He even had some of them put to death from time to time, in hopes of protecting himself and his heirs. He retook Amon Sul – only to lose it again late in his reign.


XVI Menelcar

Born 1113, Crowned 1247 (134), Reigned 2 years, Slain 1249 (136)

Treacherously slain by King Tarondacil of Rhudaur. For he and all his leading nobles were invited to a parley with Rhudaur, where they might decide how to join together and drive Arthedain away from Amon Sul. They were presented with a lavish feast, even for the men-at-arms who accompanied them, but on a signal, each man’s servant (actually warriors in disguise) as well as their other hosts, drew a weapon and slew the entire delegation of Cardolan. Last of all, that he was able to see the destruction of his men, Menelcar was slain by Tarondacil as two men held his arms. And Tarondacil laughed with merriment, delighted at his deception made under pretext of truce.


XVII Dirion

Born 1164, Crowned 1249 (85), Reigned 96 years, Died 1345 (179)

Ruled a greatly weakened kingdom, wracked by internal warfare, but clung to it in his pride, rejecting overtures of both King Celebrindor and King Malvegil to unite with Arthedain. His two sons both died young and childless during his reign, in combat with rebellious nobles of Cardolan. Thus his cup was filled with bitterness at the end and with his passing the line of Isildur failed in Cardolan.

After the death of Dirion (1345), the Prince of Baranduin made peace with King Malvegil of Arthedain, but it was on the ascension of King Argeleb I (1349) that Cardolan was rejoined together with Arthedain and the Prince of Baranduin was re-invested as the Prince of Cardolan. Only 60 years passed before this line failed, when Angmar invaded in great force and over-ran the Tyrn Gorthad and their prince (son of the prince at the time of Argeleb’s ascension) died in its defense in 1409, although his infant daughter Galien was rescued and carried into the forests – she was later raised in the court of Arthedain and married King Araphor. What remained of this people held out along the outskirts of the Old Forest and most of their survivors later drifted north into Arthedain. The remnant of the Dunedain of Cardolan, who did not flee into Arthedain, perished in the Great Plague of 1636.


Kings of Rhudaur at Brochenridge:

The first King of Rhudaur was Earendur’s third son, Daurnemir, who was 13 years younger than Amlaith. He was not as impressive as his older brothers, for he was withdrawn and sullen and not so mighty of frame as Caryontar nor as tall as Amlaith. But he was allowed to go off to war with Gondor, and won a measure of renown himself. While his two elder brothers were weighed for the succession, an emissary of Gondor suggested to him that he might make a place for himself by marrying the Lady Dorien (b. 771), daughter of Mitheithel’s prince, whom his brother had forsaken. She was then older than most brides, but Daurnemir saw the advantage in this and approached her father, who consented, delighted that his daughter was at last to be married - and to a son of King Earendur, though she despised Daurnemir and still yearned for his brother, Caryontar, and yet she also despised and scorned Caryontar even more. Thus, when Cardolan broke off from Arnor, Daurnemir and the Prince of Mitheithel created the realm of Rhudaur.

The Prince of Mithiethel had long been established at a fortress-estate a few leagues east and north of the great bridge over Hoarwell. Daurnemir chose a site further still to the north and east, at a break in a great ridge, where he built a great fortress and a palace for himself and his heirs.

Rhudaur was ever the weakest of the three kingdoms, but they fought fiercely to attempt to win control of Amon Sul. Always seeking to maintain ties to Gondor and to the southern realms, the one son of Daurnemir was married to a princess from Umbar, but at just that time, Gondor and Umbar became enemies once more, and Rhudaur’s new connection to Umbar placed it out of favor with Gondor. Although geographically close to Rivendell, Rhudaur was not close to them politically because of her initial ties with the southern kingdoms and the continued influence this had even in later times. As time wore on, the Dunedain of Rhudaur even began to dabble in the black arts.

Before long, treachery became the way of the land, and kings came to the throne by assassinating other kings. The last king from Isildur’s line had his daughter taken from him by force, by a hill chieftain, who later slew that king and named himself the King of Rhudaur. Soon after this, all fell into ruin and what Dunedain remained were slain or fled west to Arthedain, while the remnants of Rhudaur came directly under the influence of Angmar.


XI (R) Daurnemir

Born 739, Crowned 861 (122), Reigned 93 years, Died 954 (215)

Named Turendur at birth, he was the third son of King Earendur of Arnor, and went also to Gondor’s campaigns in the south with his brother Caryontar, while their eldest brother Amandur (later Amlaith) stayed in Arnor at their father’s command. Turendur acquired a taste for the things of the south and delighted in the campaigns of those days. He was as tall as Caryontar, but slighter of frame and of quieter temperament, and more clever and subtle of mind. Although he was a great champion and fighter among other men, he could not rival his brothers in this regard - yet he had more knowledge of lore than Caryontar and was a better tactician. He was given the name ‘Daurnemir’ by his companions in the south, but used the name ‘Turendur’ upon his return to Arnor, until his brother Amandur would succeed to the throne.

Turendur had returned to the north at the same time as Caryontar, leading a southern army overland to Tharbad where they met Caryontar’s ships, in a final blow to those Dunlendings who resisted them. Like Caryontar, he did not stay at Annuminas, but neither did he dwell in any place, but wandered over the bounds of the kingdom. As his father the King began to fade and some whispered that Caryontar might follow him rather than Amandur, Turendur was at first delighted, but began to make his own plans when Amandur regained control and it appeared that Caryontar might carry off the southern provinces of Arnor. For it was suggested to him that he wed Dorien, whom Caryontar had forsaken, the daughter of Mitheithel’s Prince. This he did, and thus he wrested Rhudaur from the eastern portion of Arnor and had himself crowned as King Daurnemir.


XII Ruhendir

Born 863, Crowned 954 (91), Reigned 122 years, Died 1074 (211)

He was the son and only child of Daurnemir and the Princess of Mithiethel. He married younger than most nobles of the Dunedain, for his mother remembered the bitterness of her own spurning and she also despised the ways of Tarennor, son of Caryontar. He married a princess from Umbar, as had his uncle, and she bore him one son and one daughter. She brought with her diviners from her own lands, and some men of Rhudaur began to study the black arts. His reign was long, for his father had been older than most men upon his marriage. It was in his time that Rhudaur went openly to war with Cardolan to contest for Amon Sul and the sole use of the Palantir therein (957).

His son Hyarandil followed after him. His daughter Mahrwen (b. 921) espied in her youth Menelmir, her second cousin and heir of Cardolan. She would have none but him, and when she could not have him, she remained unmarried for all of her days, though she retained her beauty, and she turned to the black arts of her mother’s people, working intrigues in the Court of Rhudaur, taking the name Morgwen. And thus for the first time a descendant of Elendil turned to the worship of his ancient enemy Sauron. It was rumored that her life was un-naturally lengthened and even that she outlived the Kingdom of Rhudaur.


XIII Hyarandil

Born 911, Crowned 1074 (163), Reigned 28 years, Died 1102 (191)

Hyarandil came to the throne late in life, and had already made a lifestyle of ease and merriment. In his youth (TA 973) he carried off the daughter of Tharbad’s Thane and took her to wife, for Tharbad had from the first been affixed to the Prince of Mitheithel, but joined itself with Cardolan upon the division of Arnor. Nonetheless, he loved this girl and she returned his love and took her place at his side, bearing him three sons; Tarnendil, Histendil and Elencar. Hyarandil never took well to the throne, and neglected the proper ordering of the realm.


XIV Tarnendil

Born 977, Crowned 1102 (125), Reigned 25 years, Slain 1127 (150)

Tarnendil was of more sober mind and steady judgment than his father. He sought to ease tensions with Cardolan and to discourage the practice of magic. This brought on him the ire of his Aunt Morgwen, whom he had locked in a remote mountain tower, but from there she continued to work her intrigues. He was slain in his sleep by his own brother Histendil, who then usurped the throne.


XV Histendil

Born 999, Usurped Crown 1127 (128), Reigned 42 years, Slain 1169 (169)

Histendil was the second son of Hyarandil. In 1127 he rose up and slew his elder brother and took the throne for himself. He killed his younger brother Elencar and the two sons of Tarnendil as well, seeking to end their lines. In his day, Fallohides and Stoors first came over the Misty Mountains and into his lands. These were tolerated and allowed to farm the land, at which they proved adept. Otherwise they were occasionally used for the sport and amusement of the Men of Rhudaur. Histendil renewed the strife for control of Amon Sul.


XVI Isilcar

Born 1086, Usurped Crown 1169 (83), Reigned 33 years, Slain 1202 (116)

Nephew to Histendil by the third son of Hyarandil (Elencar), he escaped from Histendil when he came to power and was kept in hiding by a thane who hated the treachery now in Rhudaur’s court. Later, he came secretly among the servants of the palace and poisoned King Histendil and his close followers. He then took power, for his own men were secretly close at hand and he had turned the servants and the guard of the palace to himself, for they all rued the kingship of Histendil. Isilcar sought to return peace to Rhudaur, but there was only trouble throughout the land.


XVII Tarondacil

Born 1076, Usurped Crown 1202 (126), Reigned 52 years, Slain 1254 (178)

Tarondacil ‘the Treacherous’, the son of Histendil, he gathered men from the hill tribes of the Misty Mountains to support him and he made war on Isilcar. Finally he slew him and took the crown for himself, as though it had rightfully been his father’s. He kept the hill chieftains close to himself and took them into the service of Rhudaur, to strengthen his hand in the wars with Cardolan. He thus wrested control of Amon Sul from them once more, but within 3 years, Celebrindor of Arthedain had gathered his own forces and dislodged them. Neither Rhudaur nor Cardolan could contest with Arthedain alone, and indeed, in their years of warfare they had been mostly well-matched, sometimes Rhudaur winning the field, and other times Cardolan – and thus they had shared the Palantir. Therefore, Tarondacil called a council with Cardolan under the pretext of joining together in opposition to Arthedain, and Menelcar came with many men, for he did not trust Tarondacil. There, Tarondacil put on a great display, with pomp and ceremony. A servant was provided for each guest from Menelcar’s delegation, but on a signal, each drew a weapon and struck his guest, for the servants were in fact warriors of Rhudaur. None of Menelcar’s delegation survived, all were struck down.

Later, Tarondacil betrayed even his hill folk friends, such that his name came to be despised by all. The hill men could not overcome his fortress, but when his cousin came to claim the throne, he was vanquished.


XVIII Tarnendur

Born 1190, Crowned 1254 (64), Reigned 94 years, Slain 1348 (158)

Tarnendur’s grandfather Tarumar (b. 1051) was the second son of Tarnendil, who was slain along with his brother by Histendil. However, Tarumar’s young son Tarenion (b. 1122), who was only 5 at the time, was hidden by a family servant and eventually taken to live in exile, first among sympathizers in the wild, then at Gondor, then Fornost, then finally at Tyrn Gorthad. At Fornost, King Celepharn had beseeched Tarenion to join in with him and retake Rhudaur under the banner of Arthedain, that they might be united once more. But Tarenion soon tired of this and dwelt at Tyrn Gorthad, where each king in succession fostered his hopes of a triumphant return to Rhudaur, for each saw this as a means to weaken their enemy.

Finally, in 1254, Tarenion moved against Tarondacil. His forces prevailed, but he himself was slain by Tarondacil, whom he had mortally wounded. Therefore, Tarenion’s son Tarnendur succeeded as King of Rhudaur.

Tarnendur had a tumultuous reign because of the state of the kingdom and its people. The hill men had infiltrated and lived among them, and they were always discontented. He had little force to carry out his plans, and his people sank deeper into debauchery, divination or despair. He yearned for the days of greatness, and goodness, of friendship with the Eldar and the pursuit of knowledge and peace, but his kingdom held none of these. Also in his reign, Orcs began to make raids into Eriador, but curiously always bypassing Rhudaur. For this at least Tarnendur was thankful.

Finally, a great leader arose among the hill chieftains. He was given position in the kingdom, in hopes that it would quell his people’s unrest. Instead, he seized and took to wife for himself Tarniel, the youngest daughter of Tarnendur, who was then only a girl of 15 (by which time most maidens of the hill folk had married). He then systematically saw to it that the sons of Tarnendur, and any other of his family who might lay claim to the throne, were eliminated, but always by subtle means – one being struck down while at war, another accidentally slain when his horse fell into a gorge and yet another would fall sick and not recover. Finally, he rose against King Tarnendur and struck him down – and he claimed the throne for himself by right of his marriage to his daughter.


After Tarnendur was slain, Rhudaur sank into greater turmoil and trouble. However, upon his death, young Beleg of Arthedain, who was son of the Heir to King Malvegil and who would be crowned as ‘Arveleg’, gathered the sons of the Princes of Fornost and of Tyrn Gorthad and the three of them rode into Rhudaur, late in the year 1348, to discover what they might. They stole into the royal fortress and rescued young Tarniel, wife of the hill king, and her companion the young princess of the House of Mitheithel, also last of her line. While escaping, Tarniel halted at the Great Bridge over Hoarwell and cast herself in, for she had despaired because of the child she carried within her. But the other four safely returned to Amon Sul just after the Yule in early 1349 – and Beleg learned that his grandfather had died, that his father was now King Argeleb, and that he himself was Heir to Arthedain. In later years, he married the young princess of Hoarwell whom he had rescued.

In Rhudaur, all was anarchy. The Halflings scattered either west into Cardolan or east back across the Misty Mountains. Finally it was learned openly that the hill leaders had been receiving secret support from Angmar to the north, for in 1409 a great force came from Angmar, joined with the hill men, and went off to war against Arthedain. All the Dunedain who remained in Rhudaur then fled or perished, for none were spared if they were found, though some few escaped into Arthedain.



The Tower of Amon Sul:

Because this was central to much of the strife between Cardolan and Rhudaur, a fair account of its history seemed in order:

Second Age:

(3350) Elendil builds the Tower of Amon Sul where the Great East-West Road crosses on the south of the Weather Hills. For the three great bridges he has planned all lie approximately 50 leagues from there – that of Stonebows to the West (50 leagues), that over Mitheithel to the East (40 leagues) and the Bridge at Tharbad to the South (just over 60 leagues). From here he believes he can best watch over his kingdom – both its roads and waterways, and here he placed the Chief Palantir of the North. If this land had been more amenable, he would have made his capital here, but he was too fond of Lake Evendim.

(3431) Elendil awaits Gil-galad here to march on to Imladris and preparations for the Seige on Mordor.

Third Age:

(10) Valandil received at Amon Sul by many nobles of Arnor, who then accompany him to Annuminas for his coronation.

(862) With “The Peace of Amlaith” – the year following the passing of King Earendur of Arnor, Amon Sul becomes a neutral site for the Kingdoms of Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur, that all may use its Palantir. King Amlaith of Arthedain however, despite brokering the peace and making this concession, never comes to use this Palantir, having lost all desire to contact Gondor. Each kingdom makes a new town within 3-5 leagues away to support their garrison there; Arthedain to the northwest, Rhudaur to the northeast and Cardolan to the south.

(c. 910) Rhudaur falls out of favor with Gondor.

(c. 915) Cardolan falls out of favor with Gondor.

(956) King Beleg withdraws the forces of Arthedain from Amon Sul.

(957) Cardolan seizes Amon Sul, slaying or capturing Rhudaur’s guardsmen. The Warden of Amon Sul is deposed – his son eventually withdraws to Fornost, many years later in the reign of Mallor.

(958) Rhudaur lays siege and open war comes between Cardolan and Rhudaur.

(959) Cardolan drives off Rhudaur’s siege.

(1019) Rhudaur lays siege again and captures Amon Sul. King Menelmir of Cardolan is taken captive, but is ransomed back to his own people.

(1083) Cardolan re-takes Amon Sul and lays waste to Rhudaur’s towns in the vicinity.

(1101) Rhudaur lays siege to Amon Sul but is repulsed.

(1102-1127) The Peace of Tarnendil of Rhudaur. Rhudaur makes no attacks on Cardolan or the Tower of Amon Sul.

(1140) Cardolan attacks Arthedain and is badly beaten and thereby greatly weakened.

(1142) Rhudaur rallies to retake Amon Sul. King Anardur is slain upon his capture.

(1166) Rhudaur marches its army westward along the Great Road toward Bree. These are first harassed by Cardolan and then repulsed and routed by Arthedain.

(1169-1202) The Peace of Isilcar of Rhudaur. Cardolan is offered access to the Palantir of the Tower, but King Gilantar fears deception and refuses.

(1220) Cardolan recaptures the Tower at great loss.

(1245) Rhudaur retakes Amon Sul once more, this time with the aid of hill tribesmen.

(1248) King Celebrindor of Arthedain comes out in force and takes Amon Sul, putting to flight the besiegers from Cardolan and capturing the soldiers of Rhudaur who hold it. He installs a new Warden of Amon Sul – a descendant of the one deposed in 957.

(1249) King Menelcar of Cardolan is treacherously slain by King Tarondacil of Rhudaur.

(1306) Young Celebrindol, later Argeleb I, son of King Malvegil of Arthedain, marries the daughter of Amon Sul’s Warden.

(1349-1356) Argeleb further reinforces the defenses around Amon Sul.

(1356) Argeleb I slain in battle with Rhudaur and Angmar, for he took his army forth from the tower to meet them in the fields to the east.

(1409) Rhudaur and Angmar attack with great force and lay siege to the Tower. The Palantir is first carried off to Fornost, but Amon Sul is taken, burned and razed to the ground. King Arveleg I is slain along with all its defenders.

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* Some dates differ from those shown in ‘The Peoples of Middle Earth’. In the dates there, Elendil was born in 3119 SA, and Isildur in 3209 SA. The alternate dates in this account support the tales that Amandil was Ar-Pharazon’s contemporary (Ar-Pharazon having been born in 3118 SA). The other difference is for Aranarth – the text cited gives his birth in 1938 (PoME), but all accounts agree that his parents, Arvedui and Firiel, were wedded in 1940 – so the date of 1942 as a birth year seems more logical.**


** In my first composition of this list I worked with the information above, giving Elendil the birth year of 3179 and Isildur 3239. I have since revised my thinking, and accept the dates given in POME. In this version I have restored the proper dates, shown in the first note just above. – April 29, 2025