Stewards of Gondor Printable version

Stewards were men of Gondor that served the Kingdom as high chiefs and councils to its Royalty. Some Stewards later ruled after untimely deaths of Kings that have no heir, if there’s a fear of internal crisis, or as temporary rulers while awaiting the return of power to the lawful heirs, most notable was in the era of Pelendur after Ondoher’s demise, and Denethor while awaiting the son of Arathorn.

Background

The first stewardship was granted by King Romendacil, the first. It's the title given to any of the councilors to the Kingdom's Kings. The typical Steward would be an aged man from Gondor, revered for his uprightness and wisdom. Stewards can neither exceed the boundaries of the kingdom nor enter the battleground. The position gained the highest power in the years of King Ondoher’s Steward, Pelendur. He served until 1944 of Third Age when he took charge of Gondor due to the fall of the thirty-first king and the lawful heirs in the battleground. Pelendur was born into the line of Húrin, which had high Númenórean blood, but weren't descents of Elendil. Pelendur of Hurin ruled Gondor like a lawful king with his decisions and judgments.

He made the transition of the throne occur without kin slaying among the households, the crisis of the throne could have led to an internal war if he wasn't available to offer his wisdom. The influence of Pelendur was so great that stewardship began to pass down to descent of stewards like the throne of royalty. King Earnur of Gondor passed away without an heir to the throne, and his Steward held the throne, becoming the first to do so. Earnur’s Steward was Mardil Voronwe. [1] Men from his descent later continued to inherit the position and stewardship until his 25th lineage. The Stewards only served as custodian of the throne, and their rule would end when the true line to the throne emerged.

During the Stewardship of Denethor II, his son Boromir asked the required time-span for a Steward to become King of Gondor. [2] Denethor II then replied to him that in places with lesser royalty the required years are few, however, in Gondor a steward cannot become king even after a decade of waiting. The Stewards held a white rod that symbolizes their title as the King's Council. They would also sit on a chair made beside the throne, and not sit on the throne itself. In Quenya, the title of Stewardship is called Arandur, which means "Servant of the King".

Recognized Stewards of the Kingdom

Since King Romendacil I granted Stewardship, the following stewards served the Kingdom within the years 492, 541, and 2050 of the Third Age. Many stewards were unnamed after Hurin as they weren't influential, and the title only gained the deserved recognition in the era of Pelendur.

1. Steward Húrin from Emyn Arnen ( b. 1621 – 1634)
2. Steward Pelendur ( b. 1944- d. 1998)
3. Steward Vorondil ( b. 1998- d. 2029)
4. Steward Mardil Voronwë ( b. 2029- d. 2050)
   
   There were no stewards until Faramir (969 years later)
   
   
5. Steward Faramir ( b. 3019- d. 82 FO)
6. Steward Elboron ( b. 82 FO- d. ?)

Stewards Ruled in absence of the Kings of Gondor

Between ( b. 2050- d. 3019).

1. Steward Mardil Voronwë ( b. 2050- d. 2080)
2. Steward Eradan ( b. 2080- d. 2116)
3. Steward Herion ( b. 2116- d. 2148)
4. Steward Belegorn ( b. 2148- d. 2204)
5. Steward Húrin I ( b. 2204- d. 2244)
6. Steward Túrin I ( b. 2244- d. 2278)
7. Steward Hador ( b. 2278- d. 2395)
8. Steward Barahir ( b. 2395- d. 2412)
9. Steward Dior ( b. 2412- d. 2435)
10. Steward Denethor I ( b. 2435- d. 2477)
11. Steward Boromir ( b. 2477- d. 2489)
12. Steward Cirion ( b. 2489- d. 2567)
13. Steward Hallas ( b. 2567- d. 2605)
14. Steward Húrin II ( b. 2605- d. 2628)
15. Steward Belecthor I ( b. 2628- d. 2655)
16. Steward Orodreth ( b. 2655- d. 2685)
17. Steward Ecthelion I ( b. 2685- d. 2698)
18. Steward Egalmoth ( b. 2698- d. 2743)
19. Steward Beren ( b. 2743- d. 2763)
20. Steward Beregond ( b. 2763- d. 2811)
21. Steward Belecthor II ( b. 2811- d. 2872)
22. Steward Thorondir ( b. 2872- d. 2882)
23. Steward Túrin II ( b. 2882- d. 2914)
24. Steward Turgon ( b. 2914- d. 2953)
25. Steward Ecthelion II ( b. 2953- d. 2984)
26. Steward Denethor II (b. 2984- d. 3019)

The son of Arathorn II ruled the Reunited Kingdom after Denethor II of Gondor passed away. Denethor's son, Faramir, tendered his father's stewardship rod but was soon conferred with the title himself. Faramir ruled for a short time, two weeks short of two months, before King Elessar's coronation. He left for Minas Tirith to get treatment for his wound in battle, and Dol Amroth's Prince Imrahil took charge. Faramir wasn't considered a Ruling Steward probably because it was a short time that he remained in office but honored by King Elessar. Aragorn established him and his progeny as Stewards. He then honored him with even more as the prince of Ithilien. The use of Stewards in Tolkien's work is probably in connection to the followers of European Medieval Kings. England used to have a highly influential office called the Lord High Steward that gave councils to England’s Kings. The office exists till this time but only as a ceremonial office maintained for coronation purposes only.

References

1. ^First of the Ruling Stewards of Gondor.
2. ^Title of the rulers of the South-kingdom after the Kings.