The tenth King of Arthedain, son of Araphor, and direct ancestor of Aragorn Elessar. Probably the most significant event of his reign occurred in the year III 1601, when he was petitioned by a group of Hobbits migrating westward from Bree to grant them a land of their own. Argeleb agreed, and gave them wide lands west of the river Baranduin that had formerly been a royal park and hunting ground. Through Argeleb's grant, the Hobbits led by Marcho and Blanco established the Land of the Halflings known as the Shire. The population expanded, and the settlers from the Bree-land were joined later in Argeleb's reign by a population of Stoors out of Dunland.
Shortly afterward, the sickness known as the Dark Plague spread northwards through Argeleb's realm. This plague had previously devastated the South-kingdom of Gondor; in Arthedain its effects were less harsh, but there was still great suffering. Arthedain's southern neighbour, Cardolan, was less fortunate; the last of its Dúnedain fell to the plague, and the land was left desolate. The Witch-king of Angmar sent evil spirits to the weakened Cardolan, where they inhabited Tyrn Gorthad, the Barrow-downs that lay close to the borders of both Arthedain and the new land of the Shire. Thus the Barrow-wights came into existence during the rule of Argeleb II.
After the passing of the Plague, little of note is recorded in the remaining thirty-four years of Argeleb's kingship. He died in the year III 1670, and was succeeded by his son Arvegil.
Notes
1
The date of Argeleb's birth appears only in The History of Middle-earth volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth. It cannot therefore be considered completely reliable.
2
The ar- element of Argeleb's name means 'lord' or 'king', following the tradition established by his great-grandfather and namesake, Argeleb I, who claimed lordship over the neighbouring lands of Cardolan and Rhudaur. The meaning of -geleb is less sure, but it seems to be related to the word celeb, 'silver', that appears in many Elf-names.
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