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The descent of the High Kings, whose names are shown here in bold text. After the loss of Isildur at the Disaster of the Gladden Fields, there was no High King for more than three thousand years until Aragorn succeeded in reestablishing the line.
A title used by the Dúnedain for their ultimate ruler. Normally, 'High King' would refer to a king who ruled over other lesser kings and lords, but this is not necessarily the case with the High King of the Dúnedain. The term seems to date back to the early days of Númenor, where Tar-Meneldur the fifth King was addressed as 'High King', though he had no other rulers in his service.
The more common use of the title, though, came at the end of the Second Age, with the establishment of the Realms in Exile in Middle-earth. In their earliest years, the Two Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor fell under the ultimate rule of one man, Elendil, who dwelt in Arnor as the High King. The South-kingdom of Gondor was ruled jointly by his sons, but only under his suzerainty.
With Elendil's loss in the Siege of Barad-dûr, his elder son Isildur inherited the High Kingship. Isildur ruled for only two years, though, before he too was lost in the Disaster of the Gladden Fields. After his death, historical events conspired to separate the Two Kingdoms, each of which took kings of their own. The High Kingship should in principle have fallen on Isildur's heir Valandil, but in practice Valandil became King of Arnor only, and had no power over the South-kingdom.
More than three thousand years were to pass before Aragorn reunited Elendil's realms. In doing so, as the direct descendant of Isildur through many generations, he also resurrected the High Kingship.
Elendil |
(Ruled for 121 years to II 3441) The founder of both Arnor and Gondor, Elendil ruled the Two Kingdoms as High King from Annúminas on Nenuial in the North-kingdom. He gave the joint rule of the South-kingdom to his sons Isildur and Anárion, who in turn acknowledged Elendil as High King. |
Isildur |
(Ruled for 2 years to III 2) Elendil was lost in the War of the Last Alliance, and so his elder son Isildur inherited the High Kingship. After ordering the South-kingdom as he wished, Isildur set out for Annúminas in the north, leaving Gondor under the rule of Meneldil son of Anárion (Anárion himself had also been lost in the War). As he travelled in the wilds of Middle-earth, Isildur's army was assaulted and destroyed. As a result, the lines of the kings split: Meneldil and his descendants ruled in Gondor, while Isildur's son Valandil continued his line in Arnor. |
Interregnum |
For most of the Third Age - a total of 3,017 years altogether - the lines of the Kings were divided, and there was no High King of the Dúnedain. The breach came close to being healed in III 1944 when Arvedui of Arthedain sought the Crown of Gondor, but his bid failed, and Arthedain was destroyed soon afterwards. |
Aragorn Elessar |
(Ruled for 122 years to IV 120) Aragorn was the direct descendant of Isildur through thirty-nine generations. After the loss of Steward Denethor II, and the great part played by Aragorn himself in the War of the Ring, the people of Gondor eagerly accepted him as King of Gondor and Arnor. Thus the High Kingship was re-established after a period of nearly an entire Age. |
Eldarion |
Eldarion was Aragorn's heir, who succeeded him to become the fourth High King of the Dúnedain. Almost nothing is known of his life or rule, though he seems to have left heirs of his own to inherit the title of High King in turn. |
See also...
Arathorn II, Asëa aranion, Blade that was Broken, Bridge of Stonebows, Chieftain of the North, Company of the Ring, Counsellor of the North-kingdom, Crown of Elendil, Dúnedain of Arnor, Dúnedain of Gondor, Eastgate of the Bridge, Eldarion, Elendil, Elf-friend, Elf-towers, [See the full list...]Elfstan Fairbairn, Elves of Eregion, Elves of Lindon, Emyn Uial, Envinyatar, Fastred of Greenholm, Flame of the West, Fornost Erain, Fourth Age, Free Land, Gamgee Family, Gate of Kings, Gondorians, Great Hall of Osgiliath, Great King, Guard of Faramir, Heir of Elendil, High King of Arnor, House of Anárion, House of Elendil, Isildur, Isildurs Heir, King of all the Dúnedain, King of Arnor, King of Gondor, King of Gondor and Arnor, King of the Dúnedain, King of the North-kingdom, King of the Southern Realm, Kingdom of the North, Kingdoms of the Dúnedain, Last-king, Line of Anárion, Lord of Arnor and Gondor, Lost Realm, Men of Arnor, Meneldil, Misty Mountains, Mithril, North-kingdom, North-realm, Northern Dúnedain, Northern Kingdom, Northern Line, Northern Sceptre, Númenórean Realms, Prince of Cardolan, Prince of Dol Amroth, Queen of Elves and Men, Rath Dínen, Reunited Kingdom, Ring of Barahir, River Anduin, Ruler of Gondor, Sceptre of Arnor, Sceptre of Númenor, Senya, Shire-reckoning, South-realm, Southern Line, Star of Elendil, Steward of the King, Sword Reforged, Telcontar, The Seer, The Tall, The Towers, Tomb of Elendil, Tombs of the Kings, Tower of Ingwë, Tower of the Sun, Treegarth of Orthanc, Two Kingdoms, Valandil of Númenor, War of the Last Alliance, Westmarch of the Shire, White Crown, White Mountains, White Towers
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About this entry:
- Updated 14 October 2009
- This entry is complete
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