THREE RINGS for the ELVEN KINGS

History of Middle-earth

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The following lists have been compiled from information contained in the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien – in particular The Return of the King, The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales and The War of the Jewels. Tolkien gives us no data after the time of Eldarion, and so for the Fourth and later ages other compatible sources have been used, which have been noted in detail below. All the dates given by Tolkien for the history of Middle-earth can be converted to BC dates using a simple formula: the First Age of the Sun began in 10,160 BC, the Second Age began in 9563 BC, the Third Age began in 6122 BC, and the Fourth Age (Gondor) began in 3102 BC. As for later ages, we only have the following statement, made by Tolkien in 1958: “But they have, I think, quickened; and I imagine we are actually at the end of the Sixth Age, or in the Seventh.” (Letters, #211) Any attempt to assign dates to the beginning of the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Ages must therefore remain highly speculative, but what is clear is that the use of ages to count calendar years has long been superseded by other methods.

 

FOLK of BËOR (FIRST HOUSE of the EDAIN)

The Folk of Bëor entered Beleriand in 9851 BC and ceased to exist as an independent people in 9701 BC, their descendants eventually migrating to Númenor. The following list is derived from The Silmarillion and The War of the Jewels.

 

LORDS

Balan (Bëor the Old)............................9851-9850 (d. 9806)

Baran (Bëor the Young)..........................9850-9781

Boron...........................................9781-9753

Boromir.........................................9753-9729

Bregor..........................................9729-9713

Bregolas........................................9713-9706

Barahir.........................................9706-9701

 

HALADIN (SECOND HOUSE of the EDAIN)

The Haladin entered Beleriand in 9849 BC but were not united under a single chieftain until 9786 BC. They ceased to exist as an independent people in 9660 BC, their descendants eventually migrating to Númenor. The following list is derived from The Silmarillion and The War of the Jewels.

 

CHIEFTAINS

Haleth (fem.)...................................9786-9741

Haldan..........................................9741-9710

Halmir..........................................9710-9690

Haldir..........................................9690-9689

Handir..........................................9689-9666

Brandir the Lame................................9666-9662

Hardang.........................................9662-9660

 

FOLK of MARACH, or HADOR (THIRD HOUSE of the EDAIN)

The Folk of Marach, later known as the Folk of Hador, entered Beleriand in 9848 BC and ceased to exist as an independent people in 9659 BC, their descendants eventually migrating to Númenor. The following list is derived from The Silmarillion and The War of the Jewels.

 

LORDS

Marach..........................................9848-9785

Malach Aradan...................................9785-9763

Magor...........................................9763-?

Hathol

Hador Lórindol.....................................?-9706

Galdor the Tall.................................9706-9699

Húrin Thalion...................................9699-9659

 

NÚMENOR

Founded as a new home for the Edain, now known as Dúnedain (Men of the West) on an island in the Great Sea, after the destruction of Beleriand in 9564 BC. Númenor was later destroyed during the Change of the World in 6245 BC. The following list is derived from Unfinished Tales.

 

KINGS & QUEENS

Elros Tar-Minyatur (Gimilzôr)...................9532-9122

Vardamir Nólimon (Zimravrati)...................9122-9121 (d. 9093) with...

Tar-Amandil (Ar-Aphanuzîr)......................9122-8974 (d. 8961)

Tar-Elendil (Ar-Gimilzîr).......................8974-8824 (d. 8813)

Írimon Tar-Meneldur (Ar-Minûlzûr)...............8824-8681 (d. 8622)

Anardil Tar-Aldarion............................8681-8489 (d. 8466)

Tar-Ancalimë (fem.).............................8489-8284 (d. 8279)

Tar-Anárion.....................................8284-8170 (d. 8160)

Tar-Súrion......................................8170-8008 (d. 7990)

Tar-Telperiën (fem.)............................8008-7873 (d. 7873)

Tar-Minastir....................................7873-7695 (d. 7691)

Tar-Ciryatan (Ar-Balkumagan)....................7695-7535 (d. 7529)

Tar-Atanamir the Great..........................7535-7343

Tar-Ancalimon...................................7343-7178

Tar-Telemmaitë..................................7178-7038

Tar-Vanimeldë (fem.)............................7038-6927

Herucalmo Tar-Anducal...........................6927-6907

Tar-Alcarin.....................................6907-6827

Tar-Calmacil (Ar-Belzagar)......................6827-6739

Tar-Ardamin (Ar-Abattarîk)......................6739-6665

Tar-Herunúmen (Ar-Adûnakhôr)....................6665-6602

Tar-Hostamir (Ar-Zimrathôn).....................6602-6531

Tar-Falassion (Ar-Sakalthôr)....................6531-6462

Tar-Telemnar (Ar-Gimilzôr)......................6462-6387

Tar-Palantir the Farsighted (Ar-Inziladûn)......6387-6309

Míriel (Ar-Zimraphel) (fem.).........................6309 (d. 6245)

Tar-Calion (Ar-Pharazôn the Golden).............6309-6245

 

ARNOR

One of the two Realms in Exile founded after the destruction of Númenor in 6245 BC (Gondor being the other), Arnor was situated in the north-west of Middle-earth. The kingdom lasted until 5262 BC, when it was divided. The following list is derived from The Return of the King.

 

KINGS

Elendil the Tall (also King of Gondor)..........6244-6123 with...

Isildur (also King of Gondor)...................6244-6121

Valandil........................................6121-5874

Eldacar.........................................5874-5784

Arantar.........................................5784-5688

Tarcil..........................................5688-5608

Tarondor........................................5608-5521

Valandur........................................5521-5471

Elendur.........................................5471-5346

Eärendur........................................5346-5262

 

ARTHEDAIN

The most important of the three kingdoms into which Arnor was divided in 5262 BC (the others being Cardolan and Rhudaur, the kings of which are unknown). Arthedain was sometimes also referred to as Arnor. The following list is derived from The Return of the King.

 

KINGS

Amlaith of Fornost..............................5262-5177

Beleg...........................................5177-5094

Mallor..........................................5094-5013

Celepharn.......................................5013-4932

Celebrindor.....................................4932-4851

 Malvegil........................................4851-4774

Argeleb I.......................................4774-4767

Arveleg I.......................................4767-4714

Araphor.........................................4714-4534

Argeleb II......................................4534-4453

Arvegil.........................................4453-4380

Arveleg II......................................4380-4310

Araval..........................................4310-4232

Araphant........................................4232-4159

Arvedui Last-king...............................4159-4149 (d. 4148)

 

RANGERS of the NORTH

After the fall of Arthedain in 4149 BC, the royal line was preserved as a chieftainship amongst the Rangers of the North (i.e. those of the Dúnedain who survived in the area of the former Kingdom of Arnor). The following list is derived from The Return of the King.

 

CHIEFTAINS

Aranarth........................................4147-4017

Arahael.........................................4017-3946

Aranuir.........................................3946-3876

Aravir..........................................3876-3804

Aragorn I.......................................3804-3796

Araglas.........................................3796-3668

Arahad I........................................3668-3600

Aragost.........................................3600-3535

Aravorn.........................................3535-3469

Arahad II.......................................3469-3404

Arassuil........................................3404-3339

Arathorn I......................................3339-3275

Argonui.........................................3275-3211

Arador..........................................3211-3193

Arathorn II.....................................3193-3190

Aragorn II (later King Elessar Telcontar).......3190-3104 (d. 2983)

 

GONDOR

One of the two Realms in Exile founded after the destruction of Númenor in 6245 BC (Arnor being the other), Gondor was situated far to the south of Arnor. Despite the dying out of its royal line in 4073 BC, the kingdom survived right up until the War of the Ring, and in 3104 BC became the core territory of the newly founded Reunited Kingdom. The following list is derived from The Return of the King.

 

KINGS

Elendil (also King of Arnor)....................6244-6123 with...

Isildur (also King of Arnor)....................6244-6121 and...

Anárion.........................................6244-6124 and...

Meneldil........................................6124-5965

Cemendur........................................5965-5885

Eärendil........................................5885-5799

Anardil.........................................5799-5712

Ostoher.........................................5712-5631

Tarostar Rómendacil I...........................5631-5582

Turambar........................................5582-5456

Atanatar I......................................5456-5375

Siriondil.......................................5375-5293

Tarannon Falastur...............................5293-5210

Eärnil I........................................5210-5187

Ciryandil.......................................5187-5108

Ciryaher Hyarmendacil I.........................5108-4974

Atanatar II the Glorious........................4974-4897

Narmacil I......................................4897-4829

Calmacil........................................4829-4819

Minalcar Romendacil II..........................4819-4757

Valacar.........................................4757-4691

Vinitharya Eldacar (first reign)................4691-4686 (d. 4633)

Castamir the Usurper............................4686-4676

Vinitharya Eldacar (second reign)...............4676-4633

Aldamir.........................................4633-4583

Vinyarion Hyarmendacil II.......................4583-4502

Minardil........................................4502-4489

Telemnar........................................4489-4487

Tarondor........................................4487-4325

Telumehtar Umbardacil...........................4325-4273

Narmacil II.....................................4273-4267

Calimehtar......................................4267-4187

Ondoher.........................................4187-4179

Interregnum.....................................4179-4178

Eärnil II.......................................4178-4080

Eärnur..........................................4080-4073

 

RULING STEWARDS

Mardil the Steadfast............................4073-4043

Eradan..........................................4043-4007

Herion..........................................4007-3975

Belegorn........................................3975-3919

Húrin I.........................................3919-3879

Túrin I.........................................3879-3845

Hador...........................................3845-3728

Barahir.........................................3728-3711

Dior............................................3711-3688

Denethor I......................................3688-3646

Boromir.........................................3646-3634

Cirion..........................................3634-3556

Hallas..........................................3556-3518

Húrin II........................................3518-3495

Belecthor I.....................................3495-3468

Orodreth........................................3468-3438

Ecthelion I.....................................3438-3425

Egalmoth........................................3425-3380

Beren...........................................3380-3360

Beregond........................................3360-3312

Belecthor II....................................3312-3251

Thorondir.......................................3251-3241

Túrin II........................................3241-3209

Turgon..........................................3209-3170

Ecthelion II....................................3170-3139

Denethor II.....................................3139-3104

 

ROHAN

The kingdom of the Horse-lords of the Mark. The following list is derived from The Return of the King.

 

KINGS (FIRST LINE)

Eorl the Young..................................3613-3578

Brego...........................................3578-3553

Aldor the Old...................................3553-3478

Fréa............................................3478-3464

Frëawine........................................3464-3443

Goldwine........................................3443-3424

Déor............................................3424-3405

Gram............................................3405-3382

Helm Hammerhand.................................3382-3364 with...

 

USURPER

Wulf (de facto).................................3365-3364

 

KINGS (SECOND LINE)

Fréaláf Hildeson................................3364-3325

Brytta Léofa....................................3325-3281

Walda...........................................3281-3272

Folca the Hunter................................3272-3259

Folcwine........................................3259-3220

Fengel..........................................3220-3170

Thengel.........................................3170-3143

Théoden Ednew...................................3143-3104

 

KINGS (THIRD LINE)

Éomer Éadig.....................................3104-3039

Elfwine the Fair................................3039-?

 

The SHIRE

Land of the Hobbits, first settled in 4522 BC. Nominally subject to the Kings of Arthedain, of which it formed a part, after the fall of that kingdom the Hobbits instituted the office of Thain to discharge the functions of the former kings (the names of some of the earlier Thains are not recorded). The following list is derived from The Return of the King.

 

THAINS (OLDBUCKS)

Bucca of the Marish.............................4144-?

Ten more Oldbuck Thains, names unknown, then...

Gorhendad..........................................?-3783 (d. ?)

 

THAINS (TOOKS)

Isumbras I......................................3783-?

Eight more Took Thains, including, in unknown order...

Isengrim I

Isumbras II

Ferumbras I

Paladin I

With four others, names unknown, then...

Isengrim II.....................................3440-3401

Isumbras III....................................3401-3364

Ferumbras II....................................3364-3322

Fortinbras I....................................3322-3275

Gerontius the Old Took..........................3275-3203

Isengrim III....................................3202-3193

Isumbras IV.....................................3193-3184

Fortinbras II...................................3184-3143

Ferumbras III...................................3143-3108

Paladin II......................................3108-3089

Peregrin I......................................3089-3039 (d. ?)

Faramir I.......................................3039-?

 

REUNITED KINGDOM of ARNOR and GONDOR

Established in 3104 BC as a result of the War of the Ring. The following list is derived from The Return of the King.

 

KINGS (TELCONTARI)

Aragorn II Elessar Telcontar....................3104-2982

Eldarion........................................2982-?

 

Later Descendants of Aragorn

 

Many readers will be wondering if we can say anything at all about any later descendants of Aragorn, as kings of the Reunited Kingdom. We can indeed, if we accept the Prose Edda and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as reliable sources. The genealogy of the descendants of Trór (Thór) – equated here with Aragorn (Elessar) – as given by Snorri Sturluson in the Prose Edda, is reproduced below. In addition, we also have the much earlier Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. This provides another version of the same genealogy, though it only starts with Scéaf and adds a few extra names as indicated.

 

Colour key: Anglo-Saxon Chronicle/Prose Edda/Tolkien

---Foundation of Reunited Kingdom---
01 Trór/Elessar....................................3104-2982 BC

02 Lóriði/Eldarion.................................2982-? BC
03 Einridi
04 Vingethór
05 Vingener
06 Módi
07 Magi...............................................?-2194 BC
---Flooding of North Sea and other areas---
08 Scéaf/Seskef/Sheave.............................2194-? BC
09 Bedwig/Beðvig
10 Hwala
11 Hraþra/Athra
12 Itermon/Ítrmann
13 Heremod/Heremóð
14 Sceldwéa/Skjaldun
15 Béaw/Bíaf
16 Tætwa
17 Géat/Ját
18 Godwulf/Guðólf
19 Finn/Finn
20 Friþuwulf
21 Fréaláf/Fríallaf
22 Fréawine
23 Friþuwald

24 Woden/Vóden
---Migration to the North, division of kingdom---
25 Wegdæg/Vegdeg
26 Wihtgils/Vitrgils/Eoh
27 Witta/Vitta/Ottor Wǽfre
28 Hengist/Heingest/Hengest...........................?-AD 488

---Settlement of Tol Eressëa, which became England---

01. Trór, or Thór, slew the duke of Thrace, or Thrúdheim, and became its king. He travelled far and wide, overcoming many adversaries, and in the northern half of his kingdom met a prophetess named Sibil, or Sif – the fairest of all women – whom he married. This account from the Prose Edda closely parallels Tolkien’s story of how Aragorn (Elessar) came to the throne of Gondor following the death of its steward, and his marriage to Arwen who came from the north.

 

08. Scéaf, or King Sheave to use Tolkien’s rendering of his name (The Lost Road and Other Writings), was an ancient culture hero to the Germanic peoples. He was washed ashore as a child in a boat, and later accepted as king. Though not explicitly stated, that this event occurred as a result of a great flood is both eminently logical and fits our chronology perfectly, adding further veracity to it. The Frisian Oera Linda Book dates this flood to 2194 BC (909 Fourth Age), and the average length of generation on either side of this divide is almost exactly the same – 130 and 128 years respectively. This also happens to be very close to that of the kings of Númenor, who, like the descendants of Aragorn and Arwen, had a strong Elven genetic component. Sheave’s seven sons became the ancestors of the Danes, Goths, Swedes, Northmen, Franks, Frisians, Swordmen, Saxons, Swabes, English and Langobards.

 

24. Woden, or Vóden (Odin) in the Prose Edda, led his people from Thrace to the north, and divided that realm amongst his sons – Vegdeg took East Saxland, Beldeg took Westphalia, Sigi took Frankland, Skjöldr took Reidgothland (Jutland), and Sæmingr took Norway. Odin himself reigned in Sweden, and was succeeded there by his son Yngvi. From these descend the royal dynasties of most of Northern Europe – and through them, by now, the majority of its general population too.

 

27. Witta, or Ottor Wǽfre according to Tolkien (The Book of Lost Tales, vol. 1), set up home on Heligoland with his wife Cwen, and they had two sons – Hengest and Horsa. After Cwen’s death Ottor sailed to the west and arrived at Tol Eressëa, where he settled at the Cottage of Lost Play in Kortirion and learnt the history and lore of the Elves, who called him Eriol or Angol. He married the Elf-maid Naimi, and they had a son named Heorrenda. Some time later occurred the Faring Forth, in which the Lost Elves of the Great Lands rose up against the servants of Melko (Melkor), and Ulmo uprooted Tol Eressëa and dragged it across the sea to the east. Ossë attempted to drag it back, but it broke in two. At the subsequent Battle of Rôs (Britanny) the Elves lost to the forces of Melko and retreated back to Tol Eressëa, which was itself then invaded. At the Battle of the Heath of the Sky-roof (Ladwen-na-Dhaideloth), which took place near Tavrobel and was witnessed by Ottor, the Elves and their allies fled over the rivers Gruir and Aros, and Tol Eressëa fell under the power of evil men. That Ottor is described by Tolkien as a descendant of Eärendil is further evidence that our assumption equating Trór with Aragorn is correct.

 

28. Hengist, or Hengest (and other slight variants), his brother Horsa and half-brother Heorrenda conquered Tol Eressëa from the evil men, and it became known as England – with the fragment broken off by Ossë becoming known as Ireland. This conquest began in the year 449 according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, and the leader of the evil men is named as Vortigern. Hengest settled in Kortirion (Warwick), Horsa in Taruithorn (Oxford) and Heorrenda in Tavrobel (Great Haywood, Staffs.). Horsa was slain in battle in 455, Hengest died in 488, and the fate of the half-Elven Heorrenda is unknown. Hengest’s son or grandson, Oisc, founded the Kingdom of Kent, and his descendants continued to reign there, in increasing obscurity, until the eighth century, when the line failed. None of them had extended lifespans, indicating a final diminution of their Elven blood.

 

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