A History of the Kingdom of Arnor

The Founding of Arnor and Gondor by the Númenoreans and the Last Alliance against Sauron

Elendil and his sons were the last leaders of the Faithful that escaped from the ruin of Númenor with but nine ships. They brought a seedling of Nimloth and the seven Seeing Stones with them into Middle-earth, where they founded in the North-west the Númenorean Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor.

In Arnor, Elendil was High King and he dwelt in his capital city of Annúminas, while his sons, Isildur and Anárion, ruled Gondor in the South. Believing the Enemy, Sauron, dead and gone forever, they founded their capital city, Osgiliath, close to the confines of Mordor. Little did they know that, even though Sauron’s physical body perished in the downfall of Númenor, his wicked spirit fled and re-entered Mordor, and having learned of Elendil’s escape, he began rebuilding his strength.

So great was the malice of Sauron against Elendil that he could not restrain himself for long. He resolved to wage war while the kindgoms of the exiles were still young, trying to prevent them from gaining a foothold in Middle-earth. But he struck too soon before his own power could have returned and the Last Alliance of Men and Elves overthrew him and the One Ring was taken from him by Isildur, and thus ended the Second Age.

At the peak of its power, Arnor included almost all of Eriador, except the lands beyond the Lune, east of Greyflood and Loudwater, where Rivendell is located.

The Three Kingdoms and the Fall of Arnor

Eight kings of Arnor followed Elendil in succession, the last of them, Earendur, had three sons who divided the North Kingdom among themselves into Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur.

In Arthedain, the line of Elendil lasted, but in Cardolan and Rhudaur it soon perished. There was strife between the three Kingdoms in after days, and the Dúnedain diminished greatly as a result. They vied over the possession of Amon Súl or Weathertop, where the chief Palantír of the North was housed.

At the time of King Malvegil of Arthedain, many armies of orcs and evil men arose in Angmar under the Witch-king, the ruler of the land. Argeleb, sone of Malvegil, reclaimed the lordship of all Arnor, for no descendents of the line of the Kings remained in Rhudaur and Cardolan. At the time, Rhudaur was ruled by evil hillmen who were in league with Angmar and resisted this claim. They marched against Argeleb and killed him in the Weather Hills.

Arveleg, son of Argeleb, allied himself with Cardolan and drove back the invading armies. This alliance held the Weather Hills for many years to come, for at the time, the attention of Angmar was turned to Rivendell that fell under their siege.

In 1409, however, armies out of Angmar finally entered Cardolan. At the surrounded Weathertop, Arveleg was killed and the Dúnedain defeated. Although, the Palantír was saved and carried into the Arthedain capital, Fornost. Cardolan was lost to the enemy.

The Last Defence of Arthedain and Fornost

Araphor, son of Arveleg, had help from Círdan the Shipwright, and together they held out in Fornost and defended the North Downs as much as was possible. The remaining Dúnedain in Cardolan fled into the Barrow-downs and the Old Forest.

The elves of Lindon and Rivendell, with the help that Elrond acquired from Lórien, subdued Angmar for a time, and there was peace again.

At the time of Argeleb II, a plague from the South-east swept through Eriador, killing most of the Dúnadain that remained in Cardolan. The plague wore itself out as it proceeded northward and had little effect on Arthedain. As a result, the Barrow-downs got deserted, and a little while later, evil spirits out of Angmar and Rhudaur found their way in and occupied the mounds.

In 1974, Angmar wages a decisive war upon Arthedain, in which the Witch-king defeated the Dúnadain and captured and laid waste to Fornost. The last king Arvedui held out as long as he could in the North Downs, but he was eventually forced to flee northwards, where he sought refuge with the Lossoth of Forochel.

Círdan dispatched ships to the rescue of the King and when they arrived the Lossoth were in great awe and fear of them for they have not seen such majestic sea vessels on their waters. The Chieftain advised Arvedui agains mounting the ships suggesting that he stay with them until Summer arrived. However, the King did not listen. He thanked the Lossoth and gave them his ancient ring as a token of his gratitude. He set sail and perished in a great winter storm before the ships could have reached the open sea.

Thus ended the last king of Arthedain of the line of the High Kings of Númenor. Yet the line was not broken, for Aranarth, son of Arvedui, lived still, and he became a great Chieftain of the remaining Dúnadain in Eriador. His son, Arahael, was fostered by Elrond in Rivendell, as were all the Chieftains that came after. Of this line Aragorn II was the fifteenth and after the War of the Ring has ended, he became King of both Arnor and Gondor at the dawn of the Third Age of Middle-earth.