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00:00:00
It is one of the greatest and longest-lasting
realms of men in all Middle-earth.00:00:06
Rising from the ashes of Numenor, it would
survive war, plague, and turmoil for over00:00:13
3000 years before finally seeing the Return
of the King.00:00:19
Today, on Nerd of the Rings, we cover the
History of Gondor.00:00:24
After the Downfall of Numenor, the five ships
of Isildur and Anarion were brought to the00:00:30
southern lands of Middle-earth, while their
father Elendil and his four ships were taken00:00:35
north.00:00:36
In 3320 SA, the brothers continue their voyage
up the Anduin River, landing in the heart00:00:43
of the new realm they would build - Gondor.00:00:47
While known as a great kingdom in later days,
Gondor was initially subservient to Elendil’s00:00:53
northern kingdom of Arnor.00:00:54
Isildur and Anarion rule as Kings of Gondor,
while Elendil rules over both realms as the00:01:01
High King.00:01:02
Isildur settles in and rules over the lands
of Ithilien.00:01:07
He builds the tower of Minas Ithil on the
border of Gondor and Mordor as a direct threat00:01:13
to Sauron.00:01:15
Minas Ithil, meaning “Tower of the Moon”,
is where Isildur plants the sapling of the00:01:21
White Tree of Nimloth which he saved from
Numenor.00:01:24
Meanwhile, Anarion builds the city of Minas
Anor, “The Tower of the Sun”, directly00:01:31
to the West across the river.00:01:34
Between their two cities, the brothers establish
the first capital of their realm - Osgiliath.00:01:39
The capital city is known for its beauty and
has great stone bridges going over the river00:01:45
Anduin.00:01:46
Aside from the great craftsmanship shown in
the construction of these three cities, the00:01:51
early Gondorians were also responsible for
some of the most iconic monuments and buildings00:01:57
in all Middle-earth.00:01:59
The Second Age Gondorians constructed the
tower of Orthanc, made of unbreakable black00:02:04
stone.00:02:06
Another great black stone is one Isildur brings
from Numenor - the Stone of Erech, upon which00:02:12
the King of the Mountains swears an oath that
he will one day break.00:02:17
Gondor also builds a fortress within its realm
of Calenardhon at Aglarond, also known as00:02:24
the Glittering Caves, with other wonders to
follow in their later history.00:02:29
Among these great cities and fortresses are
spread four of the seven palantiri rescued00:02:35
from the Fall of Numenor.00:02:37
Isildur and Anarion placenone in each in their
cities of Minas Anor and Minas Ithil, they00:02:43
place one in the capital of Osgiliath, and
one is stationed in the tower of Orthanc at00:02:49
the northern border of their realm.00:02:51
Among the citizens of this newly formed kingdom
are men of Numenor who already lived in Middle-earth.00:02:57
These people, many of whom were among the
Faithful and at least partially of Numenorean00:03:02
descent, lived in long-held Numenorean colonies
like Belfalas and Pelargir.00:03:09
The nobles of Belfalas were given a hereditary
Princedom - from which we would eventually00:03:14
get Imrahil, the Prince of Dol Amroth.00:03:18
Despite its role as the lesser kingdom, Gondor
is, from the very beginning, more powerful00:03:24
and populous than the northern Arnor.00:03:27
Though soon enough, Gondor would have to look
north for aid.00:03:30
Shortly after the cities of Minas Anor, Osgiliath,
and Minas Ithil are finished, the fires of00:03:37
Orodruin awaken, signaling the return of Sauron.00:03:42
Being survivors of Numenor, the Gondorians
were aware of Sauron from his time on the00:03:47
island kingdom, though this was their first
proof that he had survived its destruction.00:03:52
From this moment onward, the Men of Gondor
refer to Orodruin as Amon Amarth, or Mount00:03:59
Doom.00:04:01
In 3429, Sauron begins his quest for vengeance
upon the men of Numenor.00:04:07
He launches an attack upon Minas Ithil, forcing
Isildur to retreat along with his family and00:04:13
a seedling of the White Tree of Gondor.00:04:15
He sails down the Anduin and out to sea before
going to his father in Arnor.00:04:21
Meanwhile, Anarion is left to hold out against
Sauron, protecting Minas Anor and Osgiliath00:04:27
for the next five years.00:04:29
He would in fact succeed in driving Sauron’s
forces back to the Ephel Duath, but as their00:04:35
enemy gathers reinforcements, they know they
cannot hold the line indefinitely.00:04:39
Finally, in 3434 SA, Isildur would return
alongside his father, Elrond halfelven, and00:04:48
the High King of the Noldor, Gil-galad in
the Last Alliance of Elves and Men.00:04:54
Anarion would meet this host at the northwest
corner of Mordor, where they fight Sauron’s00:04:59
forces in the Battle of Dagorlad.00:05:01
While the death toll is great, especially
among the Silvan elves, the Alliance is victorious00:05:07
and presses on to Sauron’s own fortress.00:05:10
For the next seven years, the Alliance lays
siege to Barad-dur.00:05:14
In the 6th year of the siege (3440 SA), Anarion
is struck by a rock thrown from the tower00:05:19
and killed.00:05:21
Finally, in 3441 SA, Sauron himself comes
forth from Barad-dur.00:05:27
So great was his attack that he pushes the
Alliance back to the slopes of Mount Doom.00:05:32
But there, Sauron comes face to face with
the High Kings of Elves and Men - Gil-galad00:05:38
and Elendil.00:05:39
The three fight in legendary combat until
all three are thrown down.00:05:45
In this moment, Isildur takes the hilt shard
of his father’s sword and cuts the One Ring00:05:50
from Sauron’s hand.00:05:52
No longer able to hold his physical form,
Sauron’s spirit flees, and the Alliance00:05:57
is victorious.00:05:59
Isildur returns to Gondor after the leveling
of Barad-dur and the destruction of Sauron’s00:06:05
forces.00:06:06
With his father and brother both slain in
the war, he is now in line to become the new00:06:11
High King.00:06:13
At the border of Anorien and Calenardhon,
Isildur constructs a secret tomb for Elendil00:06:18
upon Amon Anwar.00:06:20
He would also plant the seedling of the White
Tree in Minas Anor in memory of his brother.00:06:27
And after two years of preparing his nephew
Meneldil for rule, he leaves Gondor in the00:06:33
hands of its third King.00:06:34
Isildur departs Gondor in the second year
of the Third Age, intending to take up the00:06:39
High Kingship of both Gondor and Arnor in
Annuminas.00:06:44
Instead, he would die after an ambush by orcs,
and the One Ring is lost to the Anduin.00:06:51
Despite the loss of Isildur, both Gondor and
Arnor would grow in wealth and power for the00:06:57
next 800 years.00:06:59
Gondor’s growth being only briefly interrupted
by an Easterling invasion in 492 TA.00:07:06
However, while Arnor would begin it’s steady
decline into ruin, Gondor would continue marching00:07:12
to prosperity.00:07:14
From 830-1149 TA, Gondor experiences it’s
Golden Age - a period of rule by four consecutive00:07:22
rulers collectively known as the Ship-kings.00:07:26
These kings, Tarannon Falastur, Earnil I,
Ciryandil, and Ciryaher Hyarmendacil I, would00:07:33
seek to expand Gondor’s might in both military
and navy.00:07:38
Tarannon, the first of these kings, extends
Gondor’s realm both west and south of the00:07:43
Mouths of the Anduin.00:07:45
Tarranon is also known as the husband of Queen
Beruthiel, a Black Numenorean known for being00:07:51
nefarious, solitary, and loveless, and of
course for her spy cats - all of which is00:07:58
covered in my Black Numenoreans video.00:08:01
Tarannon is the first King of Gondor to die
without an heir to his throne.00:08:05
And having years earlier cast his wife out
to sea adrift aboard a ship, the crown passes00:08:11
to his nephew Earnil I. Earnil continues the
expansion of his uncle by constructing a great00:08:18
navy and repairing the old Numenorean port
of Pelargir.00:08:23
Despite the greatness Gondor had achieved,
it was not yet the supreme power of the coasts00:08:29
of Middle-earth - for there was still the
haven of Umbar - also a former Numenorean00:08:34
port, but under the control of Black Numenoreans
and Haradrim.00:08:39
In 933 TA, twenty years into his kingship,
Earnil I attacks the forces of Umbar, seizing00:08:47
control of the harbor and as a result, the
seas of Middle-earth.00:08:51
Still, the sea itself was not tamed, for just
three years later, Earnil is lost at sea and00:08:59
never seen again.00:09:01
His son Ciryandil rises to the kingship.00:09:04
The third ship king continues the practice
of building ever more ships, though he would00:09:09
die 79 years later in Umbar when the Haradrim,
led by the lords exiled by his father lay00:09:17
siege to the city.00:09:18
Ciryaher then becomes the fourth and final
ship-king.00:09:22
He seeks vengeance for his father’s death
and after building up his armies, he attacks00:09:27
Harad by both land and sea in a decisive victory
in 1050 TA.00:09:33
He forces the defeated kings of Harad to acknowledge
the overlordship of Gondor and dubs himself00:09:39
Hyarmendacil, meaning “South-victor”.00:09:43
At this moment, Gondor is at the very height
of it’s power - both militarily and in terms00:09:49
of lands occupied.00:09:51
Their lands stretched from Celebrant in the
north to Harnen and Umbar in the south.00:09:57
From the Greyflood in the west to the Sea
of Rhun in the east.00:10:01
The realm was now spread far and wide, but
it would not last - for lesser kings, plague,00:10:08
and civil war were on the horizon.00:10:11
–
With Hyarmendacil’s death in 1149 TA, his00:10:14
son Atanatar takes the throne as sixteenth
king of Gondor.00:10:20
During his seventy-seven year reign, the strength
and wealth of Gondor would begin to deteriorate.00:10:26
The 19th king was Romendacil II, would take
the crown in 1304 TA.00:10:32
And while there had been two kings between
these rulers, Romendacil was effectively the00:10:37
ruler during nearly the entire reigns of his
father and uncle before him after winning00:10:43
great renown in battle.00:10:45
During the rule of his uncle, the Easterlings
resumed their attacks on Gondor and during00:10:50
his battles, Romdendacil discovers not all
of the Northmen adhered to Gondor.00:10:56
Seeking to secure the region, he leads a great
force from Gondor to attack the Easterling00:11:01
army occupying the lands between Rhovanion
and the Sea of Rhun in 1248 TA.00:11:07
His attack is a success, completely defeating
the Easterlings west of the sea.00:11:13
It is then that he begins going by the name
Romendacil, meaning “East-victor”.00:11:19
In that very year, Romendacil fortifies the
western shore of the Anduin north through00:11:24
the lands of Calenardhon.00:11:26
It is at his behest that the Argonath, the
great Pillars of the Kings Anarion and Isildur,00:11:32
are constructed north of Amon Hen.00:11:35
It’s possible that the Seat of Seeing and
the Seat of Hearing were also built during00:11:40
this time given their proximity and Romendacil’s
interest in the north.00:11:45
He also took a special interest in the Northmen,
many of whom he brought into his service.00:11:52
Romendacil even goes so far as to send his
son to live among the northmen, though this00:11:57
seemingly small act would bring civil war
to Gondor.00:12:01
Prince Valacar would marry a woman of the
Northmen and have a son named Eldacar.00:12:07
Valacar would rule for 66 years after his
father’s death, but when he dies in 1432,00:12:15
Eldacar takes the throne to the anger of many.00:12:18
For many Gondorians of Numenorean blood disapproved
of Eldacar’s mixed heritage, and believed00:12:24
a half-breed had no right to rule.00:12:27
Chief among these was his second cousin Castamir.00:12:31
Castamir was Gondor’s Captain of Ships,
and thus was supported by both Umbar and Pelargir00:12:38
among other coastal regions of the realm.00:12:40
In 1437, five years into his cousin’s rule,
Castamir leads a rebellion and besieges the00:12:47
city of Osgiliath.00:12:49
During this attack, Osgiliath is covered in
flames and the Dome of Stars, a great hall00:12:55
in the capital, is destroyed and its palantir
is lost in the Anduin.00:13:01
In his sack of Osgiliath, Castamir first shows
his utter cruelty and executes Eldacar’s00:13:07
son Ornendil.00:13:09
Thus begins the kin-strife in Gondor - a topic
that can and will get it’s own video in00:13:15
the future, but for now, we’ll touch on
some of the biggest key points…00:13:20
Eldacar goes into exile, fleeing to his mother’s
kin in Rhovanion.00:13:24
In turn, many of the Northmen previously loyal
to Gondor, as well as Gondorians in the northern00:13:30
provinces rally behind the rightful king.00:13:33
Castamir would rule Gondor for 10 years, continuing
to show his true colors to his people and00:13:40
steadily losing favor and becoming seen as
the usurper he was.00:13:45
Finally, in 1447, Eldacar returns with a great
army from Rhovanion and meets Castamir’s00:13:52
forces at the Crossings of Erui.00:13:55
Many are killed in this deadly conflict before
Eldacar takes his vengeance upon Castamir,00:14:01
killing him in single combat.00:14:03
Castamir’s sons retreat to the haven of
Pelargir, where they would hold out for a00:14:08
year before sailing with all their forces
to Umbar.00:14:12
Eldacar, who had no ships of his own, is unable
to pursue them, and as a result, Gondor would00:14:18
lose control of Umbar for the next 400 years
as the sons of Castamir join the enemies of00:14:24
Gondor, bringing about the Corsairs of Umbar.00:14:30
The Corsairs would ally with the Haradrim
in a war against Gondor in which the new king,00:14:36
Eldacar’s son Aldamir, was killed.00:14:39
Eleven years later, in 1551 TA, Aldamir’s
son would defeat the men of Harad in battle,00:14:45
avenging his father and taking the name Hyarmendacil
II.00:14:50
The Corsairs would plague the coast of Gondor
for many years, but another plague would become00:14:55
a much greater concern for Gondor in 1636
TA.00:15:00
This plague affects a huge area of Middle-earth,
and its source is an old and ancient foe.00:15:06
The plague coincides with the emergence of
a shadow in Dol Guldur, and Sauron’s plague00:15:11
would not only devastate Gondor, but their
enemies to the East and South as well.00:15:17
We are told Osgiliath is especially hard hit
and people fleeing the city would cause Minas00:15:23
Anor to become the new capital of the kingdom.00:15:26
Meanwhile, Calenardhon is so hard hit by the
plague that it is nearly completely abandoned.00:15:32
Among the casualties of the plague are not
only thousands of Gondorians, but King Telemnar,00:15:39
all his children, and even the White Tree
of Gondor.00:15:43
After the kin-strife and now this Great Plague,
Gondor has been severely weakened.00:15:48
In 1856 TA, enemies would once again come
from the East.00:15:54
The spirit of Sauron once again moves the
Easterlings into hostilities against Gondor.00:15:59
This group of easterlings, known as the Wainriders,
traveled in great fortified camps of wagons00:16:06
and had invaded Rhovanion.00:16:08
King Narmacil II leads Gondor and the men
of the north in the Battle of the Plains south00:16:14
of Mirkwood.00:16:15
The battle is a disaster.00:16:17
Narmacil II is killed and the Easterlings
enslave the people of Rhovanion.00:16:23
Some of the northmen would escape and flee
to the upper vales of Anduin in their exile,00:16:29
becoming known as the Eotheod.00:16:31
The First Lord of the Eotheod, warns the new
King Calimehtar, who was determined to avenge00:16:37
his father, that the Wainriders are preparing
a raid on Calenardhon, but that the enslaved00:16:43
northmen were also nearing a revolt.00:16:46
With time being precious, Calimehtar leads
an army north, drawing the Wainriders south00:16:52
to meet them at Dagorlad.00:16:54
As the battle seems in doubt, Calimehtar’s
secret cavalry crosses the Undeeps, meets00:17:00
up with the Eotheod riders and arriving at
the battle, assure their victory.00:17:05
Between the battle and the revolt in Rhovanion,
the Wainriders are driven back to the east.00:17:11
In 1940 TA, after many centuries of operating
independently of one another, King Ondoher00:17:18
of Gondor meets with King Araphant of Arthedain
- a splinter kingdom of the former Arnor.00:17:25
They realize that the wars and plague and
misfortune they’ve experienced are no mere00:17:31
coincidence.00:17:32
There is a single force bent upon the destruction
of the Dunedain.00:17:37
The Kingdoms ally once more in hopes of saving
both from collapse and Prince Arvedui marries00:17:43
Ondoher’s daughter Firiel, further cementing
their alliance.00:17:47
However, whatever alliance there was would
be short lived, and merely bring about another00:17:53
contest for the throne.00:17:55
Just four years after their alliance, Gondor’s
enemies make a coordinated assault.00:18:00
The Haradrim invade from the south and just
a few days later, Wainriders return from the00:18:07
East.00:18:08
Ondoher’s distant cousin Earnil II leads
an army south, while Ondoher leads an army00:18:14
north to meet the wainriders.00:18:16
The chariots and horsemen of the easterlings
wreak havoc upon the King’s Guard, and Ondoher00:18:22
and both his sons are killed in the Disaster
of the Morannon.00:18:27
After destroying the Haradrim in the south,
Earnil II brings his army north, catching00:18:32
the Easterlings by surprise in their celebration
and decimate their forces, driving the survivors00:18:39
back to the East.00:18:41
With the death of Ondoher and his heirs, both
Arvedui and Earnil II lay claim to the throne.00:18:48
Arvedui’s claim comes from, and would hinge
upon, reintroducing an ancient Numenorean00:18:54
law of accession, which would see the eldest
child, not eldest son, inherit the throne,00:19:00
in which case his wife Firiel would become
the first Ruling Queen of Gondor.00:19:06
He also attempted to captialize on the fact
that he himself was the heir of Isildur, and00:19:11
their children would symbolize this reunification
of Gondor and Arnor.00:19:16
While the Steward Pelendur and Council of
Gondor acknowledge the honor that the Heir00:19:22
of Isildur title commands, they decree the
King of Gondor must be of the line of Anarion,00:19:28
and the kingship passes to Earnil II.00:19:32
Earnil, who is described as both wise and
humble, sends a message to Arvedui saying,00:19:37
"I do not forget the loyalty of Arnor, nor
deny our kinship, nor wish that the realms00:19:44
of Elendil should be estranged.00:19:46
I will send you aid when you have need, so
far as I am able."00:19:51
This oath would be fulfilled as Arthedain
continues to be plagued by its centuries old00:19:56
enemy - the Witch-king of Angmar.00:19:59
In the fall of 1973, Gondor receives word
that Arthedain is about to be attacked as00:20:05
the Angmar War surpasses 400 years.00:20:10
Earnil II sends his son Earnur north with
a fleet as great as they could spare.00:20:16
However, by the time they arrive, Arthedain
is conquered and Arvedui is drowned in the00:20:22
sea.00:20:23
Earnur joins with Cirdan, and the combined
force of elves and men destroys the army of00:20:29
Angmar.00:20:30
Earnur seeks to fight the Witch-king, but
his horse is terrified and flees the battle00:20:35
against its rider’s wishes.00:20:37
The Witch-king mocks Earnur, but would himself
flee at the coming of Glorfindel and the elves00:20:43
of Rivendell.00:20:44
It was in this moment that Glorfindel pronounced
his prophesy that not “by the hand of man00:20:50
shall he fall.”00:20:51
Being driven from the north, the Witch-king
would instead bring the war directly to Gondor.00:20:57
He returns to Modor in 1980 TA and rallies
the other eight Nazgul to him.00:21:02
Twenty years later, they lay siege to Minas
Ithil and in 2002 TA, they sack the city,00:21:10
take control of its palantir, and remake the
city to a place of unspeakable evil.00:21:16
This once great city of Isildur is occupied
by foul creatures and comes to be known as00:21:22
Minas Morgul, “Tower of Dark Sorcery”.00:21:26
This leads many Gondorians living in Ithilien
to flee, depopulating the lands east of the00:21:32
river.00:21:33
After his father’s death, Earnur ascends
to the throne in 2043 TA.00:21:38
After Earnur’s coronation, the Witch-king
sends him a challenge to single combat while00:21:43
reminding him of his disgrace of seeming to
flee the battlefield in the north.00:21:48
Fortunately, the Steward, Mardil Voronwe convinces
the king not to go.00:21:53
However, seven years later, in 2050, the Witch-king
renews his challenge and this time, the King00:22:01
would accept.00:22:02
He sets his crown on his father’s lap in
the Houses of the Dead and with a small escort00:22:08
of knights, he rides across the river and
past the gates of Minas Morgul.00:22:13
None of the company would ever be seen again.00:22:17
After the childless King Earnur is killed
by the Witch-king in Minas Morgul, it is believed00:22:23
the line of Anarion had failed.00:22:26
No one with any tangential claim to the throne
would come forward, for no one wanted to risk00:22:32
another kin-strife.00:22:34
At this time, Gondor is far from its previous
heights and another kin-strife would likely00:22:39
have destroyed the realm entirely.00:22:42
Thus, the rule of Gondor passes to the line
of the Stewards.00:22:46
Mardil Voronwe, the steward who attempted
to dissuade Earnur from marching to face the00:22:52
Witch-king, becomes the first of these Ruling
Stewards in 2050 TA.00:22:56
As explained in last week’s video, the Stewards
were said to rule “until the king returns”,00:22:57
for they had no proof that Earnur was indeed
dead.00:22:58
Out of respect for the King’s position,
the Stewards would never sit on the throne00:23:02
of Gondor, but in their chair of black stone
placed below it.00:23:07
They would also never wear a crown, but simply
hold a white rod - a symbol of their position.00:23:14
Upon being sworn in, they pledged “to hold
rod and rule in the name of the king, until00:23:20
he shall return.”00:23:22
While certainly respected, it is not believed
the latter portion of this pledge will ever00:23:27
come to fruition.00:23:28
There were none in Gondor descended from Isildur’s
direct line and by this time, the northern00:23:34
realm of Arnor was wiped out - the sole remnant
being the relatively small group of Dunedain00:23:40
Rangers.00:23:41
The Rule of the Stewards would actually begin
rather well.00:23:44
Mardil is said to have ruled with a steady
hand, which is how he earns the moniker “Voronwe”00:23:51
meaning “the Steadfast”.00:23:53
And fortunately for his descendants, their
rule would coincide with the period of time00:23:58
known as the Watchful Peace.00:24:00
During Mardil’s rule, in 2063 TA, the wizard
Gandalf the Grey went to Dol Guldur to investigate00:24:09
the shadow growing there.00:24:11
Not ready to reveal himself, this Necromancer
flees, and for nearly 400 years, Gondor and00:24:18
much of Middle-earth would have peace.00:24:20
While Sauron goes to the East where he would
work to corrupt the men of that land, his00:24:25
Nazgul look inward.00:24:28
Rather than plan attacks, they would instead
prepare for Sauron’s return, giving Gondor00:24:33
a respite from war.00:24:35
However, Gondor would use this opportunity
to strengthen its borders with Mordor and00:24:40
Minas Morgul.00:24:41
Hador, the seventh Ruling Steward, is recorded
as the last of his line to have a lifespan00:24:47
of a Dunedain, living to 150 years.00:24:51
At this point, the blood of Numenor waned,
and the lifespan of the stewards would shorten00:24:56
closer to that of normal men.00:24:59
The Watchful Peace comes to an end in 2460
TA, during the rule of Denethor I (not to00:25:07
be confused with Denethor II, who we meet
over 500 years later).00:25:12
15 years after Sauron returns to Dol Guldur
(2475 TA), a new menace would be unveiled00:25:17
- the Uruk-hai.00:25:20
Unbeknownst to their enemies, the lords of
Minas Morgul had bred this new race of orc.00:25:26
Faster, larger, stronger, and smarter than
typical orcs, the Uruk-hai could travel in00:25:32
daylight without being weakened.00:25:34
They are unleashed from Mordor and conquer
the lands of Ithilien, and sack the city of00:25:40
Osgiliath.00:25:41
Denethor’s son, Boromir, leads the Gondorian
forces in driving the Uruks out of Osgiliath,00:25:47
reclaiming the once great capital.00:25:50
However, this would be the final blow to the
city.00:25:53
Already damaged and depopulated starting with
the earlier kin-strife, Osgiliath is completely00:25:59
abandoned after the attack by the Uruk-hai.00:26:02
Boromir would succeed his father as Steward
in 2477 TA, and while he had previously won00:26:09
back Osgiliath, the Steward would have to
fight several campaigns to win back the lands00:26:15
of Ithilien from the orcs.00:26:17
While he would eventually win back the lands
of Gondor, Ithilien would remain depopulated,00:26:22
and during the war he receives a Morgul-wound.00:26:26
Despite his strength, which was great, Boromir
would become shrunken with pain and die just00:26:32
12 years into his rule.00:26:34
The rule of Gondor passes to Boromir’s son
Cirion, who would become one of the realm’s00:26:39
most famous Stewards.00:26:41
He takes leadership of a kingdom where the
Corsairs of Umbar have begun raiding the coasts00:26:46
once more, Ithilien - the land bordering it’s
closest enemy - is deserted, and their northern00:26:52
province of Calenardhon is almost completely
depopulated.00:26:57
Between Calenardhon and the forts along the
Anduin having been long abandoned, Cirion’s00:27:02
primary concern is invasion from the North.00:27:05
He sends out spies so that he may be informed
of any coming threats and his men return with00:27:11
dire news - a new group of Easterlings has
emerged - the Balchoth.00:27:17
Likely descended from the Wainriders, the
Balchoth were under the shadow of Dol Guldur,00:27:23
and using a large number of wagons, they were
making their way westward.00:27:27
In the spring of 2509 TA, Cirion receives
word that hosts of these men are mustering00:27:33
along the southern border of Mirkwood, preparing
to invade Gondor.00:27:38
Desperate for aid, Cirion sends out six volunteer
riders to seek out their old allies the Eotheod00:27:44
in the far north.00:27:46
Of the six riders, only one would survive
the 950 mile journey.00:27:52
Borondir delivers the Red Arrow, a symbol
of the dire circumstances and a call for aid,00:27:58
to King Eorl the Young.00:28:01
Knowing the chances of word reaching the Eotheod
were slim, and not knowing how the Eotheod00:28:05
would respond, Cirion musters as great a force
as he is able.00:28:10
He personally leads the army north to meet
this new foe.00:28:13
However, the Balchoth crossed the river Anduin
and overpower the Gondorians, driving them00:28:19
north over the Limlight river.00:28:21
A bad situation gets worse as Orcs descend
from the Misty Mountains, pinning Cirion back00:28:27
against the Anduin.00:28:28
In this moment, when hope was lost, there
was a sudden sounding of horns.00:28:33
The riders of Eorl had come.00:28:36
The Eotheod turn the tide of battle, driving
the enemies away and pursuing the Balchoth00:28:42
across the fields of Calenardhon.00:28:45
Three months later, Eorl comes to the Mering
Stream at the request of Cirion.00:28:50
Since the Battle of the Field of Celebrant,
Cirion had cleared the path to Amon Anwar.00:28:55
Cirion offers Eorl all the lands of Calenardhon
and for their people to live in perpetual00:29:01
alliance with one another.00:29:03
Eorl accepts, and their two parties ascend
the hill where Cirion reveals the secret tomb00:29:10
of Elendil.00:29:11
With his own son Hallas, two councilors of
Gondor, and the Prince of Dol Amroth as witnesses,00:29:17
Cirion pledges this bond with Eorl and his
people.00:29:21
In response Eorl pledges an oath of his own:00:29:25
Hear now all peoples who bow not to the Shadow
in the East, by the gift of the Lord of the00:29:30
Mundburg we will come to dwell in the land
that he names Calenardhon, and therefore I00:29:36
vow in my own name and on behalf of the Éothéod
of the North that between us and the Great00:29:42
People of the West there shall be friendship
for ever: their enemies shall be our enemies,00:29:49
their need shall be our need, and whatsoever
evil, or threat, or assault may come upon00:29:55
them we will aid them to the utmost end of
our strength.00:29:59
This vow shall descend to my heirs, all such
as may come after me in our new land, and00:30:05
let them keep it in faith unbroken, lest the
Shadow fall upon them and they become accursed.00:30:12
Cirion then made answer.00:30:15
Standing to his full height he laid his hand
upon the tomb and in his right hand held up00:30:20
the white wand of the Stewards, and spoke
words that filled those who heard them with00:30:25
awe.00:30:26
For as he stood up the sun went down in flame
in the West and his white robe seemed to be00:30:31
on fire; and after he had vowed that Gondor
should be bound by a like bond of friendship00:30:38
and aid in all need, he lifted up his voice
and said:00:30:42
This oath shall stand in memory of the glory
of the Land of the Star, and of the faith00:30:48
of Elendil the Faithful, in the keeping of
those who sit upon the thrones of the West00:30:53
and of the One who is above all thrones for
ever.00:30:57
Invoking the name of Iluvatar himself, such
an Oath had not been heard in Middle-earth00:31:03
since Elendil himself swore an allegiance
with Gil-galad to form the Last Alliance of00:31:09
Elves and Men.00:31:10
Thus Eorl becomes the first ruler of a new
kingdom - the kingdom of Rohan - ever after00:31:17
in alliance with the men of Gondor.00:31:20
The names Rohan and Rohirrim, being devised
by Cirion’s son Hallas.00:31:26
With Amon Anwar no longer marking the midpoint
of Gondor, Cirion removes the Tomb of Elendil,00:31:33
and has it placed in the Hallows of Rath Dinen
in Minas Tirith.00:31:37
The following 200 years would largely be peaceful
ones for Gondor.00:31:42
Between 2628-2655 TA, during the rule of Belecthor
I, we are told the Corsairs of Umbar once00:31:50
again become a threat to Gondor, though no
specific battles or events are recorded.00:31:55
During the rule of Ecthelion I, the Steward
has the White Tower rebuilt in Minas Tirith.00:32:01
Standing 300 feet tall, the great tower shone
like a spike of crystals, pearl, and silver.00:32:08
It would ever after be known as the White
Tower of Echthelion.00:32:12
The Oath between Gondor and Rohan would be
called upon multiple times over the coming00:32:17
centuries - though it would not always be
answered.00:32:20
In 2710 TA, King Deor of Rohan would request
aid of Steward Egalmoth when Dunlendings seize00:32:28
control of the Ring of Isengard.00:32:30
However, this came in a period of renewed
war with the orcs, making Gondor unable to00:32:36
answer the call.00:32:37
Egalmoth’s son Beren would spend much of
his rule fighting the Corsairs of Umbar.00:32:43
During the Long Winter of 2758-2759 TA, Gondor
is assailed by three great fleets from Umbar00:32:50
and Harad along their coast as far north as
the mouth of Isen.00:32:56
The northernmost of these forces joins with
the Dunlendings in attacking King Helm Hammerhand’s00:33:02
Rohan.00:33:03
Both under attack, neither Gondor nor Rohan
could assist the other for a long while.00:33:09
However, with Spring on the horizon, Beren’s
son Beregond defeats the invading Corsairs00:33:14
and Haradrim.00:33:15
Thus, Gondor is finally able to send aid to
Rohan, fulfilling the Oath.00:33:20
Both Gondor and Rohan would survive these
attacks, though Rohan’s capital of Edoras00:33:26
was under enemy control for much of the winter.00:33:29
In the aftermath, Gondor is visited by one
of the Istari.00:33:33
The wizard Saruman comes to Beren and requests
permission to dwell in Isengard.00:33:39
Beren gladly agrees to having a wizard ally
on the northern border of Rohan and gives00:33:44
him the key of Orthanc.00:33:46
Saruman by this time had already been seeking
his own benefit, having researched much of00:33:52
the rings of power, and deducing that one
of the palantiri remained in Orthanc.00:33:57
During the rule of Beren’s son, Beregond,
Gondor would once again be troubled by orcs.00:34:03
However, these orcs were not from Mordor.00:34:05
Instead, they were orcs fleeing the Battle
of Azanulbizar, the climactic fight of the00:34:11
War of the Dwarves and Orcs.00:34:13
They take up residence in the White Mountains
and many battles would occur between the men00:34:18
and orcs before the latter are destroyed.00:34:21
Still, Beregond’s rule is largely a positive
one as Gondor begins to recover some of its00:34:27
strength.00:34:28
With the blood of Numenor still dwindling
in the line of the Stewards, Beregond’s00:34:32
son Belecthor II is the last to live to 100
years old.00:34:37
Upon his death, the White Tree of Gondor also
dies.00:34:41
However, the people of Gondor would leave
it standing - until the King comes.00:34:48
In 2882 TA, Turin II becomes the 23rd Ruling
Steward of Gondor, and would do much to secure00:34:54
the future of his realm.00:34:56
Ithilien was further deserted by his people
due to invasions of orcs, but Turin II would00:35:02
not forsake these lands.00:35:04
He builds secret refuges for his soldiers
in Ithilien so that they could combat this00:35:09
threat.00:35:10
The longest guarded and manned of these outposts
was Henneth Annûn, the very cave Faramir00:35:15
would take Frodo and Sam over 130 years later.00:35:19
But the greatest threat during Turin II’s
rule would come from the south.00:35:24
Ever since the kin-strife, the lands of Harondor,
also known as South Gondor, were a debated00:35:30
land between the Corsairs of Umbar and the
kingdom of Gondor.00:35:34
By the time of Turin II, the Haradrim occupied
South Gondor and from there in 2885, they00:35:42
would launch an invasion of Ithilien with
great force.00:35:45
Fortunately, King Folcwine of Rohan would
fulfill the Oath of Eorl and sends many Rohirrim00:35:51
to Gondor.00:35:52
Thanks to the assistance of Theoden’s great
grandfather, Gondor succeeds in defeating00:35:58
the Haradrim.00:35:59
Still, with this invasion, Gondor completely
withdraws its people from Ithilien - the only00:36:04
ones remaining in the realm are the Rangers
of Ithilien, soldiers left to harass the forces00:36:10
of their enemies as they could.00:36:12
Around 2900, Turin II would also refortify
the river island of Cair Andros to protect00:36:20
Gondor from the north.00:36:21
The rule of Turin II’s son Turgon would
be largely peaceful, but for one notable occurrence00:36:27
- in 2951 TA, ten years after being driven
from Dol Guldur by the White Council, Sauron00:36:34
declares himself openly in Mordor and begins
rebuilding Barad-dur.00:36:39
Just two years later, Turgon’s son Echthelion
II, becomes the 25th Ruling Steward of Gondor.00:36:46
Echthelion II is known for his wisdom and
used all his power to strengthen Gondor in00:36:52
the face of a resurgent Sauron.00:36:55
He would strengthen both the haven of Pelargir
and Cair Andros.00:36:59
He would encourage worthy men from both within
Gondor and without to enter into his service00:37:05
in exchange for ranks and reward.00:37:08
One stranger who comes into the steward’s
service is a man named Thorongil, who had00:37:13
previously served King Thengel of Rohan.00:37:16
Echthelion grew to love Thorongil above all
others - possibly even his own son Denethor00:37:23
II.00:37:24
Denethor grows bitter toward Thorongil, and
much of their council was in opposition.00:37:29
Thorongil advised Echthelion to not trust
Saruman in Isengard, but to instead turn to00:37:35
Gandalf the Grey.00:37:37
Thorongil advises the steward that the Corsairs
of Umbar - the long-held enemies of Gondor00:37:42
- would prove a great threat to the Southern
fiefs if Sauron were to turn to open war.00:37:48
Ecthelion permits Thorongil to launch a surprise
attack on the Haven of Umbar, which severely00:37:54
damages the Corsair fleet.00:37:56
Thorongil could have returned to Minas Tirith
with great honor, but instead sends a farewell00:38:02
message to Ecthelion, for other tasks now
called him.00:38:06
For Thorongil would indeed return to Minas
Tirith nearly forty years later, as this descendant00:38:12
of both Isildur and Anarion would return under
his rightful name - Aragorn son of Arathorn.00:38:19
For the final stage of Gondor’s history,
which we will cover next week, will be defined00:38:20
by the rules of Denethor and Aragorn, the
War of the Ring, and the dawn of the Fourth00:38:21
Age.00:38:22
One who is not sorry to see this Thorongil
disappear is Denethor II who takes his role00:38:27
as 26th Ruling Steward just four years later
in 2984 TA.00:38:33
Denethor and his wife Finduilas, the sister
of Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth, had two sons00:38:40
- Boromir and Faramir.00:38:43
Boromir is doted upon by his father and is
interested in great deeds of battle.00:38:48
Faramir, meanwhile, displeased his father
in both his actions and his friendship with00:38:53
Gandalf the Grey.00:38:55
While not as highly regarded by his people
as Thorongil had been, Denethor proves to00:39:00
be a more than capable ruler.00:39:02
He is quiet, listens to counsel, and is wise
in his rule.00:39:07
However, just four years after rising to the
role of Steward, his wife Finduilas becomes00:39:13
one of many to fall under the Shadow of Mordor
and dies at just 38 years old.00:39:20
Overcome with grief, Denethor becomes even
more grim and silent.00:39:25
Also weighing on the Steward is the continuing
resurgence of Sauron.00:39:30
Denethor anticipates that it will be during
his time that Sauron will make his great war00:39:35
upon Middle-earth.00:39:36
Despite its dwindling power over long centuries,
Gondor is unquestionably the strongest of00:39:42
all the remaining realms that oppose Sauron.00:39:46
This makes the conquest of Gondor Sauron’s
primary objective in the coming war.00:39:52
The weight of these events, combined with
overconfidence in his own willpower, leads00:39:57
Denethor to gaze into the long-forbidden Minas
Anor palantir to seek knowledge.00:40:03
Indeed, Denethor would be successful in gaining
the knowledge he sought - so much so that00:40:09
we are told his people wondered at him.00:40:11
However, Sauron who would use his captured
Ithil-stone, discovers Denethor was also using00:40:17
one of the palantiri.00:40:18
Sauron attempts to bring the Anor-stone under
his will, like he had done with Saruman and00:40:25
the Orthanc-stone.00:40:26
However, he is unsuccessful.00:40:29
Denethor’s strength of will, integrity,
and right to use the stone wins out over even00:40:35
Sauron himself - though it comes at a cost.00:40:40
Denethor’s already weakening body is given
an even greater toll due to the stress of00:40:45
using the stone and Sauron’s apparent invincibility
he sees in the palantir.00:40:51
This causes the steward to age prematurely.00:40:54
Sauron would finally launch the first attack
of the War of the Ring on June 20, 3018.00:41:01
While in outward appearance, this attack on
Osgiliath was made to test Denethor’s strength,00:41:06
it also had the secret task of allowing the
Nazgul to pass into Gondor undetected.00:41:13
To Sauron’s dismay, Gondor is stronger than
he believed.00:41:17
Boromir and Faramir defended, then destroyed
the ancient bridge of Osgiliath, denying Sauron’s00:41:24
forces access to the western side of the river.00:41:27
The night before the attack, the brothers
had a prophetic dream, speaking of a halfling,00:41:32
a blade that was broken, and the land of Imladris.00:41:37
Denethor recognizes Imladris to be Rivendell
and sends Boromir on the errand to find it00:41:42
- an errand from which he will never return.00:41:46
As Boromir heads north and joins the Fellowship
of the Ring, Faramir is sent on March 1 to00:41:51
lead the Rangers of Ithilien.00:41:54
These lands that were so long a part of Gondor,
were now essentially held by the enemy.00:41:59
Operating out of places like Henneth Annun,
the rangers would raid the servants of Sauron00:42:04
like the Haradrim often as they could.00:42:07
On the day Boromir was killed at Amon Hen,
both Faramir and Denethor heard the horn of00:42:13
Gondor in the distance.00:42:15
Three nights later, Faramir is sitting by
the banks of the Anduin in Osgiliath when00:42:21
he either sees or envisions a boat carrying
his brother’s body out to sea.00:42:25
Several days after Boromir’s death, the
cloven horn would be found below the Entwash00:42:26
and taken to Denethor, who knew his son was
dead.00:42:27
Thirteen days after Boromir’s death, on
March 9, 3019, Gandalf and Pippin arrive in00:42:32
Minas Tirith.00:42:33
On their way, they had seen another great
feature of Gondor - the warning beacons.00:42:39
The beacons had been in place since the late
Second Age, and were used to warn the southern00:42:44
lands of danger in Calenardhon.00:42:47
With Calenardhon now Rohan, they are typically
used to warn the people in Anorien of danger.00:42:53
That very day, the Red Arrow is delivered
to King Theoden, a summons for aid from Denethor.00:43:01
And on March 10, Sauron sends fumes from Mordor,
blocking out the sun in much of Gondor and00:43:08
Rohan in the Dawnless Day.00:43:12
That very day, the dark lord sends his host
from Minas Morgul under the command of Gondor’s00:43:18
old nemesis, the Witch-king of Angmar.00:43:22
Also on March 10, Faramir retreats across
the Pelennor Fields and is saved from the00:43:27
Nazgul by Gandalf the White.00:43:30
In preparation for an assault on Minas Tirith,
most citizens of Gondor are sent to flee north00:43:35
and west.00:43:37
Those remaining behind are soldiers, healers,
and boys who refused to leave.00:43:42
In order to reinforce the capital, 3,000 men
from the southern fiefs including Belfalas00:43:48
and Dol Amroth come to Minas Tirith.00:43:51
We are told these 3000 soldiers are less than
a tenth of what was needed, for while the00:43:57
Witch-king marches closer to Minas Tirith,
many in the south are preoccupied with fighting00:44:02
the Black Fleet of Umbar.00:44:05
Denethor sends Faramir to Osgilith to intercept
the Witch-king’s army on March 11.00:44:10
The following morning, Sauron’s host uses
secret boats to cross the river and overwhelm00:44:16
the Gondorians, causing Faramir to retreat
to the Causeway Forts on March 13.00:44:21
Learning the Witch-king was on the field of
battle, Gandalf makes for the Rammas Echor,00:44:27
where Faramir had retreated to.00:44:29
Thanks to a charge by his uncle Prince Imrahil,
Faramir, wounded and suffering under the Black00:44:35
Breath of the nazgul, is saved and brought
back to Minas Tirith.00:44:40
As the Pelennor is overrun by Sauron’s forces,
Denethor is overcome with grief at his son’s00:44:47
state.00:44:48
He loses his will to fight and gives no more
thought to the defense of his city.00:44:53
Gandalf and Imrahil must take up command of
Minas Tirith as the Siege of Gondor begins.00:45:00
Throughout the day of March 14, the hosts
of Mordor dig pits and build siege weapons00:45:06
on the Pelennor.00:45:07
The nazgul continue flying over the city,
bringing despair to the soldiers awaiting00:45:12
the battle.00:45:13
The orcs launch stones into the city which
burst into flame, followed by catapulting00:45:18
the severed heads of slain Gondorians over
the city walls.00:45:23
And with the morale of the Gondorians at its
lowest point, the Witch-king begins his assault00:45:28
around midnight.00:45:30
The might of the wall of Gondor, and the steadfastness
of many of their people held out for a time00:45:36
against the invaders.00:45:38
However, the great gate of Minas Tirith is
broken by battering ram Grond.00:45:43
In rides the Lord of the Nazgul, and there
is only one who stands in defiance of him00:45:49
- Gandalf the White upon Shadowfax.00:45:53
And unlike Earnur’s steed so long ago, Shadowfax
would not flee the Witch-king.00:45:59
Just as the Witch-king draws his blade which
erupts with flames, horns begin to blow in00:46:05
the distance - Rohan had come.00:46:08
Thus, the morning of March 15 brings the climax
of the Battle of the Pelennor Fields - the00:46:14
largest and greatest of the War of the Ring.00:46:18
Theoden’s Rohirrim strike a mighty blow
to the forces of Mordor.00:46:22
He personally kills the chieftain of the Haradrim
before being struck down by the Witch-king00:46:28
himself.00:46:29
The witch-king in turn is killed by Merry
and Eowyn.00:46:33
While this loss is hugely demoralizing for
Sauron’s army, Gothmog, lieutenant of Minas00:46:39
Morgul assumes command and the Southrons charge
with their Mumakil.00:46:44
Eomer, having discovered his sister seemingly
dead upon the battlefield, flies into a rage,00:46:51
fully prepared to die as Rohan’s final leader.00:46:55
Another prepared to die as the final ruler
of his people is Denethor - though under very00:47:00
different circumstances.00:47:02
Denethor prepares a funeral pyre for him and
Faramir to burn.00:47:06
While Gandalf and Pippin would save Faramir,
Denethor lights himself ablaze.00:47:12
One reason for Denethor’s despair was a
vision Eomer would see come to fruition.00:47:17
Denethor had seen a fleet of enemy ships with
black sails arriving at the Rammas, prepared00:47:24
to enter the fight.00:47:25
Eomer beholds this development and believes
the final stroke has come, and the Rohirrim00:47:31
and Gondorians will soon be destroyed.00:47:34
However, it was not their enemy in these ships
- for Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, the sons of00:47:40
Elrond, and the Grey Company had walked the
Paths of the Dead, and the Dead Men had driven00:47:47
the Haradrim and Corsairs from the Gondorian
settlements and havens.00:47:52
Aragorn then commandeered the black ships,
bringing many reinforcements from the southern00:47:57
fiefdoms who had flocked to the banner of
the Heir of Isildur.00:48:01
Rather than Eomer being caught against overwhelming
odds, the host of Mordor is caught between00:48:07
hammer and anvil, and the Battle of the Pelennor
Fields is a victory for Gondor and Rohan,00:48:14
the Oath of Eorl once again fulfilled.00:48:18
After the victory, Aragorn furls his banner
and makes camp outside the city.00:48:23
He appoints Imrahil the temporary lord of
the city as per Gondorian law.00:48:29
Aragorn would later enter the city in secret,
coming to the Houses of Healing where he healed00:48:35
Merry, Eowyn, and Faramir - all of whom were
suffering under the Black Breath.00:48:40
Greater than any genealogy was this fulfillment
of a prophecy “The hands of the king are00:48:46
the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful
king be known.”00:48:50
Word spread throughout the city and Aragorn
would work late into the night healing citizens00:48:56
of Gondor.00:48:57
After taking council with Gandalf, Eomer,
Imrahil, Elladan, and Elrohir, Aragorn resolves00:49:04
to lead a force in a distractionary attack
upon Mordor in hopes it would give Frodo a00:49:09
chance to destroy the One Ring.00:49:12
This force of 7,000 leaves Minas Tirith on
March 18th.00:49:16
It is estimated that a defensive force of
around 9,000 is left to protect the city,00:49:23
featuring Rohirrim, soldiers from the southern
fiefdoms, and survivors of the city.00:49:28
The Host of the West would meet an army of
Sauron’s Orcs, Trolls, Haradrim, and Easterlings00:49:35
numbering over 60,000.00:49:38
The great eagles would of course also come
to the battle and aid the men, and the One00:49:43
Ring is indeed destroyed, causing the destruction
of Sauron, the Nazgul, Barad-dur, the Black00:49:50
Gate, and most of Sauron’s forces.00:49:53
With the great enemy permanently disembodied
and never again a threat, Aragorn returns00:49:58
to Minas Tirith where Faramir, now Steward
of Gondor, leads the ceremony crowning Aragorn00:50:05
King of Gondor and Arnor.00:50:08
Aragorn reinstates the role of Steward of
Gondor as it had once been before the line00:50:13
of kings failed, making Faramir both Steward
of Gondor and Prince of Ithilien.00:50:20
In time, Ithilien would indeed become populated
once more.00:50:24
One group who came to dwell there are some
elves of Mirkwood, led by Legolas, and it00:50:29
is said Ithilien once again became the fairest
country in all the Westlands.00:50:34
As for Aragorn, he would be taken up the slopes
of Mount Mindolluin behind Minas Tirith by00:50:39
Gandalf and there would find a sapling of
the white tree of Gondor, planting it in place00:50:46
of the long dead tree, which is taken to the
houses of the dead.00:50:50
After her arrival with her father, grandmother,
and grandfather, Arwen marries Aragorn in00:50:55
Minas Tirith on Midsummer’s Day 3019.00:50:59
Now king of the reunited Kingdom of Gondor
and Arnor, Aragorn sets to re-ordering his00:51:06
realm.00:51:07
He orders the restoration of Orthanc and has
the palantir returned there.00:51:11
He declares the Druadan Forest a protected
realm of his kingdom belonging to the Druedain.00:51:17
The Shire is likewise declared a free land
under the protection of his Kingdom, and forbids00:51:23
men from entering it without the leave of
the halflings.00:51:26
He also expands the Shire to include the lands
as far west as Emyn Beraid.00:51:31
Together, Aragorn and Eomer renew the Oaths
of Cirion and Eorl, and due to the effects00:51:38
of Sauron’s influence, we are told Eomer
would often fulfill the Oath.00:51:43
For there were many enemies to defeat before
the White Tree could grow in peace.00:51:47
Together, Aragorn and Eomer would ride to
both the East and South of Middle-earth, fighting00:51:53
and defeating the last remnants of those loyal
to Sauron.00:51:57
We are told Aragorn makes peace with the Haradrim
after his coronation and that the threat of00:52:03
the Corsairs was finally subdued during his
reign and the haven of Umbar finally re-taken.00:52:11
The Reign of King Aragorn II Elessar would
bring prosperity not seen in Gondor for centuries.00:52:18
He would rule for 122 years before his death
on March 1, 120 FoA.00:52:25
At this time, his son Eldarion would take
the throne, inheriting a Reunited Kingdom00:52:31
unburdened by the threat of Sauron or great
enemies influenced by his presence.00:52:37
He is left to lead Gondor further into the
new Fourth Age of Middle-earth.00:52:42
While we don’t know much canonically of
Eldarion’s reign, the waning of his rule00:52:47
serves as the backdrop for Tolkien’s abandoned
sequel.00:52:51
To learn about that story, check out my video
on “The New Shadow”.00:52:57
As always, I want to say a huge thank you
to all my patreon and youtube supporters who00:53:02
make this channel possible:
TomDaBombadil19, Lissomie the Sinda, Rabbi00:53:06
Rob Thomas, Charles Leasure, CCDCRedTeam,
Joe Tepper, The Mighty Mîm,Leo Vettori, Skycarcass,00:53:17
SlideBelts, Dane Ragnarsson, BertoBerg, Graham
Derricott, The Dark Haired One, Wyland, Michael00:53:24
Woo, and Debbie.00:53:25
If you enjoyed the artwork in this video,
check out the artists in the description and00:53:29
purchase prints of their great work for yourself!00:53:31
Thanks so much for watching and subscribing,
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