Gondor
Gondor (which means "land of stone" in Sindarin) is a kingdom that is part of the legendarium created by the British writer J. R. R. Tolkien and that appears in his novels The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings. It is one of the two Dúnedain kingdoms in exile, founded by Isildur and Anárion, the sons of Elendil, in the year 3320 of the Second Age of the Sun, after the fall of Númenor. His sister kingdom was Arnor in the north, founded by Elendil himself.
Gondor is located in the eastern part of Middle-earth, in the Bay of Belfalas, lying southeast of Rohan and west of Mordor. Initially, its capital was Osgiliath but after the Great Plague it was depopulated and the capital was moved to the city of Minas Tirith.
The origin of its name may be due to the fact that the mountain ranges of Ered Nimrais and other mountains are located in the kingdom.
The Quenya translation of her name is Ondonórë.
History
Early history
Before the Fall of Númenor, Gondor was home to many Numenórean settlers, who either mixed their blood with the indigenous men if they were friendly, or pushed them to Ras Morthil or other nearby lands. In Elendil's time, most of the population of Gondor was of Numenórean blood, to a greater or lesser extent. Gondor was a more temperate region than Arnor to the north. Some believe that the region that became Gondor was already more populous than Eriador before the ships of Elendil's sons arrived. By the time of the Fall of Númenor, there was already an established city, Pelargir, situated along the river Anduin near the coast.
The Elendili of Númenor itself received a warm welcome when they arrived, by those who had already colonized Middle-earth. The colonized north of Anduin accepted Elendil's claim to the realm. However, further south of the great river the new Numeronean exiles did not recognize Elendil's claim.
Gondor was founded after the Numeroneans had split between the Elendili and the king's men, and all the southernmost colonies (such as Umbar) remained enemies of the Elendili.
The survivors built several large stone cities and citadels, each with a palantir. Minas Anor, Tower of the Setting Sun (later renamed Minas Tirith, Watchtower), city of Anárion. Minas Ithil (Tower of the Rising Moon) against Ephel Dúath (Mountains of Shadow), on the border with Mordor, city of Isildur, where the White Tree was planted. Osgiliath (Citadel of the Stars) on both sides of Anduin, the capital of Gondor, and where the main Palantír was located. Furthermore, Angrenost, with its great tower of Orthanc, near the Fords of Isen, at the end of the Hithaeglir (Misty Mountains); and Aglarond, located in a valley in the Ered Nimrais White Mountains, later known to the Rohirrim as Helm's Deep. Aglarond was no more than a fortress guarding the entrance to the Glittering Caverns, to which the fortress gave its original name, and it had no Palantír.
At the end of the Second Age, Sauron returned to Mordor and began a war against Gondor. He took Minas Ithil and burned the White Tree, but Isildur escaped with his family and sailed to Arnor by Anduin while his sister Anárion defended Gondor. Gondor joined the Last Alliance between Men and Elves along with several nations intent on defeating Sauron once and for all. Although the Alliance tasted victory and overthrew Sauron, in the end he returned to plague both Gondor and Arnor in the Third Age.
Gondor thrives
In the wake of Sauron's defeat, Gondor assumed the responsibility of keeping watch over Mordor. Both Elendil and Anárion had died in the war, so Isildur gave the kingship of Gondor to Meneldil son of Anárion and marched north to assume direct control over Arnor. However, Isildur and his three eldest sons were slain by orcs near the Gladden Fields, and his youngest son, Valandil, never attempted to claim Isildur's throne. This lapse in continuity in Isildur's line ultimately destabilized Gondor politically and proved disastrous for Arnor.
Nevertheless, Gondor enjoyed peace for several years until the first invasion of the Eastmen, in TA 492, forced the realm into a defensive war. Subsequently, Gondor conquered many lands east of Anduin.
The Golden Age of Gondor
As Arnor's power waned and the kingdom splintered into three new ones, Gondor's power reached its zenith under the reign of the four "Kings of the Boats":
- Tarannon Falastur (840-913TE), first King of the Ships, dead without children.
- Eärnil I (913-936 TE), Tarannon nephew.
- Ciryandil (936-1015 TE).
- Hyarmendacil I (Ciryaher) (1015-1149 TE), the last King of the Ships.
In the year 933, King Eärnil I assembles a vast fleet and attacks Umbar, occupying the port and driving the black Numenóreans onto the plains of Harad. However, in the year 1000, the black Numenóreans, now allied with the Haradrim, besiege the port, starting a long war that would last fifty years and which would bring with it the death of King Ciryandil.
Until the year 1050, Gondor had extended its territory west and north, along the shores of Middle-earth to the River Gwathló and south to Umbar. In a final great battle, the armies of Gondor led by Hyarmendacil I finally liberate Umbar and the enemy kings are forced to swear allegiance to Gondor. The kingdom stretched east to the Sea of Rhûn, south to the nearest lands of the Haradrim, north to Mirkwood, and west to the borders of Arnor.
Thus reaching the height of their glory and power, the kings of Gondor sought nothing new, and over the next 2,000 years the kingdom gradually declined in abundance, power, prestige, size, and population.
The Decline of Gondor
After the reign of Hyarmendacil I, the decline of the kings of Gondor and the kingdom itself began. Three great calamities occurred in Gondor during the second millennium of the Third Age, which were the main reasons for its decline: the Kin Strife, the Great Plague, and the invasion of the Charioteers.
The Fight Between Relatives
In the fifteenth century of the Third Age, a great civil war broke out called the Kin Struggle, which divided the kingdom into two camps. Eldacar had assumed the throne after the death of his father, Valacar, and his mixed blood (his mother was of the Northmen) provoked the discontent of the Gondorian nobles, who overthrew Eldacar for Castamir, the admiral of the naval forces. of Gondor, who had royal blood. They killed Eldacar's son, Ornendil, and Eldacar fled north.
During his ten-year reign, Castamir displayed his enormous cruelty, and due to his love for his old fleet, he paid much attention to the coastal regions, while the inland ones were ignored. It was then that Eldacar returned with an army made up of his kinsmen from the North and the armies of Gondor from inland provinces, such as Anórien.
Osgiliath was devastated during the conflict, its great bridge destroyed and its palantír lost. Eldacar slew Castamir and claimed his throne, but Castamir's sons and his troops besieged Pelargir, the great port of Gondor. In time they withdrew to Umbar, where they joined with the Corsairs, and troubled Gondor for many years, until their descendants became extinct.
The Great Plague
In the year 1636 of the Third Age, the Great Plague swept through Gondor and the White Tree, along with King Telemnar and his sons perished. The Plague swept through much of Middle-earth, reaching the successor kingdoms of Arnor and the Shire.
King Tarondor found a scion of the White Tree and moved the capital of Osgiliath to Minas Anor, the City of Anárion. During this time, Gondor was so depopulated that the fortifications that protected the re-entry of evil into Mordor were abandoned. However, the Plague left the enemies of Gondor in a similar condition, and neither side was able to mount new offensives.
The Invasion of the Charioteers
In about the year 1800 of the Third Age, a new threat arose when the charioteers invaded Gondor and devastated the lands of the Northmen. The conflict began in the year 1851 when the charioteers began their invasion of the eastern part of Gondor. In the year 1856, Narmacil II assembled a large army to face the invaders, but he was defeated and killed in battle with the charioteers and his army was destroyed. In 1899, Narmacil's son Calimehtar defeated the charioteers at Dagorlad and celebrated his victory by building the White Tower at Minas Anor.
In 1944, the charioteers invaded Gondor again and destroyed the Army of the North led by King Ondoher, but the Army of the South, led by a general named Eärnil, a descendant of King Telumehtar, destroyed the charioteers at the Battle of Gondor. Camp, when they were celebrating their victory.
The Government of the Stewards
War of the Ring
In the year 3019, during the War of the Ring, Gondor faced an attack on its capital Minas Tirith in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Although nearly defeated, the Rohirrim once again turned the tide of the close battle, helping to win the war.
After Sauron's second and final defeat the kingdom was restored with the return of the king, and Aragorn II became the monarch of the United Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor. Aragorn claimed the throne as heir to both Isildur and Anarion given his descent from Arvedui and Fíriel, Ondoher's daughter. This allowed him to secure his claim as heir to Elendil and his children. He carried as a token of his right to the kingdom Elendil's reforged sword, Narsil, which he now called Anduril, Flame of the West .
Faramir, the last of the ruling Stewards, was confirmed as steward (though without power of government) and made prince of Ithilien, which had been recaptured from the forces of Mordor.
Geography
Regions
Ithilien
The easternmost province of Gondor, lying between the Mountains of Shadow and the River Anduin, and divided into North Ithilien and South Ithilien by the current of the River Morgulduin. During the first half of the Third Age it was a prosperous and highly populated land, replete with forests and gardens. But after the fall of Minas Ithil to the Nazgûl, the population emigrated to escape the threat posed by the city of the Ringwraiths. Ithilien was repopulated during the period of the Watchful Peace, but most of its inhabitants fled to Lebennin and Anórien when the orcish and Haradrim attacks began several centuries later, and it was finally abandoned altogether after Sauron's return. From then on, the region is kept free of servants of the Enemy thanks to the action of the Ithilien Rangers: descendants of the Ithilien people who watch over the area and attack the troops of evil, and who maintain secret havens like Henneth Annûn. During the Fourth Age it was ruled by the princes of Ithilien, a dynasty started by Faramir and Éowyn. In addition, and at King Elessar's request, Legolas led a large number of Wood Elves from Mirkwood, establishing a colony in Ithilien that helped the region regain its former beauty. Finally, this group of elves would embark for Aman.
Anorien
Anórien, which in Sindarin means 'region of the sun', was a long region formed by the valleys of the White Mountains and ruled directly from Minas Tirith. Its limits were the Meiring Current in the west, the Bocas del Entaguas in the north and the Anduin in the east. Anórien is described as a highly populated region, although no other settlement is known except for Minas Tirith. Small garrisons were held at the line of beacons along the Great Western Road, which connected Minas Tirith with Calenardhon, as well as on the fortified island of Cair Andros. In the interior of the region were the forests of Fírien to the west and Drúadan to the east.
Calenardhon
A vast region of plains and foothills north of the White Mountains and west of Anórien. Its Sindarin name means "Green Province". Due to its remote location it never had a large population, and the Great Plague left it virtually depopulated. A few forts were maintained in the region (notably Angrenost and Aglarond) to guard the Isen and Anduin river passes from Emyn Muil, though most were abandoned during the Watchful Peace. In 2510, the Balchoth destroy these strongholds and occupy all of Calenardhon. Gondor and his army are saved by the miraculous arrival of the éothéod horsemen of Rhovanion led by his chieftain Eorl. As a reward, the seneschal Cirion grants the éothéod the province of Calenardhon, becoming the kingdom of Rohan, and its inhabitants the Rohirrim.
Enedwaith
The large stretch of land between the Isen and Gwathló rivers. In some Tolkien texts it is indicated that it was part of Gondor, in others it is written that his government was shared by the two brother kingdoms, and in others that it did not belong to anyone. Originally occupied in its entirety by forests inhabited by Dunlendings and Drúedain, after the arrival of the Dúnedain in the middle of the Second Age they proceeded to the massive felling of the forests, building the great cities of Lond Daer and Tharbad for the transport of the wood, and expelling the indigenous inhabitants of the region. After the Great Plague of 1636, only Tharbad remained inhabited, the rest of the territory being depopulated and Gondor losing its influence over the region. With the floods that occurred after the end of the Cruel Winter of 2912, Tharbad was completely abandoned, and the bridge over the Gwathló river, which was the only way to cross the river, collapsed.
Anphalas
The coastline of Gondor between the rivers Lefnui and Morthond, south of the Pinnath Gelin Hills. The name means 'long beach' in Sindarin, and in some texts it is also translated as Langstrand. It was not overly populated, being quite far from the center of the kingdom and the trade routes, and occasionally raided by privateers from Umbar.
The regiment sent in support of Minas Tirith during the War of the Ring consisted of a long column of several hundred men poorly armed and prepared for war, except for their lord Golasgil and his escort, for the people of Anfalas were fishermen, herders, and hunters, not soldiers.
Druwaith Iaur
A region occupying the area located in western Gondor, including Cape Andrast. Nominally under the rule of Gondor, the Numenóreans never inhabited this region, although its hills and forests were once inhabited by wild tribes of Drúedain, who after the end of the Second Age tna survived only in the forest of Drúadan and the Cape of Andrast. This is why the region was known as Drúwaith Iaur, the "Old Púkel Waste".
Belfalas
A densely populated coastal region on the shores of Belfalas Bay (from which it took its name) and which included the island of Tolfalas. It was made up of a large peninsula with mountains inside, and on whose western shores was the city of Dol Amroth. Its name in Sindarin meant 'great coast'. It was ruled by the princes of Dol Amroth. For a long time it was also populated by elves from Lothlórien, who settled in the port of Edhellond and mixed with the local Numenórean population, including the ruling princes.
The regiment sent in support of Minas Tirith during the War of the Ring consisted of a company of knights, followed by seven hundred men-at-arms, all mounted on horseback and commanded by Prince Imrahil.
Dor-en-Ernil
Literally translated as the 'land of the prince', it was located in southern Gondor, on the shores of Belfalas Bay. Its limits are not very well defined, although according to Christopher Tolkien it extended on both sides of Belfalas, and like Belfalas it was ruled by the princes of Dol Amroth, and was populated by people of Numenórean origin since the Second Age.
Black Root Valley
The highlands of the Imlad Morthond plateau, around the River Blackroot, or Morthond in Sindarin, are described as a prosperous and densely populated region, whose inhabitants were especially skilled in archery, but who did not inhabit the area near the hill of Erech, for they were in great fear of the spirits of the dead men of El Sagrario.
The regiment sent to support Minas Tirith during the War of the Ring consisted of five hundred archers under their lord Duinhir the Tall and his sons Derufin and Duilin.
Lamedon
A region made up of a series of valleys on the southern slopes of the White Mountains, separated from Belfalas to the south by a small range of mountains. The Ciril River is born in this area. The region is known to be inhabited mostly by highlander peoples from before the arrival of the Numenóreans. According to Tolkien, the name Lamedon comes from Sindarin, although its etymology has not been clarified.
During the War of the Ring, Lamedon does not command any forces in support of Minas Tirith, for his lord, Angbor, is with his men defending the city of Linhir in Lebennin against the Haradrim and Umbar corsairs. However, a handful of wild and captainless highlanders willingly come to Minas Tirith to help in its defense.
Ringló Valley
The lands around the Ringló River in its northern course, also called Imlad Ringló in Sindarin. They border Lamedon to the north and Lebennin to the east. Although small, the region is highly populated, highlighting the city of Ethring, located at a ford of the River Ringló that crossed the Road of Gondor, which ran from Pelargir to Erech.
The regiment sent in support of Minas Tirith during the War of the Ring consisted of three hundred warriors under Dervorin, the lord's son.
Lebennin
The central region and one of the most populous of Gondor, it was bordered by the Anduin on the east and south, and by the White Mountains on the north. Lebennin translates into Sindarin as 'five rivers', referring to the five rivers that flowed through the region: Erui, Sirith, Celos, Serni and Gilrain. The region is described as a flat, fertile and beautiful land, with numerous meadows covered with grass and flowers such as lilies, alfirin or mallos, and in it are the great cities of Linhir and Pelargir, the latter capital of Lebennin and base of the royal army of Gondor. The population is mostly mixed between the indigenous inhabitants and the Numenóreans, and many of them, especially those who live on the shores of the sea and the Anduin, are fishermen.
During the War of the Ring Lebennin does not command any forces in support of Minas Tirith, as she must defend herself against attacks by the Haradrim and corsairs from Umbar. However, a hundred fishermen from the Ethir Anduin without a captain in command voluntarily come to defend the city.
Lossarnach
A densely populated but small area located immediately to the south of Minas Tirith. It is described as an area of valleys full of flowers, and in fact its name in Sindarin means 'valley of flowers', although it was also known by the pre-Numeronean name of "Arnach".
The regiment sent to support Minas Tirith during the War of the Ring consisted of two hundred warriors armed with two-handed great axes under the command of their lord, Forlong the Fat.
Pinnath Gelin
Translated as 'green crags' in Sindarin, it was a region located in the area of a range of hills situated in the western part of Inner Gondor, south of the White Mountains and north of Anfalas.
The regiment sent to support Minas Tirith during the War of the Ring consisted of three hundred handsome green-clad warriors under the command of their lord, Hirluin the Handsome.
Southern Gondor
The territory north of Harad between the Poros and Harnen rivers. It had belonged to Gondor since the time of King Tarannon, though by the end of the Third Ages it had become a "deserted and disputed land". On an early Tolkien map the region is named in Sindarin as "Harondor".
Cities and fortresses
Osgiliath
The ancient capital of Gondor, situated on both banks of the River Anduin. The city began to decline after being razed during the Kin Strife, was left largely depopulated after the Great Plague, and was finally abandoned altogether after an uruk attack in 2476, with the capital being moved to Minas Tirith. Since then, Osgiliath has remained the eastern outpost and line of defense for Minas Tirith. It is possible that it was rebuilt by King Elessar during the Fourth Age. Its name in Sindarin translated as 'star fortress'.
Minas Anor (Minas Tirith)
Its name in Sindarin meant 'tower of the sun'. Originally a fortress built by Anárion on Mount Mindolluin, at the eastern end of the White Mountains, to defend against hostile natives, later it would become the summer residence of the kings of Gondor, and finally, after the progressive deterioration of Osgiliath, it was made the capital of Gondor in 1640, being renamed Minas Tirith, which in Sindarin means 'guard tower'.
Minas Ithil (Minas Morgul)
Its name in Sindarin meant 'tower of the moon'. Originally a fortress built by Isildur in the Mountains of Shadow to guard the pass to Mordor. It would be conquered by the Nazgûl in 2002, being renamed Minas Morgul, which in Sindarin means 'tower of sorcery'. It remained the base of the Nine until it was destroyed shortly after the end of the War of the Ring.
Pelager
The capital of Lebennin and the largest port of Gondor, situated at the mouth of the Anduin. It was the oldest of the Numenórean settlements in Gondor, and the base of the royal army. It was the largest port in Gondor, and one of the largest in Middle-earth, destined for military and commercial use, and whose docks had capacity for more than fifty warships. Its etymology in Sindarin is very complex, and it means 'fortification of the royal ships'.
Dol Amroth
Capital port city of Belfalas and Dor-en-Ernil. It was situated on the western shore of Belfalas, and took its name from Amroth, king of Lothlórien. The citizens of Dol Amroth were of Numenórean blood, and its princes were rumored to have elven blood as well. At the top of the city was the prince's castle.
Edhellond
Its Sindarin name means 'elven port', as it was an ancient city and haven for elves from where they set out for Aman. It was located at the confluence of the Morthond and Ringló rivers. Due to around 1981 of the Third Age it was finally abandoned by its original inhabitants, the city was repopulated with people from Dol Amroth, becoming part of Gondor.
Cair Andros
Fortress located on the island of the same name above the Anduin due to its vital strategic importance during the centuries of conflict with Mordor and its eastern allies. Cair Andros had already been used as a fortress during the Kin Fight, and it was refortified by the seneschal Túrin II to defend Anórien after Ithilien fell to the orcs of Mordor. From here departed the patrols of rangers who went into Ithilien to harass the servants of Sauron. Its Sindarin name translates as 'ship of the great foam'.
Harlond
A river port on the Anduin adjacent to Minas Tirith, built in a small space between the river and the Rammas Echor. Its Sindarin name translates as 'south port'.
Henneth Annûn
Outpost of the Rangers of Ithilien built in 2901 by Steward Túrin II, becoming the largest of all Ithilien's secret havens. The name of the refuge means "west window" in Sindarin, derived from the fact that the entrance to the cave of the refuge was located behind the waterfall to the west of the pond.
Calembel
Capital city of Lamedon, located on a small hill, between the rivers Ciril and Ringló, on the road between Erech and Pelargir.
Linhir
A city and port of Lebennin, situated at a ford near the confluence of the Gilrain and Serni rivers, not far from the sea.
Ethering
City located next to the ford of the River Ringló crossed by the Road to Gondor.
Tarnost
A supposed city marked on a Tolkien map, where it is located south of the hills along the Gilrain and Ringló rivers. In turn, in a note, the Belfalas hills on which the city is located are named as "hills of Tarnost".
Angrenost (Isengard)
In Sindarin it means 'iron fortress'. A fortress at the southern end of the Misty Mountains, built by Gondor in the late Second Age and held by a garrison throughout the Third Age, even after Calenardhon ceded to the éothéod, until it was conquered by the Dunlendings in 2710. Although driven out after the end of the Long Winter, half a century later the fortress was bestowed on Saruman.
Aglarond (Hornburg)
In Sindarin it means 'sparkling caverns'. A fortress in the foothills of the White Mountains, built by Gondor in the late Second Age. and held by a garrison for most of the Third Age, until the seneschal Cirion ceded to the éothéod the province of Calenardhon, including Aglarond. His garrison was sent to support Angrenost's.
Tharbad
City located next to the ford of the Gwathló river of the same name and which crossed the North-South Road. Its Sindarin name can be translated as 'crossroads' or 'crossroads'. For a long time it served as the border between Gondor and Arnor (and later Cardolan), but after the fall of the Northern Kingdom, the city became totally dependent on Gondor. However, his influence in the region was never very great, and after the Great Plague, he lost all control over the city, which would eventually be abandoned after the floods after the Cruel Winter. After the abandonment of the city, its so important bridge ended up collapsing, making it necessary since then to ford the Gwathló to cross it. It is possible that King Elessar rebuilt it in the Fourth Age.
Umbar
Originally a shelter for ships built on the southern shores of Belfalas Bay, the city became the base of the Black Numenóreans. The city had the largest port in Middle-earth. He was captured by Gondor in 933. From then on, it was ruled by the kings of Gondor until 1448 when it fell under the control of the rebels after the Kin Strife. In 1810 King Telumehtar Umbardacil recaptured the city, but it was lost again at some point in Gondor's subsequent decline. For centuries it was home to the corsairs of Umbar, who terrorized the people of Gondor's southern shores. Finally, King Elessar reconquered it and definitively annexed it to the kingdom of Gondor at the beginning of the Fourth Age.