GONDOR QUICKFACTS
Founded:
3320, Second Age by Elendil
Location:
On the Bay of Belfalas,
west of Mordor
Chief Cities:
Minas Tirith
Pelargir
Dol Amroth
Allies:
Rohan
Enemies:
Mordor
Haradrim
Easterlings
Meaning:
Land of (the People of) Stone
Other Names:
The South-Kingdom, and Stonelending and Stoningland by the Rohirrim
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History of Gondor
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History of Númenor
The sons of Elendil, Isildur and Anárion, upon arriving in Pelargir did set about building the watchtowers of Minas Anor and Minas Ithil, and between them their great city of Osgiliath. Alas, it was not to be long before Sauron rose again and was defeated in the Last Alliance, but with the loss of Anárion in SA 3440 before Barad Dur. Isildur it was who cut the one ring from Sauron's hand, but it betrayed him, costing his life to orcs in TA 2.
In the days of the eighth king, Gondor was first attacked by Easterlings, who were driven out. The king took the name Rómendacil (East-Victor) in celebration. The twelfth king, Tarannon Falastur, expanded the navies of Gondor and conquered the coasts to the west and south. He was the first of the four Ship-Kings. His nephew Eärnil it was who first conquered Umbar, haven of the Black Númenóreans, followers of Sauron. However, in the next reign Umbar was lost.
The fifteenth king, whom history calls Hyarmendacil (South-Victor), led Gondor to its greatest expanse. It was he who destroyed the navies of Umbar and forced its kings to pay homage to Gondor. He extended Gondor north to the Celebrant and the southern eaves of Mirkwood, west to the Greyflood, east to the Sea of Rhûn and south along the coasts to Umbar. Yet his sons did grow lax and so evil came to Gondor.
The second Rómendacil cared deeply for his allies,the Northmen of Rhovanion, and so did send his son Valacar to live among them. This prince married a woman of the north, although many Gondorians felt she was inferior. Their son, Eldacar, was beseiged in Osgiliath but evaded the usurper Castamir who ruled only a short while (and showing his great cruelty in the process) before Eldacar returned to kill him at the Crossings of the Erui. Castamir's sons did flee to Pelargir and thence to Umbar which was lost to Gondor. And this was the great Kin-Strife.
In the reign of Telemnar a great plague struck which did kill the king and all his children and a great many others of Osgiliath. With him died the White Tree brought from Numenor by Anarion. After him, during the reign of Telumehtar, Gondor again took Umbar, but it was soon to be lost forever.
When the Wainriders attacked a third time, Gondor could just manage to hold them to Ithilien, which was destroyed. In this battle was lost Ondoher, king, and his two sons. The crown passed to Eärnil, captain of the Southern Army.
Eärnil was followed by one king only, Eärnur. He it was who wished to challenge the Witch King at the fall of Angmar, yet was restrained by the Noldor Glorfindel. However, the Witch King did not forget the rash Gondorian king, and later challenged him to single combat. In this time, the Dark One's forces had taken Minas Ithil, which they re-named Minas Morgul, and in response had Eärnur called Minas Anor, Minas Tirith 'Tower of the Guard'. Eärnur rode out to meet the Witch King's challenge, disappearing into Minas Morgul with all his companions.
His Steward, Mardil, ruled Gondor for many years, the watch passing down through his house to the current Steward, Denethor, the crown remaining in the lap of King Earnil in the Houses of the Dead, where Eärner had placed it.
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The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth
by Robert Foster
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(S.: 'stone-land') One of the Dúnedain kingdoms in Middle-Earth, founded by Elendil in SA 3320 and committed by him to the joint rule of his sons Isildur and Anárion. At the height of its power (c. TA 1100), Gondor extended north to Celebrant, east to the Sea of Rhûn, south to the River Harnen inland Umbar on the coast, and west to Gwathlo. In addition, various realms to the east and south were tributary states. The chief cities of Gondor were Osgiliath, Minas Arnor, Minas Ithil, Dol Amroth, and Pelargir.
From its founding, Gondor was always under attack by Sauron or his allies in Rhûn, Harad, or Umbar. Ithilien was invaded a number of times, beginning in SA 3429, until in TA 2002 Minas Ithil was taken by the Nazgûl and held until the end of the WR. In the Third Age, Gondor suffered three great evils: the Kin-strife of 1432-48, the Great Plague of 1636, and the invasions of the Wainriders between 1851 and 1954. These difficulties, combined with the degeneration of the Dúnedain, sapped Gondor's strength, decreased her population, and dulled her vigilance.
After the death of Elendil in SA 3441, Gondor was ruled by the Line of Anárion (q.v.) until it failed in TA 2050. From that time until the restoration of the kingdom by Elessar in 3019, Gondor was governed by the Ruling Stewards.
Gondor was a feudal kingdom. Originally the two greatest fiefs, the royal fiefs of Ithilien (Isildur) and Anórien (Anárion and his heirs), were of equal rank, but after the removal of Isildur to Arnor and the moving of the capital from Osgiliath to Minas Anor, Anórien became more important than Ithilien.
Also called the South-kingdom, in opposition to Arnor. Called Stonelending and Stoningland by the Rohirrim.
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