Eärnur
Description
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Eärnur (Quenya for Sea-servant) was the 33rd and last king of Gondor. He was a great warrior, remembered for routing the Witch-king of Angmar's army at Fornost in III 1974. The Witch-king issued a challenge to him many years later in III 2050. Eärnur rode to Minas Morgul in answer, accompanied by his knights Orolang, Silmahtar, Macilnis, and Calatúr, and none were heard from again.
Some of Eärnur's story is revealed in the Black Book of Mordor and the Tale of the Dark Tree.
Quest Involvement
Eärnur appears in a number of flashbacks in the Black Book of Mordor:
- [124] The Black Book of Mordor, Chapter 13.3, Instance: The Picture Painted
- [125] The Black Book of Mordor, Chapter 13.6, Instance: The Sword and the Stonemaiden
- [127] The Black Book of Mordor, Chapter 13.9, Instance: The Warrior Remade
- [128] The Black Book of Mordor Epilogue, Instance: Vóin's Tale
- [128] The Black Book of Mordor Epilogue, Instance: Freed of the Burden
Lore
| Biography: Eärnur | |
|---|---|
| Birth - Death | Third Age 1928 - 2050 |
| Race: | Man |
| Gender: | Male |
| Ancestor(s): | Elendil Anárion |
| Parent(s): | Eärnil II |
| Eärnur | |
| Info: | 33rd and final king of Gondor |
Eärnur was not initially bound for the throne of Gondor, though he was still of the royal house. After Ondoher and his sons Artamir and Faramir were killed in battle with the Wainriders on the edge of Dagorlad, the Council of Gondor chose Eärnur's father, Eärnil II, to rule Gondor, rather than Arvedui and Fíriel of Arthedain. (Fíriel, being the daughter of Ondoher, had some claim to the throne by the laws of Númenor.)
Eärnur was sent north by his father in 1975 of the Third Age to the aid of Arthedain, then besieged by the armies of the Witch-king of Angmar. Eärnur came by sea and landed in Lindon and from there joined the fighting. The Witch-king was driven back, but during the Battle of Fornost Eärnur's horse could not withstand the terror of the Witch-king and bore Eärnur away, something neither the Witch-king nor Eärnur ever forgot. [1]
Following the Battle of Fornost, Eärnur and several of his knights, including Orolang, Macilnis, Silmahtar, and Calatúr, pursued the remnants of Angmar as far as the Grey Mountains. They were joined by the elf Magoldir and later by the Zhélruka dwarf Vóin. [2]
Eärnur succeeded his father in 2043 T.A. and was challenged by the Witch-king. He was restrained by his Steward, Mardil. The challenge was renewed seven years later, and Eärnur rode to Minas Morgul with his knights and was captured.[3] He was held in the city for many years; his knights were gradually made into cargûl and Eärnur himself was left with Orthadel, the blade cursed by the Witch-king to bind Eärnur's spirit should it ever pierce him.[4] Eärnur also spent some of this time in the Houses of Lamentation, and at one point was set loose to find the tree that would become Morloth, the Dark Tree.[5] Eventually, Eärnur's strength ran out, and he became Mordirith.
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "Appendix A: Annals of the Kings and Rulers: I: iv.: Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"
- ↑ Quest:Instance: The Picture Painted
- ↑ Quest:Instance: The Warrior Remade
- ↑ Quest:Instance: Vóin's Tale
- ↑ Tale of the Dark Tree