Gundobad

Biography: Gundobad
Birth - Death	Third Age circa 2173 - 2225
Race:	Ai-thúda Northmen
Ancestor(s):	King Vidugavia ⁞ Marhári ⁞ Fram ⁞
Parent(s):	Gundáric and Bryngertha
	Gundobad
Child(ren):	Gundolávi and Thíudric
Descendant(s):	⁞ Eorl ⁞ Théoden ⁞ Éomer and Éowyn
Info:	11th Chieftain of the Ai-thúda

Gundobad was the 11^th Chieftain of the Ai-thúda. He was the son of Gundáric and Bryngertha, and was a Northman of the Ai-thúda tribe. His father Gundáric was an adventurous youth, and had bragged that he would one day be the first Man to enter Gundabad and behold the wonders within. Two years into his reign, he defied the warnings of his advisors, including his younger brother Hildáric. The fool rode to the Mountain-holds' gates and was never seen again. The chieftaincy passed to his brother Hildáric, but matters grew complicated six months later when Bryngertha, Gundáric's widow, gave birth to a son. She called the boy Gundobad, a play on the name of the hall where his father had vanished. When he was born, Hildáric promised to cede lordship to him once he came of age.

When Gundobad learned the meaning of his name, and of his father's fate, a zeal awoke within him. he would succeed where Gundáric had not, and lead a host of Ai-thúda to conquer Gundabad. His uncle Hildáric begged him to reconsider, but he refused, so when Gundobad was of age, Hildáric refused to honour his promise, and remained master of Framábarg. Songs sun among the Ai-thúda call Hildáric a usurper, false and cruel, and even imply that he himself slew his brother to become lord. More likely, Hildáric was a prudent ruler, serving his people nobly but unremarkably, rather than following any lust for glory. He is seen as a good leader in the eyes of the Dwarves, as during his reign, the Dwarves of Erebor came north to settle the kingdom of Grárik in Ered Mithrin. Rather than dwelling on the troubles between their peoples, Hildáric made people with Thorin I in T.A. 2210, and welcomed him to the north. Relations between Durin's Folk and the Ai-thúda remained cordial afterwards, though seldom warm.

Hildáric died soon afterwards of a sudden illness, at the age of 65, rumored to be from a poison. Gundobad appeared at his funeral to lay claim to the lordship, but he was challenged in this by Hildigar, Hildáric's son. The two fought for the right to rule the Ai-thúda, and in the end, Gundobad cut Hildigar down, taking back the rule over his people.

At first, Gundobad proved as poor a lord as Hildáric had feared, and made three bloody and rash attempts to enter Gundabad before his own thanes begged him to stop spending the blood on his people on such folly. Afterwards, his temper eased, and he ruled indifferently to the age of fifty-three, growing fat from food and mead until his heart gave out.

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