Reunited Kingdom
The Reunited Kingdom is the restored realm of the Dúnedain in the north and south of Middle-earth, formed after the War of the Ring when Aragorn II was crowned Elessar Telcontar and became High King of both Arnor and Gondor. Established on 1 May T.A. 3019, the kingdom reunited the two realms that had originally been founded by Elendil and his sons at the end of the Second Age.
Under the rule of the House of Telcontar, the Reunited Kingdom marked a renewal of Númenórean power in Middle-earth and a restoration of the ancient line of the kings that had long been thought lost.
Lore
At the end of the Second Age, the Númenórean exiles led by Elendil founded two great realms in Middle-earth: Arnor in the north and Gondor in the south. Though separate in administration, these kingdoms were united under Elendil as High King. His sons Isildur and Anárion ruled jointly in Gondor while Elendil himself ruled in Arnor.
This unity did not last long. During the defeat of Sauron in the War of the Last Alliance, Elendil and Anárion were both slain, and Isildur soon afterward perished in the Disaster of the Gladden Fields. Gondor then passed to Meneldil, Anárion's son, and the kingdom effectively became independent of the North-kingdom, which was ruled by Ilsildur's only surviving son, Valandil.
In the centuries that followed, the northern realm declined. Arnor eventually fractured into the successor states of Arthedain, Cardolan, and Rhudaur. These kingdoms fell one by one during the wars with Angmar, and by the late Third Age the Dúnedain of the north survived only as a scattered people led by the Chieftains of the Rangers of the North, who preserved the bloodline of Isildur.
Meanwhile Gondor endured but suffered its own crises, including the Kin-strife and repeated wars against enemies from the east and south. The royal line finally ended with the disappearance of Eärnur, after which the realm was governed by the Stewards of Gondor.
There had been one earlier attempt to restore the ancient High Kingship. In T.A. 1944 Arvedui, King of Arthedain and a descendant of Isildur, claimed the throne of Gondor after the death of King Ondoher. The claim was rejected by the Steward of Gondor at the time, and by the Council of the realm, which instead elevated Eärnil II to the kingship.
The reunification of the two kingdoms finally came at the end of the War of the Ring. After the defeat of Sauron, Aragorn II, the heir of Isildur and Chieftain of the Dúnedain, revealed his lineage and was accepted by the people of Gondor as king. On 1 May T.A. 3019 he was crowned King Elessar in Minas Tirith.
With Aragorn's accession the realms of Arnor and Gondor were united once more under a single High King, fulfilling the ancient heritage of Elendil. This restored realm became known as the Reunited Kingdom.
The Reunited Kingdom encompasses nearly all the lands once held by the ancient Dúnedain. In the north it includes the territories of the former kingdom of Arnor throughout Eriador, including the lands of former Arthedain, Cardolan, and Rhudaur. One of the things Aragorn plans to do is rebuild the city of Annúminas beside Lake Evendim and restore it as the capital city of the North-kingdom, while letting Minas Tirith remain the chief city of the south.
In Gondor the realm extends across the traditional provinces of the kingdom, including Anórien, Ithilien, Lossarnach, Lebennin, Belfalas, Ringló Vale, Lamedon, Blackroot Vale, Anfalas and Pinnath Gelin.
Despite its great extent, certain lands within the realm were granted special status. The Shire will be declared a protected land into which Men are forbidden to enter, and the Drúadan Forest of Far Anórien will be granted to the Drúedain as their own domain. Aragorn also intend to renew the ancient grant of Calenardhon to the Rohirrim, ensuring the continued independence of Rohan.
The High King rules according to the ancient laws of Númenor and Gondor. In Gondor he maintais the Council of Gondor, with Faramir serving as Steward and chief counsellor. In the north Aragorn will establish a similar council, and in the thirteenth year of the Fourth Age he will appoint three counsellors drawn from the leaders of the Shire and Buckland: the Thain of the Shire, the Mayor of Michel Delving, and the Master of Buckland.
Aragorn is also strengthening the realm through diplomacy and warfare. Together with Éomer, King of Rohan, he is leading campaigns against lingering threats beyond the borders of the kingdom, including enemies in the east and the southern deserts.