Kings of Gondor – LOTRO Players

The Kings of Gondor – Part Seven – Death to the Corsairs

Hail and Well Met Friends!

When we left off on our last episode, we had just seen the Kin Strife come to a boiling point and watched civil war break out amongst the people of Gondor. We also saw the crowning of Aldamir and the beginning of the Corsairs of Umbar.

The New Kings Constant Battle

Aldamir was the second son of King Eldacar and succeeded his father in TA 1490 because his elder brother Ornendil was murdered by Castamir. Aldamir’s fifty year reign was marked with constant warfare with the Corsairs of Umbar and the Haradrim, which called in Westron the Southrons and once the “Swertings” by Hobbits, were a race of Men from Harad in the region of Middle-earth directly south of Gondor. Aldamir was slain in battle against the Men of Harad in 1540 and had one son who later took the throne.

Aldamir’s son, born as Vinyarion took the throne in TA 1540 and reigned until 1621. Vinyarion wished to avenge his fathers death, which he accomplished in 1551 by invading the Harad and defeated them. It was then when he proclaimed himself Hymarmedacil II, which menat “South-Victor” in Sindarin. This was a name one of his great ancestors took in the twelfth century. He died in TA 1621 after a rule of eighty-one years and two hundred thirty years of life and was succeeded by his son Minardil.

The House of Hurin

Minardil was born in TA 1454 during the reign of his great grandfather Eldacar. Minardil’s reign was brief and tormented with conflict. His steward, Hurin of Emyn Arnen, would found the line of the House of Hurin, who became ruling stewards centuries later. In TA 1634 he was slain at Pelargir when it was attacked by the Corsairs of Umbar. Minardil ruled for thirteen years and was succeeded by his eldest son Telemnar.

Telemnar became king in TA 1634, and due to the growing threat from the Corsairs, he immediately began building up Gondor’s fleets to defeat them but his plans came to an end when the Great Plague struck Gondor. The Great Plague ravaged Gondor and it’s outlying hold of Osgiliath, and in result the king and his family died. The White Tree also withered and died during this time. He was succeeded by his nephew Tarondor, who was the son of Telemnar’s younger brother Minastan.

The White Tree

Tarondor took the throne at a young age in TA 1636 after his uncle passed. He was the longest reigning King of Gondor, but war and plague had tortured his country and strove to rebuild the land and it’s great power. The most significant event in his reign was the removal of the capital from the now depopulated Osgiliath to Minas Anor and the replanting of the White Tree. However, Gondor at this time was drained of its resources and man-power and could no longer afford to tend to the forts guarding the ancient entrances to Mordor, thus they fell into decay paving the way for evil things to return. He died in TA 1798 after one-hundred and Sixty-two years of rule was succeeded by his son.

Telumehtar became king in TA 1798 after his father passed. His reign was largely uneventful except for problems the Corsairs continued to bring to the land. The long descendents of the defeated king Castamir the Usurper; the Corsairs raided the coasts of Gondor and terrorized shipping in the area. Telumehtar wanted to rid the seas of the Corsairs, so he assembled a large army in 1810 and recaptured their base in Umbar. After this event he took the title Umbardacil, meaning “Victor over Umbar”. In this war, the Corsairs suffered total defeat and the descendants of Castamir all died and Umbar was yet again held by Gondor. Telumehtar ruled for fifty-two years and was succeeded by his son Narmacil II.

Until next weeks episode, I’m your host Iogro Merrybelly and I bid you a fine farewell!

The Kings of Gondor – Part Six – The Kin Strife

Hail and Well Met Friends!

I know it’s been a while since our lest episode in the Kings of Gondor series and I do apologize for the long wait. My schedule has been insanely busy lately, but I’m back on schedule with everything and you can expect regular episodes again.

When we left off last episode, we had just concluded the reign of Valacar and with his age came the rebellion of the coastal lands. When he passed it brought a blood bath of a civil war called the Kin Strife among the people.

The Kin Strife

This week we pick up with his son Eldacar which was born as Vinitharya in the Kingdom of Rhovanion. In 1260 of the Third Age he was brought to Gondor by his father. His reign saw the breaking of his people and the start of a civil war. He was the son of princess Vidumavi, a daughter of the Northmen, King Vidugavia. After ascending the throne in 1432, he reigned for five years when he was deposed and driven from Osgiliath into exile to Rhovanion by a distant vile relative. While Eldacar was exiled he slowly gathered support from the Northmen and the Dunedain from the northern parts of Gondor. This army that Eldacar had gathered had a mass hate for the one who overturned the throne, and exiled Eldacar. They hated this man because he executed Eldacar’s firstborn son, and they wanted revenge.

The great-grandson of King Calmacil, Castamir was not in line for the throne, but his royal background had made him the Lord of Ships under the previous king, Valacar. His lineage and influence left him in a position to challenge the current king, Eldacar, who was only half Numenorean. As King Valacar’s only son, Eldacar was the legitimate heir to the throne, but his half Rhovanion lineage angered citizens who believed that pure Numenorean blood must be maintained. Capitalizing on the protest of the people against the the current king, Castamir was able to incite rebellion and surrounded Eldacar within the city Osgiliath 1437 of the Third Age. The city was set on fire by Castamir’s troops, destroying the famed Dome of Stars. Shortly thereafter, Eldacar fled the city and into exile in Rhovanion, to the north.

The Taking of a Kingship

With the defeat of the king, Castamir seized the throne. For ten years Castamir ruled Gondor with an iron fist, while Eldacar quietly regained power. Castamir ruled cruelly, and committed many foul deeds, including executing Eldacar’s own son, Ornendil. At first the people of Gondor tolerated Castamir because of his pure Numenorean blood. Then, in 1447, Castamir, now called “The Usurper” by his people was overthrown after a decade of wicked rule with the people now rallying around the true king, Eldacar. He was slain by Eldacar’s forces at the Battle of Erui, the battle of the Kin-strife as which it came to be known for the rest of time.

Castamir’s influence did not end there though. Some of his forces, and surviving sons, retreated from the Battle of Erui to the port of Pelargir and escaped by ship to Umbar, far to the south. These descendants of Castamir became the so-called “Corsairs of Umbar”, the great pirates who terrorized the ports of Gondor. They were perhaps the greatest threat to Gondor for nearly 400 years, commanding massive fleets of ships. Their most infamous exploit was the Raid of Pelargir in 1634, in which a Corsair fleet led by Castamir’s great grandsons Angamaite and Sangahyando‎ sailed up the river Anduin to the port of Pelargir. This raid coincided with King Minardil’s visit in which he was slain by the attacking Corsairs.

The Corsairs remained a significant threat until 1810, when King Telumehtar retook Umbar for Gondor. After the victory Telumehtar was known as Umbardacil, which literally means “victor over Umbar”. In this battle the last descendants of Castamir were finally killed.

Until next weeks episode, I’m your host Iogro Merrybelly and I bid you a fine farewell!

The Kings of Gondor – Part Five – The Breaking of Lines

Hail Readers!

It’s been a few weeks since my last post, and that’s due to some PC and Blog issues, but I’m back up and running.

When we last left off I had just wrapped up things with the Ship Kings and the prosperous age of Gondor. We kick things off this week with what I would call the breaking in the lines of Kings.

We start off with Narmacil which was the son of Atanatar II and he was known as a very lazy king and soon after taking the throne grew tired of his duties. He reigned as king for fourteen years but after growing tired of his duties as king, he decided to pursue his own personal pleasures so he created the noble title of Regent, and surrendered rule to his nephew Minalcar (who would eventually become King in his own right).

During his reign, the Easterlings became a threat again and his regent’s main concern was making alliance with the tribes of the Northmen to help fight against them. It is unknown if Narmacil retained any power but he died without any children in the year 1294 of the third age and was succeeded by his brother.

Calmacil took reign from his brother Narmacil and became the eighteenth King of Gondor in the year 1294. His reign lasted for ten years, in which his son Minalcar (known later as Romendacil II) continued his role as Regent, a role he held during Narmacil’s reign as well. It seemed he had absolutely no desire to rule Gondor and probably had no power to do so anyways.

Minalcar was born in 1126, the last year of the long reign of Hyarmendacil I as Minalcar and he rose to a powerful position early because his uncle Narmacil I chose to leave his kingship. He was Regent of Gondor from TA 1240 and struck a decisive blow against the Easterlings whom he defeated near the Sea of Rhun. He also fortified Gondor and made pacts with the Northmen of Rhovanion, all before he took the throne. After Narmacil’s death, he remained Regent for ten years under his father Calmacil.

When he finally ascended to the throne after the death of his father, he immediately took the name Romendacil, the East-victor. He was responsible for creating the Argonath, the pillars of the Kings. They were known to stand above Nen Hithoel far into the Fourth Age.

Romendacil sent his son Valacar as an ambassador to secure the alliance with the Northmen. While Valacar was on his mission he married Vidumavi, the daughter of Vidugavia, the King of Rhovanion. In the year 1260, he summoned him and his Northmen family back to Gondor, to take part in the duties of the realm. This was controversial and ultimately lead to the disastrous Kin-strife. Romendacil died in 1366 and his son Valacar took the reign of Gondor.

Valacar became the twentieth King of Gondor but his ascension brought disorder and disturbances to Gondor. He was sent by his father as an ambassador to Rhovanion to acquaint himself with the Northmen. On this mission he married Vidumavi, the daughter of Vidugavia, the King of Rhovanion. Because the Northmen were Middle Men, the Dunedain in Gondor were afraid that this marriage would taint the Numenorean bloodline of its kings.

As Valacar grew old, the coastal provinces rebelled against the land and capital city. Valacar died in 1432 and his death caused a bloody civil war among the people called the Kin-strife. The war lasted for fifteen years until Valacar’s only son Eldacar took the throne.

I leave you at a fork in the road as we have a breaking point in the family line! Until next week I’m your host Iogro Merrybelly and I bid you a fine farewell.

The Kings of Gondor – Part Four – The Great Ship Kings

Hey everyone!

Last week we left off with the history and bloodline of the House of Anarion, and ended with the line of the Ship Kings which is where we pick up today.

The Line of Ship Kings

Tarannon, and his younger brother Tarciryan succeeded their father Siriondil after his death in 830 of the Third Age. Tarciryan took his place as the High King of Gondor in which brought a peacful time for the lands. His brother Tarannon became the first “Ship King” of Gondor in which started the construction of Gondor’s naval fleets, and under his expansion of the military forces Gondor was able to extend it’s borders both West and South of the Mouths of Anduin. Tarannon was one of the two Kings of Gondor who had no children, which was a breaking point in the bloodline. Even though he had no children, his rule was marked as so great due to the naval fleet expansions that he was named the “Lord of the Coasts”.

Tarannon had his own personal struggles outside of keeping the coasts of Gondor safe and building the great naval fleet. His wife Beruthiel was manipulative and chose to spy on the people of the kingdom, eventually Tarannon had enough and exiled his wife into the South which is why he never had children. Tarciryan had a son Earnil who took the throne after his uncle Tarannon died in 913 of the Third Age.

Earnil I took his place as the King of Gondor and the rightful place of the second Ship King. He continued his uncles great military expansion and during his time as King captured Umbar, but was lost at sea in 936 of the Third Age.

The Port of Umbar and Glory of Gondor

His son Ciryandil took the throne and became the fourteenth King of Gondor and the third Ship King. Ciryandil continued his fathers naval expansions and spent his life defending the recently captured port of Umbar against the Black Numenoreans, and the Haradrim who tried to capture the port. He reigned as king for 79 years and was slain during a siege on Umbar. His son Ciryaher took the throne in the year 1015, and began reorganizing Gondor’s armies and declared war on the Haradrim in which he finally defeated them in 1050. The Haradrim were forced to recognize him as their lord and king and paid tribute to Gondor, and their sons where forced to live as hostages in the court of the king. After this victory, he called himself Hyarmendacil, meaning South-victor.

After the defeat of Harad, Gondor became very rich and under his reign the realm reached its greatest extent and power. The passes of Mordor were well guarded by well-kept fortresses, so evil had no place to turn during Hyarmendacil’s reign. No one ever dared to contest his power and Gondor was at peace for the rest of his long reign. He died in 1149 after 138 years of keeping the lands of Gondor safe, and evil at bay. He had one son Atanatar II who became the sixteenth king of Gondor. It is said that Atanatar’s reign as king was the most prosperous of Gondor, and that his wealth was so great that historians remarked that “precious stones are pebbles in Gondor for children to play with”.

He was also known as “The Glorious King” but his actions as king were neglected and he made no attempts to watch the borders of Mordor or grow the armies of Gondor. Atanatar by no means maintained the power that his father commanded and this time was seen as the start of Gondor’s great decline.

We pick up next week with the line of kings beginning to fail and a land who will once again face it’s greatest enemy.

Until then, I’m your host Iogro Merrybelly and I bid you a fine farewell!

The Kings of Gondor – Part Two – A Bloodline Continues

Hail and well met readers!

Week before last we left off after Elendil and his people had settled in Middle Earth and raised the two great Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor. This week we kick things off with his son Isildur. Everyone enjoy!

The Numenorian Line

Isildur was born in Numenor in the second age year 3209. He had a younger brother named Anarion, born in 3219. They lived at Romenna on the east coast of the island of Numenor. Their father was Elendil and their grandfather was Amandil, the Lord of Andunie. The Lords of Andunie were descended from the Kings of Numenor through Silmarien, the daughter of the fourth King of Numenor, Tar-Elendil.

Elros, the Half-elven and the first King of Numenor, had chosen a mortal life of men, while his brother Elrond chose the immortal life of elves. Over time, the Kings of Numenor grew to resent their ancestor’s choice and desired immortality for themselves. They became estranged from the elves and from the powers called the Valar and they neglected the worship of Eru, who created them. Though a small group of Numenoreans remained friendly with the elves and faithful to Eru and the Valar. They were called the Faithful and among these men were the Lords of Andunie.

In year 3262, King Ar-Pharazon took Sauron captive and brought him to Numenor. Sauron the deceiver allowed himself to be taken because he wanted to corrupt the Numenoreans in order to bring about their downfall. He used their desire for immortality and power to convince them to renounce Eru and worship Morgoth.

Isildur learned that Sauron wanted Ar-Pharazon to cut down Nimloth, the White Tree that had come from the Undying Lands. Isildur disguised himself and went secretly to the King’s Court and took a fruit from Nimloth. The guards discovered and attacked him and, although receiving grave injuries, he managed to escape with the fruit. For this deed, Isildur received much praise. He stood near death for many months, but when the fruit of the White Tree began to sprout, he awoke and his injuries had healed.

As Sauron’s influence increased, the Faithful began to prepare to leave Numenor. They filled their ships with their families and many of their prized possessions, including the Palantíri. Isildur had three ships of his own, and he brought aboard the seedling of the White Tree as well as his wife and his son Elendur.

Isildur’s grandfather Amandil hoped to plead with the Valar to spare the Faithful. He sailed westward toward the Undying Lands, but what became of him is not known and he was never seen again.

As Ar-Pharazon felt the approach of old age, Sauron’s lies finally convinced him he could achieve immortality in the Undying Lands. In 3319, Ar-Pharazon set out with a great fleet to take the Undying Lands by force, but when he set foot on the shore, Iluvatar caused the Seas to open up and Valinor was hidden. The fleet sank and Numenor was destroyed by a great wave.

Kingdoms Forged in Middle-Earth

The ships of the Faithful were spared, and a great wind from the west sent them to the shores of Middle-earth. Elendil landed in the north, while Isildur and Anarion came to the Mouths of the Anduin in the south. Elendil and his sons established the North-kingdom of Arnor and the South-kingdom of Gondor. Elendil was the High King of both realms, but he dwelt in Arnor and committed the rule of Gondor to his sons.

Isildur and Anarion had their thrones side by side in the Great Hall of Osgiliath, the city they founded on the Anduin. Anarion lived in Minas Anor on the western side of the Anduin, while Isildur made his home in Ithilien on the eastern side of the Anduin. Isildur built Minas Ithil in a valley of the Mountains of Shadow on the border of Mordor. Minas Ithil was a beautiful white city, but it was also a stronghold to defend against the evil that might still dwell in Mordor. Not knowing that Sauron had already returned there in secret and had begun rebuilding his strength.

Isildur had one of the Palantír called the Ithil-stone, which he used to communicate with his brother and father. He planted the seedling of the White Tree in front of his house. Isildur and his wife had two more sons while living in Gondor – Aratan and Ciryon.

In the early days of Gondor, Isildur went to the Hill of Erech at the entrance to the Blackroot Vale in the White Mountains. On the hilltop he placed the Stone of Erech, a great black sphere that he had brought from Númenor. Isildur met with the King of the Dead, who swore allegiance to Isildur upon the Stone, but later when Isildur called upon the Men of the Mountains to join the fight against Sauron, they refused. Isildur cursed them and said that they would never rest until they fulfilled their oath, so from that day forth they haunted the Paths of the Dead.

Sauron did finally attack and capture Minas Ithil in 3429 but Isildur escaped with his wife and sons and another seedling of the White Tree. Isildur and his family boarded a ship at the Mouths of the Anduin and sailed around the coast of Middle-earth to Arnor, where hit father lived. Elendil consulted with Gil-galad, the last High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth who lived in Lindon west of Arnor. Gil-galad and Elendil formed the Last Alliance of Elves and Men to oppose Sauron in 3430. That same year, Isildur’s youngest son Valandil was born at the home of Elrond in Rivendell.

The Last Alliance

The army of the Last Alliance gathered at Rivendell in 3431 and marched to war to defeat Sauron. Isildur and his three oldest sons – Elendur, Aratan, and Ciryon – went with the army, while Isildur’s wife and their infant son Valandil remained in Rivendell.

The War of the Last Alliance began in the second age of 3434. Sauron’s forces were defeated in the Battle of Dagorlad on the plain outside Mordor, and the army of the Last Alliance entered Sauron’s realm and laid siege to Barad-dur. The siege lasted seven years and many died, including Isildur’s brother Anarion.

In 3441, Sauron himself came down from his black tower to fight Gil-Galad and Elendil at the base of Mount Doom. Both Gil-galad and Elendil died in the battle and Elendils sword broke during the struggle. Isildur took up his fathers sword and used the broken blade to cut the One Ring from Sauron’s hand. Sauron’s spirit fled from his body, but as long as the Ring that held much of his power survived so would his spirit. Elrond tried to convince Isildur to cast the ring into the fire of Mount Doom and destroy it, but Isildur refused and left.

The power of the Ring was such that no one could willingly destroy it. The lure of the Ring began to act on Isildur as soon as he took it. The great heat of the Ring burned Isildur’s hand, but he still thought it was beautiful and precious. Isildur noticed that there was writing on the Ring that showed when it was still hot, but disappeared when it had cooled. He wrote a description of the Ring on a scroll that he left in the archives of Minas Anor for future generations.

The High Kings Death

Isildur assumed the Kingship of both Gondor and Arnor, but he intended to return to the North and leave Anarion’s son Meneldil to rule in the South. He remained in Minas Anor for a few years to give counsel and instruction to Meneldil. Together they took a journey through all the lands belonging to Gondor. On the summit of Halifirien in the Firien wood, Isildur entombed the body of his father Elendil. Before leaving Minas Anor, Isildur planted the seedling of the White Tree in memory of his brother Anarion.

On the second year of the third age, Isildur set out from Minas Anor with his three elder sons and two hundred of his knights. They marched up the Vales of the Anduin on the eastern side of the River, heading for the High Pass over the Misty Mountains.

Thirty days later, Isildur’s company was attacked by Orcs near the Gladden Fields. The Orcs did not know that Isildur had the One Ring, but they were drawn by its power. Isildur’s men were outnumbered ten to one, and though they initially managed to repel the attack, the Orcs renewed their assault after nightfall and the men were overwhelmed.

Before the battle had begun, Isildur had sent away his esquire Ohtar with the Shards of his sword. Isildur kept the One Ring, but it was useless in defending his men against the Orcs. He realized now that he did not have the strength to wield the Ring and could not even put it on without great pain to himself. Isildur regretted the foolish pride that had led him to keep the Ring. Isildur’s son Aratan was wounded, and his son Ciryon was killed. His eldest son Elendur begged him to flee in order to prevent the Orcs from capturing the Ring. Isildur agreed but his son Elendur was killed during the battle.

Isildur put on the Ring though it pained him and headed for the Anduin. He removed his armor and waded into the River intending to try to cross it. The current was strong and despite his great strength, it pulled him toward the marshes of the Gladden Fields. Then the Ring slipped off Isildur’s finger and was lost in the waters. Isildur felt an overwhelming loss, but was then relieved as if a great burden had been lifted from him. He rose out of the water, but he was spotted by orcs who shot him with arrows killing him.

The One Ring remained in the Gladden Fields until Deagol found it in the year 2463 of the third age. Isildur’s body also lay in the waters, undiscovered by his kin. While searching for the One Ring, Saruman found the Elendilmir that Isildur had been wearing. Some have even speculated that Saruman may have found and even burned Isildur’s remains in one of his furnaces, but whether this is true is not known.

Until next weeks episode!

I’m your host Iogro Merrybelly and I bid you a fine farewell