Eärnil II
Earnil II became the thirty-second King of Gondor. He had been born in year 1883 of the Third Age. Earnil's father was Siriondil, who was the grandson of Arciryas, whose brother was King Narmacil II and whose father was King Telumehtar. Since Earnil was the great-great-grandson of Telumehtar, he was qualified to become king.
Earnil was an admirable figure who was full of strength and wisdom. He was appointed by King Ondoher to command the Southern Army of Gondor, which was positioned in Gondor's southernmost city Pelargir which was located along the Anduin.
In 1944, the Wainriders of Rhun made an alliance with the men of Khand and Harad in order to attack Gondor on two fronts. The Haradrim were to attack Gondor from the south and invade Ithilien. In response to this, Earnil stationed the Southern Army forty miles north of the River Poros which was at the southern border of Ithilien. This allowed the Haradrim to enter Gondor, but they were defeated shortly afterwards.
After defeating the Haradrim, Earnil led his forces northward to aid King Ondoher. The Northern Army had been defeated by the Wainriders at the Black Gate of Mordor and both Ondoher and his sons were killed. That night, the Wainriders decided to have a feast at their camp to celebrate their victory. Earnil launched a surprise attack on the camp and defeated the Wainriders. Many were killed, while others had been driven into the Dead Marshes and were never heard from again. This skirmish became known as the Battle of the Camp.
Gondor was finally at peace, but it was without a King. Pelendur ruled as Steward until 1945, when Earnil claimed the throne. This claim was accepted by the Council of Gondor.
Pelendur served as Steward until his death in 1998. His son Vorondil succeeded him until his own death in 2029, when the stewardship was passed to his son Mardil.
In 1973, the North-Kingdom of Arthedain requested aid from Gondor. Earnil sent his son Earnur to lead a force north, but when they reached Arthedain in 1975, Arvedui had been killed and the Witch-King of Angmar had taken over. Gondor joined forces with the men of the North and the Elves to defeat the Witch-King in the Battle of Fornost.
The Witch-King fled to Mordor and summoned all of the eight other Nazgul. Together, the nine Nazgul attacked the city of Minas Ithil on the border of Gondor and Mordor in 2000. In 2002, the Nazgul captured the city and renamed it Minas Morgul.
When Earnil died in 2043, Earnur succeeded him as King. However, when he died in 2050, the line of kings ended until 3019, when Aragorn II came to the throne.
Earnil was an admirable figure who was full of strength and wisdom. He was appointed by King Ondoher to command the Southern Army of Gondor, which was positioned in Gondor's southernmost city Pelargir which was located along the Anduin.
In 1944, the Wainriders of Rhun made an alliance with the men of Khand and Harad in order to attack Gondor on two fronts. The Haradrim were to attack Gondor from the south and invade Ithilien. In response to this, Earnil stationed the Southern Army forty miles north of the River Poros which was at the southern border of Ithilien. This allowed the Haradrim to enter Gondor, but they were defeated shortly afterwards.
After defeating the Haradrim, Earnil led his forces northward to aid King Ondoher. The Northern Army had been defeated by the Wainriders at the Black Gate of Mordor and both Ondoher and his sons were killed. That night, the Wainriders decided to have a feast at their camp to celebrate their victory. Earnil launched a surprise attack on the camp and defeated the Wainriders. Many were killed, while others had been driven into the Dead Marshes and were never heard from again. This skirmish became known as the Battle of the Camp.
Gondor was finally at peace, but it was without a King. Pelendur ruled as Steward until 1945, when Earnil claimed the throne. This claim was accepted by the Council of Gondor.
Pelendur served as Steward until his death in 1998. His son Vorondil succeeded him until his own death in 2029, when the stewardship was passed to his son Mardil.
In 1973, the North-Kingdom of Arthedain requested aid from Gondor. Earnil sent his son Earnur to lead a force north, but when they reached Arthedain in 1975, Arvedui had been killed and the Witch-King of Angmar had taken over. Gondor joined forces with the men of the North and the Elves to defeat the Witch-King in the Battle of Fornost.
The Witch-King fled to Mordor and summoned all of the eight other Nazgul. Together, the nine Nazgul attacked the city of Minas Ithil on the border of Gondor and Mordor in 2000. In 2002, the Nazgul captured the city and renamed it Minas Morgul.
When Earnil died in 2043, Earnur succeeded him as King. However, when he died in 2050, the line of kings ended until 3019, when Aragorn II came to the throne.
Names & Meanings
Eärnil is related to the name Eärendil, which means "lover of the Sea." Eärendil was the name of an Elf Mariner in the First Age. The element eär means "the Sea" in Quenya. There was also an earlier king named Earnil I.
References
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A: "The Realms in Exile," page 319; "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion," page 329-332
The Unfinished Tales: "Cirion and Eorl," pages 291-295
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: " "The Heirs of Elendil," page 201
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter #297
The Quenya Corpus Wordlist
The Unfinished Tales: "Cirion and Eorl," pages 291-295
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: " "The Heirs of Elendil," page 201
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter #297
The Quenya Corpus Wordlist
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