Birth: Year 3209 of the Second Age
Death: October 4, Year 2 of the Third Age Race: Men Culture: Numenoreans Hair Color: Not known Eye Color: Dark Skin Color: Fair Father: Elendil Mother: Name unknown Siblings: 1 younger brother- Anarion Children: 4 sons - Elendur, Aratan, Ciryon, Valandil Spouse: Unknown Residences: Numenor, later Minas Ithil in Gondor |
Biography
Isildur was the last High-King of Gondor and Arnor until Aragorn II, King Elessar. Isildur helped his father Elendil and his brother Anarion found the United Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor, and he also marched to war against the great enemy Sauron in the War of the Last Alliance. Isildur single-handedly defeated Sauron, cutting the One Ring from his finger. But Isildur let himself be corrupted by the One Ring and he fell to servants of Sauron.
Isildur was born in Numenor in 3209 of the Second Age. His father was Elendil. In 3219 when Isildur was ten, his younger brother Anarion was born. Elendil's father, Amandil, was Lord of Andunie, a councillor to the King of Numenor. The family lived at the havens of Romenna in the eastern island of Numenor.
Numenoreans nearby who served the King grew jealous of Elves, who had immortal lives. There was nothing that they desired more than immortality. They accused Elrond of being selfish because he chose immortality, while his brother Elros, first ruler of Numenor, chose a mortal life. The Lords of Andunie, however, remained loyal to the Elves and continued to worship Eru the creator and the powers from the west called the Valar. A group of Numenoreans called the Faithful were among the small group of loyalists.
In 3262, King Ar-Pharazon of Numenor captured Sauron in Middle-Earth. He took him as a prisoner to Numenor, and Sauron allowed this to happen because he wished to corrupt the Numenoreans. Sauron encouraged the worship of Morgoth in Numenor, and when Amandil refused to worship him he was dismissed from his position. Sauron told Ar-Pharazon that if he sailed west to the Undying Lands, he would become immortal. Mortal men were forbidden to sail to the Undying Lands because it was for Elves, Valar, and Maiar only.
Isildur heard that Nimloth, the White Tree of Numenor originating in the Undying Lands, was to be cut down. He disguised himself and went to the King's court to steal a fruit from it so it could grow, but he was caught by the King's men and was badly wounded. Nevertheless, Isildur still managed to take one of the fruits without their noticing. Isildur was in near death condition, but when the fruit that he planted had sprouted, he recovered.
Amandil advised Ar-Pharazon that this trip to the Undying Lands was illegal. Despite Amandil's warning, Ar-Pharazon prepared a Numenorean fleet to attack the Undying Lands. The fleet almost reached their destination, but Eru and the Valar punished them by sinking their fleet and imploding Numenor beneath the Sea.
Isildur and the Faithful Numenoreans escaped in nine ships. Three of these ships belonged to Isildur, four belonged to Elendil, and two belonged to Anarion. Abourd these ships was the remnants of Numenorean culture including the White Tree but also the seven palantiri - seeing-stones for communicative purposes.
The ships were blown by a great wind towards the east. They reached Middle-Earth in 3320. Elendil landed in the north while Isildur and Anarion sailed south to the Mouths of the Anduin.
Isildur and Anarion established the kingdom of Gondor. They ruled it together, while their father ruled over the entire kingdom, which also included Arnor in the north. Isildur and Anarion founded the city of Osgiliath which they made Gondor's capital. It was located on the Anduin. In its great halls of stone, Osgiliath housed the great thrones of Isildur and Anarion, which were located side by side. Anarion lived in Minas Anor in the west, which was a great white city. Isildur made himself comfortable east of the Anduin in Ithilien at the foot of the Mountains of Shadow, which was dangerously close to Mordor. Isildur established the city of Minas Ithil in the Morgul Vale. In Minas Ithil was placed the Ithil-Stone, one of the palantiri that Isildur used to communicate with Anarion. Isildur planted the seeds of the White Tree outside of his palace.
Isildur began to build a family as well. He had married in Numenor and had a son Elendur in Numenor in 3299. Isildur and his wife had three more sons - Aratan in 3339, Ciryon in 3379, and Valandil in 3430.
Isildur visited the Hill of Erech in the Blackroot Vale in the White Mountains one day. He brought with him the Stone of Erech, a prized possession from Numenor. The Stone of Erech was a great black sphere. Isildur placed it upon the Hill of Erech. Then he met the King of the Mountain, a king of the native men to the mountain region. The King swore an oath to Isildur, but when he called upon the Mountain men to fight for him, they fled. Isildur cursed them into living dead, and their oath was not fulfilled until year 3019 of the Third Age.
In 3429, Sauron, who had been gathering his strength in Mordor, attacked Minas Ithil. Sauron was greatly angered by the fact that the Dunedain had survived the downfall of Numenor. He captured Minas Ithil successfully, and Isildur retreated to Arnor. However, Anarion managed to defeat Sauron in Osgiliath and Minas Anor, forcing him to withdraw.
Elendil and the Dunedain of the north had allied with the Elves of Lindon led by Gil-galad. Now that Sauron had struck his enemies, they were determined to strike back. Elendil and Gil-galad formed an Alliance of Elves and men that became the Last Alliance. This combined army was bigger than any that walked the earth since the Valar's army opposing Morgoth. They gathered at Rivendell in 3430.
The Last Alliance marched east to Mordor in 3431. Isildur and his sons Elendur, Aratan, and Ciryon marched with the Alliance. They met Sauron's forces head-on at the plains of Dagorlad outside the Black Gate and thus began the War of the Last Alliance. Once Sauron's forces had been defeated at the Battle of Dagorlad, the Alliance continued on to Barad-dur, which they sieged for seven years. Sauron was trapped in his tower.
In 3441, Sauron emerged from his tower in an attempt to break the siege. Elendil and Gil-galad rushed to stop him, but they were both killed. But when Isildur stepped up to Sauron, he cut off his finger, and whith it fell the One Ring of Power. Isildur snatched it and with his sword he defeated his enemy. Sauron was badly wounded, and his spirit fled into the east. But Sauron's spirit would live forever so long as the Ring remained in existence. Elrond and Cirdan ordered Isildur to destroy in the only place that it could be destroyed: the fires of Mount Doom where it was made. Isildur simply refused, saying "This I will have as weregild for my father's death, and my brother's. Was it not I that dealt the Enemy his death-blow?" Isildur could not, however, destroy the Ring on his own free will. Once someone touched the Ring, they could not physically destroy it as the Ring had a will of its own. Isildur brought the Ring to the kingdom, now entirely his, and wore it. Isildur treasured the Ring, as it was precious to him. It had utterly ensnared him since the moment he had touched it. He noticed that when it was hot, the Ring had a scroll of engravings. Isildur recorded these in the archives of Minas Anor for future reference.
Isildur intended on passing the kingship in Gondor down to Anarion's son Meneldil and and ruling only Arnor. But before he did this, Isildur taught Meneldil about the kingship. He took him on a tour of Gondor's lands and regions. On Halifirien in the Firen Wood, Isildur built a tomb for his father and lay him there. Before leaving Minas Anor, Isildur planted the White Tree in memory of his brother.
Isildur set out for Arnor on September 5, year 2 of the Third Age with all of his sons but Valandil and a company of two-hundred knights. He had sent his esquire Ohtar ahead with the shards of Narsil, the sword of Elendil. On October 4 of that year, Isildur traveled through Gladden Fields with the One Ring. Isildur and his company were attacked by orcs. Though the orcs did not know of the Ring's presence, they were drawn in by its power. Isildur and his men put up strong resistance, but they were greatly outnumbered and soon all of them were killed, including Isildur. The Ring fell into the Anduin River and was forgotten for 2,500 years. In 2463 of the Third Age, the Ring was found again.
Isildur's son Valandil ruled Arnor while Meneldil ruled Gondor. The line of kings continued in both kingdoms, but they were not united again until year 3019 of the Third Age.
Isildur was born in Numenor in 3209 of the Second Age. His father was Elendil. In 3219 when Isildur was ten, his younger brother Anarion was born. Elendil's father, Amandil, was Lord of Andunie, a councillor to the King of Numenor. The family lived at the havens of Romenna in the eastern island of Numenor.
Numenoreans nearby who served the King grew jealous of Elves, who had immortal lives. There was nothing that they desired more than immortality. They accused Elrond of being selfish because he chose immortality, while his brother Elros, first ruler of Numenor, chose a mortal life. The Lords of Andunie, however, remained loyal to the Elves and continued to worship Eru the creator and the powers from the west called the Valar. A group of Numenoreans called the Faithful were among the small group of loyalists.
In 3262, King Ar-Pharazon of Numenor captured Sauron in Middle-Earth. He took him as a prisoner to Numenor, and Sauron allowed this to happen because he wished to corrupt the Numenoreans. Sauron encouraged the worship of Morgoth in Numenor, and when Amandil refused to worship him he was dismissed from his position. Sauron told Ar-Pharazon that if he sailed west to the Undying Lands, he would become immortal. Mortal men were forbidden to sail to the Undying Lands because it was for Elves, Valar, and Maiar only.
Isildur heard that Nimloth, the White Tree of Numenor originating in the Undying Lands, was to be cut down. He disguised himself and went to the King's court to steal a fruit from it so it could grow, but he was caught by the King's men and was badly wounded. Nevertheless, Isildur still managed to take one of the fruits without their noticing. Isildur was in near death condition, but when the fruit that he planted had sprouted, he recovered.
Amandil advised Ar-Pharazon that this trip to the Undying Lands was illegal. Despite Amandil's warning, Ar-Pharazon prepared a Numenorean fleet to attack the Undying Lands. The fleet almost reached their destination, but Eru and the Valar punished them by sinking their fleet and imploding Numenor beneath the Sea.
Isildur and the Faithful Numenoreans escaped in nine ships. Three of these ships belonged to Isildur, four belonged to Elendil, and two belonged to Anarion. Abourd these ships was the remnants of Numenorean culture including the White Tree but also the seven palantiri - seeing-stones for communicative purposes.
The ships were blown by a great wind towards the east. They reached Middle-Earth in 3320. Elendil landed in the north while Isildur and Anarion sailed south to the Mouths of the Anduin.
Isildur and Anarion established the kingdom of Gondor. They ruled it together, while their father ruled over the entire kingdom, which also included Arnor in the north. Isildur and Anarion founded the city of Osgiliath which they made Gondor's capital. It was located on the Anduin. In its great halls of stone, Osgiliath housed the great thrones of Isildur and Anarion, which were located side by side. Anarion lived in Minas Anor in the west, which was a great white city. Isildur made himself comfortable east of the Anduin in Ithilien at the foot of the Mountains of Shadow, which was dangerously close to Mordor. Isildur established the city of Minas Ithil in the Morgul Vale. In Minas Ithil was placed the Ithil-Stone, one of the palantiri that Isildur used to communicate with Anarion. Isildur planted the seeds of the White Tree outside of his palace.
Isildur began to build a family as well. He had married in Numenor and had a son Elendur in Numenor in 3299. Isildur and his wife had three more sons - Aratan in 3339, Ciryon in 3379, and Valandil in 3430.
Isildur visited the Hill of Erech in the Blackroot Vale in the White Mountains one day. He brought with him the Stone of Erech, a prized possession from Numenor. The Stone of Erech was a great black sphere. Isildur placed it upon the Hill of Erech. Then he met the King of the Mountain, a king of the native men to the mountain region. The King swore an oath to Isildur, but when he called upon the Mountain men to fight for him, they fled. Isildur cursed them into living dead, and their oath was not fulfilled until year 3019 of the Third Age.
In 3429, Sauron, who had been gathering his strength in Mordor, attacked Minas Ithil. Sauron was greatly angered by the fact that the Dunedain had survived the downfall of Numenor. He captured Minas Ithil successfully, and Isildur retreated to Arnor. However, Anarion managed to defeat Sauron in Osgiliath and Minas Anor, forcing him to withdraw.
Elendil and the Dunedain of the north had allied with the Elves of Lindon led by Gil-galad. Now that Sauron had struck his enemies, they were determined to strike back. Elendil and Gil-galad formed an Alliance of Elves and men that became the Last Alliance. This combined army was bigger than any that walked the earth since the Valar's army opposing Morgoth. They gathered at Rivendell in 3430.
The Last Alliance marched east to Mordor in 3431. Isildur and his sons Elendur, Aratan, and Ciryon marched with the Alliance. They met Sauron's forces head-on at the plains of Dagorlad outside the Black Gate and thus began the War of the Last Alliance. Once Sauron's forces had been defeated at the Battle of Dagorlad, the Alliance continued on to Barad-dur, which they sieged for seven years. Sauron was trapped in his tower.
In 3441, Sauron emerged from his tower in an attempt to break the siege. Elendil and Gil-galad rushed to stop him, but they were both killed. But when Isildur stepped up to Sauron, he cut off his finger, and whith it fell the One Ring of Power. Isildur snatched it and with his sword he defeated his enemy. Sauron was badly wounded, and his spirit fled into the east. But Sauron's spirit would live forever so long as the Ring remained in existence. Elrond and Cirdan ordered Isildur to destroy in the only place that it could be destroyed: the fires of Mount Doom where it was made. Isildur simply refused, saying "This I will have as weregild for my father's death, and my brother's. Was it not I that dealt the Enemy his death-blow?" Isildur could not, however, destroy the Ring on his own free will. Once someone touched the Ring, they could not physically destroy it as the Ring had a will of its own. Isildur brought the Ring to the kingdom, now entirely his, and wore it. Isildur treasured the Ring, as it was precious to him. It had utterly ensnared him since the moment he had touched it. He noticed that when it was hot, the Ring had a scroll of engravings. Isildur recorded these in the archives of Minas Anor for future reference.
Isildur intended on passing the kingship in Gondor down to Anarion's son Meneldil and and ruling only Arnor. But before he did this, Isildur taught Meneldil about the kingship. He took him on a tour of Gondor's lands and regions. On Halifirien in the Firen Wood, Isildur built a tomb for his father and lay him there. Before leaving Minas Anor, Isildur planted the White Tree in memory of his brother.
Isildur set out for Arnor on September 5, year 2 of the Third Age with all of his sons but Valandil and a company of two-hundred knights. He had sent his esquire Ohtar ahead with the shards of Narsil, the sword of Elendil. On October 4 of that year, Isildur traveled through Gladden Fields with the One Ring. Isildur and his company were attacked by orcs. Though the orcs did not know of the Ring's presence, they were drawn in by its power. Isildur and his men put up strong resistance, but they were greatly outnumbered and soon all of them were killed, including Isildur. The Ring fell into the Anduin River and was forgotten for 2,500 years. In 2463 of the Third Age, the Ring was found again.
Isildur's son Valandil ruled Arnor while Meneldil ruled Gondor. The line of kings continued in both kingdoms, but they were not united again until year 3019 of the Third Age.
References
The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Shadow of the Past," pages 61-68; "The Council of Elrond," pages 255-267; "The Ring Goes South," page 289; "The Great River," page 409
The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers: "The Black Gate Is Closed," page 249-250; "The Window on the West," pages 271-279; "The Stairs of Cirith Ungol," page 316
The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King: "Minas Tirith," page 31; "The Passing of the Grey Company," pages 53-63; "The Pyre of Denethor," page 130; "The Last Debate," pages 151-153; "The Steward and the King," page 245
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A: "Annals of the Kings and Rulers," page 317; "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion," pages 329-330; "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen," pages 338-339
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B: "The Tale of Years," pages 365-370
The Silmarillion: "Akallabeth," pages 272-273, 276, 279-280; "The Rings of Power and the Third Age," pages 290-296, 301, 303-304
The Silmarillion Appendix: definitions and translation of Isildur's name.
The Unfinished Tales: "The Line of Elros," pages 218-219; "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields"
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The History of the Akallabeth," page 159; "The Heirs of Elendil," pages 191-197
Timeline
Year 3209 of the Second Age:
Isildur was born to Elendil in Numenor.
3219
Isildur's younger brother Anarion was born.
3299
Isildur's first son Elendur was born.
3319
Destruction of Numenor. Isildur escaped with the Faithful and a great wind blew their ships to Middle-Earth.
3320
Isildur and Anarion founded the kingdom of Gondor in Middle-Earth. Their father founded the kingdom of Arnor. Isildur chose to live in Minas Ithil east of the Anduin. Meanwhile, Sauron returned to Mordor in secret.
3339
Isildur's second son Aratan was born in Gondor.
3379
Isildur's third son Ciryon was born.
3429
Sauron struck Gondor. He attacked and captured Minas Ithil. Isildur escaped to Arnor. Anarion was able to defeat Sauron and drive him out of Gondor.
3430
To attack Sauron, Elendil joined forces with the Elves led by Gil-galad. They raised a massive army called the Last Alliance. Meanwhile. Isildur's fourth son Valandil was born.
3431
The Last Alliance gathered its strength in Rivendell. Isildur gathered with his three eldest sons and marched to war with the army.
3434
The War of the Last Alliance. After defeating Sauron's forces at Dagorlad, the alliance continued on to Barad-dur, which they sieged. Sauron was trapped in his tower.
3440
Sauron throws stones down from the peak of Barad-dur. One of these stones crushed Anarion's helmet, killing him.
3441
Sauron emerged from Barad-dur in an attempt to break the siege. He killed Elendil and Gil-galad, but Isildur defeated him and cut the One Ring from his finger. Isildur kept the One Ring for the rest of his life.
October 4, Year 2 of the Third Age:
Isildur and his company of two hundred knights were attacked and killed by orcs who were attracted to the Ring's power in Gladden Fields. The Ring was lost in the Anduin.
Names & Meanings
Isildur:
The word Isildur means "lover of the Moon" in Quenya. It comes from Isil meaning "moon" in Quenya and the suffix dur, which is a word meaning "love of" or "devoted to."
High King of Gondor and Arnor:
Isildur was the High King of Gondor and Arnor after the death of Elendil.
Ring-bearer:
Isildur was the second Ring-bearer, or bearer of the One Ring. The first of these was Sauron.
Family Tree
Below is a family tree of Isildur. It is not complete with all of the Kings of Numenor, Gondor, and Arnor, but it does show the connections and origins of the royal line from the First Age to the Fourth Age.
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