Mardil Voronwë
Mardil Voronwe was the first ruling-Steward of Gondor. He was born in year 1960 of the Third Age. Mardil was the son of Vorondil.
In 2029 of the Third Age, Vorondil died and Mardil became Steward. He began as the steward to King Earnil II and then, upon Earnil's death in 2043, to King Earnur. When the line of kings ended because Earnur disappeared with no heir in 2050, Mardil became a ruling-steward. As ruling-steward, Mardil had all the duties of a king.
Since Earnur's fate was unknown, Mardil swore an oath to rule until the return of the king. All stewards did so until the king's return in 3019 of the Third Age.
Mardil invented the modern calendar, which was a great accomplishment. All of Middle-Earth came to use his system except for Hobbits and the realms of the East and South.
The Watchful Peace began in 2063, and lasted for hundreds of years. The Watchful Peace was a period of time in which Sauron moved from Dol Guldur in Mirkwood to Mordor.
When Mardil died in 2080, he was suceeded as ruling-steward by his son Eradan.
In 2029 of the Third Age, Vorondil died and Mardil became Steward. He began as the steward to King Earnil II and then, upon Earnil's death in 2043, to King Earnur. When the line of kings ended because Earnur disappeared with no heir in 2050, Mardil became a ruling-steward. As ruling-steward, Mardil had all the duties of a king.
Since Earnur's fate was unknown, Mardil swore an oath to rule until the return of the king. All stewards did so until the king's return in 3019 of the Third Age.
Mardil invented the modern calendar, which was a great accomplishment. All of Middle-Earth came to use his system except for Hobbits and the realms of the East and South.
The Watchful Peace began in 2063, and lasted for hundreds of years. The Watchful Peace was a period of time in which Sauron moved from Dol Guldur in Mirkwood to Mordor.
When Mardil died in 2080, he was suceeded as ruling-steward by his son Eradan.
Names & Meanings
The name Mardil means "devoted to the House." "The House" referenced here is the House of Kings. It is derived from from mar, meaning "friendship" or "devotion," and -ndil, referencing the house of kings. This likely references his devotion to the kings and to the position of ruling-steward.
Mardil was sometimes called Mardil Voronwë. The name Voronwë is a Quenya word for "steadfast."
Mardil was sometimes called Mardil Voronwë. The name Voronwë is a Quenya word for "steadfast."
References
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A: "The Realms in Exile," page 319; "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion," pages 332-333; "The Stewards," page 333
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix D: "The Calendars," page 386
The Unfinished Tales: "Cirion and Eorl," pages 309--320
The Silmarillion - Appendix: definition and translations of bar and ndil
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies"
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil" pages 201-204
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix D: "The Calendars," page 386
The Unfinished Tales: "Cirion and Eorl," pages 309--320
The Silmarillion - Appendix: definition and translations of bar and ndil
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies"
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil" pages 201-204
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