Ondoher
Ondoher was the thirty-first King of Gondor who was born in year 1787 of the Third Age. He was the son of King Calimehtar. Ondoher had three children: two sons named Artamir and Faramir and a daughter named Firiel.
In 1899, King Calimehtar achieved victory over the Wainriders. These men were a hostile group from Rhun who had were occupying the area of Rhovanion located between Mirkwood and the Sea of Rhun. Though they had been defeated, these men remained in their settlements.
When Calimehtar died in 1936, Ondoher was crowned king. He used Pelendur as his Steward. Ondoher opened communication with the Kingdom of Arnor which Gondor had not spoken with for centuries. Arnor had also been troubled by the Wainriders. Ondoher and King Araphant of Arnor came to the realization that they had a common enemy, but they did not know that it was Sauron.
Ondoher and Araphant remained allies, though neither king could afford to aid the other in battle. The kings kept counsel via palantiri. In order to secure his alliance with Arnor, King Ondoher sent his daughter Firiel to marry Araphant's son Arvedui.
In 1944, Forthwini of the Eotheod reported to Ondoher that the Wainriders were grouping and he suspected that they were receiving back up from their homeland in Rhun. In truth, they had made an alliance with the Haradrim and men from Khand and all three armies were to attack Gondor on two fronts.
Ondoher learned of the planned attack and gathered and trained an army as large as possible. He divided them into two sections - the Northern Army which he himself commanded, and the Southern Army which was commanded by Earnil.
In July of 1944, Ondoher stationed the Northern Army on the plains of Dagorlad near the Black Gate of Mordor. He ordered Earnil to station the Southern Army at the River Poros near Ithilien and South Gondor in hopes to meet the attacking Haradrim in battle.
Ondoher rode to war with his eldest son Artamir. His younger son, Faramir, was to remain at home as regent. However, Faramir secretly rode to war with his father and brother.
When the Northern Army reached Dagorlad on July 12, Ondoher discovered to his horror that the Wainriders were nearer than expected. He had thought that they would attack from the northeastern plains, but instead they were hidden in the Ash Mountains in northern Mordor.
The Wainriders emerged from hiding and launched a surprise attack on the Northern Army. Ondoher was completely unprepared and was unable to achieve victory. The cavalry of the Wainriders was outnumbering. Gondor's opponents successfully destroyed the Northern Army and killed everyone including Ondoher and Artamir. As the Wainriders continued on, they wiped out an Eotheod force that included Faramir.
This battle had led to a smashing defeat for Gondor. To celebrate their victory, the Wainriders decided to have a grand feast at their camp. As they dined, Earnil led the southern army north to the camp and he launched a surprise attack on their camp. The Wainriders finally lost and were driven back to Rhun where they remained in peace for centuries.
Gondor was now without a King. Pelendur ruled as Steward for a short period of time between terms, and he was assisted by the Council of Gondor.
Several men tried to claim the throne. One was Arvedui of Arnor, who was a descendant of Isildur. The Council rejected him because all of the kings were the descendants of Elendil's son Anarion, not Isildur.
Earnil claimed the throne in 1945. He was of royal blood, for his great-great-grandfather was King Telumehtar. The Council accepted his claim.
In 1899, King Calimehtar achieved victory over the Wainriders. These men were a hostile group from Rhun who had were occupying the area of Rhovanion located between Mirkwood and the Sea of Rhun. Though they had been defeated, these men remained in their settlements.
When Calimehtar died in 1936, Ondoher was crowned king. He used Pelendur as his Steward. Ondoher opened communication with the Kingdom of Arnor which Gondor had not spoken with for centuries. Arnor had also been troubled by the Wainriders. Ondoher and King Araphant of Arnor came to the realization that they had a common enemy, but they did not know that it was Sauron.
Ondoher and Araphant remained allies, though neither king could afford to aid the other in battle. The kings kept counsel via palantiri. In order to secure his alliance with Arnor, King Ondoher sent his daughter Firiel to marry Araphant's son Arvedui.
In 1944, Forthwini of the Eotheod reported to Ondoher that the Wainriders were grouping and he suspected that they were receiving back up from their homeland in Rhun. In truth, they had made an alliance with the Haradrim and men from Khand and all three armies were to attack Gondor on two fronts.
Ondoher learned of the planned attack and gathered and trained an army as large as possible. He divided them into two sections - the Northern Army which he himself commanded, and the Southern Army which was commanded by Earnil.
In July of 1944, Ondoher stationed the Northern Army on the plains of Dagorlad near the Black Gate of Mordor. He ordered Earnil to station the Southern Army at the River Poros near Ithilien and South Gondor in hopes to meet the attacking Haradrim in battle.
Ondoher rode to war with his eldest son Artamir. His younger son, Faramir, was to remain at home as regent. However, Faramir secretly rode to war with his father and brother.
When the Northern Army reached Dagorlad on July 12, Ondoher discovered to his horror that the Wainriders were nearer than expected. He had thought that they would attack from the northeastern plains, but instead they were hidden in the Ash Mountains in northern Mordor.
The Wainriders emerged from hiding and launched a surprise attack on the Northern Army. Ondoher was completely unprepared and was unable to achieve victory. The cavalry of the Wainriders was outnumbering. Gondor's opponents successfully destroyed the Northern Army and killed everyone including Ondoher and Artamir. As the Wainriders continued on, they wiped out an Eotheod force that included Faramir.
This battle had led to a smashing defeat for Gondor. To celebrate their victory, the Wainriders decided to have a grand feast at their camp. As they dined, Earnil led the southern army north to the camp and he launched a surprise attack on their camp. The Wainriders finally lost and were driven back to Rhun where they remained in peace for centuries.
Gondor was now without a King. Pelendur ruled as Steward for a short period of time between terms, and he was assisted by the Council of Gondor.
Several men tried to claim the throne. One was Arvedui of Arnor, who was a descendant of Isildur. The Council rejected him because all of the kings were the descendants of Elendil's son Anarion, not Isildur.
Earnil claimed the throne in 1945. He was of royal blood, for his great-great-grandfather was King Telumehtar. The Council accepted his claim.
Names & Meanings
The name Ondoher translates as "stone lord" from Quenya. The element ondo means "stone." The element her comes from heru meaning "lord."
References
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A: "The Realms in Exile," page 319; "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion," page 329-30
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B: "The Tale of Years," page 367
The Unfinished Tales: "Cirion and Eorl," pages 289-295
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil," pages 200-201, 203, 215-216
The Silmarillion - Appendix: definitions and translations of ondo and heru
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B: "The Tale of Years," page 367
The Unfinished Tales: "Cirion and Eorl," pages 289-295
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil," pages 200-201, 203, 215-216
The Silmarillion - Appendix: definitions and translations of ondo and heru
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