Encyclopedia of Arda: Aragorn I

Aravir

ARAGORN I

Araglas

The son of Aravir, who succeeded his father to become Chieftain of the Dúnedain. He ruled during the time known as the Watchful Peace, during which Sauron had withdrawn for a time into the the East of Middle-earth. Sauron's retreat, though, did not mean that the Westlands were free of danger or evil, and even in those days Eriador was infested with wild wolves. After a few short years as Chieftain, it seems that Aragorn went out on a hunt², and fell prey to the wolves himself.

Aragorn I ruled as Chieftain for eight years, and was succeeded by his son Araglas.

Notes

The date of Aragorn's birth appears only in The History of Middle-earth volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth. It cannot therefore be considered completely reliable.

The details of Aragorn's loss are sketchy at best. The Lord of the Rings tells us only that 'it is said' that he was slain by wolves (Appendix A I (iii)). A selection of the notes behind this comment appear in The Peoples of Middle-earth (volume 12 of The History of Middle-earth), which variously suggest that he was lost while on a hunt, or at the hands of Orcs, or (as in the final version) was slain by wolves. It is not easy to piece together a coherent account from this, but probably the most consistent reading would be that he was lost while out hunting the very wolves that turned on him and slew him.

Aragorn I

A remote ancestor of Aragorn of the Fellowship of the Ring

Notes

See also...