The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Anárion, the founder of the House, was born in II 32191 and became joint King of Gondor in II 3320; his last royal descendant, Eärnur, was lost in III 2050 (the House persisted for 2,171 years)
Location
Origins
The descendants of Anárion, second son of Elendil, originally a joint ruler of Gondor with his brother Isildur
Race
Division
Culture
Settlements
The original seat of the House was Minas Anor, but the earlier Kings of the line ruled from Osgiliath2
Pronunciation
Anárion is pronounced 'anah'rion'
Meaning
Anárion apparently means 'Sun son'
Other names

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 14 May 2022
  • This entry is complete

House of Anárion

Descendants of the younger son of Elendil

Anárion
Meneldil
Kings of Gondor
from Cemendur to
Siriondil
Tarannon
Tarciryan
Kings of Gondor
from Eärnil I to
Atanatar II
Narmacil I
Calmacil
Kings of Gondor
from Rómendacil II to
Valacar
Eldacar
Castamir
Ornendil
Aldamir
Kings of Gondor
from Hyarmendacil II to
Minardil
Telemnar
Minastan
Tarondor
Telumehtar
Kings of Gondor
from Narmacil II to
Ondoher
Arciryas
Eärnil II
Eärnur

Genealogical tree showing the descent of the House from Anárion son of Elendil. Not all siblings or lines of descent are shown in all cases. Those who held the office of King of Gondor are shown in bold text.

Elendil had two sons, Isildur and Anárion, who escaped with their father from the Downfall of Númenor. After the Two Kingdoms were established in Middle-earth, Elendil became High King in the North, while the South-kingdom was jointly ruled in Elendil's name by his two sons.

In the War of the Last Alliance, Elendil fell, and so did his younger son Anárion. Thus Isildur the elder son inherited the High Kingship, and the rule of Gondor was granted to Anárion's son Meneldil. As Isildur travelled back to his capital at Annúminas, he was attacked by Orcs and slain, along with his three elder sons. His only surviving heir was Valandil, then just thirteen years old and incapable of taking up the rule of the Two Kingdoms. From that time onward, Gondor effectively became independent, and Anárion's son Meneldil ruled it in his own right as a separate kingdom. The Kingship descended to his heirs through many centuries, and long after the North-kingdom of Arnor had dissolved, the South-kingdom of Gondor was still under the rule of the House of Anárion.


Notes

1

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

2

When Gondor was founded, it was ruled jointly by Isildur and Anárion. Each had their own tower (Minas Ithil for Isildur and Minas Anor for Anárion), and their thrones stood side by side in the central city of Osgiliath. After the loss of Isildur, Anárion's son Meneldil became sole King of Gondor and ruled from Osgiliath. This practice continued until the reign of the seventh King, Ostoher, who rebuilt Minas Anor and began the practice of using it as a royal residence during the summer. This arrangement continued for more than a thousand years until the reign of King Tarondor. In his time Osgiliath was beginning to be deserted and falling into ruin, and so he abandoned it and made Minas Anor - the old tower of his ancestor Anárion - the permanent seat of the Kings of Gondor.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 14 May 2022
  • This entry is complete

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