Anárion

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This article is about the son of Elendil. For the King of Númenor, see Tar-Anárion.
Anárion
Númenórean
Anarion decipher.jpg
Biographical Information
TitlesKing of Gondor (joint)
LocationNúmenor; Gondor
AffiliationThe Faithful
LanguageQuenya
BirthS.A. 3219
Andúnië, Númenor
RuleS.A. 3320 - 3440 (120 years)
DeathS.A. 3440 (aged 221)
During Siege of Barad-dûr
Family
HouseHouse of Elendil
ParentageElendil
SiblingsIsildur
ChildrenThree unnamed children, Meneldil
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Anárion

Anárion (Q: "sun-son", pron. [aˈnaːri.on], stem Anáriond-) was the second son of Elendil and the brother of Isildur.[1] His son Meneldil was the last man born in Númenor before its Downfall.[2]

History

Anárion, together with his father and brother, were the leaders of the Faithful, the small minority of Númenóreans that resisted the dark rule of King Ar-Pharazôn and his councilor Sauron. In S.A. 3319 when Ar-Pharazôn assailed the land of Aman,[3] nine ships of the Faithful escaped to the east (four for Elendil, three for Isildur, and two for Anárion).[4] They were separated by the great storm that arose during the Downfall. Elendil landed in northern Middle-earth near the Elven kingdom of Lindon and there established the realm of Arnor. Isildur and Anárion, however, landed in the south and founded the realm of Gondor in 3320.[1]

Together, Anárion and Isildur were chiefly responsible for the early ordering of Gondor, and their thrones were set side by side in the Great Hall of Osgiliath. In the citiy of Minas Anor Anárion established his house while Isildur set up his in Minas Ithil.

But Sauron also survived the Downfall of Númenor and reentered Mordor in 3320.[3] In S.A. 3429 Sauron attacked Gondor with a force great enough to take Minas Ithil and force Isildur to flee. Whilst Isildur, his wife and sons sailed from Gondor seeking Elendil’s aid, Anárion defended Osgiliath and was able to drive his forces back into the mountains. Yet Sauron gathered greater strength and Anárion knew that without succor Gondor would fall.[1]

Aid did arrive when Elendil, Isildur, and the Dúnedain of Arnor, in league with the Elven King Gil-Galad, formed the Last Alliance of Elves and Men and marched south. Anárion joined his kin in the Battle of Dagorlad and in the Siege of Barad-dûr, but was slain in 3440.[5]

Anárion had four children, the youngest of which was a son, Meneldil.[Note 1] It is said that he was well-pleased at the departure of Isildur and his sons.[2] After the Disaster of the Gladden Fields, Meneldil became King of Gondor and the two realms in exile were estranged.

The Line of Anárion lasted over two thousand years. In honor of the founding co-rulers, when Rómendacil II built the Argonath he had the Pillars of the Kings carved in the likenesses of Anárion and Isildur.[6] Yet the line of Anárion dwindled and finally disappeared when King Eärnur died childless. From that time forth the Ruling Stewards ruled in the name of the House of Anárion.[7]

Genealogy

 
 
Elendil
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Isildur
 
ANÁRION
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3 unnamed
children[5]
 
Meneldil
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cemendur

Note

  1. The records only state that Meneldil was Anárion's "4th child"; these would either be daughters or sons who died before Meneldil succeeded his father.

Other Versions of the Legendarium

In The Peoples of Middle-earth, in Section VII "The Heirs of Elendil", Christopher Tolkien explained that there were three manuscripts in the textual history of this section. Manuscript A contained the information about the Southern Line of Gondor, and from its condition it appeared to be the first stage of composition. Manuscript B added the Northern Line, and began as a fair copy of A for the Southern line but became heavily emended. Manuscript B led to Manuscript C, a fine copy (but with later emendations), which led to a final typescript D. In the earlier Manuscripts A and B, Anárion's date of birth was S.A. 3209 instead of S.A. 3219. It was Isildur who was born in 3219 instead of 3209 and thus Anárion was the older of Elendil's two sons.[5]

References