Aragorn: Difference between revisions

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{{disambig-two|the King of [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]]|[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]|[[Aragorn I]]}}
{{sources}}{{Disambig-more|Elessar|[[Elessar (disambiguation)]]}}{{arnorian infobox
{{arnorian
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:John Howe - Elessar.jpg|250px]]
| image=[[File:Yulia Alekseeva - Aragorn in Rivendell.jpg|275px]]
| name=Aragorn II
| caption="Aragorn in Rivendell" by [[:Category:Images by Yulia Alekseeva|Yulia Alekseeva]]
| othernames=[[Aragorn|Aragorn II]], [[Elessar]], [[Thorongil]], Strider ([[Aragorn#Names and titles|see more below]])
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| position=[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| othernames=''See [[Aragorn#Other names|below]]''
| birth=[[1 March]] {{TA|2931}}
| titles=[[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]<br/>[[High King of the Dúnedain]]<br/>[[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref><br/>[[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref><br/>Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| rule={{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}}
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]]<br/>Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] (after [[Gandalf]]'s death)<br/>King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| death={{FoA|120}} (210 years old)
| location=[[Rivendell]]<br/>[[Gondor]]<br/>[[Arnor]]<br/>[[Rohan]]<br/>[[Rhûn]] and [[Harad]]<ref>{{FR|Council}}, p. 248</ref>
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]]<br/>[[Sindarin]]<br/>[[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain)<br/>{{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]]<br/>Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]] (father)<br/>[[Gilraen]] (mother)<br/>[[Elrond]] (foster father)
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]]<br/>At least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| gender=Male
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]] & [[Gilraen]]
| height=At least 6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (1.98 m)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref><ref>{{NM|P2vi}}, p. 194</ref>
| spouse=[[Arwen|Arwen Undómiel]]
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| children=[[Eldarion]], at least two daughters
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
}}{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (as a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/><br>Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (as a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', [[The Steward and the King]]}}</center>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
'''Aragorn''' ([[Sindarin|S]], pron. {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}; 1 March [[Third Age]] {{TA|2931|n}} – [[Fourth Age]] {{FoA|120|n}}, aged 210 years<ref>{{HM|AB}}.</ref>) was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was a [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest man of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].
| steed=[[Roheryn]]<br/>[[Hasufel]]
}}
<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>


==History==
'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil (King of Arnor)|Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].
===Early Life===
At his birth in {{TA|2931}}, he received the name Aragorn from his father, Arathorn. But his grandmother, Ivorwen, noted with foresight that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone; from this would come his royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone"), and he would be a healer and a renewer.


When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he was his own son. By Elrond's order, his identity was kept secret, as he feared he would be slain like his father and grandfather. Aragorn was named '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead, and was not told about his heritage until he came of age in {{TA|2951}}. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys. <ref name="A1v">{{App|A1v}}</ref>
== History ==
=== Early life ===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn II and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>


Elrond revealed to "Estel" his true name and ancestry when he returned from a journey with Elrohir and Elladan in 2951, when Aragorn was twenty years old, and delivered to him the heirlooms of his House: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Later, Aragorn met and fell in love with [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]].<ref name="A1v"/>
A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought such a stone, called the [[Elfstone|Elessar]], from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]] and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|200px|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]
[[File:Anna Kulisz - Elrond and Estel.jpg|thumb|left|''Elrond and Estel'' by [[:Category:Images by Anna Kulisz|Anna Kulisz]]]]
When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he were his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the twin sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>


===Life as a Ranger===
"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="A1v"/> In [[Third Age 2953|2953]] he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in [[Third Age 2956|2956]], and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|200px|right|"Thorongil" with [[Ecthelion II]], by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From [[Third Age 2957|2957]] to [[Third Age 2980|2980]] Aragorn took great journeys, serving in the armies of King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], and Steward [[Ecthelion II]] of Gondor.<ref name="TA"/> Many of his tasks weakened [[Sauron]] and his allies, which during the [[War of the Ring]] helped the West survive. His name in Gondor and Rohan was '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"), and became one of Ecthelion II's most important advisers. He warned Ecthelion for the [[Corsairs of Umbar]], who threathened the [[Southern Fiefs]] and was Eventually allowed by Ecthelion to attack [[Haven of Umbar|Umbar]]. He led a [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|Surprise Attack on the Havens of Umbar]] with a few Gondorian ships, destroying many of their ships and slaying its lord with only few casualties. After his return in [[Pelargir]] he crossed the [[Anduin]] and left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord.<ref>{{App|A1ivS}}</ref>


Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they lived together in Lórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="A1v"/>
=== Life as a Ranger ===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from [[Mordor]]. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the [[Stewards of Gondor|Steward]], whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).


Elrond gave his foster-son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This may seem a harsh condition, but it should be noted that it is significantly more lenient than the closest precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="A1v"/>
Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take a few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].


===Hunt for Gollum===
Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>
In the year [[Third Age 3001|3001]], as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] for  news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}} shortly returns to [[Eriador]] where he visits his mother for the last time, she dies before that year's spring.  


In [[Third Age 3017|3017]] after searching intermittently over the years,<ref name="TA"/> Aragorn finally overtakes Gollum in the [[Dead Marshes]] on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn]] and through Lórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] in to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/> He then returns west where he meets with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learns of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the shire with the ring.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>
Elrond gave his foster son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>


===War of the Ring===
=== Hunt for Gollum ===
Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] waiting for sight of Frodo. While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]].  Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions. He watched as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act.  He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] and [[Bill Ferny]], then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.


Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head  toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the [[Ambush at Weathertop]] and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>


At the Council of Elrond Aragorn was as a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the company for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]].
=== The War of the Ring ===
====Leading the Fellowship of the Ring====
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>
Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He reluctantly conceded to Gandalf’s plan to pass through [[Khazad-dûm|Moria]], though his sense of foresight warned him for Gandalf.  Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.


Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref>. It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.
While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]] then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond, Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].


Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearer]] chose.
Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the [[Fellowship of the Ring|company]] for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.


[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Aragorn at the death of Boromir, by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
==== Leading the Fellowship of the Ring ====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.
 
Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.
 
[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].


He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day soon Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into Fangorn forest, where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshaled the defense against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].
He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into [[Fangorn Forest]], where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshaled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].


After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.
After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.


====Return of the King====
==== The Return of the King ====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.


The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took the [[Black Ships]] north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly. But Aragorn did not enter the city.
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
[[File:Luca Michelucci - 1999 - March.jpg|thumb|175px|left|The Black ships, by [[Luca Michelucci]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] and drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took the [[Black Ships]] north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.
Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded.  Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Aragorn then left the city, hooded and cloaked, and yet the people of Minas Tirith followed him, for they had heard rumours. Yet when in the morning they saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.


Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle.  He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]].  After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]]. Gandalf took him up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there Aragorn found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]].  He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.
Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>


===Reign as Elessar===
[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
[[File:Brothers Hildebrandt - Return of the King.jpg|thumb|[[Brothers Hildebrandt]] - The Return of the King]]Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]]. He died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].


He founded the [[House of Telcontar]], and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. He also had a number of daughters, whose names were not recorded.
=== Reign as Elessar ===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].


Through his ancestor Elendil, Aragorn was a descendant of the [[Númenóreans]], great [[Men]] who were granted long lives by the [[Valar]]. Though [[Númenor]] was destroyed, its people lived on as the [[Dúnedain]], and like their ancestors they too were long-lived. Thus Aragorn lived to a great age, finally passing on at 210 years.
He pardoned the [[Easterlings]] that had surrendered and made peace with the [[Haradrim]]. He freed the slaves of Mordor and gave them the [[Sea of Núrnen]].<ref>{{RK|Steward}}, p. 968</ref>


==Etymology==
Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.
The name '''''Aragorn''''' is [[Sindarin]], meaning '''"Revered King"''', from ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 113</ref>


This clear etymology from Tolkien was not revealed until the publication in 2007 of "Words, Phrases & Passages in ''The Lord of the Rings''", a late 1950s manuscript. Before that, several theories were proposed:
One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>
*[[Ruth S. Noel]] and several others proposed  "King of the Tree",<ref>[[Ruth S. Noel]], ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'', p. 114</ref> but Tolkien specifically said that this was not the case.<ref>{{L|347}}</ref>
*[[David Salo]] deduces "Having Kingly Valor"<ref>[[David Salo]], ''[[A Gateway to Sindarin]]'', p. 341</ref> from Tolkien's cryptic "'Kingly Valour' (for so is that name interpreted)".<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}, p. xii</ref> This is still the most often cited etymology; Robert Ireland's ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'' gives the variation "Royal Zeal".<ref>Robert Ireland, ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'', [http://www.quicksilver899.com/Tolkien/LOTR/LOTR_AC.html The Lord of the Rings A-C].</ref>
*[[Carl F. Hostetter]] proposed the meanings "King of the Globe" or "King of the Hill" in his analysis of the [[King's Letter]].<ref>[[Carl F. Hostetter]], "The 'King's Letter': An Historical and Comparative Analysis", [[Vinyar Tengwar 31|''Vinyar Tengwar'' 31]], p. 18</ref>


The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Aracorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 71</ref>  
Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councillor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.


===Names and titles===
As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was likely named after [[Aragorn I]].
 
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
 
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'', the Renewer]]
King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
 
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.  
== Personality ==
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love.<ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref>
 
== Etymology ==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name, which means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>
 
The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>
 
== Other names ==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> '''Edhelharn''' is the [[Sindarin]] word for [[Elfstone]] ([[Quenya|Q]]. ''[[Elessar]]''). Derived from the words ''[[edhel]]'' "elf" and ([[Lenition|lenited]]) ''[[sarn]].'' Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.  
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer". This title was claimed by Aragorn after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. It referred to the prophecy that he would renew the hope of the Dúnedain by reuniting the Two Kingdoms.
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - A honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently.  Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently.  Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].  
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.  
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya "and".<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.


==Family tree==
== Genealogy ==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see '''''[[Ancestry of Aragorn II]]''''' for Aragorn's full line of descent.
 
<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
Line 125: Line 164:
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN II'''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}
{{familytree/end}}
==Other versions of the legendarium==
</div>
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there.
 
=== Relation to Arwen ===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.
 
Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen was also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.
 
== Other versions of the legendarium ==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there with the character envisioned as a relative of Bilbo and Frodo. This name would carry over when the character was revised into a man and would remain in use for much of the book's composition. During writing of the latter portions of Book II, Tolkien would temporarily rename the character, ''[[Elfstone]]'' on the proposition that a man should not have an Elvish name.  Another name considered was ''[[Ingold]].''<ref name="comp">{{HM|RC}}</ref>
 
== Portrayal in adaptations ==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}
 
=== Films ===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have commented that he looks Native American.<ref>{{webcite|author=Conrad Brunstrom|articleurl=https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/2023/12/21/tolkien-and-diverse-casting-the-1978-animated-lord-of-the-rings/|articlename=Tolkien and Diverse Casting. The 1978 animated Lord of the Rings|dated=21 December 2023|website=[https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/ Conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com]|accessed=11 March 2024}}</ref>


==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
<center><gallery>
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film. His role is dramatically reduced to a handful of scenes and there is no mention of any previous involvement with the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].  
File:WiMe-Aragorn&Frodo VS Nazgul-1-.png|<center>''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''</center>
File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|<center>''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]]''</center>
File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|<center>''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]]''</center>
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy - Aragorn.jpg|<center>''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy]]''</center>
File:Aragorn Anduril viv lotr.JPG|<center>''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring]]''</center>
File:Aragorn LOTRO.jpg|<center>''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''</center>
File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|<center>''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''</center>
File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|<center>Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''</center>
</gallery></center>


'''1955: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn as full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.
 
'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part in this film is largely similar to the events in the book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.
 
'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.
 
'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.
 
=== Television ===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.
 
=== Radio series ===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].


'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have accused this character of looking too much like a [[wikipedia:Stereotypes_of_Native_Americans|stereotype of a Native American]].
 
'''1979: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|Mind's Eye's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].


'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]]'':'''
'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]].
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]].  For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.


'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]].
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.


=== Games ===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.
 
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring|Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though originally, [[Stuart Townsend]] was cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Mortensen portrays Aragorn full of self-doubt; a change that was presumably made to fit him in the modern "anti-hero" jacket.


'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.


'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers|Peter Jackson's The Two Towers]]'':'''
'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn's part is this film is largely similar to the events in book. The most significant difference being that in the book, their was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.
 
'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)]]'':'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters.
 
'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King|Peter Jackson's The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn shows great trouble over the choice whether or not he should become king, whereas in the book, there is no doubt of his purpose to return as the king from the very first time his lineage is revealed.


'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)]]'':'''
'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journey through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate.
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journeys through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.


'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
Line 190: Line 253:


'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him looking in surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defense of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]]
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him look in the surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When the player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits have already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].


'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
Line 199: Line 262:
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>


:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about an conservation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search to [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>
:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about a conversation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search for [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>


'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''' and '''The Battle of Helm's Deep'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>  
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black Gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>
 
== See also ==
*'''[[Timeline of Aragorn]]'''
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], compares the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]], ''The Fellowship of the Ring.


'''See also:''' <br>[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], comparing the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]] of ''The Fellowship of the Ring.
{{references|notes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aragorn}}


==Titles==
== Titles ==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
{{seq-head
| race=gondorian
| race=arnorian
| house=[[House of Telcontar]]<small><br/>Continuation of the senior branch of the [[House of Isildur]]</small>
| house=Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]]<small><br/>Cadet branch of the [[House of Isildur]]</small>
| born=[[1 March|March 1]], {{TA|2931}}
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died={{FoA|120}}
| died=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
}}
{{seq
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – {{TA|3019|n}}
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
}}
{{seq
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January|January 15]] - [[22 August|August 22]], {{TA|3019}}
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
| nvac=None
Line 231: Line 305:
| pvac=Vacant
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by:<br/>'''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| prev=Last held by:<br/>'''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=[[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates={{TA|3019}} – {{FoA|120}}
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
| nrow=4
Line 238: Line 312:
{{seq
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by:<br/>'''[[Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| prev=Last held by:<br/>'''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=[[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates={{TA|3019}} – {{FoA|120}}
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
}}
{{seq
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by:<br/>'''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| prev=Last held by:<br/>'''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=[[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates={{TA|3019}} – {{FoA|120}}
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
}}
{{seq
{{seq
Line 252: Line 326:
| prev=New title
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates={{TA|3019}} – {{FoA|120}}
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
}}
{{seq-end}}{{northernline}}
{{seq-end}}
 
{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}


==See also==
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
*[[:Category:Images of Aragorn|Images of Aragorn]]
*[[Timeline of Aragorn]]
{{references}}
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Aranarth]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar| ]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Masculine names]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]
[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fa:آراگورن دوم]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3a/dunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Latest revision as of 05:05, 11 March 2024

"Who told you, and who sent you?" — Gandalf
This article or section needs more/new/more-detailed sources to conform to a higher standard and to provide proof for claims made.
The name Elessar refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Elessar (disambiguation).
Aragorn
Arnorian
Yulia Alekseeva - Aragorn in Rivendell.jpg
"Aragorn in Rivendell" by Yulia Alekseeva
Biographical Information
PronunciationS, [ˈaraɡorn]
Other namesSee below
TitlesChieftain of the Dúnedain
High King of the Dúnedain
King of Gondor and Arnor[1]
King of the West[2]
Lord of the Westlands
PositionRanger
Leader of the Fellowship of the Ring (after Gandalf's death)
King of the Reunited Kingdom
LocationRivendell
Gondor
Arnor
Rohan
Rhûn and Harad[3]
AffiliationFellowship of the Ring
LanguageWestron
Sindarin
Quenya
Birth1 March, T.A. 2931
Eriador
RuleT.A. 2933 - 3019 (Chieftain)
T.A. 3019 - Fo.A. 120 (King)
Death1 March, Fo.A. 120[4] (aged 210)
Gondor
Notable forReuniting the Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor
Family
HouseHouse of Isildur
Founder of the House of Telcontar
ParentageArathorn II (father)
Gilraen (mother)
Elrond (foster father)
SpouseArwen
ChildrenEldarion
At least two daughters[5]
Physical Description
GenderMale
HeightAt least 6'6'' (1.98 m)[6][7]
Hair colorDark, flecked with grey[8]
Eye colorGrey[8]
ClothingHigh leather boots, dark-green cloak (as a Ranger)[8]
Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (as a King)[9]
WeaponryAndúril
SteedRoheryn
Hasufel
GalleryImages of Aragorn
"Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him."
The Return of the King, "The Steward and the King"

Aragorn II was the son of Arathorn II and Gilraen. He was the last Chieftain of the Dúnedain and a direct descendant through many[note 1] generations of Isildur, the last High King of both Arnor and Gondor. Aragorn would become the greatest Man of his time, leading the Men of the West against Sauron's forces, helping to destroy the One Ring, and reuniting the Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor.

History[edit | edit source]

Early life[edit | edit source]

Aragorn was born in T.A. 2931 to the Chieftain Arathorn II and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, Ivorwen, noted with foresight that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.[10]

A legend says that the Wizard Gandalf had brought such a stone, called the Elessar, from Valinor. He gave the Elessar to the Elven Lady Galadriel and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.[11] From this would come Aragorn's royal name Elessar (Quenya for "Elfstone").

Elrond and Estel by Anna Kulisz

When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an Orc arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in Rivendell by Elrond as if he were his own son. The Wise decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to the Enemy. Aragorn was called Estel (Sindarin for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the twin sons of Elrond, Elrohir and Elladan, on their journeys.[5]

"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the twins in T.A. 2952, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of his House: the shards of Narsil and the Ring of Barahir. Elrond also said that he should earn the Sceptre of Annúminas. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the Lay of Lúthien; as he sang of the meeting Beren and Lúthien, Arwen, daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from Lothlórien, appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.[5]

Aragorn and Arwen by Stephen Hickman

Life as a Ranger[edit | edit source]

Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into The Wild.[5] In T.A. 2953 he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the White Council. Aragorn met Gandalf the Grey in T.A. 2956, and they became great friends.[12] At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in the Shire and became known as Strider in this region.

"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II by Catherine Karina Chmiel

From T.A. 2957 to T.A. 2980 Aragorn took great journeys aiding the West against Sauron and his allies. After serving King Thengel of Rohan, he went to Steward Ecthelion II of Gondor,[12] who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from Mordor. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the Gondorians called him Thorongil (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, Denethor, who probably knew his identity as Heir of Isildur, and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the Steward, whom he advised to not trust Saruman and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the Southern Fiefs would be vulnerable to the Corsairs of Umbar. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take a few ships and lead an attack against Umbar; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the Captain of the Haven with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in Minas Tirith but he did not return; while in Pelargir, he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the Anduin and was last seen staring at the Mountains of Shadow.[13] He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the West much later during the War of the Ring.

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered Lothlórien, and there once again met Arwen in Caras Galadhon. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the Ring of Barahir, and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.[5]

Elrond gave his foster son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King Thingol's request that Beren obtain a Silmaril from Morgoth before marrying his daughter Lúthien.[5]

Hunt for Gollum[edit | edit source]

In the year T.A. 3001, as a now revealed Sauron continued to regain power in Mordor, Aragorn began assisting Gandalf in his search for news of Gollum. Gandalf suspected that the ring Bilbo Baggins found near Gollum's lake was in fact the One Ring. In T.A. 3007, he briefly returned to Eriador where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In T.A. 3009 Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the vales of Anduin, Mirkwood, and Rhovanion, even to the confines of Mordor, without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.[12] After eight years Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the Dead Marshes[12] on 1 February. With Gollum he travelled through the northern Emyn Muil, to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the Sarn Gebir. He travelled further north along the edges of Fangorn Forest and through Lothlórien,[14] where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.[15] He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the Carrock. With the aid of the Beornings he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered Mirkwood. He took Gollum to Thranduil to be held captive.[14][12] He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at Sarn Ford and learned of Frodo Baggins' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.[16]

The War of the Ring[edit | edit source]

When Aragorn returned to his area, the Elves who followed Gildor Inglorion told Aragorn the Black Riders had been seen, Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his Rangers kept watch over the border of the Shire and the East Road waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving Buckland.[16]

While staying in Bree, Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in The Prancing Pony. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as Frodo Baggins, the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and Bill Ferny then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful Barliman Butterbur from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.

Jef Murray - Amon Sûl

Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward Archet and bear right to Weathertop. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, Merry took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met Glorfindel, a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.

Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword

After the Council of Elrond, Aragorn became a member of the Fellowship of the Ring. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of Narsil, the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it Andúril.

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the company for a while before returning to Gondor with Boromir. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the Redhorn Pass, which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through Moria, but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with Durin's Bane, Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

Leading the Fellowship of the Ring[edit | edit source]

Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of Lothlórien, and his friendship with Celeborn and Galadriel. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the Elfstone as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.[17] It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name Elessar.

Even at the Falls of Rauros he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to Minas Tirith with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the Ring-bearer chose.

Death of Boromir by Inger Edelfeldt

After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely Legolas and Gimli, chose to try and save Merry and Pippin from the Uruk-hai that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the Three Hunters.

He met Éomer in the fields of Rohan, and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day Aragorn would return to Edoras. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into Fangorn Forest, where he met the resurrected Gandalf the White. After the restoration of Théoden, he rode to Helm's Deep to fight in the Battle of the Hornburg. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshaled the defence against Saruman’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the Wild men to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with Erkenbrand.

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the Orthanc-stone, Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend Halbarad of the North, Elladan and Elrohir, and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the Paths of the Dead". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the Standard of Elendil. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

The Return of the King[edit | edit source]

A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for Dunharrow, departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the Dead Men. In Dunharrow, he met the lady Éowyn, who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

Thus Came Aragorn by Ted Nasmith

The Grey Company passed through the Dark Door and the Dwimorberg, the Dead following, and coming at last to the Stone of Erech, Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the Corsairs at Pelargir and drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took the Black Ships north to Minas Tirith, where the Battle of the Pelennor Fields raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of Gothmog. The counter-attacked army of Sauron crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed Imrahil the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the Houses of Healing, where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and Faramir, in accordance with the prophecy “The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of Dol Amroth, they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.[18]

The Crowning of Aragorn by Inger Edelfeldt

Aragorn held council with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of Mordor for the benefit of the Quest of the Ring, and so arranged matters for the Battle of the Morannon. After the destruction of the Ring in Orodruin and victory at the Morannon, Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of Gondor.

Reign as Elessar[edit | edit source]

Aragorn ruled the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the Fourth Age.

He pardoned the Easterlings that had surrendered and made peace with the Haradrim. He freed the slaves of Mordor and gave them the Sea of Núrnen.[19]

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount Mindolluin, and there he found the scion of Nimloth, the symbol of his mastery of the Reunited Kingdom. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the Sceptre of Annúminas signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the Fourth Age dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of Orthanc and ordered the Orthanc-stone to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the Elendilmir which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of Arnor.[20]

Elessar gave his Steward Faramir the title Lord of Emyn Arnen and created him as Prince of Ithilien[21]. He declared the Drúadan Forest to belong to the Drúedain and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.[22] He also re-established the Great Council of Gondor whose chief councillor was the Steward[23]. He also renewed the Oath of Cirion with Éomer.

As for the Shire, he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the Thain, the Master of Buckland, and the Mayor of Michel Delving Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the lands up to the Emyn Beraid.[24]

He founded the royal House of Telcontar, he had a son, Eldarion, and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son Eldarion. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.

Personality[edit | edit source]

Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love.[5] He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged Sauron for control of the Palantir of Orthanc and proved to be victorious.[25] Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.[26]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Aragorn is a Sindarin name, which means "revered king".[27][28] It contains the phonetic reduction ara of aran ("king") and the adjective (n)gorn ("dreaded, revered").[28]

The Quenya form of Aragorn was Arakorno.[29]

Other names[edit | edit source]

  • Aragorn II - Aragorn's name as Chieftain of the Dúnedain. He was possibly named after Aragorn I.
  • Thorongil - S "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in Gondor and Rohan. Pronounced [θoˈroŋɡil].
  • Elessar - Q "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "King Aragorn". Pronounced [eˈlesːar].
  • Edhelharn - The Sindarin equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.[30] Edhelharn is the Sindarin word for Elfstone (Q. Elessar). Derived from the words edhel "elf" and (lenited) sarn. Pronounced [eˈðel.harn].
  • Elfstone - The Common Speech version of the previous two.
  • Envinyatar - Q "the Renewer". This title was claimed by Aragorn after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. It referred to the prophecy that he would renew the hope of the Dúnedain by reuniting the Two Kingdoms.
  • Estel - Q. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept estel more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced [ˈestel].
  • Strider - A sobriquet given by the men of Bree. Aragorn used it mockingly.
  • Wingfoot - An honorary name given by Éomer after the pursuit of the Uruk-hai through the Eastemnet.[31]
  • Telcontar - A Quenya form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced [telˈkontar].
  • Isildur's Heir - A poetic address, as he was the heir of Isildur.
  • The Dúnadan - "Man of the West", a name given by Bilbo Baggins when their friendship evolved.
  • Longshanks - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to Bill Ferny. The legs of the Bree-men were shorter than the legs of the Dúnedain.
  • Arakorno - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.[29] Pronounced [ˌaraˈkorno].

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

This is an abbreviated family tree; see Ancestry of Aragorn II for Aragorn's full line of descent.

Eärendil
 
Elwing
 
Galadriel
 
Celeborn
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elros
 
Elrond
 
Celebrían
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kings of Númenor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lords of Andúnië
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elendil
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Isildur
 
Anárion
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kings of Arnor
 
Kings of Gondor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kings of Arthedain
 
Ondoher
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Arvedui
 
Fíriel
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chieftains of the Dúnedain
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Arathorn II
 
Gilraen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ARAGORN
 
Arwen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eldarion
 
several sisters
 
 
 
 

Relation to Arwen[edit | edit source]

Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the Half-elven were joined.[32] Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves (Ingwë, Finwë, and brothers Elwë, Olwë, and Elmo) as well as the only line with Maiarin blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, Melian. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four[32] generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen[33] generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen[34] succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen was also descended from Aranarth,[34] but the number of generations between them is unknown.

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In the earliest unpublished versions of The Lord of the Rings (see The History of The Lord of the Rings), the character that later became Aragorn was called Trotter instead of Strider, and was a Hobbit instead of a Man. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there with the character envisioned as a relative of Bilbo and Frodo. This name would carry over when the character was revised into a man and would remain in use for much of the book's composition. During writing of the latter portions of Book II, Tolkien would temporarily rename the character, Elfstone on the proposition that a man should not have an Elvish name. Another name considered was Ingold.[35]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

Aragorn in adaptations
Aragorn as a Lego mini figure  

Films[edit | edit source]

1978: The Lord of the Rings (1978 film):

The voice of Aragorn is provided by John Hurt. Some critics have commented that he looks Native American.[36]

1980: The Return of the King (1980 film):

Aragorn was voiced by Theodore Bikel in the 1980 Rankin/Bass animated film. His role is dramatically reduced to a handful of scenes and there is no mention of any previous involvement with the Fellowship of the Ring.

2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:

Aragorn is played by Viggo Mortensen, though Stuart Townsend was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the Nazgûl at Weathertop. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn as full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers:

Aragorn's part in this film is largely similar to the events in the book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no Warg attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King:

Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

2014: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies:

Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by Thranduil to his son, Legolas. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

Television[edit | edit source]

1993: Hobitit:

Aragorn is portrayed by Kari Väänänen, the same actor who played Gollum in the series.

Radio series[edit | edit source]

1955: The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series):

The voice of Aragorn is provided by Godfrey Kenton.

1979: The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series):

The voice of Aragorn is provided by Tom Luce.

1981: The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series):

Aragorn was voiced by Robert Stephens. For his early scenes, according to John McAndrew (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

2001-2003: Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series):

The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

Games[edit | edit source]

1988: J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth:

Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game):

Daran Norris provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game):

Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game):

Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journeys through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

2003: Sierra's War of the Ring:

Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

2004: The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth:

Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

2006: The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II:

Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him look in the surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When the player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits have already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in Lothlórien, Aragorn is seen residing in Caras Galadhon.

2009: The Lord of the Rings: Conquest:

Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions.

2011: The Lord of the Rings: War in the North:

Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the War of the Ring in the introduction of the game.[37]
He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, Eradan and Andriel. Aragorn had met Andriel during his visits at Rivendell,[38] while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of the Shire.[39]
Eradan, Andriel and Farin meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the Rangers at Sarn Ford, and entered the Shire. They also tell him about a conversation between the Witch-king and Agandaûr, which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the Orcs of the Misty Mountains and assembled an army in Fornost, which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search for the One Ring. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.[37] While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, Elladan and Elrohir stopped Agandaûr's army,[40] Aragorn met with Frodo Baggins and left Bree.[41]

2012: Lego The Lord of the Rings:

A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the sets Attack at Weathertop, The Battle of Helm's Deep, The Battle at the Black Gate, and The Pirate ship ambush.[42]

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes

  1. Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with Valandil and ending with Arvedui) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with Aranarth and ending with Arathorn II).

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond", p. 248
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "Later Events Concerning the Members of the Fellowship of the Ring", entry 1541, p. 1098
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen"
  6. Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part Two. Body, Mind and Spirit: VI. Descriptions of Characters", p. 194
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "At the Sign of the Prancing Pony"
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Steward and the King"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "Foreword"
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn"
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  13. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", "The Stewards"
  14. 14.0 14.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Hunt for the Ring"
  15. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Hunt for the Ring", Note 5
  16. 16.0 16.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Strider"
  17. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (II) The Second Phase: Laws and Customs among the Eldar"
  18. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Houses of Healing"
  19. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Steward and the King", p. 968
  20. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Battles of the Fords of Isen"
  21. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Steward and the King"
  22. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Many Partings"
  23. J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 244, (undated, written circa 1963)
  24. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "Later Events Concerning the Members of the Fellowship of the Ring"
  25. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Passing of the Grey Company"
  26. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Last Debate"
  27. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 31 entry S Ara(n)gorn
  28. 28.0 28.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 113 entry S Turgond-
  29. 29.0 29.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 70 f. entry Q ar in the translation of the sentence into Quenya Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]
  30. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Sauron Defeated, "Part One: The End of the Third Age: XI. The Epilogue: The second version", p. 128ff
  31. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Riders of Rohan"
  32. 32.0 32.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Númenor"
  33. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor"
  34. 34.0 34.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Northern Line: Heirs of Isildur"
  35. Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion
  36. Conrad Brunstrom, "Tolkien and Diverse Casting. The 1978 animated Lord of the Rings" dated 21 December 2023, Conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com (accessed 11 March 2024)
  37. 37.0 37.1 The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, Prologue
  38. "Elven Character: Andriel's History", War in the North (accessed 25 December 2011)
  39. "Human Character: Eradan's History", War in the North (accessed 24 December 2011)
  40. The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, Chapter 1: Fornost
  41. The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs, Bree
  42. Calisuri, "More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012" dated 12 February 2012, TheOneRing.net (accessed 18 February 2012)


Titles[edit | edit source]

Aragorn
Founder of the House of Telcontar
Cadet branch of the House of Isildur
Preceded by:
Arathorn II
16th Chieftain of the Dúnedain
T.A. 29331 May, 3019
None
Position abolished
39th Heir of Isildur
T.A. 2933 - 1 March, Fo.A. 120
Followed by:
Eldarion
Preceded by:
Gandalf
Leader of the Fellowship of the Ring
15 January - 22 August, T.A. 3019
None
Position abolished
Vacant
Last held by:
Eärnur, 969 years earlier
34th King of Gondor
1 May, T.A. 30191 March, Fo.A. 120
Followed by:
Eldarion
Vacant
Last held by:
Eärendur, 2,158 years earlier
11th King of Arnor
1 May, T.A. 30191 March, Fo.A. 120
Vacant
Last held by:
Isildur, 3,017 years earlier
1st High King of the Reunited Kingdom
1 May, T.A. 30191 March, Fo.A. 120
None
New title
Head of the House of Telcontar
1 May, T.A. 30191 March, Fo.A. 120


Attendees of the Council of Elrond
Aragorn · Bilbo Baggins · Frodo Baggins · Boromir · Elrond · Erestor · Galdor · (Samwise Gamgee) · Gandalf · Gimli · Glóin · Glorfindel · Legolas
Members of the Fellowship of the Ring
Frodo · Sam · Merry · Pippin · Gandalf · Aragorn · Legolas · Gimli · Boromir
Route of the Fellowship of the Ring
Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Lothlórien · Caras Galadhon · Anduin · Parth Galen · Amon Hen · Eastemnet · Fangorn Forest · Rohan · Edoras · Hornburg · Isengard · Dunharrow · Paths of the Dead · Gondor · Hill of Erech · Lamedon · Linhir · Lebennin · Pelargir · Minas Tirith · Osgiliath · Cross-roads · Ithilien · Dagorlad · Black Gate · Field of Cormallen · Cair Andros · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Anórien · Rohan · Edoras · Isengard
Boromir
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Lothlórien · Caras Galadhon · Anduin · Parth Galen · Amon Hen
Frodo and Sam
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Lothlórien · Caras Galadhon · Anduin · Parth Galen · Amon Hen · Emyn Muil · Dead Marshes · Black Gate · Ithilien · Henneth Annûn · Cross-roads · Morgul Vale · Stairs of Cirith Ungol · Cirith Ungol · Shelob's Lair · Tower of Cirith Ungol · Mordor · Morgai · Plateau of Gorgoroth · Mount Doom · Field of Cormallen · Cair Andros · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Anórien · Rohan · Edoras · Isengard
Gandalf
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Celebdil† · Lothlórien · Fangorn Forest · Edoras · Hornburg · Isengard · Rohan · Anórien · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Osgiliath · Cross-roads · Ithilien · Dagorlad · Black Gate · Field of Cormallen · Cair Andros · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Anórien · Rohan · Edoras · Isengard
Merry
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Lothlórien · Caras Galadhon · Anduin · Parth Galen · Amon Hen · Emyn Muil · Eastemnet · Fangorn Forest · Wellinghall · Derndingle · Isengard · Hornburg · Dunharrow · Drúadan Forest · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Anórien · Rohan · Edoras · Isengard
Pippin
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Lothlórien · Caras Galadhon · Anduin · Amon Hen · Parth Galen · Emyn Muil · Eastemnet · Fangorn Forest · Wellinghall · Derndingle · Isengard · Rohan · Anórien · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Osgiliath · Cross-roads · Ithilien · Dagorlad · Black Gate · Field of Cormallen · Gondor · Cair Andros · Minas Tirith · Anórien · Rohan · Edoras · Isengard
The Northern Line and the Heirs of Isildur
Kings of Arnor: Elendil (S.A. 3320 - 3441) · Isildur (S.A. 3441 - T.A. 2) · Valandil (T.A. 2 - 249) · Eldacar (249 - 339) · Arantar (339 - 435) · Tarcil (435 - 515) · Tarondor (515 - 602) · Valandur (602 - 652) · Elendur (652 - 777) · Eärendur (777 - 861)
Kings of Arthedain: Amlaith (861 - 946) · Beleg (946 - 1029) · Mallor (1029 - 1110) · Celepharn (1110 - 1191) · Celebrindor (1191 - 1272) · Malvegil (1272 - 1349) · Argeleb I (1349 - 1356) · Arveleg I (1356 - 1409) · Araphor (1409 - 1589) · Argeleb II (1589 - 1670) · Arvegil (1670 - 1743) · Arveleg II (1743 - 1813) · Araval (1813 - 1891) · Araphant (1891 - 1964) · Arvedui (1964 - 1975) ·
Chieftains of the Dúnedain: Aranarth (1975 - 2106) · Arahael (2106 - 2177) · Aranuir (2177 - 2247) · Aravir (2247 - 2319) · Aragorn I (2319 - 2327) · Araglas (2327 - 2455) · Arahad I (2455 - 2523) · Aragost (2523 - 2588) · Aravorn (2588 - 2654) · Arahad II (2654 - 2719) · Arassuil (2719 - 2784) · Arathorn I (2784 - 2848) · Argonui (2848 - 2912) · Arador (2912 - 2930) · Arathorn II (2930 - 2933) · Aragorn II (2933 - 3019)
Kings of Arnor: Elessar (T.A. 3019 - Fo.A. 120) · Eldarion (Fo.A. 120 onwards)
The Southern Line and the Heirs of Anárion
Kings of Gondor: Elendil (S.A. 3320 - 3441) · Isildur (S.A. 3441 - T.A. 2) and Anárion (S.A. 3320 - 3440) · Meneldil (T.A. 2 - 158) · Cemendur (158 - 238) · Eärendil (238 - 324) · Anardil (324 - 411) · Ostoher (411 - 492) · Rómendacil I (492 - 541) · Turambar (541 - 667) · Atanatar I (667 - 748) · Siriondil (748 - 830) · Tarannon Falastur (830 - 913) · Eärnil I (913 - 936) · Ciryandil (936 - 1015) · Hyarmendacil I (1015 - 1149) · Atanatar II Alcarin (1149 - 1226) · Narmacil I (1226 - 1294) · Calmacil (1294 - 1304) · Rómendacil II (1304 - 1366) · Valacar (1366 - 1432) · Eldacar (1432 - 1437) · Castamir the Usurper (1437 - 1447) · Eldacar restored (1447 - 1490) · Aldamir (1490 - 1540) · Hyarmendacil II (1540 - 1621) · Minardil (1621 - 1634) · Telemnar (1634 - 1636) · Tarondor (1636 - 1798) · Telumehtar Umbardacil (1798 - 1850) · Narmacil II (1850 - 1856) · Calimehtar (1856 - 1936) · Ondoher (1936 - 1944) · Eärnil II (1945 - 2043) · Eärnur (2043 - 2050)
Stewards of Gondor: Húrin of Emyn Arnen (c. T.A. 1630s) · Pelendur (before T.A. 1944 - 1998) · Vorondil (1998 - 2029) · Mardil Voronwë (2029 - 2080) · Eradan (2080 - 2116) · Herion (2116 - 2148) · Belegorn (2148 - 2204) · Húrin I (2204 - 2244) · Túrin I (2244 - 2278) · Hador (2278 - 2395) · Barahir (2395 - 2412) · Dior (2412 - 2435) · Denethor I (2435 - 2477) · Boromir (2477 - 2489) · Cirion (2489 - 2567) · Hallas (2567 - 2605) · Húrin II (2605 - 2628) · Belecthor I (2628 - 2655) · Orodreth (2655 - 2685) · Ecthelion I (2685 - 2698) · Egalmoth (2698 - 2743) · Beren (2743 - 2763) · Beregond (2763 - 2811) · Belecthor II (2811 - 2872) · Thorondir (2872 - 2882) · Túrin II (2882 - 2914) · Turgon (2914 - 2953) · Ecthelion II (2953 - 2984) · Denethor II (2984 - 3019) · Faramir (T.A. 3019 - Fo.A. 82) · Elboron (Fo.A. 82 onwards)
Kings of Gondor: Elessar (T.A. 3019 - Fo.A. 120) · Eldarion (Fo.A. 120 onwards)
Non-ruling stewards are in italics
The Lord of the Rings film series
Source material: The Hobbit · The Lord of the Rings
Films The Fellowship of the Ring (extended editionThe Two Towers (extended edition) · The Return of the King (extended edition)
Music The Fellowship of the Ring (The Complete Recordings) · The Two Towers (The Complete Recordings) · The Return of the King (The Complete Recordings) · "May It Be" · "Gollum's Song" · "Into the West"
Tie-in books Official Movie Guide · The Making of the Movie Trilogy · Complete Visual Companion · Gollum: How We Made Movie Magic · There and Back Again: An Actor's Tale · Weapons and Warfare · The Art of The Lord of the Rings · Sketchbook
The Fellowship of the Ring Visual Companion · The Art of The Fellowship of the Ring
The Two Towers Visual Companion · Photo Guide · The Art of The Two Towers
The Return of the King Visual Companion · The Art of The Return of the King
Video games The Two Towers · The Return of the King · The Third Age · Tactics · Conquest · Aragorn's Quest · Lego The Lord of the Rings
Characters Frodo · Bilbo · Gandalf · Sam · Merry · Pippin · Gandalf · Aragorn · Boromir · Legolas · Gimli · Elrond · Galadriel · Théoden · Éomer · Éowyn · Saruman · Sauron · Witch-king · Denethor · Faramir · Gollum · Gríma · Treebeard · Celeborn · Haldir · Lurtz · Sharku · Grishnákh