Artamir

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Artamir
Gondorian
Biographical Information
LocationGondor
LanguageWestron
BirthBefore T.A. 1896[note 1]
DeathT.A. 1944
Disaster of the Morannon
Family
HouseHouse of Anárion
ParentageOndoher
SiblingsFíriel and Faramir
ChildrenNone
Physical Description
GenderMale

Artamir (Q: "noble jewel", pron. [ˈartamir], stem Artamír-; died T.A. 1944) was the elder son and heir of King Ondoher of Gondor.[1]

History

Artamir and his father Ondoher were the two top leaders of the northern army of Gondor when the realm was assaulted simultaneously from the East and the South. King Ondoher had been warned by Forthwini of Éothéod that the Wainriders were on the move, so in T.A. 1944 he and Artamir led their forces into Ithilien in order to deploy upon the Dagorlad and there meet the enemy. Unfortunately the enemy did not come from an expected direction (the north or north-east) but directly from the east along the outskirts of the Ered Lithui. Worse, they came more swiftly than expected. The army of Gondor was strung out when the vanguard was struck by a powerful force of mixed cavalry and chariot-borne warriors. The King, Artamir, and most of the King's Guard were annihilated in the attack.

Gondor's northern army was thrown into disarray and in their retreat Artamir's younger brother Faramir was also slain. By custom, as the remaining undisputed heir of the King, he should have stayed in Minas Anor but not wanting to miss the war he had disguised himself and ridden into battle. Even the King's sister-son, Minohtar, was lost in the disaster.

However, Gondor was saved by a more distant relative of the King, the General Eärnil who had successfully defeated the southern invasion before racing north. His forces arrived as the Wainriders were feasting and celebrating their seemingly complete victory, but in the Battle of the Camp Eärnil crushed their host and sent the remnants reeling to the East.[2]

The deaths of Artamir, Ondoher, Faramir, and Minohtar wiped out most of the King's closest relations. Arvedui, the northern King of Arthedain, asked to be granted the vacant throne of Gondor, partly based on his marriage to Fíriel, Ondoher's third child and daughter. However, the Steward Pelendur and the Council of Gondor selected their general who had saved the realm to be the next king, so Eärnil II ascended to the throne.[1]

Genealogy

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Telumehtar
Umbardacil
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Narmacil II
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Arciryas
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Calimehtar
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Calimmacil
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ondoher
 
 
 
 
 
Araphant
 
Sister
 
Siriondil
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ARTAMIR
 
Faramir
 
Fíriel
 
Arvedui
 
Minohtar
 
Eärnil II
 


Etymology

Artamir is Quenya. The first element, arta, means "noble", and the second element mir means "jewel".

Notes

  1. T.A. 1896 is listed as the year of birth for Fíriel, Artamir's youngest sibling, in J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", 'Ondohir', p. 201

References