Dúnedain of Arnor

The Dúnedain of Arnor were one of the two great divisions of the descendants of the Númenóreans in Middle-earth (the other being the Gondorians of the South-kingdom). The North-kingdom of Arnor had originally held the capital of High King Elendil at Annúminas, and the Dúnedain of that land were ruled for centuries by the descendants of Elendil's eldest son Isildur.

Before the end of the first millennium of the Third Age, the land of Arnor fell into dispute between the sons of King Eärendur, and the Dúnedain who lived there became divided into three realms: Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur. One by one, these kingdoms fell, until at last the Dúnedain of Arnor had become a dwindled and wandering people. Nonetheless, their chieftains maintained the bloodline of Elendil's eldest son, and Aragorn II—among whose titles was Chieftain of the Dúnedain of Arnor—was his direct descendant through many generations.