Gondorians: Difference between revisions

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==Culture==
==Culture==
The Early in their history, Gondorians preferred to speak [[Elvish]], because their native [[Adûnaic]] tongue was associated with the unfaithful;<ref>{{PM|Dwarves}}, p. 315</ref> even so, Gondorians used [[Gondor Sindarin|their own variety]] of [[Sindarin]]. However the native peoples among them continued to use a creole language derived from Adûnaic, that eventually became the lingua franca of all the [[Westlands]] and was adopted even by the Dúnedain themselves. However they continued using Quenya and Sindarin names.<ref>{{App|Men}}</ref><ref>{{L|144}}</ref><ref>{{PM|Atani}}</ref>
The high men of the South married late in their life and had few children. Several of the [[Kings of Gondor]] were childless.<ref name=south/>
The high men of the South married late in their life and had few children. Several of the [[Kings of Gondor]] were childless.<ref name=south/>



Revision as of 07:53, 9 May 2020

"...there is much else that may be told." — Glóin
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Gondorians
People
Liz Danforth - Gondorian.jpg]
"Gondorian" by Liz Danforth
General Information
Other namesMen of Gondor, Stone-folk, Stonehouse-folk
OriginsDescendants of the Númenóreans in Gondor (partly Northmen and Pre-Númenóreans)[1][2]
LocationsGondor
AffiliationLast Alliance of Elves and Men, Host of the West
RivalriesHaradrim, Corsairs of Umbar, Wainriders, Balchoth
LanguagesGondor Sindarin, Quenya, Westron
MembersDenethor, Boromir, Faramir
Physical Description
LifespanDúnedain: three times the life of a regular man but later considerably diminished[3]
GalleryImages of Gondorians

The Gondorians were the inhabitants of Gondor.[4][5] The Dúnedain of Gondor, also known as the Dúnedain of the South, constituted the ruling class and nobility of Gondor being descendants of the Exiles of Númenor who established the South-Kingdom. The history of the Gondorians is dominated by the actions of the Dúnedain of the South.

History

Early History

After the Downfall of Númenor, the Exiles of Númenor, led by Elendil, established the Realms in Exile of Arnor and Gondor. Arriving at the mouths of the Anduin, Elendil's sons, Isildur and Anárion, ascended the great river and founded the realm of Gondor.[6]

In Númenorean colonies and outposts, such as Belfalas, Pelargir, Lond Daer and Umbar, there were many Faithful, fully or partially of Númenórean blood, who descended from Númenor long before its Downfall. The colonists welcomed Elendil's sons and allied themselves with the founders of the Kingdoms of the Dúnedain.[6][7] Elendil made "Princes" the Faithful nobles who ruled Belfalas.[8]

Third Age

In the south, the realm of Gondor endured, and for a time the splendour of the Gondorians grew, until it recalled the wealth and majesty of Númenor during the reign of Hyarmendacil I by T.A. 1050.[6][9][10][9]

Yet at the last, in the later Third Age, the Dúnedain of Gondor waned for their blood became much mingled with that of other men, especially the Northmen of Rhovanion.[9] King Eldacar, who himself had Northmannish blood, showed favour to the Northmen who supported him.[9] This led to the Kin-strife, when many Dúnedain of Gondor were slain.[9] After his return from exile, many noble houses, including the royal House of Anárion, became more mingled with the blood of "lesser" Men.[9]

The Great Plague decimated the Gondorians with many, including King Telemnar, his kin, as well as many others of the Dúnedain of Gondor, being killed.[6][9]

After the reign of King Eärnur, royal descendants among the Dúnedain of Gondor had become few and no claimant for the throne could be found of pure Númenórean blood, or whose claim all would accept, and people were afraid of a new Kin-strife that would devastate the kingdom.[9] Thus, by default, Mardil began the line of Ruling Stewards of Gondor.[6][9]

After the Stewards picked up the southern rule, the Gondorians still defended the passage of the Anduin against the terrors of Minas Morgul and against all the enemies of the West.[6]

By the time of the War of the Ring, the Dúnedain of Gondor lived in Minas Tirith and the adjacent townlands, as well as the tributary fiefs and royal lands of Anórien, Ithilien, and Belfalas.[7][11]

Later History

In the Fourth Age, the Dúnedain of Gondor and Arnor were reunited under King Aragorn II Elessar (who was also called the Dúnadan).

Culture

The Early in their history, Gondorians preferred to speak Elvish, because their native Adûnaic tongue was associated with the unfaithful;[12] even so, Gondorians used their own variety of Sindarin. However the native peoples among them continued to use a creole language derived from Adûnaic, that eventually became the lingua franca of all the Westlands and was adopted even by the Dúnedain themselves. However they continued using Quenya and Sindarin names.[13][14][15]

The high men of the South married late in their life and had few children. Several of the Kings of Gondor were childless.[16]

Gondorian ships were usually black and silver in colour.[17]

Before a meal, the Gondorians looked towards the West.[18]

Lifespan

In the Third Age, the lifespan of the Dúnedain was less than of their ancestors in Númenor; specifically after the end of the Kings of Gondor, the waning was even swifter. In contrast, their cousins, the Dúnedain of the North, maintained significant longevity.[19]

Portrayal in adaptations

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

Gondorians, or Gondorian Commoners, are one of the cultures, suitable for player characters, that are given a detailed description. The Gondorians contain varying degrees of blood from Dúnedain, Northmen and Men from Harad and Dunland.[20][21]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 64, (dated 30 April 1944), also Letter 144, Letter 256
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 64, (dated 30 April 1944), also Letter 144, Letter 256
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan"
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
  7. 7.0 7.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age", "Of Men"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan"
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "II. The Appendix on Languages"
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "Of Dwarves and Men", p. 315
  13. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age", "Of Men"
  14. J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 144, (dated 25 April 1954)
  15. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "X. Of Dwarves and Men", "The Atani and their Languages"
  16. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named south
  17. Daniel Helen, "Tolkien’s annotated map of Middle-earth transcribed" dated 10 November 2015, The Tolkien Society (accessed 5 August 2018)
  18. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Window on the West"
  19. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur"
  20. S. Coleman Charlton (1993), Middle-earth Role Playing (2nd edition, softcover) (#2001), p. 168
  21. Jason Beresford, Anders Blixt, Mats Blomqvist, Gunnar Brolin, Jeff Hatch, Tim Innes, Martin Rundkvist, Erik Ragvik, Olle Sahlin, Chris Seeman, Magnus Seter (1996), Southern Gondor: The People (#2020)