King of Rhovanion

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King of Rhovanion was a title claimed by Northmen rulers of Rhovanion.

Vidugavia, a prince of the Northmen, in the 13th century of the Third Age claimed such a title, and his realm, the "Kingdom of Rhovanion", was between Greenwood and the River Running. However, even if he was the most powerful of the many Northern princes, he never truly unified all the Northmen under his claimed kingship.[1]

Vidugavia had a line of successors, and it seems they may have continued to style themselves as "Kings of Rhovanion" after Vidugavia's time. The realm of the "Kings of Rhovanion" lay beyond Mirkwood before the invasions of the Wainriders (T.A. 1851).[2][note 1] In T.A. 1856, after the disastrous Battle of the Plains, remnants of this people were gathered by Marhwini son of Marhari (who fell in the rearguard action after the Battle of the Plains). Passing north between Mirkwood and Anduin they settled in the Vales of Anduin. where they were joined by many fugitives who came through the Forest. This was the beginning of the Éothéod, though nothing was known of it in Gondor for many years. The Lords of the Éothéod therefore claimed descent from those kings of Rhovanion.[2]

Around T.A. 1975, "proud princes of Rhovanion"[note 2] with their horses of the Vales of Anduin joined the Host of the West under Prince Eärnur.[1]

Notes

  1. This implies that the kingdom lasted until the Wainrider invasions, and that lord Marhari may have been a "king" during this time.
  2. Those were either Éothéod, or perhaps some other line that claimed the Kingship after Marhwini abandoned Rhovanion.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"
  2. 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl"