Isildur

From Tolkien Gateway
Isildur
Númenórean
Liz Danforth - Isildur.png
"Isildur" by Liz Danforth
Biographical Information
TitlesGreat King, High King, King of all the Dúnedain, King of Arnor, King of Gondor, King of the Southern Realm, Lord of Arnor and Gondor
LocationNúmenor, Gondor
AffiliationFaithful, Last Alliance of Elves and Men
LanguageSindarin, Quenya and Adûnaic
BirthS.A. 3209
Númenor
RuleS.A. 3320 - S.A. 3440 (joint reign of Gondor)
S.A. 3441 - T.A. 2 (High King)
Death5 October, T.A. 2 (aged 234)
Disaster of the Gladden Fields
Notable forFounded Gondor with Anárion and later cut the One Ring from the hand of Sauron
Family
HouseHouse of Elendil, founded the House of Isildur
ParentageElendil
SiblingsAnárion
ChildrenElendur, Aratan, Ciryon & Valandil
Physical Description
GenderMale
Height7 feet (2.13 m)[1]
Hair colorBlack
Eye colorGrey
WeaponryNarsil
GalleryImages of Isildur

Isildur was the eldest son and heir of Elendil, the first High King of the Realms in Exile.

History[edit | edit source]

Early Years in Númenor[edit | edit source]

Isildur was born in Númenor in S.A. 3209. He was the elder son of Elendil, son of Amandil, the last Lord of Andúnië. His younger brother was Anárion. While living in the island realm he married and his first son, Elendur was born in 3299.[2]

Isildur learned from Amandil that King Ar-Pharazôn, under the influence of Sauron, purposed to cut down Nimloth. One night Isildur went in disguise to Armenelos and from the courts of the King stole a fruit from the tree before it was cut down, thus preserving the line of the White Tree. It is said that he received grievous wounds from the King's guards before escaping but that they all healed when a leaf first appeared on the sapling that grew from the fruit he had taken.[3]

When Ar-Pharazôn ordered the Great Armament to assail the land of Aman, Elendil and his sons prepared ships to escape from Númenor. In the ship of Isildur was guarded the young White Tree.[3] When the Downfall of Númenor came in 3319[4] Elendil and his sons escaped in nine ships – four for Elendil, three for Isildur, and two for Anárion.[3]

Joint Reign of Gondor[edit | edit source]

In the great storm that came with the drowning of Númenor the nine ships of the Exiles were borne to the east and scattered. Elendil was cast up in the land of Lindon, passed up the River Lhûn, and founded the realm of Arnor. Isildur and Anárion were carried to the south. Arriving at the mouths of the Anduin, they ascended the great river and founded the realm of Gondor.[5] While the Exiles were establishing their Realms in Exile in S.A. 3320 however, Sauron had also escaped and re-established his power in Mordor .[4]

Isildur set up his house in Minas Ithil, where he planted the White Tree, while Anárion established his household in Minas Anor. However, they jointly ruled the kingdom and set up thrones side by side in the Great Hall of Osgiliath.[5] Isildur and his wife had two more sons, Aratan (in 3339) and Ciryon (in 3379), while living in Gondor.[2]

In 3429 Sauron captured Minas Ithil and burnt the White Tree. Yet Isildur escaped with his wife and sons, and a seedling of the White Tree. While Anárion held Osgiliath, Isildur and his family sailed down the Anduin, then northwest his father in Arnor and to Gil-galad in Lindon.[5][4]

The War of the Last Alliance[edit | edit source]

In S.A. 3430, the same year that Isildur's fourth son Valandil was born, Isildur's father Elendil and Gil-galad formed the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. The army of the Alliance marched to Imladris in 3431, where Isildur left his wife and Valandil before the host moved on. In 3434 the combined armies of Elves and Men crossed the Misty Mountains and marched on to the Dagorlad. There the forces of Sauron were defeated and he retreated into the Barad-dûr to withstand a siege.[4]

The siege lasted seven years, but finally Elendil and Gil-galad threw down Sauron, thus winning the battle though both were slain and Elendil's sword Narsil broke under him as he fell. Isildur took the hilt shard of his father's sword and cut the One Ring from Sauron's finger. Ignoring the advice of Elrond and Círdan, lieutenant of Gil-galad, Isildur did not destroy the Ring; instead he claimed it as a weregild for the deaths of his father and brother, and an heirloom for his House. [5]

Triumph and Disaster[edit | edit source]

After the fall of Sauron, Isildur returned to Gondor and assumed the Elendilmir, proclaiming his Kingship in Arnor and sovereign lordship over the Dúnedain in both the North and the South. [6][7] He remained for a year in the South, planted the seedling of the White Tree in Minas Anor in memory of his brother Anárion, put the realm to order, and instructed his nephew Meneldil, son of Anárion, in the governance of the land.[8] With Meneldil and a company of trusted friends, Isildur rode about the boundaries of Gondor and in Anórien created the tomb and memorial of Elendil upon the hill of Eilenaer, thereafter called Amon Anwar.[9] While he remained there, he wrote an account on how he acquired the Ring, its significance to his House and where he transcribed a verse found upon the Ring while it was still hot.[10]

When Isildur finally felt free to leave he committed the rule of Gondor to Meneldil and with his three sons[8] departed on 5 Ivanneth, T.A. 2. Instead of heading west and then north they journeyed northwards along the Anduin in order to first come to Imladris where his wife and little son Valandil were.[5] On the thirtieth day of the journey, 5 Narbeleth, the King, his sons, and his Guard of two hundred knights and soldiers reached the northern borders of the Gladden Fields. Isildur believed that all soldiers of the Enemy perished so his camp was unguarded.[5] There they were ambushed by a band of Orcs said to be ten times their number.

The Death of Isildur by Anke Eißmann

As the Orcs closed in, Isildur sent his esquire Ohtar with one companion to fly with the shards of Narsil. The enemy charged and charged again. One by one Isildur's sons died about him;[8] Elendur was the last and he insisted that Isildur leave with the One Ring. Isildur placed the Ring upon his finger and vanished from the battle.

The Orcs could still sense his smell[5] and Isildur ran to the Anduin and swam across the river. It was during this effort that the One Ring slipped from his finger. As he struggled to escape the reeds and rushes on the shore a small party of Orcs spotted him and shot him. He fell back into the water and no trace of him was found by Elves or Men.[6]

Legacy[edit | edit source]

The line of Isildur continued, for Valandil became king of Arnor. Isildur's line continued unbroken throughout the Third Age until it formed the basis for Aragorn's claim to the kingship of Arnor and Gondor after the downfall of Sauron.[11]

In the riddling rhyme "Seek for the Sword that was Broken" the Ring is referred to cryptically as Isildur's Bane.[12]

After the War of the Ring the tower of Orthanc was opened, for King Elessar desired its restoration. Behind a hidden door in a steel closet was found Isildur's Elendilmir. It was surmised that Saruman had found the bones of the long-lost king and had taken the mithril fillet with its jewel for his own, possibly destroying the king's remains afterwards.[6]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Isildur is a Quenya name, meaning "Servant of the Moon", from Ithil ("Moon") + -dur ("servant").[13]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amandil
Sailed west S.A. 3316
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elendil
S.A. 3119 - 3441
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ISILDUR
S.A. 3209 - T.A. 2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Anárion
S.A. 3219 - 3440
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elendur
S.A. 3299 - T.A. 2
 
Aratan
S.A. 3339 - T.A. 2
 
Ciryon
S.A. 3379 - T.A. 2
 
Valandil
S.A. 3430 - T.A. 249
 
Kings of
Gondor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eldacar
T.A. 87 - 339
 
 
 
 


Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

Isildur in adaptations

Films[edit | edit source]

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

Prince Isildur is mentioned in the prologue, and he is shown to cut the Ring off Sauron's hand in battle, rather than from a defeated Sauron.

2001-2002: The Lord of the Rings (film series):

Isildur briefly appears in the first scenes of the first film, as well as an extended flashback scene. Isildur is played by Harry Sinclair. Sinclair, a friend of Peter Jackson, was asked because he was the most corrupt looking person Jackson knew. Sinclair had only one line, "No!", which was dubbed by Hugo Weaving. The story of Isildur's succumbing to the temptation of the Ring bothers Aragorn who fears that he could have the same weakness (a fear that is not evident in the book). In the book, the Ring simply disappeared when Isildur died and nobody knew what had happened to it until it was found by Gollum over 2000 years later.

Television[edit | edit source]

2022: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Season One:

Isildur is portrayed by Maxim Baldry.[14] None of the plotlines in which he is involved are found in the books, including his travelling to the Southlands and joining Galadriel's invasion of the Southlands at the head of the Númenorian army. He first appears on the third episode on a ship at sea near Númenor. He is later presumed dead after a burning log falls on him in the Southlands.

Games[edit | edit source]

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

In the game starts with a prologue, where you control Isildur on the slopes of Mount Doom. After you complete the mission you see how Isildur defeats Sauron. By completing the Tower of Orthanc bonus level, Isildur becomes a playable character in the other stages, where he takes the place of his descendant Aragorn. Strangely, Isildur's version of the "Tower of Orthanc" level has the same script as Aragorn's, leading to Saruman referring to the ancient King of Gondor as a "ragtag Ranger".

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

Isildur appears only in cinematics battling Sauron. However, in the expansion pack The Rise of the Witch-king, Isildur is mentioned more detailed in the Angmar campaign.

2007-2019: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Isildur makes an appearance in a flashback scene titles "At the Stone of Erech". It covers the oath gives to Isildur by the men of Dunharrow, subsequent return of Sauron several years later, the betrayal of the Dunharrow men and the curse that Isildur lays upon them. He also appears during the Battle of Dagorlad, during the High Elf introduction, as well as in a flashback of the battle.
With Update 24.2, it is revealed that the Shade of Isildur was saved by Gultháva, the River-maiden of the Gladden, who kept the lost king secluded within a secret grotto in order to protect him from harm. He is encountered after the War of the Ring, in an abandoned dwarf-hold situated above the Gladden Fields.

2017: Middle-earth: Shadow of War:

After Isildur's (voiced by Nolan North) death, the Orcs brought his body to the diminished and vengeful Sauron, who put a Ring of Power on his finger, reviving him as one of his servants and eventually turning him into a Nazgûl. As one of the Ringwraiths, Isildur was forced to serve the Dark Lord for all time, until he was defeated and freed by "Talion". Later, the Ranger claimed his ring to survive after Celebrimbor abandoned him, and eventually took Isildur's place among the Nazgûl after holding back Sauron's forces for decades.

References

  1. Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 229
  2. 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Akallabêth: The Downfall of Númenor"
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age"
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields"
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond"
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Steward and the King"
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond"
  13. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings: Eldarin Roots and Stems", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 28
  14. Alice Jones, "Amazon's Lord of the Rings Series Rises: Inside The Rings of Power" dated 10 February 2022, VanityFair (accessed 12 February 2022)
Isildur
House of Elendil
Cadet branch of the House of Elros
Born: S.A. 3209 Died: 5 October, T.A. 2
Preceded by:
Elendil
2nd High King of the Realms in Exile
S.A. 34415 October, T.A. 2
Vacant
Next held by:
Aragorn, 3017 years later
2nd King of Arnor
S.A. 34415 October, T.A. 2
Followed by:
Valandil
2nd King of Gondor
(under High Kingship of Elendil, until S.A. 3441)

S.A. 3320 - S.A. 3440 (with Anárion)
S.A. 3440 - 5 October, T.A. 2
Followed by:
Meneldil
Preceded by:
Sauron
2nd Ring-bearer
S.A. 34415 October, T.A. 2
Vacant
Next held by:
Déagol, c. 2461 years later


Númenor
Andor · Atalantë · Elenna · Mar-nu-Falmar · Númenórë · Westernesse
Regions Andustar · Arandor · Emerië · Forostar · Hyarastorni · Hyarnustar · Hyarrostar · Mittalmar · Nísimaldar · Orrostar
Towns and cities Almaida · Andúnië · Armenelos · Eldalondë · Moriondë · Nindamos · Ondosto · Rómenna
Buildings Calmindon · Eämbar · King's Court · Temple · White House of Erendis
Natural features Bay of Eldanna · Bay of Rómenna · Firth of Rómenna · Hallow of Eru · Meneltarma (mountain) · Nísinen (lake) · North Cape · Nunduinë (river) · Oromet (mountain) · Siril (river) · Sorontil (mountain) · Tarmasundar (ridges) · Tompollë
Plants and trees Fragrant Trees · Lairelossë · Laurinquë · Lavaralda · Nessamelda · Nimloth · Oiolairë · Taniquelassë · Vardarianna · Yavannamírë
Heirlooms Aranrúth · Bow of Bregor · Dramborleg · Elendilmir · Narsil · Palantíri · Ring of Barahir · Sceptre of Annúminas · Sceptre of Númenor · Tile and Textiles · Helmet
Concepts Adûnaic · Ban of the Valar · Council of the Sceptre · Downfall of Númenor · Great Bear-dance · Heirship · Númenórean Sindarin · Three Prayers (Eruhantalë · Erukyermë · Erulaitalë)
Key people Aldarion · Amandil · Anárion · Captain of the King's Ships · Elendil · Elros (House of Elros) · Erendis · Faithful · Great Armament · Guild of Venturers · Guild of Weaponsmiths · Isildur · Kings and Queens of Númenor · King's Archers · King's Men · Lords of Andúnië · Meneldur · Miriel · Palantir · Pharazôn · Sauron · Silmariën
Main texts The Silmarillion ("Akallabêth") · Unfinished Tales ("A Description of the Island of Númenor" · "Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife" · "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor") · The Lord of the Rings ("Appendix A" · "Appendix B") · The Nature of Middle-earth ("Lives of the Númenóreans" · "Of the land and beasts of Númenor")
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
Ring-bearers of the One Ring
Sauron (S.A. 1600 - 3441) · Isildur (S.A. 3441 - 25 September, T.A. 2) · Déagol (c. 2463) · Sméagol (c. 2463 - 2941) · Bilbo Baggins (2941 - 22 September, 3001) · Frodo Baggins (22 September, 3001 - 13 March, 3019) · Samwise Gamgee (13 March, 3019 - 14 March, 3019) · Frodo Baggins (14 March, 3019 - 25 March, 3019) · Gollum (25 March, T.A. 3019)
Also briefly held the Ring: Gandalf (13 April, T.A. 3018) · Tom Bombadil (27 September, T.A. 3018)