Mardil Voronwë "the Steadfast", born 1960, Steward from 2029, ruled 2050–2080.The following is a list of the Ruling Stewards of Gondor. (The three stars correspond to vowel sounds the letters beneath them are the phonetic equivalents of "R", "N+D", and "R".) Arandur meant "Servant of the King" (lit. The letters spell the Quenya name of the title: Arandur. The seal of the Stewards consisted of the three Tengwar letters "R.ND.R" surmounted by three stars. īefore the Line of Kings failed two conditions applied to the Steward: He was not allowed to leave the realm or go to war, in effect ensuring smooth government while the King was away on campaign. In Gondor ten thousand years would not suffice." After generations of rule, the Stewards hardened their hearts against the return of an heir of Elendil. When asked by his son Boromir how much time must pass before a Steward could become a King, if the King did not return, Denethor II replied: "Few years, maybe, in other places of less royalty. The Stewards watched over the throne until it could be reclaimed by a true King of Gondor, an heir of Elendil. In place of the royal flag they flew the banner of the Stewards, which was white with no charge. They sat on a simple chair of black stone placed on the lowest step of the dais surrounding the throne, wore no crown, and held no sceptre a white rod topped with a gold knob served as the emblem of their office. In practice they exercised all the powers formerly held by the Kings, but they avoided associating themselves with any of the symbols of kingship. The Ruling Stewards ruled in place of the King, swearing an oath to do so "until he shall return". The stewards from Eradan to Dior ruled during the period known as the Watchful Peace. Mardil's descendants administered Gondor as Ruling Stewards for 25 generations. Because of the King's uncertain fate, the Steward Mardil Voronwë administered Gondor in the name of the absent King, thus becoming the first of the Ruling Stewards. Pelendur's son Vorondil the Hunter succeeded as Steward under Eärnil and was known for hunting the Wild Kine of Araw that dwelt in the east, his horn became an heirloom of the stewards' house, being given to the heir until finally cloven in two with the death of Boromir.Įärnil's successor Eärnur rode against the Witch-king of Angmar – but he did not return, and left no heir. Following their deaths there was no clear successor as King, and Pelendur played a key role in influencing the Council of Gondor to choose Eärnil over Arvedui of Arthedain, thus maintaining the line of the heirs of Anárion (one of the two sons of Elendil, the first King of Gondor). Húrin and his house were of noble but not royal blood.Īlthough not considered a Ruling Steward, Pelendur effectively ruled the kingdom for one year after King Ondoher and his sons were killed fighting the Wainriders (T.A. The House of Húrin was founded by one Húrin of Emyn Arnen, Steward to the King Minardil, the twenty-fifth King of Gondor (reigned T.A. 1621 to 1634). Following the death of Pelendur the office became hereditary, passing from father to son or nearest male kin. After the Stewardship of Húrin of Emyn Arnen the office was awarded only to his descendants (the House of Húrin).ĭuring the Stewardship of Mardil the line of the Kings failed, and Mardil and his successors became the de facto rulers of Gondor: the "Ruling Stewards". The office arose early in the Third Age during the reign of King Rómendacil I. Steward ( Arandur in Quenya, one of the languages invented by Tolkien) was the traditional title of a chief counsellor to the Kings of Gondor. The Steward was appointed by the King, and could act on behalf of the King when the King was absent from the city or incapacitated. Tolkien's legendarium of Middle-earth, the Stewards of Gondor – also styled the Lords of Minas Tirith – were lords of the fictional kingdom of Gondor, who resided in Minas Tirith, the capital city. Seal of the Stewards of Gondor: the tengwar R, ND, and R (for arandur, the Quenya name of the office), topped with three stars to represent the diacritics for the vowel soundsĪccording to J.
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