Despite hundreds of years of war, plague, and strife, the South-kingdom of men has
endured for over 3000 years. But as the reign of it’s 26th Steward approaches,
so does the greatest challenge to its very survival: The War of the Ring.
Today, on Nerd of the Rings, we conclude the History of Gondor.
As we discussed in last week’s video, Aragorn, under the name Thorongil,
had successfully led a campaign to attack and weaken the Corsairs of Umbar in 2980 TA. However,
rather than return to Gondor, other duties call him, and he makes his way to the East.
One who is not sorry to see this Thorongil disappear is Denethor II who takes his role
as 26th Ruling Steward just four years later in 2984 TA. Denethor and his wife Finduilas, the
sister of Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth, had two sons - Boromir and Faramir. Boromir is
doted upon by his father and is interested in great deeds of battle. Faramir, meanwhile,
displeased his father in both his actions and his friendship with Gandalf the Grey.
While not as highly regarded by his people as Thorongil had been,
Denethor proves to be a more than capable ruler. He is quiet, listens to counsel,
and is wise in his rule. However, just four years after rising to the role of Steward,
his wife Finduilas becomes one of many to fall under the Shadow of Mordor and dies
at just 38 years old. Overcome with grief, Denethor becomes even more grim and silent.
Also weighing on the Steward is the continuing resurgence
of Sauron. Denethor anticipates that it will be during his time that Sauron will make his
great war upon Middle-earth. Despite its dwindling power over long centuries,
Gondor is unquestionably the strongest of all the remaining realms that oppose Sauron. This
makes the conquest of Gondor Sauron’s primary objective in the coming war.
The weight of these events, combined with overconfidence in his own willpower,
leads Denethor to gaze into the long-forbidden Minas Anor palantir to seek knowledge. Indeed,
Denethor would be successful in gaining the knowledge he sought - so much so that we
are told his people wondered at him. However, Sauron who would use his captured Ithil-stone,
discovers Denethor was also using one of the palantiri. Sauron attempts to bring the
Anor-stone under his will, like he had done with Saruman and the Orthanc-stone. However,
he is unsuccessful. Denethor’s strength of will, integrity, and right to use the stone
wins out over even Sauron himself - though it comes at a cost. Denethor’s already weakening
body is given an even greater toll due to the stress of using the stone and Sauron’s
apparent invincibility he sees in the palantir. This causes the steward to age prematurely.
Sauron would finally launch the first attack of the War of the Ring on June 20,
3018. While in outward appearance, this attack on Osgiliath was made to test Denethor’s strength, it
also had the secret task of allowing the Nazgul to pass into Gondor undetected. To Sauron’s dismay,
Gondor is stronger than he believed. Boromir and Faramir defended, then destroyed the
ancient bridge of Osgiliath, denying Sauron’s forces access to the western side of the river.
The night before the attack, the brothers had a prophetic dream, speaking of a halfling,
a blade that was broken, and the land of Imladris. Denethor recognizes Imladris
to be Rivendell and sends Boromir on the errand to find it - an errand from
which he will never return. As Boromir heads north and joins the Fellowship of the Ring,
Faramir is sent on March 1 to lead the Rangers of Ithilien. These lands that were so long a
part of Gondor, were now essentially held by the enemy. Operating out of places like Henneth Annun,
the rangers would raid the servants of Sauron like the Haradrim often as they could.
On the day Boromir was killed at Amon Hen,
both Faramir and Denethor heard the horn of Gondor in the distance. Three nights later,
Faramir is sitting by the banks of the Anduin in Osgiliath when he either sees or envisions
a boat carrying his brother’s body out to sea. Several days after Boromir’s death,
the cloven horn would be found below the Entwash and taken to Denethor, who knew his son was dead.
Thirteen days after Boromir’s death,
on March 9, 3019, Gandalf and Pippin arrive in Minas Tirith. On their way,
they had seen another great feature of Gondor - the warning beacons. The beacons had been in
place since the late Second Age, and were used to warn the southern lands of danger in Calenardhon.
With Calenardhon now Rohan, they are typically used to warn the people in Anorien of danger.
That very day, the Red Arrow is delivered to King Theoden, a summons for aid from Denethor.
And on March 10, Sauron sends fumes from Mordor, blocking out the sun in much of Gondor and Rohan
in the Dawnless Day. That very day, the dark lord sends his host from Minas Morgul under
the command of Gondor’s old nemesis, the Witch-king of Angmar. Also on March 10,
Faramir retreats across the Pelennor Fields and is saved from the Nazgul by Gandalf the White.
In preparation for an assault on Minas Tirith, most citizens of Gondor are
sent to flee north and west. Those remaining behind are soldiers, healers, and boys who
refused to leave. In order to reinforce the capital, 3,000 men from the southern
fiefs including Belfalas and Dol Amroth come to Minas Tirith. We are told these 3000 soldiers are
less than a tenth of what was needed, for while the Witch-king marches closer to Minas Tirith,
many in the south are preoccupied with fighting the Black Fleet of Umbar.
Denethor sends Faramir to Osgilith to intercept the Witch-king’s army on March 11. The following
morning, Sauron’s host uses secret boats to cross the river and overwhelm the Gondorians,
causing Faramir to retreat to the Causeway Forts on March 13. Learning the Witch-king
was on the field of battle, Gandalf makes for the Rammas Echor, where Faramir had
retreated to. Thanks to a charge by his uncle Prince Imrahil, Faramir, wounded and suffering
under the Black Breath of the nazgul, is saved and brought back to Minas Tirith.
As the Pelennor is overrun by Sauron’s forces, Denethor is overcome with grief at his son’s
state. He loses his will to fight and gives no more thought to the defense of his city. Gandalf
and Imrahil must take up command of Minas Tirith as the Siege of Gondor begins. Throughout the
day of March 14, the hosts of Mordor dig pits and build siege weapons on the Pelennor. The
nazgul continue flying over the city, bringing despair to the soldiers awaiting the battle.
The orcs launch stones into the city which burst into flame, followed by catapulting the severed
heads of slain Gondorians over the city walls. And with the morale of the Gondorians at its
lowest point, the Witch-king begins his assault around midnight. The might of the wall of Gondor,
and the steadfastness of many of their people held out for a time against the invaders. However, the
great gate of Minas Tirith is broken by battering ram Grond. In rides the Lord of the Nazgul,
and there is only one who stands in defiance of him - Gandalf the White upon Shadowfax. And
unlike Earnur’s steed so long ago, Shadowfax would not flee the Witch-king. Just as the Witch-king
draws his blade which erupts with flames, horns begin to blow in the distance - Rohan had come.
Thus, the morning of March 15 brings the climax of the Battle of the Pelennor
Fields - the largest and greatest of the War of the Ring. Theoden’s Rohirrim strike
a mighty blow to the forces of Mordor. He personally kills the chieftain of the
Haradrim before being struck down by the Witch-king himself. The witch-king in turn
is killed by Merry and Eowyn. While this loss is hugely demoralizing for Sauron’s army, Gothmog,
lieutenant of Minas Morgul assumes command and the Southrons charge with their Mumakil.
Eomer, having discovered his sister seemingly dead upon the battlefield,
flies into a rage, fully prepared to die as Rohan’s final leader. Another prepared
to die as the final ruler of his people is Denethor - though under very different
circumstances. Denethor prepares a funeral pyre for him and Faramir to
burn. While Gandalf and Pippin would save Faramir, Denethor lights himself ablaze.
One reason for Denethor’s despair was a vision Eomer would see come to fruition.
Denethor had seen a fleet of enemy ships with black sails arriving at the Rammas,
prepared to enter the fight. Eomer beholds this development and believes the final
stroke has come, and the Rohirrim and Gondorians will soon be destroyed.
However, it was not their enemy in these ships - for Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, the sons of Elrond,
and the Grey Company had walked the Paths of the Dead, and the Dead Men had driven the Haradrim
and Corsairs from the Gondorian settlements and havens. Aragorn then commandeered the black ships,
bringing many reinforcements from the southern fiefdoms who had flocked to
the banner of the Heir of Isildur. Rather than Eomer being caught against overwhelming odds,
the host of Mordor is caught between hammer and anvil, and the Battle of the Pelennor
Fields is a victory for Gondor and Rohan, the Oath of Eorl once again fulfilled.
After the victory, Aragorn furls his banner and makes camp outside the city. He appoints Imrahil
the temporary lord of the city as per Gondorian law. Aragorn would later enter the city in secret,
coming to the Houses of Healing where he healed Merry, Eowyn, and Faramir - all of whom were
suffering under the Black Breath. Greater than any genealogy was this fulfillment of a prophecy
“The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known.” Word
spread throughout the city and Aragorn would work late into the night healing citizens of Gondor.
After taking council with Gandalf, Eomer, Imrahil, Elladan, and Elrohir,
Aragorn resolves to lead a force in a distractionary attack upon Mordor in hopes
it would give Frodo a chance to destroy the One Ring. This force of 7,000 leaves Minas Tirith on
March 18th. It is estimated that a defensive force of around 9,000 is left to protect the
city, featuring Rohirrim, soldiers from the southern fiefdoms, and survivors of the city.
The Host of the West would meet an army of Sauron’s Orcs, Trolls, Haradrim,
and Easterlings numbering over 60,000. The great eagles would of course also come to the battle
and aid the men, and the One Ring is indeed destroyed, causing the destruction of Sauron,
the Nazgul, Barad-dur, the Black Gate, and most of Sauron’s forces.
With the great enemy permanently disembodied and never again a threat,
Aragorn returns to Minas Tirith where Faramir, now Steward of Gondor,
leads the ceremony crowning Aragorn King of Gondor and Arnor. Aragorn reinstates
the role of Steward of Gondor as it had once been before the line of kings failed,
making Faramir both Steward of Gondor and Prince of Ithilien. In time, Ithilien would
indeed become populated once more. One group who came to dwell there are some elves of Mirkwood,
led by Legolas, and it is said Ithilien once again became the fairest country in all the Westlands.
As for Aragorn, he would be taken up the slopes of Mount Mindolluin behind Minas Tirith by Gandalf
and there would find a sapling of the white tree of Gondor, planting it in place of the long dead
tree, which is taken to the houses of the dead. After her arrival with her father, grandmother,
and grandfather, Arwen marries Aragorn in Minas Tirith on Midsummer’s Day 3019.
Now king of the reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor, Aragorn sets to re-ordering his realm.
He orders the restoration of Orthanc and has the palantir returned there. He declares the Druadan
Forest a protected realm of his kingdom belonging to the Druedain. The Shire is likewise declared a
free land under the protection of his Kingdom, and forbids men from entering it without the
leave of the halflings. He also expands the Shire to include the lands as far west as Emyn Beraid.
Together, Aragorn and Eomer renew the Oaths of Cirion and Eorl, and due to the effects of
Sauron’s influence, we are told Eomer would often fulfill the Oath. For there were many enemies to
defeat before the White Tree could grow in peace. Together, Aragorn and Eomer would ride to both the
East and South of Middle-earth, fighting and defeating the last remnants of those loyal to
Sauron. We are told Aragorn makes peace with the Haradrim after his coronation and that the threat
of the Corsairs was finally subdued during his reign and the haven of Umbar finally re-taken.
The Reign of King Aragorn II Elessar would bring prosperity not seen in Gondor for centuries.
He would rule for 122 years before his death on March 1, 120 FoA. At this time, his son Eldarion
would take the throne, inheriting a Reunited Kingdom unburdened by the threat of Sauron
or great enemies influenced by his presence. He is left to lead Gondor further into the new
Fourth Age of Middle-earth. While we don’t know much canonically of Eldarion’s reign,
the waning of his rule serves as the backdrop for Tolkien’s abandoned sequel.
To learn about that story, check out my video on “The New Shadow”.
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