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Aragorn

Aragorn-on-horseback


Names and by-names
Elessar, Estel, Hope, Longshanks, Strider, Thorongil, Wingfoot
Position(s)
Language(s)
Birth
1 March T.A. 2931
Death
Fo.A. 120 (aged 210)
Parents
Arathorn II, Gilraen, Elrond (foster father)
Home(s)
Sibling(s)
(none known)
Spouse
Child(ren)
Eldarion, Rainaiel Tindómiel (N), Telpelindë (N), Nityamírë (N)

The sixteenth, most infamous, and last Chieftain of the nomadic Dúnedan Rangers of the North (T.A. 2933-3019), Aragorn II (S."Revered King, Kingly Valour") was remarkable in the history of Middle-earth for reclaiming the ancient thrones of his dynasty and achieving his crowning as King of the Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor (which he reigned as from T.A. 3019 to F.A. 120). Aragorn the Great was among, if not the, chief figures, in the War of the Ring and beyond: on him rested many titles and hopes and these were fulfilled to the benefit and unity of the Free Peoples. He was the nemesis of Sauron, alongside Gandalf the Grey, and the Enemy desired to destroy the House of Elendil the Tall. For this reason, Aragorn's father, Arathorn II, was assassinated by Orc-arrows, and accordingly Elrond raised Aragorn secretly in Rivendell under the name of Estel, raising him as his own son and avoiding the subject of the boy's lineage until the age of twenty.

Upon this revalation, the Heirlooms of Arnor were bestowed upon him, and he assumed fully (though he had held the position for nearly all his life) the formal leadership of his people. At this time also, his mother, Gilraen the Fair, returned to her ancestral home Esteldin near Annúminas in T.A. 2954, for, despite her love for her child, her presence would do him little help. He met soon Arwen Undómiel, and became at once enamored of her beauty. Motivated by his love for her and his dignity as descendant of kings, Aragorn II then set forth into the Wild and warred against Sauron and his minions in many secretive ways for seventy years. He spared no expense or effort, and in his innumerable journeys he learned a great deal concerning the customs and skills of the peoples of Endor, and from them received knowledge and equipment. He became the hardiest and wisest Man of his day, laden with weapons seen and unseen. In his travels he recieved many names from many peoples, Strider from the Bree-landers, and in his service of Thengel of Rohan and Ecthelion of Gondor, Gondorians named him Thorongil (S. "Eagle of the Star") for of the Rangers' silver star which he wore upon his breast, with his other gear. From Gondor, he battled the fleet of the Corsairs of Umbar and succeeded in destroying a large portion of their navy (T.A. 2980), reclaiming that province for the South Kingdom after long years.

Great Journeys East and South 2957-80 (N)[]

When Aragorn turned 25 he already was a skilled hunter and fighter who had been on various dangerous errands with the Rangers of the North.Professing to be a mercenary he entered the services of Thengel of Rohan and fought Orcs, Outlaws of the Wold and Easterlings from Dol Guldur and the Brown Lands and later served Ecthelion II of Gondor and led a sworn troop of rugged adventurers agains the Uruks of Mordor, Umbarean raiders and Haradrim Invaders in [[Ithilien], Harondor, the Uvanwaith and even led a major raid on Umbar itself. During his 23 years of adventuring he used various aliases, most notably "Thorongil" and "Razanur", and also traveled to the farthest East and the Utter South and the far lands of Rhûn and Harad where the stars were strange and explored the remains of Almaren, the First Temple, the Cracks of Illuin, the Eastern Gardens, the roots of Ormal and Utumno and the memories of Murmenalda and Cuivienen.He followed the footsteps of the Ithryn Luin and Saruman, joined the Eastern Rahiwenna rebels, served the emperors of Ôn and Shên in the wars of the last desert as well as fighting alongside the Narakshi Sandmen in the Telshar-Khemnahr conflict and supported the Temênemêna and Ahûshi against the Mahûd and Pitôkwî before he returned to the Westlands.

The Hunt for Gollum[]

For many years of his life, Aragorn had been a friend and colleague of Gandalf, and at his bidding, Aragorn performed perhaps his greatest quest. For at that summons, Aragorn engaged in a search for the creature Gollum off and on for thirteen years, until he found and captured the wicked thing (T.A. 3017).

The War of the Ring[]

The following year brought forth the War of the Ring with the Second Battle of Osgiliath. He then came hastily to Bree, where he encountered, by chance or design, Frodo and the other three Hobbits of the Company of the Ring, and joining them he assisted them greatly on their journey to Imladris. Encountering the Nazgûl atop Amon Sûl (Weathertop), he successfully forced the Ringwraiths into retreat, though Frodo was injured.

After speaking before the Council of Elrond at Rivendell, Aragorn was elected one of the Nine Walkers of the Fellowship of the Ring. He aided the Company in any capacity he could, and led them after Gandalf fell while battling the Balrog in Khazad-dûm.
In his travels through Rohan afterward, Aragorn also was a commander in the defense of the Hornburg, after meeting and befriending Éomer. Later, accompanied by Rangers, Gimli the Dwarf, and Legolas the Elf, Aragorn marched through the Paths of the Dead and commanded the Dead Army to follow his leadership, and with their aid he began a campaign as the Heir of Isildur, crushing the Corsairs at Pelargir and capturing their great fleet. With their Black Fleet, he led legions of soldiers up the Anduin and arrived miraculously to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields at Minas Tirith. In honor of this, he was declared Captain (or more accurately, Commander-in-Chieft) of the Host of the West and led that army of the Free Peoples to the Battle of Morannon. In a miracle greater than any other, he achieved victory here with the aid of Frodo, who destroyed the Ruling Ring and allowed for his victory over the Dark Host.

Following the great and terrible War, Aragorn was at last recognized and crowned King of the Reunited Kingdoms in a great and solemn ceremony. As Elessar Telcontar, he was declared Lord and High-King of the Western Lands, and his authority was absolute. He married then his beloved Arwen, and they soon produced one son: Eldarion, and a number of daughters whose names are not recorded. The King was devoted both to his children and to his Kingdom, and a golden age dawned upon Gondor. He reclaimed the old territories of Dor Rhúnen and pacified the Easterlings and Haradrim, allying with those peoples and ending the enmity between their peoples. Fortifying and centralizing his lands by cleansing them of corrupt nobles or officials, he established a peace and prosperity which had been long forgotten; and when all was done in the South, he traveled North with his host, and driving forth the brigands and rebels from Eriador, he was anointed King again at the restored Fornost Erain, and fortified his northern border up to Forochel and the Mountains of Angmar. Henceforth, he reigned as lord and master of an extraordinary realm, and dictated the ways and events of his realm with terrific justice, foresight, and wisdom until his death in the 120th year of the Fourth Age. He taught his son Eldarion all that he knew from the boy-prince's youth, and by the time of the King's infirmity, his son was just as wise and hearty as his father. In Elessar Telcontar, the nobility and prosperity of the Númenóreans was at last restored, and they multiplied and fortified their holdings. To his grave, he fittingly took the blade Andúril (Q. "Flame of the West"), which was reforged from the shards of Narsil (Q. "Red-white Flame"), and though he gave to his son the Crown of Gondor, he kept on his own brow the Elendilmir, Tiara of Arnor. May his name be cherished in the lore-books of the Elder days.

Other names and aliases[]

  • Amin
  • Aragorn
  • Arakorno
  • Arathornion
  • Dúnadan
  • Edhelharn
  • Eldamir
  • Elessar (Royal title)
  • Elfstan (translation of Elessar)
  • Elfstone (translation of Elfstan)
  • Envinyatar, the Renewer
  • Estel (name as a boy)
  • Helak-il-Auatzin ("Helak, Master of Spirits", Name in Haradwaith)
  • Isildur's Heir
  • Longshanks (Orc-slang)
  • Strider (Breemen)
  • Tarkil
  • Telcontar
  • Thorongil
  • Wingfoot

Titles[]

Captain of the Host of the West, Captain of the Dúnedain of Arnor, Chieftain of the Dúnedain, Chieftain of the North, The Dúnadan, Eagle of the Star, Envinyatar, Great King, Heir of Isildur, King of all the Dúnedain, King of the West, Lord of the Dúnedain, Lord of the Western Lands, Man of the West

Aragorn's Principle Items[]

Aragorn bore the hereditary items of the Chieftains of the Rangers of the North, the heirlooms of Isildur's house. Additionally, he bore the following items.

  • Arwen's Token (N)
  • Andúril — Holy Broadsword
  • Aragorn's Bow (N)
  • Aragorn's Pipe
  • Backpack
  • utility belt
  • Branding - A Ranger-sword
  • Breastplate of the kings of Gondor (N)
  • Breeches of leather (N)
  • Cloak of Lórien
  • Enruned Scabbard of Lothlórien
  • Golden Girdle of Lothlórien
  • Green Stone of Galadriel
  • Grey Mantle
  • high leather boots
  • Rohirrim helm
  • Star of Elendil — (S. "Elendilmir"): Jewel presented to Aragorn by Galadriel in T.A. 3019.
  • Mithril Mail — black Ithilnaur chainmail.
  • bright Mail Hauberk of Rohan
  • Cloak of Valacirya (N)
  • Crown of the Reunited Kingdoms — (mithril inlaid with gold). Receptacle for the Star of Elendil to be set in the brow.
  • leather coat (N)
  • iron gauntlets (N)
  • iron vambraces (N)
  • leather tunic (N)
  • Gondorian Pauldrons (N)
  • Ranger's dagger (N)
  • Ranger's Ring: Before Aragorn was given the Star of Elendil, he wore a plain bone ring (N)
  • Ring of Barahir — Ring of Dragon-warding, which was given to him as his birthright by Elrond.
  • shield of Rohan - Round shield, boss overlaid with gold and set with gems, green and red and white
  • throwing knives (N)
  • pocketed waistcoat (N)
  • War Helm — High Helmet of gold inlaid with mithril. It serves as a receptacle for the Star of Elendil (which sat in the brow).
  • White Mantle (N)
  • Helm of House Andúnië - A Númenórean war-helm of the High Helmet design, a stylized high dome with two applied wings of Sea-birds. This was the Helm of Elendil and the original crown of Gondor. Aragorn wore it after he was crowned King.

Notes[]

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