Arnor, the Northern Kingdom (Part I)

by Revan

1. INTRODUCTION

Of the Kingdoms of the Humans, Gondor was the most famous and the most powerful. But the ruins of Amon Sûl and Annúminas still remind us that Men once had a Kingdom in the North. Arnor was founded at the end of the Second Age (S.A. 3320) by Elendil and the Númenorean survivors.

2. EARLY YEARS

Colonization of Arnor

Before the destruction of Nûmenor and the arrival of Elendil there were already many Númenorean colonists living there. Tar-Meneldur and Tar-Aldarion were the first kings who sent Númenoreans to make colonies and cities. Unlike the Númenoreans who made colonies in the area of Gondor, the early Númenoreans of Arnor had much knowledge of Elven cities and kingdoms and were allies and friends with the Elves. Before Elendil’s arrival the colonists had already interbred with the indigenous population. We haven’t much information about the first Númenorean Colonist in Arnor.

The First Kings

The first king and founder of the Kingdom of Arnor was Elendil. He declared the city of Annúminas as his kingdom’s capital and he placed one of the palantíri there. His 2 sons Anarion and Isildur took the command of the Kingdom of Gondor in the South. We learn from scripts that Arnor possessed 3 of the palantíri. In addition to the Stone of Annúminas the other two were placed in the Tower of Amon-Sûl and in the Tower of Elostirion in the Tower Hills, just west of the Shire.

During the War against Sauron at the end of the Second Age, Arnor and Gondor were both members of the Last Alliance between Elves and Men. The Elf King Gil-Galad, Elendil and his sons led the combined army of Men and Elves against Mordor. During the siege of Barad-dûr Elendil the First King of Arnor was killed in battle by Sauron. After Sauron’s defeat Isildur returned to Gondor as a winner with his great trophy, Sauron’s ring. Isildur then decided to leave Gondor and become King of Arnor. During his trip Arnor’s second king was killed in T.A. 2 by Orcs in the disastrous Battle of the Gladden Fields. His younger son Valandil had remained in Rivendell and became Arnor’s Third King. Alas after Valandil’s reign, Arnor never had any King like Elendil and Isildur (until the end of the Third Age and the Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor ruled by King Elessar). It was true that after Sauron’s defeat the Northern Kingdom had a long period of peace. But as Sauron’s shadow was still there this peace was not to endure.

3. LOCATION OF ARNOR

Arnor was located in northwestern Middle-earth in the region known as Eriador. Arnor included all the lands between the Misty Mountains and the Blue Mountains as far south as the Glanduin and Greyflood rivers, except the Elvish lands west of the River Lune and east of the Bruinen and lower Hoarwell – where Rivendell and Eregion were located. The first capital of Arnor was Annúminas near Lake Evendim. Other important cities and places were the Tower of Amon-Sûl, the Tower of Elostirion, the City of Fornost and Bree.

Arnor’s location was preferential. All places around the Kingdom of Arnor were realms of Elves: The Havens of Círdan and Gil-Galad in the west,
Rivendell and the Kingdom of Thranduil in the East and the Forest of Lorien in the south. There were also many other friendly kingdoms near Arnor. The Dwarves Realm of Khazad-dûm in Moria was one of them. And of course the twin kingdom of Gondor reigning in the South was the main ally and friend. With all these allies around, Arnor’s position had many economic advantages. The Northern Kingdom had many trade routes with the Elves and Dwarves. Seemingly Arnor hadn’t any enemy around. In the North inside the mountains of Angmar there were evil creatures like Orcs and twisted men, but they hadn’t any organization and any leader. Arnor considered them mostly as criminals and not as the Kingdom’s enemies. In the South-east were the servants of the Dark Tower of Dol-Guldur but their main enemies were the Elves of Lorien and Mirkwood, the Kingdom of Thranduil. In addition it was supposed to be safe from the danger of Mordor in the South as Gondor was supposed to be the guardian against Sauron’s servants. Many people believed that Arnor’s place was safe but this fact was one of the reasons of Arnor’s fall. Arnor’s Guards were never so prepared for a possible invader like their allies in Gondor. The Kings of Arnor were never imagined that the biggest threat for the Northern Kingdom was the one from the North. Years later the Nazgûl Leader will establish his Witch-Realm in the mountains of Angmar and will attack the Northern Kingdom.

Next – Part 2 : Arnor is divided into three separate kingdoms: Arthedain,
Cardolan, Rhudaur. The war against the Witch Realm of Angmar begins!