King of Arthedain
The King of Arthedain was the hereditary title of the rulers of Arthedain, one of the three successor kingdoms of Arnor after its division in Third Age 861.
History
The first king of Arthedain was Amlaith, the eldest son of Eärendur the last King of Arnor. The kingdom of Arnor split into three pieces after the death of Eärendur. The other two kingdoms were named Cardolan and Rhudaur.
Unlike his forefathers, the first king of Arthedain, Amlaith, did not take a name in Quenya, the "High-elven Tongue", but instead took a name in Sindarin, as did all the Kings of Arthedain and Chieftains of the Dúnedain that descended from him.
Beginning with Argeleb I onwards to the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, their names included the Elvish prefix Ar(an)- indicating loyal claim to the whole Arnor, after the lines of Cardolan and Rhudaur failed and the kings of Arthedain claimed the title King of Arnor. Practically speaking, however, their power was limited to the land of Arthedain which gradually diminished over the course of their seven hundred-year struggle with Angmar.
Angmar finally triumphed over Arthedain in Third Age 1974 with the destruction of Fornost. Arvedui, the last king, fled to the north, where he perished in a winter storm while trying to escape the frozen wastes of Forochel. Arvedui's son, Aranath, chose not to claim the kingship and instead became the first Chieftain of the Dúnedain in Third Age 1976. This marked the end of the kingship, though not of the dynasty of Isildur.
Duties and office
The duties would have been highly similar to those of the Kings of Arnor, though much reduced in scale. Several kings were involved in the wars against Angmar, where they would have led the forces of Arthedain against their foes.
The kings would also share the same badges of office that the Arnorian kings once used: the Shards of Narsil, the Ring of Barahir, and the Sceptre of Annuminas. After the dissolution of the kingship, these would pass to the keeping of Elrond, with the brief exception of the Ring of Barahir, which had to be retrieved from the Lossoth.
The kings controlled two of the three northern Palantíri: those in Elostirion and Annuminas. After the fall of Amon Sûl, they would gain the palantìr formerly housed there as well. However, the latter two palantíri would be lost forever in the shipwreck that killed Arevdui.
List of Kings
The Kings of Arthedain were of the same lineage of those of Arnor, though are listed separately from them within royal chronicles.
The Kings of Arthedain and the duration of their reigns were:
| # | Name | Reign | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Amlaith | Third Age 861-Third Age 946 | Eldest son of Eärendur, tenth King of Arnor. |
| 2. | Beleg | Third Age 946-Third Age 1029 | |
| 3. | Mallor | Third Age 1029–Third Age 1110 | Hobbits (Harfoots) enter Eriador during his reign. They would later settle the lands of former Arnor and Arthedain. |
| 4. | Celepharn | Third Age 1110–Third Age 1191 | During his reign, Fallohides and Stoors enter Eriador. |
| 5. | Celebrindor | Third Age 1191–Third Age 1272 | |
| 6. | Malvegil | Third Age 1272–Third Age 1349 | In the beginning of his reign evil came to Arnor. At that time the Witch-king saw an opportunity in the disunion of the Arnorians and the realm of Angmar arose in the North. |
| 7. | Argeleb I | Third Age 1349–Third Age 1356† | He claimed lordship of all Arnor, since no descendants of Isildur remained in Cardolan or Rhudaur. He was slain in battle with Angmar and Rhudaur. |
| 8. | Arveleg I | Third Age 1356–Third Age 1409† | He drove back Angmar from the Weather Hills with the help of Cardolan and Lindon. Like his father, he was slain in battle with Angmar and Rhudaur. |
| 9. | Araphor | Third Age 1409–Third Age 1589 | He was eighteen years old when he came to the throne. With aid from Cirdan he repelled the enemy from Fornost and North Downs. |
| 10. | Argeleb II | Third Age 1589–Third Age 1670 | Many Hobbits migrate from Bree, and are granted land beyond Baranduin by Argeleb II. |
| 11. | Arvegil | Third Age 1670–Third Age 1743 | |
| 12. | Arveleg II | Third Age 1743–Third Age 1813 | |
| 13. | Araval | Third Age 1813–Third Age 1891 | In alliance with the Elves of Lindon and Rivendell, he won an important victory over the Witch-king of Angmar. |
| 14. | Araphant | Third Age 1891–Third Age 1964 | The long silence and estrangement between Gondor and Arnor comes to an end. Araphant's son, Arvedui, marries Fíriel; the daughter of Ondoher, Gondor's king at the time. |
| 15. | Arvedui | Third Age 1964–Third Age 1974† | The last king of Arthedain. His son, Aranarth, becomes the first of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain. |
Referencias
1. Esta ficha se ha importado inicialmente de TolkienGateway.net el día 26/05/2026.
