Ship-kings

The Ship-kings was a title given to four great Kings of Gondor during its "golden age", starting with King Tarannon Falastur, and his three successors:

• Tarannon Falastur (Third Age 830-Third Age 913)
• Eärnil I (Third Age 913-Third Age 936)
• Ciryandil (Third Age 936-Third Age 1015)
• Ciryaher Hyarmendacil I (Third Age 1015-Third Age 1149)

The Ship-kings did much to expand Gondor's naval and military might. Between them, they enormously extended the South-kingdom's control over the southern lands of Middle-earth, including the lands west of the Mouths of Anduin, and as far south as Umbar and the Harad.

Their influence was such that, at the end of the reign of Hyarmendacil I, Gondor had reached a peak of strength and power that it would never again surpass. Indeed, the period of the ship-kings was followed by a period of stagnation, disasters and wars, that led to its decline.