Steward of Gondor
Steward was the traditional title of a chief councillor to The Kings of Gondor.
History
King Rómendacil I established the office of Steward of Gondor, chosen by the King as a man of high trust and wisdom; Stewards were advanced in years since they were not permitted to go to war or to leave the realm. They were never a member of the Royal House.
Mardil Voronwë was the one who started ruling Gondor after the death of its last King Eärnur. He ruled on the behalf of the King until the throne would be claimed by one of the Royal House. The office was in all respects and purposes that of the King.
The Steward to King Minardil, Húrin of Emyn Arnen, was the founder of the House of Húrin. They were of royal Númenórean blood, but were not descendants of Elendil in the ruling line. After him all stewards would be chosen from his descendants.
During the time of the Steward Pelendur, who ruled briefly after the death of King Ondoher and his sons (Third Age 1944), this title became hereditary, passing the station of councillor from father to son, much like the Kingship. This line of ruling stewards carried on through twenty-six generations to Denethor II, Ruling Steward at the time of the War of the Ring.
Soon after the death of Denethor II, Aragorn Elessar was crowned King of the Reunited Kingdom. The Steward Faramir, son of Denethor II, surrendered to the King his rod of office, but it was returned to him. Faramir nominally ruled briefly as Steward until Elessar's coronation, but since Faramir rested in the Houses of Healing, Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth took his place much of that time. Though Faramir became Steward a month and a half before Elessar became King, Faramir is not considered one of the Ruling Stewards. King Elessar confirmed in Faramir and his descendants the office of Steward of Gondor, and granted him in addition the title of Prince of Ithilien, ensuring his line a position as councillor of the King.
List of ruling stewards
| # | Name | Reign | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Mardil Voronwë | Third Age 2050 – Third Age 2080 | Becomes Ruling Steward after King Eärnur leaves no descendants. Beginning of the Watchful Peace. |
| 2. | Eradan | Third Age 2080 – Third Age 2116 | |
| 3. | Herion | Third Age 2116 – Third Age 2148 | |
| 4. | Belegorn | Third Age 2148 – Third Age 2204 | |
| 5. | Húrin I | Third Age 2204 – Third Age 2244 | |
| 6. | Túrin I | Third Age 2244 – Third Age 2278 | |
| 7. | Hador | Third Age 2278 – Third Age 2395 | The last Steward of Gondor to have the full lifespan of the Dúnedain. |
| 8. | Barahir | Third Age 2395 – Third Age 2412 | |
| 9. | Dior | Third Age 2412 – Third Age 2435 | Succeeded by his sister Rian's son. |
| 10. | Denethor I | Third Age 2435 – Third Age 2477 | The Watchful Peace is broken. Orcs attack from Minas Morgul and people begin to abandon Ithilien. |
| 11. | Boromir | Third Age 2477 – Third Age 2489 | |
| 12. | Cirion | Third Age 2489 – Third Age 2567 | Defeats the Balchoth with the aid of the Éothéod. As a reward he gives them the land of Calenardhon. |
| 13. | Hallas | Third Age 2567 – Third Age 2605 | |
| 14. | Húrin II | Third Age 2605 – Third Age 2628 | |
| 15. | Belecthor I | Third Age 2628 – Third Age 2655 | The Corsairs of Umbar again become a threat to Gondor. |
| 16. | Orodreth | Third Age 2655 – Third Age 2685 | |
| 17. | Ecthelion I | Third Age 2685 – Third Age 2698 | |
| 18. | Egalmoth | Third Age 2698 – Third Age 2743 | |
| 19. | Beren | Third Age 2743 – Third Age 2763 | During the Long Winter, Gondor is besieged by Corsairs and Rohan by Dunlendings. |
| 20. | Beregond | Third Age 2763 – Third Age 2811 | Defeats the Corsairs. |
| 21. | Belecthor II | Third Age 2811 – Third Age 2872 | Death of the White Tree of Gondor. |
| 22. | Thorondir | Third Age 2872 – Third Age 2882 | |
| 23. | Túrin II | Third Age 2882 – Third Age 2914 | Defeats an invasion of Haradrim. Orcs invade from Mordor and Ithilien is evacuated. |
| 24. | Turgon | Third Age 2914 – Third Age 2953 | Sauron declares himself openly. |
| 25. | Ecthelion II | Third Age 2953 – Third Age 2984 | Defeats the Corsairs with the aid of Thorongil |
| 26. | Denethor II | Third Age 2984 – Third Age 3019 | Ruling Steward during the War of the Ring. |
| 27. | Faramir | Third Age 3019 | Returns the rule of Gondor to King Aragorn Elessar. |
Duties and office
Stewards served as the chief councillor to the king in the Great Council of Gondor or ruled instead of the king as the representative of the king when the king was absent or sick or between the death of the king and the accession of the heir of the king. Each Steward swore an oath "to hold rod and rule until in the name of the king, until he shall return" when they took up their office. This oath became a mere ritual after the last king of Gondor Eärnur had disappeared, but many in Gondor continued to believe that a king would return and some even remembered the line of the heirs of Isildur in the North.
The Stewards used a simple white rod for their badge of office. Additionally, they sat on a small throne that was in front of the throne used by the old kings of Gondor, letting that throne go unused in honor of the fallen kings.
Other names
Referencias
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