If you are a fan of The Lord of the Rings, you might have wondered how Aragorn, the ranger from the North, became the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor. The answer lies in his ancestry, which can be traced back to Elendil, the founder of Gondor and Arnor, and his son Isildur, who cut the One Ring from Sauron’s hand. In this article, we will explore the relationship between Aragorn and Elendil, and how it influenced Aragorn’s destiny.
Who was Elendil?
Elendil was a nobleman from Númenor, an island kingdom of Men that was blessed by the Valar for their aid in the War of Wrath against Morgoth. Númenor was a prosperous and powerful realm, but over time, its people became corrupted by Sauron, who deceived them into worshipping Morgoth and defying the Valar. Elendil was one of the few faithful Númenóreans who resisted Sauron’s influence and preserved the friendship with the Elves.
When Númenor was destroyed by the Valar as a punishment for its arrogance, Elendil and his sons Isildur and Anárion escaped with a fleet of ships and reached the shores of Middle-earth. There, they founded two kingdoms: Arnor in the north and Gondor in the south. Elendil became the High King of both realms and allied himself with Gil-galad, the High King of the Noldor Elves.
Elendil’s reign was cut short by the War of the Last Alliance, in which he led the Men and Elves against Sauron, who had forged the One Ring to dominate all other rings of power. Elendil fought valiantly in the final battle at Mount Doom, but he was slain by Sauron. His sword Narsil broke under him as he fell. However, his son Isildur managed to use the hilt-shard of Narsil to cut off Sauron’s finger and claim the One Ring for himself.
Aragorn is a direct descendant of Elendil through his son Isildur. Isildur was the first King of Arnor after his father’s death, but he did not rule for long. He was ambushed by Orcs at the Gladden Fields while returning from Mount Doom, and he was killed along with his three eldest sons. The One Ring slipped from his finger and was lost in the river Anduin.
The only survivor of Isildur’s line was his youngest son Valandil, who became the second King of Arnor. From him descended a long line of kings that ruled over Arnor until it was divided into three realms: Arthedain, Cardolan, and Rhudaur. The kings of Arthedain continued to claim the title of High King of Arnor and Gondor, but they had little contact with their southern kin.
The last king of Arthedain was Arvedui, who perished in the ice-bay of Forochel during the war against Angmar, the realm of the Witch-king of Angmar. His son Aranarth survived and became the first Chieftain of the Dúnedain, a remnant of Númenórean people who lived as wanderers and rangers in Eriador. They kept their royal lineage secret from most people and awaited for a sign that their king would return.
Aragorn was born in T.A. 2931 as Arathorn II’s son and Gilraen’s son. He was named after his ancestor Aragorn I, who was killed by wolves in T.A. 2327. He was also given another name by his mother: Estel, which means “hope” in Sindarin. He was raised by Elrond in Rivendell after his father died when he was only two years old. There, he learned about his heritage and his destiny to reclaim the throne of Gondor.
Aragorn met Arwen, Elrond’s daughter, when he was twenty years old and fell in love with her. He also befriended Gandalf, who revealed to him that he had found Isildur’s heirloom: the Shards of Narsil. Aragorn took them with him when he left Rivendell at age twenty-one to join his people as their Chieftain. He also received another name from Elrond: Elessar, which means “Elfstone” in Quenya.
Aragorn spent many years wandering across Middle-earth, fighting against Sauron’s servants and aiding various peoples. He became known by many names, such as Strider, Thorongil, and Wingfoot. He also encountered Frodo Baggins and his companions in Bree and became their guide and protector on their quest to destroy the One Ring. Along the way, he reforged Narsil into Andúril, the Flame of the West, and revealed himself as Isildur’s heir to Boromir, the son of the Steward of Gondor.
Aragorn played a crucial role in the War of the Ring, leading the Fellowship of the Ring after Gandalf’s fall in Moria, defending Helm’s Deep and Rohan from Saruman’s army, summoning the Army of the Dead to aid him at Pelargir and Minas Tirith, challenging Sauron through the palantír of Orthanc, and leading the final assault on the Black Gate to distract Sauron from Frodo’s mission.
After Sauron’s defeat and the destruction of the One Ring, Aragorn was crowned as King Elessar of the Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor. He married Arwen and had a son named Eldarion and several daughters. He ruled wisely and well for 120 years, bringing peace and prosperity to his lands. He died in F.A. 120 at the age of 210, and was buried in the House of the Kings in Minas Tirith. Arwen followed him in death a year later, and they were reunited in the Halls of Mandos.
Conclusion
Aragorn is related to Elendil as his 39th direct descendant through his son Isildur. He inherited his royal blood, his sword, and his destiny to become the King of Gondor and Arnor. He fulfilled the prophecy that said that “the throne shall be filled by a king who comes from afar” and that “the line of Lúthien shall not fail”. He was also more like Elendil than any before him, according to The Silmarillion.
Aragorn’s story is one of courage, loyalty, wisdom, and love. He overcame many hardships and dangers to achieve his rightful place as the King of Men. He also proved himself worthy of Arwen’s love and Elrond’s trust. He was a true hero of Middle-earth and a great example for all who follow him.
