Gondor

“Most famous of the Dúnedain are the men of Gondor, whose rule extends over all lands west of the Sea of Rhûn and south of river Gwathló, and whose two white towers – Cities of Sun and Moon, are known across all of Middle-earth. And yet, the years have taken their toll on the Gondorian people: we now see them divided, with a shattered nobility…”

“Yet even so it was Gondor that brought about its own decay, falling by degrees into dotage, and thinking that the Enemy was asleep, who was only banished not destroyed. – – Death was ever present, because the Númenoreans still, as they had in their old kingdom, and so lost it, hungered after endless life unchanging. Kings made tombs more splendid than the houses of the living, and counted old names in the rolls of their descent dearer than the names of sons. Childless lords sat in aged halls musing on heraldry; in secret chambers withered men compounded strong elixirs, or in high cold towers asked questions of the stars.” 

Gondor, or the South-kingdom, was one of the Kingdoms of the Dúnedain in the lands about the Mouths of Anduin. Initially the lesser of the Faithful Realms in-Exile, Gondor grew to become a great empire influencing most of the north-western Middle-earth. It was devastated by twin calamities, the Kin-Strife and the Great Plague, and after a brief period of resurgence in the 17th and 18th centuries, slowly dwindled away to a venerable relict of bygone days.

Etymology

The name Gondor was not the name Númenoreans used themselves. It was given by native peoples of Gondor and translated into Sindarin as “Stoningland”, from the words gond (“stone”) + (n)dor (“land”), meaning “land of the people who use stone”, as natives marveled the skill and scope of Númenorean stonecraft as illustrated by the seamless walls of Minas Anor and the great tower of Orthanc. From the name we can infer that the native Gwathuirim who had settled the land during the Bronze Age lived mostly in houses made of timber or wattle and daub. In earliest times, the realm was called the Hyallondië (South-Landing) or in full Turmen Hyallondiéva in Quenya, and Arthor na Challonnas in Sindarin. It is uncertain wether these names were made up by the Faithful themselves, or were given by elves of Lindon. Gondor was also referred to as the South Kingdom or the Southern Realm of the Faithful.

Introduction

Geographically, the land of Gondor is considered to encompass the Lower Anduin from the falls of Rauros to the Sea, as well as the warm and hilly coastlands south of the White Mountains (Ered Nimrais). However, the Kingdom of Gondor has historically been much larger. At its greatest extent, the realm extended north to the Fields of Celebrant and the southern eaves of Mirkwood, west to the Greyflood (Gwathló), east to the inland Sea of Rhûn, and south to the Harnen River, encompassing the peninsula and haven of Umbar along the coast.

Large parts of the northern territories were granted to the Northmen known as the Eothrim or Ehwathruma in the 13th century, who were military allies of Gondor. Prince Vidugavia was crowned King of Rhovanion, and his sister Vidumavi married King Valacar of Gondor. As a result, much of the Gondorian army came to be composed of Northmen officers and men. This decision sparked centuries of internecine warfare between supporters of Eldacar and Castamir, both of whom claimed the throne of Gondor. This conflict led to the extinction of many ancient Gondorian aristocratic bloodlines and the secession of southern provinces, such Harondor and Umbar, into independent lordships.

The climate of Gondor is characterized by dry and hot summers, as well as moist winters. Vegetation varies from drought-resistant shrubbery in the south (including cypress, pine, oak, and olive trees) to deciduous forests in the north, and coniferous trees and marshes in the mountains. Settlements are primarily located along the coastlines and in the fertile basin of the Anduin River.

Articles

• Gondorian Renaissance
• Annals of the Kings and Rulers

Prehistory

Conquering Númenorean colonists did not arrive in uninhabited territory. Lands around the Bay of Bel were settled in the Elder Days by Bronze Age cultures who practiced slash-and-burn agriculture, akin to the northern Haladin. They lived scattered, with each family leading its own life and making its own decisions. They cared little for assemblies, although they would gather if necessary under the rule of a single chief. Before the arrival of the Númenoreans, the power of these chiefs was limited, and women had equal voting rights in assemblies. The Númenoreans, descended from the peoples of Hador and Bëor, did not understand the language of the natives. They called them Gwathuirim (Sindarin for “shadow-folk,” those who dwell in shadow), as the men of Middle-earth were considered ignorant and superstitious. In later writings compiled by the Dúnedain, it is mentioned that among these shadow-folk lived stone-age woodsmen (drúedain), and unlike other peoples, they had female warriors.

From the earliest historical records at end of the Second Age we know that the land that became Gondor was divided into five petty kingdoms: Lamedon, Rimmon, Eilenach, Arnach and Arnen, all of which are pre-Númenorean names given in unknown language. Existence of a sixth Gwathuirim kingdom in South Ithilien was hinted in bronze tablets found in 1683 referencing kings of both “Arnen and Teremen”. Most of these kingdoms were conquered by Isildur and Anárion and they became the royal patrimonium outside the bounds of the original Númenorean colony of Pelargir. Lamedon, being stronger than all the others combined, remained independent much longer than others, finally submitting to Gondorian rule in the 7th century. Over time, the majority of Gondor’s native inhabitants adopted the language and culture of their conquerors and merged with the Númenoreans. Those who resisted were driven from the lowlands to the mountains and desolate wilderness. The last battle mentioned in the legends between the Númenoreans and the natives took place at the end of the Second Age on a ridge called Tarlang’s Neck, where the men of Lamedon ambushed and destroyed an entire Númenorean expeditionary force.

Greatest kingdom of the Gwathuirim in the White Mountains, centered around Erech, pledged allegiance to Isildur but broke their oath during the war against Sauron. Isildur cursed the king and all who followed him. Descendants of the Oathbreakers still dwell in Harrowdale in the White Mountains and in the Blackroot Vale. It was believed that the oathbreakers could find no rest after death but remain haunting the land. Those who abandoned their king avoided the curse but were driven from the mountains and forced to live a nomadic life, doing odd jobs and herding cattle among the Númenoreans. These conforming clans of shadow-folk came to be known as Danan Lin, “swarthy men” or “gypsies”, although they hardly differed from ordinary Gondorians in appearance. Over time, other displaced Gondorians have also joined these gypsy clans for various reasons.

People and culture

Over the course of a millenia, the common people of Gondor have mostly forsaken their ancient languages and adopted the tongue of the Númenorean conquerors, which has evolved into the common speech (sôval phâre) or westron. The majority of Gondor’s populace are illiterate, resulting in limited vernacular literature. From the 1200s onwards, the practice of letter-writing became more widespread, and even royal edicts are now published in the common tongue alongside official Sindarin.

A typical Gondorian is slightly taller than average, with mildly curly dark hair and brown eyes. Four out of five dwell in rural areas, working in agriculture. Most belong to a landless laboring class, compelled to toil on fields owned by others and pay rent. Urbanites, on the other hand, pay rent for their livelihoods, often through guilds, unless they are poor day laborers.

More than a third of Gondorians have some Númenórean blood, granting them entry into the respected citizen class. They own land, hold governmental and municipal offices, serve in the army, and engage in wholesale trade. This group comprises a higher proportion of fair-haired Gondorians. Typically, a commoner has only one name, along with a familiar nickname or patronymic. Citizens also have surnames, often adopted from their land holdings.

Nearly all Gondorians are devout Faithful. They believe in one God, the Flame Imperishable, in the afterlife, in the special status of the line of Elendil as the kings and patriarchs of the Faithful, and in the ongoing providence of the Valar on Earth. However, few have heard enough Words of Wisdom to be considered orthodox. Common folk beliefs include the sanctification of crossroads, mountain peaks, and groves. There is also a widespread belief in giants, who appear in many local myths.

A typical folk tale recounts the origin of the White Mountains. Ancient giants built the mountains to keep people away from their land by the sea. One of them, named Tarlang, tripped and broke his neck, as he had been carrying a heavy load on his shoulders. The other giants readily used Tarlang’s body to build the mountains, leaving his neck and head protruding from the rest of the hills to the south. Thus, the mountaintops to the south of Tarlang’s Neck were named: Dol Tarlang, meaning “Tarlang’s Head”; Cûl Veleg, meaning “Big load”; and Cûl Bîn, meaning “Little load.” The fracture point of the Neck is visible as a slight dip in the ridge near the base of Tarlang’s Head. The road crosses the ridge at that point.

Westerners (Dúnedain)

In practice, nearly all Gondorians regard themselves as Westerners, that is, heirs of Númenor. When King Tarannon Falastur expanded citizenship to include anyone with at least one Númenorean grandparent, those citizens whose blood had not yet thinned began to distinguish themselves from others by carrying long swords, known as ‘ankets‘. Later, carrying a long sword became solely the mark of the pure-blooded caste, a privilege and distinction safeguarded by royal decree since 1098. Over time, the Sindarin term ‘Dúnadan‘, meaning ‘Men of the West’, came to refer exclusively to the pure-blooded aristocracy. Simultaneously, it held religious significance, as all Dúnedain are presumed to belong to the community of the Faithful.

In Gondorian social order, the Dúnedain’s claim to supreme authority is rooted in their role as recipients of the gifts of the Valar, redeemed by blood in the war against Melkor, and appointed stewards by Eru (God) within the world. Númenorean lineage is an absolute requirement for nobility, and its sign is the readily discernible and continually diminishing trait — longevity, the gift of the Valar. Though this gift is slowly fading due to the Fall of Númenor, the Dúnedain still enjoy a lifespan almost twice that of the Men of Middle-earth. They mature at the same rate as others but enjoy what is known as ‘prolonged middle-age’, remaining fertile beyond fifty and beginning to decline in vigour only after a century.

Dúnedain are typically dark-haired, blue-eyed, fair-skinned, and taller than the average person. The average height of Númenorean men was once one ranga (1.93 meters), but nowadays it is a couple of inches shorter. Dressed in distinctive attire, Dúnadan men wear tight trousers and shirts, over which they don elaborate ceremonial cloaks adorned with pearls and bird feathers. As a contrast to their wealth, their attire is limited to the Faithful’s palette of black, white, blue, and grey hues.

Above all Dúnedain is their king, the descendant of Elendil. He is the living seal of the Dúnedain’s relationship with the divine, a totem around which the exiled Númenoreans have gathered. Descended from both Men and immortal Elves, he possesses special gifts: the ability to curse and to heal, to swear oaths alone in the name of Eru Ilúvatar, the one God, and to determine the moment of his own death.

The Dúnedain constitute Gondor’s aristocracy, the order of knights (heren requain). To be counted among them, one must have an income of at least 2,000 crowns (originally 10,000 crowns) in addition to Númenorean lineage. The eldest male members of the noble houses have the right to sit in the Great Council of Gondor. Númenorean law grants the Dúnadan privileges, such as the right to be judged by peers and the right to carry a long sword in public. Additionally, they cannot be arrested forcibly or sentenced to death (though civil wars have produced significant exceptions to the latter).

At the pinnacle are the fifty or so families whose ancestors came to Middle-earth with Isildur and Anárion from Númenor. They are known by the Quenya title ‘herenya‘, meaning ‘those who were saved’. Over two millennia, these families have amassed immense wealth. In 1652, the thirty-three remaining patrician families of Gondor were wealthier than all other Gondorians combined. Intermarriage and decline in fertility reduced the number of patrician families to twenty by the 19th century, when all of them could also claim descent from the royal lineage. By the time of the Stewards, most of them were extinct.

Freemen of the Mountains (Eredrim)

Some natives resented and resisted assimilation into Númenorean culture, choosing instead to cherish their ancient tongue and customs and to revolt against Gondorian kings. The true reason for rebellion likely lay in changes to land ownership: Númenorean colonists seized the best lands and consolidated them into vast estates, amassed from the spoils of war and confiscated from conquered peoples. Later, the practice of establishing agricultural colonies as a means to reward Gondorian soldiers created small landholdings, which would then be acquired by the landowning elite during times of economic hardship.

After several failed revolts, some natives of Arnach and Lamedon withdrew to the White Mountains, where they lived in tightly knit clans under their own laws and chieftains. In Gondor, they became known as orodbedhrim or eredrim, meaning “mountaineers”, or “Freemen of the Mountains”. They still speak a dialect of their ancestral tongue, Donael. In contrast to the commoners of Gondor, who willingly assimilated with the Númenoreans, mountaineer clans are entirely closed societies, where marriage between cousins is common. Mountainmen are typically shorter and stockier than commoners, with many having curly dark or reddish-brown hair. Legally, they are classified as subjects of Gondor, liable only to the poll tax and customs levied at fairs, and they do not have the right to own land or property in Gondor.

Northmen

The Men of Rhovanion, also known as “Northmen”, are considered descendants of the Folk of Marach and thus distant cousins of the Númenoreans. Like the ancestral House of Hador, they are tall, blonde, and blue-eyed. Northmen speak their own languages, which are related to Adûnaic and both descend from a proto-language sometimes called “Taliska” (the exact relation of which is debated in academic circles). Despite this familiarity — or perhaps because of it — Northmen of Gondor have been slow to adopt the common speech and speak it with a heavy accent.

Most of Gondor’s subjects living in Calenardhon and Dor Rhúnen are Northmen. They constitute a large portion of Gondor’s military, and after the Kin-Strife, King Eldacar settled many of his loyal Northman mercenaries on estates confiscated from rebels in Northern Ithilien and Lebennin. Many southerners harbor resentment towards them and hold them responsible for the ills that followed the civil war. This attitude has only reinforced the collective identity of Northmen as a distinct group from Gondorians in general.

Southrons (Haradrim)

The brown-skinned and dark-haired Haradrim inhabit the southern lands of Gondor, mostly in Harondor. They speak their own language (Haradaic) and maintain their own customs and way of life, despite centuries of contact with the Númenoreans. Literacy rates are higher among the Haradrim than among the commoners of Gondor, and many Southrons pursue trades and commerce in cities. Some, mostly herders and poor itinerant workers of Aegardh and Imlad Carnen, still practice their ancestral nomadic pastoralism. Gondorian attitudes towards the Haradrim are somewhat more lenient than towards the Northmen. There is no stigma from the civil war, and the Haradrim are mostly respected members of urban societies.

Woses (Drúedain)

Woses (wild-men, Pûkel-men, Drúedain) are a Stone Age hunter-gatherer people, whose members still inhabit the most rugged lands of Gondor in the Andrast peninsula, the Wilderland of Hairaverkien, and the Drúadan Forest. The land between Angren and Lefnui is named after them – Drúwaith Iaur, ‘Old Pûkel-land’. Woses were among the first people to journey westward, and they were the first inhabitants of Gondor before the later-arriving agriculturalists seized most of their territories.

Woses are very short and stockier than other humans. Their speech comes from deep in the throat. They live in the wilderness in small family groups, keeping themselves apart from others’ affairs. Woses are renowned for their wilderness skills, poisons, and magical abilities. They are also adept at shaping stone remarkably. The inhabitants of Anfalas have many tales of the wild-men. The oldest among them, known as the Faithful Stone, is one of the few surviving stories from Númenor, and at the same time, the archetype of all folk traditions concerning the Pûkel-men.

Politics and power

Faith and religion