Aragorn II

(TA 2931 – FO 120) Dúnadan, sixteenth and last Chieftain of the Dúnedain of the North (2933-3019), restorer of the Dúnedain kingdoms in Middle-Earth and, as Elessar, first King of the Reunited Kingdom (3019-FO 120). As the heir of Isildur, he was raised secretly in Rivendell and was known as Estel until he was twenty, when Elrond revealed to him his lineage.

Aragorn then went into the Wild; for nearly seventy years he fought against Sauron in many ways and learned the customs of various peoples, until he was the hardiest and the wisest Man of his time. During this period Aragorn served in disguise Thengel of Rohan and Ecthelion of Gondor. In Gondor he was known as Thorongil because of the star of the Rangers that he wore; his greatest feat there was a raid on Umbar in 2980 in which he destroyed a large part of the fleet of the Corsairs. In 2956 he met Gandalf, and the two became close friends. In 3017, after thirteen years of intermittent searching at Gandalf’s request, Aragorn captured Gollum. The next year, he met Frodo and his companions at Bree and helped them to get to Rivendell. Aragorn was one of the Nine Companions, and led the Fellowship after Gandalf fell in Khazad-dûm.

During the War of the Ring, Aragorn was one of the leaders of the defence at the Battle of the Hornburg; during his time in Rohan he and Éomer became fast friends. Then, accompanied by Legolas, Gimli and a company of Rangers, Aragorn took the Paths of the Dead, acting on information gleaned from the palantír of Orthanc, which he wrested from the control of Sauron. As the heir of Isildur, Aragorn caused the Dead to obey him, and with their aid he fedeated the Corsairs at Pelargir and captured their fleet. He then brought a large body of men from southern Gondor to Minas Tirith to turn the tide of the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Later, he was captain of the Army of the West.

After the War of the Ring, Aragorn became King of the Reunited Kingdom and Lord of the Western Lands as Elessar Telcontar and married Arwen, daughter of Elrond. During his 120-years reign he extended the borders of the Kingdom and re-established long absent peace and prosperity. In addition to the wisdom he gained through his long period of fighting Sauron, Aragorn possessed Elven-wisdom and the foresight of the Dúnedain. It was said with justice that in him the nobility of the Númenoreans of old was restored.

Aragorn met Arwen when he was twenty, just before he departed from Imladris. He loved her from that moment, and they plighted their truth in 2980. Elrond, however, would not consent to marry his daughter to any Man who was less than the King of both Arnor and Gondor, and so the two were not married until after the War of the Ring. Aragorn and Arwen had one son, Eldarion, and a number of daughters. From the time of its forging in 3018, Aragorn bore the sword Andúril, and before then on occasion he bore the shards of Narsil.

Aragorn was called Elessar and Elfstone by Galadriel and the people of Gondor during the War of the Ring because of the emerald brooch he wore; he took this name, which was foretold for him, as his royal name. Called Strider in Bree before the War of the Ring, he took the Quenya equivalent of this name, Telcontar, as the name of his family.

Also called: Isildur’s Heir, the Renewer, Longshanks and Wing-foot; the last name was given him by Éomer, after the journey of the Three Hunters.

Related posts:

1. Arwen