Post by Móreadhiel on Jan 16, 2007 14:26:47 GMT -5
Arvedui
Last King of Arthedain in the North-kingdom. Arvedui, son of Araphant, was born in 1864. At his birth, it was foretold by Malbeth the Seer that Arvedui would be the last King of Arthedain, which was the last remaining of the three kingdoms into which the North-kingdom of Arnor had been divided. Malbeth counselled Araphant to name him Arvedui, meaning "last king."
Arvedui married Firiel, the daughter of King Ondoher of Gondor, in 1940. When Ondoher and both his sons were killed in battle in 1944, Arvedui made a claim for the throne of Gondor. Arvedui was a direct descendant of Isildur, the eldest son of Elendil who had been the High King of Gondor and Arnor. His wife Firiel was the only surviving child of King Ondoher. In Numenor, women had been able to ascend to the throne, but this was not the case in Gondor. The Council of Gondor led by the Steward Pelendur rejected Arvedui's claim and Earnil - a captain of the royal house - became King of Gondor.
Arvedui did not pursue his claim. He became King of Arthedain on the death of his father in 1964. Arthedain was under increasing threat from the Witch-king of Angmar. In 1973, Arvedui sent for aid from King Earnil of Gondor, but help did not arrive in time.
In 1974, the Witch-king attacked Arthedain and seized the capital of Fornost. Arvedui rescued the palantiri of Annuminas and Amon Sul and he fled to the North Downs where he and his men held out for a time. They then retreated to hide in tunnels in the Blue Mountains. When their food ran out, they sought help from the Snowmen who lived on the shore of the Icebay of Forochel. The Snowmen gave them food and shelter from the harsh winter weather.
In March of 1975, Cirdan of the Grey Havens sent a ship to rescue Arvedui. The leader of the Snowmen advised Arvedui not to go but to wait for the spring thaw. Arvedui did not heed his advice. He gave the Ring of Barahir to the leader of the Snowmen as a token of gratitude and he and his men boarded the ship. A great blizzard came from the north and the ship was driven against the ice and its hull was crushed. The palantiri were lost and everyone aboard perished including Arvedui, the Last King.
The North-kingdom was ended and the Dunedain became a wandering people. Arvedui's eldest son Aranarth took the title Chieftain of the Dunedain and through him the line of Isildur was preserved.
Names & Etymology:
Also called Arvedui Last-king. Arvedui means "last king." The element ar means "royal." The element vedui means "last" and is derived from met meaning "end."
Sources:
Appendix A of LotR: "The Realms in Exile - The Northern Line," p. 318; "The North-kingdom and the Dunedain," p. 321-23; "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion," p. 329-30
Appendix B of LotR: "The Tale of Years," p. 367
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entry for MET
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil," p. 195
Last King of Arthedain in the North-kingdom. Arvedui, son of Araphant, was born in 1864. At his birth, it was foretold by Malbeth the Seer that Arvedui would be the last King of Arthedain, which was the last remaining of the three kingdoms into which the North-kingdom of Arnor had been divided. Malbeth counselled Araphant to name him Arvedui, meaning "last king."
Arvedui married Firiel, the daughter of King Ondoher of Gondor, in 1940. When Ondoher and both his sons were killed in battle in 1944, Arvedui made a claim for the throne of Gondor. Arvedui was a direct descendant of Isildur, the eldest son of Elendil who had been the High King of Gondor and Arnor. His wife Firiel was the only surviving child of King Ondoher. In Numenor, women had been able to ascend to the throne, but this was not the case in Gondor. The Council of Gondor led by the Steward Pelendur rejected Arvedui's claim and Earnil - a captain of the royal house - became King of Gondor.
Arvedui did not pursue his claim. He became King of Arthedain on the death of his father in 1964. Arthedain was under increasing threat from the Witch-king of Angmar. In 1973, Arvedui sent for aid from King Earnil of Gondor, but help did not arrive in time.
In 1974, the Witch-king attacked Arthedain and seized the capital of Fornost. Arvedui rescued the palantiri of Annuminas and Amon Sul and he fled to the North Downs where he and his men held out for a time. They then retreated to hide in tunnels in the Blue Mountains. When their food ran out, they sought help from the Snowmen who lived on the shore of the Icebay of Forochel. The Snowmen gave them food and shelter from the harsh winter weather.
In March of 1975, Cirdan of the Grey Havens sent a ship to rescue Arvedui. The leader of the Snowmen advised Arvedui not to go but to wait for the spring thaw. Arvedui did not heed his advice. He gave the Ring of Barahir to the leader of the Snowmen as a token of gratitude and he and his men boarded the ship. A great blizzard came from the north and the ship was driven against the ice and its hull was crushed. The palantiri were lost and everyone aboard perished including Arvedui, the Last King.
The North-kingdom was ended and the Dunedain became a wandering people. Arvedui's eldest son Aranarth took the title Chieftain of the Dunedain and through him the line of Isildur was preserved.
Names & Etymology:
Also called Arvedui Last-king. Arvedui means "last king." The element ar means "royal." The element vedui means "last" and is derived from met meaning "end."
Sources:
Appendix A of LotR: "The Realms in Exile - The Northern Line," p. 318; "The North-kingdom and the Dunedain," p. 321-23; "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion," p. 329-30
Appendix B of LotR: "The Tale of Years," p. 367
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entry for MET
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil," p. 195
