If you are a fan of The Lord of the Rings, you probably know that Aragorn is the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor, the ancient kingdom founded by Isildur and his brother Anarion. But how exactly is Aragorn related to Isildur, the legendary hero who cut the One Ring from Sauron’s hand and doomed himself by keeping it? In this article, we will explore the secret lineage of the King of Gondor and how it shaped his destiny.
The Númenórean Legacy
To understand how Isildur and Aragorn are related, we need to go back to the Second Age of Middle-earth, when a race of Men called the Númenóreans lived on a great island in the western sea. The Númenóreans were blessed by Eru Ilúvatar, the supreme deity of Tolkien’s universe, for their loyalty and courage in fighting against Morgoth, the first Dark Lord. They were gifted with long life, wisdom, strength and beauty, and they became the most powerful and advanced civilization in Middle-earth.
However, over time, the Númenóreans became corrupted by their pride and greed, and they rebelled against the Valar, the angelic beings who governed the world on behalf of Eru. They also fell under the influence of Sauron, who deceived them into worshipping him as a god and promising them immortality. Sauron persuaded them to invade Valinor, the undying land of the Valar, where they hoped to claim the gift of eternal life that was denied to them.
This act of blasphemy provoked Eru’s wrath, who destroyed Númenor with a cataclysmic flood and reshaped the world. Only a few faithful Númenóreans escaped the doom of their island and sailed to Middle-earth, where they founded two realms: Arnor in the north and Gondor in the south. These were the Dúnedain, or “Men of the West”, who preserved the legacy of Númenor and resisted Sauron’s tyranny.
The Heirs of Elendil
The leader of the Dúnedain was Elendil, a noble and wise king who was descended from the royal line of Númenor. He had two sons: Isildur and Anarion, who ruled Gondor together as joint kings. Elendil also forged an alliance with Gil-galad, the High King of the Elves, and together they waged war against Sauron, who had forged the One Ring to dominate all other rings of power and enslave Middle-earth.
The war lasted for many years, until Elendil and Gil-galad confronted Sauron at Mount Doom, where he forged his ring. There they fought a fierce battle, in which both Elendil and Gil-galad were slain by Sauron’s mace. However, Isildur took up his father’s broken sword Narsil and cut off Sauron’s finger with the ring on it. This caused Sauron’s physical form to collapse and his spirit to flee.
Isildur claimed the One Ring as a weregild for his father’s death and as a token of victory. He refused to destroy it in Mount Doom’s fire, as he was advised by Elrond and Círdan, two Elf-lords who witnessed his deed. He said that it was his by right and that he would keep it as an heirloom for his house. This decision proved to be his downfall, as he became corrupted by the ring’s evil influence.
Isildur returned to Gondor with his three eldest sons: Elendur, Aratan and Ciryon. There he assumed full kingship over both Arnor and Gondor, as Anarion had also died in battle defending Minas Tirith from Sauron’s forces. He also planted a seedling of Nimloth, the White Tree of Númenor that was burned by Sauron in his temple. The tree grew in Minas Tirith as a symbol of hope and renewal for Gondor.
However, Isildur did not stay long in Gondor. He decided to leave for Arnor with his sons and most of his army, leaving behind his youngest son Valandil as regent in Rivendell under Elrond’s protection. He also entrusted his nephew Meneldil with the rule of Gondor until Valandil came of age.
On his way north, Isildur was ambushed by a band of Orcs at Gladden Fields near Anduin river. He and his sons fought bravely, but they were outnumbered and overwhelmed. Isildur tried to escape by putting on the ring and becoming invisible, but the ring betrayed him and slipped off his finger as he swam across the river. He was then shot by an Orc archer and killed. The ring sank to the bottom of the river, where it remained hidden for over two millennia.
The Line of Valandil
Valandil was the only son of Isildur who survived the Disaster of Gladden Fields. He was also the only one who did not bear the One Ring, and thus was free from its curse. He became the first King of Arnor, and inherited his father’s claim to Gondor as well. However, he did not press his claim, as he respected his cousin Meneldil’s authority and wished to avoid a civil war. He also recognized that Gondor was too far away and too strong to be ruled from Arnor.
Valandil was the first of the Heirs of Isildur, a line of kings that ruled Arnor for many generations. They were also known as the Heirs of Elendil, as they traced their ancestry back to him and his father Amandil, the last Lord of Andúnië in Númenor. They kept the memory of Númenor alive in their hearts and in their lore, and they preserved the shards of Narsil, the sword that cut the ring from Sauron’s hand.
However, the Heirs of Isildur also faced many troubles and challenges. Arnor was a vast and sparsely populated land, exposed to attacks from Angmar, a realm founded by the Witch-king of Angmar, who was one of Sauron’s most powerful servants and the leader of the Nazgûl or Ringwraiths. The Witch-king sought to destroy Arnor and its kings, as he feared their potential to challenge Sauron’s return.
Arnor also suffered from internal strife and division, as the line of Isildur split into three branches: the kings of Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur. These kingdoms were often at war with each other, weakening their defenses against Angmar. Eventually, Angmar conquered all three kingdoms and wiped out most of their people. The last king of Arthedain, Arvedui, died in a shipwreck while fleeing from Angmar’s forces.
However, not all hope was lost for the Heirs of Isildur. Arvedui had married Fíriel, the daughter of Ondoher, the king of Gondor. Fíriel was also a descendant of Anarion, Isildur’s brother, through her father’s line. Thus, Arvedui’s son Aranarth was not only the heir of Isildur, but also the heir of Anarion and Elendil. He had a double claim to the throne of Gondor.
However, Aranarth did not claim the throne of Gondor either. He saw that Gondor had its own problems and its own rulers, who did not recognize his claim. He also saw that Arnor was ruined and had no people left to rule. He decided to renounce his kingship and become a Chieftain instead. He led a remnant of his people as wandering Rangers in Eriador, guarding its borders from evil.
Aranarth was the first of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, a line that continued until Aragorn II Elessar. They lived in secret and in exile, hiding their true identity and heritage from most people. They were loyal allies of Elrond and Gandalf, who knew their history and destiny. They also befriended the Hobbits of the Shire, whom they protected from harm.
The Return of the King
Aragorn II Elessar was born in 2931 of the Third Age, as the son of Arathorn II and Gilraen. He was also known as Estel (Hope) by Elrond, who raised him in Rivendell after his father was killed by Orcs when he was only two years old. Elrond did not reveal Aragorn’s true name and lineage until he was twenty years old, when he gave him the shards of Narsil and told him that he was Isildur’s heir.
Aragorn then left Rivendell to join his people as a Ranger under the name Strider. He travelled widely across Middle-earth, fighting against Sauron’s servants and learning many skills and secrets. He also met Gandalf, who became his friend and mentor. He fell in love with Arwen Undómiel, Elrond’s daughter and Gil-galad’s granddaughter, who chose to give up her immortality for him.