Isildur

Isildur (3209 S.A. - 2 T.A.) was a Dúnadan of Númenor, eldest son of Elendil. He was the last king of the united Gondor and Arnor.

Isildur had a younger brother Anárion. Isildur has four sons: Elendur, Aratan, Ciryon, and Valandil.

In his youth, Isildur stole a fruit of Nimloth before it was cut down, preserving the line of the White Tree, and later planted a seedling in the city of Minas Anor.

Isildur, together with his father and brother, Anárion were saved from the Downfall of Númenor when they fled for Middle-earth. Isildur and Anárion landed in the south and established the realm of Gondor, while their father founded the realm of Arnor in the north.

Isildur lived on the east bank of the Anduin and established the city of Minas Ithil (later renamed Minas Morgul), as well as the province of Ithilien. However, in 3428 S.A., Sauron captured Minas Ithil, and Isildur fleed down the Anduin, then northwest to Gil-gilad in Lindon, and his father in Arnor, leaving Anárion to rule over Gondor.

He returned with his father and the Elven High King Gil-galad in the Last Alliance of Elves and Men in 3434 S.A.. His father, brother, and Gil-galad were killed in the Siege of Barad-dûr. Isildur took the hilt shard of his father's sword, Narsil, which had broken beneath Elendil in combat with Sauron, and cut the One Ring from the Dark Lord's finger, destroying Sauron's physical form and winning the war.

Despite the advice of Elrond and Círdan, lieutenant of Gil-galad, Isildur did not destroy the Ring; instead claiming it as an heirloom for his House.

After the fall of Sauron, Isildur left Meneldil, son of his brother Anárion, in charge of Gondor, and returned north to Arnor with three of his sons: Elendur, Aratan, and Ciryon. His fourth son, Valandil stayed behind in Rivendell. At the Disaster of the Gladden Fields, Isildur was ambushed by roaming Orcs, and lost the Ring in Anduin.