Eärnil II

Eärnil II was the thirty-second King of Gondor.

Biography[]

The son of Siriondil, and a great-great grandson of King Telumehtar from a cadet branch of the House of Anárion, Eärnil II was selected to become king in TA 1945 after his predecessor, King Ondoher and his heirs, Artamir and Faramir, were slain in battle.

In the previous year a two-pronged attack had been launched upon Gondor by the Haradrim and the Wainriders. In response, King Ondoher led the main army north to counter the Easterling invasion, but was ambushed before the Black Gate, defeated and killed. Eärnil was commander of Gondor's southern army and guarded Ithilien. Eärnil led his army into Southern Ithilien where he won a great victory over the Haradrim and Variags. This enabled him to turn his attention to the invading Wainriders. The Wainriders, certain of victory, were celebrating their success before entering Minas Anor. They were unaware of Eärnil's victory in the south and were taken by surprise when Eärnil, having linked up with elements of the retreating Northern Army, suddenly attacked them. As a result Eärnil overwhelmed and destroyed them in the Battle of the Camp.

After the threat was eliminated Gondor's attention shifted towards Steward Pelendur and the Council of Gondor, for King Ondoher along with his two sons were slain at the Black Gate. Both Eärnil and Prince Arvedui of Arthedain (successor state of Arnor) claimed the throne. Arvedui based his claim on that he was the direct descendant of Isildur (second High King of Arnor and Gondor and founder of the realm), and as the husband of Fíriel, only surviving child of King Ondoher. The claim was rejected and Eärnil of the House of Anárion was elected king for his deeds, heritage, and because Pelendur claimed that "The crown and royalty of Gondor belongs solely to the heirs of Meneldil, son of Anárion, to whom Isildur relinquished this realm. In Gondor, this heritage is reckoned through the sons only; and we have not heard that the law is otherwise in Arnor". He reigned as Eärnil II.

Aside from being a gifted general Eärnil also was a wise ruler. He sent messages to Arvedui announcing that he received the crown of Gondor, according to the laws and the needs of the South-Kingdom, "but I do not forget the royalty of Arnor, nor deny our kinship, nor wish that the realms of Elendil be estranged. I will send to your aid when you have need, so far as I am able." And at last in the autumn of 1973, messages came to Gondor that Arthedain was in great peril, and that the Witch-king of Angmar was preparing a final stroke against it. Then Eärnil sent his son Eärnur north with a fleet, as swiftly as he could, and with as great a strength as he could spare to aid Arvedui (now King). Eärnur arrived too late to save Arthedain and Arvedui who had fled north (and was drowned in the Icebay of Forochel) but managed to defeat the Kingdom of Angmar in the Battle of Fornost with the help of Círdan, the Lord of the Grey Havens and Glorfindel with a force from Rivendell. There, Eärnur earned the hatred of the Witch-king.

However, Eärnil was not able to withstand the takeover of Minas Ithil by the Nazgûl. Minas Anor was subsequently renamed Minas Tirith (Tower of Guard) and Minas Ithil became Minas Morgul (Tower of Sorcery).

Eärnil died in TA 2043 after a rule of ninety-eight years and was succeeded by his son Eärnur, who was as good a general as his father but lacked his wisdom, and who would be the last King before Aragorn reclaimed his throne after a long gap.^[2] For the duration of the rule of the Stewards of Gondor, the silver crown of Gondor rested in the lap of King Eärnil.

Eärnil II

Biography[]

House of Anárion[]

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