Mardil Voronwë

Mardil Voronwë
Biographical information
Other names	the Steadfast
Titles	Steward to the King of Gondor, Ruling Steward of Gondor
Birth	TA 1960
Death	TA 2080
Spouse	Unnamed wife
Physical description
Race	Men
Gender	Male
Culture	Men of Gondor (House of Húrin)

Mardil Voronwë was a noble Man of Gondor from the House of Húrin during the mid-Third Age in Middle-earth and was the following:

1. Steward to King Eärnil II (TA 2029 - TA 2043);
2. Steward to King Eärnur (TA 2043 - TA 2050);
3. First Ruling Steward of Gondor (TA 2050 - TA 2080).

Biography

Born in TA 1960, Mardil Voronwë was the son of the Vorondil the Hunter.

By the time of his birth the position of Steward was already hereditary. The stewardship had resided with his line since the days of his grandfather Pelendur. Mardil inherited the title of Steward from his father Vorondil the Hunter in TA 2029. He was Steward during the last part of the reign of King Eärnil II and throughout the reign of Eärnur, Eärnil's son.

Mardil had the difficult task of restraining Eärnur's urge to fight the Witch-king of Angmar, the chief of the Ringwraiths, who accused Eärnur after the Battle of Fornost of being afraid to fight him.

The King of Minas Morgul (one of the titles of the Ringwraith) reminded Eärnur of this and challenged him at the start of his reign TA 2043. Although Eärnur wanted to fight the King of Morgul he was restrained with difficulty by Mardil. But when the King of Morgul issued another challenge seven years later in TA 2050, Eärnur would not be restrained. He marched to Minas Morgul and was never seen again.

Eärnur had never married and had no children, so Mardil took it upon himself to rule Gondor. There was no one with a clear and unassailable claim to the throne, so the rule of the Stewards was a way of averting civil war. Because the fate of the King was unknown, Mardil made an oath to rule until "the King returns". This oath would be sworn by all of the Ruling Stewards. Mardil ruled Gondor with a steady hand and earned the nickname Voronwë, which means "the Steadfast" in Quenya.

In TA 2063 rather than face Gandalf, Sauron retreated from Dol Guldur and went back to Mordor and so the Watchful Peace began.

It was soon learned that Eärnur had met certain death at Minas Morgul, and upon Mardil's death in TA 2080 at the age of 120 years old, his son Eradan succeeded him as the second Ruling Steward of Gondor.

After Mardil's rule his successors stopped using High-elven names in their offical names.

Etymology

Mardil is a Quenyan word that means 'Friend of the (Royal) House'.

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References

• The Lord of the Rings pgs. 670, 755, 1039, 1052-3, 1087 & 1108
• The Complete Guide to Middle-earth

External link

• Mardil Voronwë at Tolkien Gateway