Eldarion
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Eldarion Telcontar is a character from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He is the only recorded son of Arwen and Aragorn II. He was born in the Fourth Age, probably around year 20 of that Age, and died around year 220 (assuming he lived roughly as long as his father). He became the Second High King of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor after his father died.
Despite the importance he commands as the son of Aragorn and Arwen (making him the future King), almost nothing is known of his life. It is likely that he maintained a positive relationship with Rohan and that he finished the re-building of the city of Osgiliath, which had originally been started by his father, King Elessar. It is also possible therefore, that Eldarion moved the King's seat of power back to Osgiliath, and away from Minas Tirith where it had been moved to during the destruction of Osgiliath.
It is even possible that during his reign, the city of Minas Ithil was rebuilt, although this is pure speculation on the statement in The Lord of the Rings that the valley in which the city was built could not be inhabited for some years, but not forever.
"Eldarion" means "Scion of the Eldar". He was also recorded as having at least two sisters. Though Tolkien does not use "Eldarion Telcontar" it is probably reasonable to assume that Eldarion did so as it was the name of Aragorn's royal house (Telcontar is "Strider", one of Aragorn's aliases, in the Elven language Quenya.)
| The Heirs of Isildur |
|---|
| Part of J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium |
| Sons of Isildur |
| Elendur · Aratan · Ciryon |
| High-Kings of Arnor |
| Valandil · Eldacar · Arantar |
| Tarcil · Tarondor · Valandur |
| Elendur · Eärendur |
| Kings of Arthedain |
| Amlaith · Beleg · Mallor |
| Celepharn · Celebrindor |
| Malvegil |
| Kings of Arnor |
| Argeleb I ·Arveleg I · Araphor |
| Argeleb II · Arvegil · Arveleg II |
| Araval · Araphant · Arvedui |
| Chieftains of the Dúnedain |
| Aranarth · Arahael · Aranuir |
| Aravir · Aragorn I · Araglas |
| Arahad I · Aragost · Aravorn |
| Arahad II · Arassuil · Arathorn I |
| Argonui · Arador · Arathorn II |
| Kings of the Reunited Kingdom |
| Aragorn II · Eldarion |
| House of Anárion |
Eldarion is descended from several royal Elven houses, including the Three High Kings of the Elves - and from the Edain. He is a grandson of Elrond and, through his grandmother Celebrían, a great-grandson of Galadriel. He is great-grandson of the father of the Númenóreans, Eärendil the Mariner (Eldarion is descended from Eärendil on both sides of his family), through his Half-elven mother Arwen, and the nephew of the Half-elf lords Elladan and Elrohir. He is descended also from the great Kings of Westernesse on his father's side.
Tolkien wrote that at the time of his ascending to the throne, Eldarion was "full ripe and ready for kingship". It is known that Eldarion was given the tokens of kingship (Andúril etc.) by his father, who then willingly gave his own life so as Eldarion could become King.
During his reign, the royal scribe (or King's Writer) was Findegil. In the year 172 of the Fourth Age, the latter completed a fair copy of the Thain's Book, probably made at the request of Peregrin Took's great-grandson. The Thain's Book was itself the most complete copy of the Red Book of Westmarch wherein Bilbo Baggins, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee recorded their adventures. Within the context of Tolkien's work, the Thain's Book was the original source for the tales we know as The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and The Silmarillion. The copy made by Findegil was brought to the Shire and kept by the head of the Took family, the Thain of the Shire, at Great Smials.
In Peter Jackson's movie The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Arwen is on her way to the Grey Havens to leave Middle-earth and Aragorn when she has a vision of Eldarion as a little boy (although he is not named in the film), which persuades her to stay. This is a departure from the events in the book.
For a time, Tolkien considered writing a sequel to The Lord of the Rings, called The New Shadow, which would have taken place in Eldarion's reign, and in which Eldarion deals with his people turning to evil practices; however, Tolkien later dropped the idea.
| Preceded by Aragorn II, Elessar Telcontar |
Kings of the Reunited Kingdom 120 FA – ??? |
Succeeded by Unknown |
[edit] See also
[edit] Sources
Tuckborough.net mentions the following parts of Tolkien's work as source for Eldarion:
- Appendix A of LotR: "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen," p. 343-44
- The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil," p. 202, 217-18, 244-46; "The New Shadow," p. 410, 419-20
- The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter #338 (reference to Eldarion's reign lasting 100 years)
