Arnor (Middle-earth)
| Arnor | |
|---|---|
| J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium location | |
| Other name(s) | the North-kingdom |
| Type | Northern Númenórean realm in exile |
| Ruler | Kings of Arnor; Chieftains of the Dúnedain |
| Notable locations |
Annúminas, the Barrow-downs, Bree, Fornost, the Great East Road, the Greenway, the Old Forest, the Shire, Weathertop - provinces - Arthedain, Cardolan, Rhudaur |
| First appearance |
The Return of the King, Of the Rings of Power, Unfinished Tales |
| Location | Eriador, in north-west Middle-earth |
| Lifespan | S.A. 3320 - T.A. 1974; re-established in Fourth Age |
| Founder | Elendil |
| Capital | Annúminas, then Fornost |
Arnor is a fictional kingdom in J. R. R. Tolkien's writings. Arnor, or the North-kingdom, was a realm of the Dúnedain in the region of Eriador in Middle Earth (their South-kingdom was Gondor).
The name 'Arnor' probably means "Land of the King", from Sindarin ara- (high, kingly) + (n)dor (land). Arnor is the territory of Middle-earth associated with the High Kings of the line of Elendil, the kingship of which was restored at the crowning of Elessar (Aragorn) after the War of the Ring at the start of the Fourth Age.
At its greatest, Arnor encompassed almost the whole region of Eriador between the rivers Bruinen and Gwathló on the east and Lhûn on the west. It included Bree and the region which would later be known as the Shire. Arnor's population included Dúnedain in western-central regions and mixed or indigenous peoples. The original capital was Annúminas near Lake Nenuial.
Arnor was founded at the end of the Second Age (S.A. 3320) by Elendil, whose sons Isildur and Anárion founded Gondor at the same time. The history of the two kingdoms is intertwined; both kingdoms are known as the Realms of the Dúnedain in Exile.
Before the foundation of Arnor, a population of displaced Númenóreans already lived there, a result of slow emigration which had started under the kings Tar-Meneldur and especially Tar-Aldarion. The principal Númenórean haven was Vinyalondë, later called Lond Daer, at the mouth of the Gwathló. Before the arrival of the Dúnedain, Arnor was also home to Middle Men of Edain stock, and the early colonists soon interbred with the indigenous population. The Númenóreans who fell under Sauron's shadow settled primarily in the region of Umbar, far to the south. Thus, Elendil arrived in an area populated by people who, unlike his contemporaries in Númenor itself, were mainly still friends with the Elves, and who retained knowledge of the world's Elder Days.
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