Ecthelion II

The Stewards of Gondor were lords in Gondor, a fictional kingdom in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium of Middle-earth.

(Arandur in Quenya, one of the languages invented by Tolkien) was the traditional title of a chief counsellor to the Kings of Gondor. The office arose early in the Third Age during the reign of King Rómendacil I. After the Stewardship of Húrin of Emyn Arnen the office was awarded only to his descendants (the House of Húrin).

During the Stewardship of Mardil, the line of the Kings failed, and he and his successors were the de facto rulers of Gondor: the Ruling Stewards. In the absence of the Kings, the office by custom became hereditary, passing from father to son or nearest male relative, like the Kingship.

The Ruling Stewards were also styled Lords of Minas Tirith, Minas Tirith being the capital city of Gondor.

The House of Húrin was founded by one Húrin of Emyn Arnen, Steward to Minardil, the twenty-fifth King of Gondor (reigned T.A. 1621 to 1634). They were of high Númenórean blood, but not descendants of Elendil in the ruling line.

Although not considered a Ruling Steward, Pelendur was the first to effectively rule the kingdom, doing so for one year after the death of King Ondoher and his sons while fighting the Wainriders (T.A. 1944). Following their deaths there was no clear successor as King, and Pelendur played a key role in influencing the Council of Gondor to choose Eärnil over Arvedui of Arthedain, thus maintaining the line of the heirs of Anárion.

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