Middle-earth

Kingdom

Arnor

Also known as North-kingdom, Kingdom of the North

The northern Dúnedain kingdom founded by Elendil, long divided and finally destroyed by Angmar, leaving only Rangers and ruins behind.

Tolkien’s textsSupported by the narratives published in Tolkien’s lifetime.
Category
Kingdom
Language
Westron, with Sindarin among the Dúnedain.

What this is

In brief

A political kingdom, not a people. The Dúnedain of the North were its people; Arnor was the state, later split into Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur.

Origins

Elendil founded Arnor in S.A. 3320 when he came to Middle-earth, making Annúminas his capital. On his death it passed to Isildur and his heirs, and for a time the North-kingdom was the chief of the Dúnedain realms.

Culture

A northern realm of Dúnedain lords, with the palantíri of Annúminas and Amon Sûl and close ties to the Elves of Lindon and Rivendell. Its people declined in numbers and power over the centuries.

Language

Westron, with Sindarin among the Dúnedain.

History

After Isildur’s death the kingdom weakened. Under Eärendur it was divided among his sons into Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur, which quarrelled and fell to the Witch-king of Angmar. Arthedain lasted longest and was destroyed in T.A. 1974, and the last king Arvedui was lost. The line survived in the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, from whom Aragorn descended, and the Reunited Kingdom restored the North.

Leaders

Settlements

  • annuminas
  • fornost
  • amon-sul
  • bree

Alliances

  • gondor
  • rivendell
  • the-shire
  • elves

Conflicts

  • angmar-wars
  • war-of-the-ring

Notable members

Sources

  • The Lord of the Rings · 1954–55

    Three volumes: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King.

  • The Silmarillion · 1977

    Posthumously edited. Contains the Ainulindalë, Valaquenta, Quenta Silmarillion, Akallabêth and Of the Rings of Power.

  • Unfinished Tales · 1980

    Expanded and alternative accounts of the First, Second and Third Ages.

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