Stewards of Gondor

The Stewards of Gondor were firstly the chief high councilors to the Kings of Gondor and then the rulers of Gondor, until the return of the rightful ruler King Aragorn II Elessar.
== History ==
First created by the powerful King Rómendacil I, Steward was the traditional title of a chief counsellor to the Kings of Gondor. He was usually an elderly man not from the Royal House chosen for his wisdom and integrity, and was never permitted to go to war nor to go abroad. During the reign of King Minardil the House of Húrin was founded by his Steward, Húrin of Emyn Arnen and afterwards Stewards were usually chosen from his descendants. They were of high Númenórean blood, but not descendants of Elendil in the ruling line. During the time of the Steward Pelendur, the title became hereditary, passing the station of counsellor from father to son, much like the Kingship.
After the death of King Eärnur, who left no heir to the throne of Gondor, the Steward Mardil Voronwë became the first of the Ruling Stewards. Mardil was the first of the Stewards to administer Gondor, and his descendants did so for 25 generations.
The Stewards watched over the throne until it could be reclaimed by a true King of Gondor, an heir of Elendil. When asked by his son Boromir how long a time must pass before a Steward could become a King, if the King did not return, Denethor II replied, "Few years, maybe, in other places of less royalty … In Gondor ten thousand years would not suffice" (reported by Faramir in The Two Towers).
The Stewards never sat on the throne of the King; instead, they sat on a simple chair of black stone placed below it. The symbol of their office was a white rod and their emblem the letters R.ND.R surmounted by three stars. Their flag was pure white, without any charge or device.
The Quenya name for the title is Arandur , "Servant of the King".
== Known Stewards to the King of Gondor ==
Stewards to the King of Gondor (Between TA 492 & TA 541 - TA 2050) 	Stewards to the King of Gondor (Between TA 492 & TA 541 - TA 2050) 	Stewards to the King of Gondor (Between TA 492 & TA 541 - TA 2050)
Possibly many such Stewards since the creation of the office by Rómendacil I, the eighth King of Gondor.)	Possibly many such Stewards since the creation of the office by Rómendacil I, the eighth King of Gondor.)	Possibly many such Stewards since the creation of the office by Rómendacil I, the eighth King of Gondor.)
1. 	Húrin of Emyn Arnen 	(TA 1621 – TA 1634)
Unnamed others that served the Kings up until Pelendur 	Unnamed others that served the Kings up until Pelendur 	Unnamed others that served the Kings up until Pelendur
2. 	Pelendur 	(TA 1944 - TA 1998)
3. 	Vorondil the Hunter 	(TA 1998 - TA 2029)
4. 	Mardil Voronwë 	(TA 2029 - TA 2050)
No others until Faramir, 969 years later 	No others until Faramir, 969 years later 	No others until Faramir, 969 years later
5. 	Faramir 	(TA 3019 - FO 82)
6. 	Elboron 	(FO 82 - ?)
== Ruling Stewards of Gondor ==
The Ruling Stewards of Gondor (TA 2050 - TA 3019)	The Ruling Stewards of Gondor (TA 2050 - TA 3019)	The Ruling Stewards of Gondor (TA 2050 - TA 3019)
1. 	Mardil Voronwë "the Steadfast" 	(TA 2050 - TA 2080)
2. 	Eradan 	(TA 2080 - TA 2116)
3. 	Herion 	(TA 2116 - TA 2148)
4. 	Belegorn 	(TA 2148 - TA 2204)
5. 	Húrin I 	(TA 2204 - TA 2244)
6. 	Túrin I 	(TA 2244 - TA 2278)
7. 	Hador 	(TA 2278 - TA 2395)
8. 	Barahir 	(TA 2395 - TA 2412)
9. 	Dior 	(TA 2412 - TA 2435)
10. 	Denethor I 	(TA 2435 - TA 2477)
11. 	Boromir 	(TA 2477 - TA 2489)
12. 	Cirion 	(TA 2489 - TA 2567)
13. 	Hallas 	(TA 2567 - TA 2605)
14. 	Húrin II 	(TA 2605 - TA 2628)
15. 	Belecthor I 	(TA 2628 - TA 2655)
16. 	Orodreth 	(TA 2655 - TA 2685)
17. 	Ecthelion I 	(TA 2685 - TA 2698)
18. 	Egalmoth 	(TA 2698 - TA 2743)
19. 	Beren 	(TA 2743 - TA 2763)
20. 	Beregond 	(TA 2763 - TA 2811)
21. 	Belecthor II 	(TA 2811 - TA 2872)
22. 	Thorondir 	(TA 2872 - TA 2882)
23. 	Túrin II 	(TA 2882 - TA 2914)
24. 	Turgon 	(TA 2914 - TA 2953)
25. 	Ecthelion II 	(TA 2953 - TA 2984)
26. 	Denethor II 	(TA 2984 - TA 3019)†
Soon after the death of Denethor II, Aragorn II Elessar was crowned King. The Steward Faramir, son of Denethor II, surrendered to the King his rod of office, but it was returned to him. Faramir nominally ruled briefly as Steward until Elessar's coronation, but since Faramir rested in the Houses of Healing, Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth took his place during much of that time. Though Faramir became Steward a month and a half before Elessar became King, Faramir is not considered one of the Ruling Stewards. King Elessar confirmed in Faramir and his descendants the office of Steward of Gondor, and granted him in addition the Principality of Ithilien, ensuring his line a position as counsellor of the King.