Kings of Arthedain

The Kings of Arthedain were the hereditary rulers of Arthedain, one of the three successor kingdoms of Arnor after its division in T.A. 861.
== History ==
The first king of Arthedain was Amlaith, the eldest son of Eärendur the last King of Arnor. The kingdom of Arnor split into three pieces after the death of Eärendur. The other two kingdoms were named Cardolan and Rhudaur.
Beginning with Argeleb I onwards to the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, their names included the Elvish prefix Ar(an)- indicating loyal claim to the whole Arnor, after the lines of Cardolan and Rhudaur failed and the kings of Arthedain claimed the title King of Arnor. Practically speaking, however, their power was limited to the land of Arthedain which gradually diminished over the course of their seven hundred-year struggle with Angmar.
Angmar finally triumphed over Arthedain in T.A. 1974 with the destruction of Fornost. Arvedui, the last king, fled to the north, where he perished in a winter storm while trying to escape the frozen wastes of Forochel. Arvedui's son, Aranath, chose not to claim the kingship and instead became the first Chieftain of the Dúnedain in T.A. 1976. This marked the end of the kingship, though not of the dynasty of Isildur.
== Duties and Office ==
The duties would have been highly similar to those of the Kings of Arnor, though much reduced in scale. Several kings were involved in the wars against Angmar, where they would have led the forces of Arthedain against their foes.
The kings would also share the same badges of office that the Arnorian kings once used: the Shards of Narsil, the Ring of Barahir, and the Sceptre of Annuminas. After the dissolution of the kingship, these would pass to the keeping of Elrond, with the brief exception of the Ring of Barahir, which had to be retrieved from the Lossoth.
The kings controlled two of the three northern Palantíri: those in Elostirion and Annuminas. After the fall of Amon Sûl, they would gain the palantìr formerly housed there as well. However, the latter two palantíri would be lost forever in the shipwreck that killed Arevdui.
== List of Kings ==
The Kings of Arthedain were of the same lineage of those of Arnor, though are listed separately from them within royal chronicles. The Kings of Arthedain and the duration of their reigns were:
Kings of Arthedain	Kings of Arthedain	Kings of Arthedain	Kings of Arthedain
 	Name 	Reign 	Notes
1. 	Amlaith 	T.A. 861-946 	Eldest son of Eärendur, tenth King of Arnor.
2. 	Beleg 	T.A. 946-1029 	
3. 	Mallor 	T.A. 1029–1110 	Hobbits (Harfoots) enter Eriador during his reign. They would later settle the lands of former Arnor and Arthedain.
4. 	Celepharn 	T.A. 1110–1191 	During his reign, Fallohides and Stoors enter Eriador.
5. 	Celebrindor 	T.A. 1191–1272 	
6. 	Malvegil 	T.A. 1272–1349 	In the beginning of his reign evil came to Arnor. At that time the Witch-king saw an opportunity in the disunion of the Arnorians and the realm of Angmar arose in the North.
7. 	Argeleb I 	T.A. 1349–1356† 	He claimed lordship of all Arnor, since no descendants of Isildur remained in Cardolan or Rhudaur. He was slain in battle with Angmar and Rhudaur.
8. 	Arveleg I 	T.A. 1356–1409† 	He drove back Angmar from the Weather Hills with the help of Cardolan and Lindon. Like his father, he was slain in battle with Angmar and Rhudaur.
9. 	Araphor 	T.A. 1409–1589 	He was eighteen years old when he came to the throne. With aid from Cirdan he repelled the enemy from Fornost and North Downs.
10. 	Argeleb II 	T.A. 1589–1670 	Many Hobbits migrate from Bree, and are granted land beyond Baranduin by Argeleb II.
11. 	Arvegil 	T.A. 1670–1743 	
12. 	Arveleg II 	T.A. 1743–1813 	
13. 	Araval 	T.A. 1813–1891 	In alliance with the Elves of Lindon and Rivendell, he won an important victory over the Witch-king of Angmar.
14. 	Araphant 	T.A. 1891–1964 	The long silence and estrangement between Gondor and Arnor comes to an end. Araphant's son, Arvedui, marries Fíriel; the daughter of Ondoher, Gondor's king at the time.
15. 	Arvedui 	T.A. 1964–1974† 	The last king of Arthedain. His son, Aranarth, becomes the first of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain.