Ecthelion

Ecthelion II was the twenty-fifth Ruling Steward of Gondor.
== Biography ==
Born in TA 2886, Ecthelion was the son of Turgon. Ecthelion succeeded his father when he died in TA 2953 at the age of ninety-eight years. When news of Turgon's death reached Saruman he declared himself Lord of Isengard and took possession of Orthanc which he then fortified. Ecthelion was a Steward of great wisdom but was powerless to prevent the appropriation of Isengard and Orthanc, so he did what he could to strengthen Gondor's defences with what limited resources he possessed, and supplemented Gondor's diminished forces by encouraging outsiders and foreigners that possessed a good character to enter into the service of Gondor and Ecthelion rewarded those individuals that proved their worth.
Aragorn son of Arathorn served Ecthelion, although under the name of Thorongil to hide his true identity. In this guise Aragorn became one of Ecthelion's most trusted and loyal retainers. Thorongil persuaded the Steward to send him to destroy the threat posed by the Corsairs of Umbar, and in TA 2980 the Corsairs were routed, the majority of their fleet was destroyed, and their leader, the Captain of the Haven, was slain. Thorongil also advised Ecthelion to listen to the counsels of Gandalf as opposed to those of Saruman, which Ecthelion did willingly. However, the great esteem and many honors that Ecthelion gave to Thorongil and Gandalf incurred the jealousy and anger of Denethor who felt both slighted and threatened.
In TA 2984, Ecthelion died at the age of ninety-eight years old after a rule of thirty-one years and was succeeded by his son Denethor II.