Arnor

**Arnor**, also known as the **Northern Kingdom**, was a kingdom of men located in the land of Eriador in Middle-earth.

## History

Arnor was founded in SA 3320 by Elendil, the sister kingdom to the southern realm of Gondor founded by his sons. The history of the two kingdoms are intertwined; both kingdoms are known as the Realms of the Dúnedain in Exile.

Before the foundation of Arnor there was already a sizable Númenórean population living in Eriador, a result of the slow emigration of Númenóreans which had started under Tar-Meneldur and Tar-Aldarion. Before the arrival of the Dúnedain, Arnor was home to Middle Men of Edain stock, and the early colonists soon interbred with the indigenous population. Arnor was originally favoured over the more southern regions (Gondor) because the Elves under Gil-galad lived nearby across the river Lhûn. However, in later days after the Númenóreans fell under Sauron's shadow they settled more to the south. This led to a situation where Elendil arrived in an area populated by people who, unlike the majority of Númenóreans, were mainly still friends with the Elves, and unlike Gondor to the south, in Arnor much knowledge of the Elder Days was still preserved.

Elendil perished in the War of the Last Alliance and Arnor's second king Isildur (also King of Gondor) was killed in TA 2 by Orcs in the Disaster of the Gladden Fields. His three eldest sons were killed with him, but the fourth and youngest, Valandil, survived and became king of Arnor. The north kingdom never really recovered from the losses incurred in the war.

Because Valandil and his heirs did not claim the throne of Gondor the realms were split, but Arnor's ruler kept the title High King, whereas in the south the ruler was just *King.* At its height, **Arnor**'s borders extended from the Icebay of Forochel in the north, the river Greyflood down to Belegaer in the south, the river Hoarwell in the east, and the river Lune in the west. The capital city was Annúminas, and the realm included other cities such as Fornost, Tharbad, Lond Daer, and Tyrn Gorthad.

### Decline

After eight hundred years of peace High King Eärendur died in TA 861 and his three squabbling sons divided the realm into the three kingdoms of Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur. The eldest son, Amlaith, claimed Kingship over all Arnor but was reduced to only ruling the region of Arthedain as his kingdom, while the other sons founded the kingdoms of Cardolan and Rhudaur. Thereafter the Dúnedain of the North spent their strength in foolish, petty wars, sapping their strength while enemies gathered in the shadows.

Arnor was refounded in name by Arthedain's king Argeleb I, when Cardolan placed itself under the suzerainty of Arthedain. However Arthedain was never more than a shadow of the united Arnor and was unable to resist the power of Angmar. The people of Arnor were mostly wiped out by these wars, but the Hobbits survived in the Shire, men survived in Bree and probably other villages, and the Dúnedain of Arnor created new homes in the Angle south of Rivendell, where some of them became known as the Rangers of the North.

### Reunited Kingdom

Aragorn II as King Elessar re-founded the Kingdom of Arnor as part of the Reunited Kingdom, rebuilding Fornost and making Annúminas his northern capital.