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User talk:MikeyofGondor25

2024-04-23T01:02:58Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Reminder about references */ Reply

== References on TG ==
The rules of Tolkien Gateway require that statements are accompanied with a reference that points to a source written by J.R.R. Tolkien (and in some cases the page number) that supports those statements. Since you did not follow those rules, I will revert your edit. I recommend to you to read [[Help:References]] and [[Tolkien Gateway:Manual of Style]]. --[[User:Akhorahil|Akhorahil]] ([[User talk:Akhorahil|talk]]) 14:35, 13 February 2023 (UTC)

:Whatever information I add ''is'' from Tolkien's works. Some have references, while others are hard to find. I'm speaking in a general consensus. The reason why I add more information on certain characters is to make it more engaging to read about. All of that information is from Tolkien's works, as I've previously mentioned, but I paraphrase what is said.

:: Hi Mikey, those sort of additions still need to have citations. For example, if we add something about Aragorn that comes from information in the Strider chapter of The Fellowship of the Ring, we would add this after the sentence: <nowiki><ref>{{FR|Strider}}</ref></nowiki>. It will then appear in the References list at the bottom of the article. You can read more about how to do this here: [[Help:References]]. If you click a specific citation template on that page it will give you more information about how to cite a specific chapter of the book. In addition, the content of most articles here follow a fairly uniform layout. I suggest looking at how other articles are structured to see what kind of information we include, what kind of information deserves its own section in an article, etc. You can also click Edit on existing articles to see more examples of how citations are added with the <nowiki><ref></nowiki> tag. --[[User:Oromë|Oromë]] ([[User talk:Oromë|talk]]) 16:00, 15 February 2023 (UTC)

== Reminder about references ==
Hi Mikey, I added some references to your addition to [[Aragorn]]. I want to reiterate what's been said above: ''all'' statements about Tolkien's world, characters, etc., need references to the texts, at least to a specific chapter. Page numbers are ideal, but only if you have access to the one-volume 50th anniversary edition of Lord of the Rings; in other editions the page numbers won't match. References are needed even if the statement seems like common knowledge or common sense. There are a lot of misconceptions and myths going around about Tolkien, and the only way to keep Tolkien Gateway from perpetuating these is for ''all'' statements to be supported from the books. Additions without references risk getting removed, even if they're accurate. --[[User:Pachyderminator|Pachyderminator]] 17:01, 20 April 2024 (UTC)

:If it helps, you can think of it like this: Tolkien Gateway isn't about you ''know'', it's about what you can ''prove.'' The way you prove your statements is by referring to one of Tolkien's works. If something you're saying can't be backed up with a reference, you probably shouldn't add it to a TG article. --[[Special:Contributions/Mord|Mord]] 20:49, 20 April 2024 (UTC)

Mikey, are you reading these messages? Earth to Mikey, come in Mikey! Please, please, please add references on your edits. [[User:Pachyderminator|Pachyderminator]] has been kind enough to clean up after you. Do you need help? Is something confusing you? Please feel free to join the [https://discord.gg/ktX6fhU9FY Discord server] and come chat with other editors if you would like advice or help on how you can make helpful edits! --[[Special:Contributions/Mord|Mord]] 00:48, 23 April 2024 (UTC)

:Yes. I'm reading the messages. Thanks. What I really need help with are how to reference sources. For some reason, I can't do it in accordance with the rules, despite my efforts. Now matter how many times I look at the steps and try to follow them, it doesn't go through way I want it to. [[User:MikeyofGondor25|MikeyofGondor25]] ([[User talk:MikeyofGondor25|talk]]) 01:02, 23 April 2024 (UTC)

Aragorn

2024-04-22T03:59:29Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Physical Appearance */

{{sources}}{{Disambig-more|Elessar|[[Elessar (disambiguation)]]}}{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:Yulia Alekseeva - Aragorn in Rivendell.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Aragorn in Rivendell" by [[:Category:Images by Yulia Alekseeva|Yulia Alekseeva]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=''See [[Aragorn#Other names|below]]''
| titles=[[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]] Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] (after [[Gandalf]]'s death) King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]] [[Rohan]] [[Rhûn]] and [[Harad]]<ref>{{FR|Council}}, p. 248</ref>
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]] [[Sindarin]] [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]] (father) [[Gilraen]] (mother) [[Elrond]] (foster father)
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] At least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=At least 6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (1.98 m)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref><ref>{{NM|P2vi}}, p. 194</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (as a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (as a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] [[Hasufel]]
}}
<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil (King of Arnor)|Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

== History ==
=== Early life ===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn II and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought such a stone, called the [[Elfstone|Elessar]], from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]] and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").
[[File:Anna Kulisz - Elrond and Estel.jpg|thumb|left|''Elrond and Estel'' by [[:Category:Images by Anna Kulisz|Anna Kulisz]]]]
When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he were his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the twin sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>

"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]

=== Life as a Ranger ===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from [[Mordor]]. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the [[Stewards of Gondor|Steward]], whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take a few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

=== Hunt for Gollum ===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

=== The War of the Ring ===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]] then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond, Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the [[Fellowship of the Ring|company]] for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

==== Leading the Fellowship of the Ring ====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into [[Fangorn Forest]], where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshalled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

==== The Return of the King ====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] and drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took their ships north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

=== Reign as Elessar ===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

He pardoned the [[Easterlings]] that had surrendered and made peace with the [[Haradrim]]. He freed the slaves of Mordor and gave them the [[Sea of Núrnen]].<ref>{{RK|Steward}}, p. 968</ref>

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councillor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.
==Characteristics==
==Physical Appearance==
Aragorn is described as "lean, dark, and tall," with "a shaggy head of dark hair flecked with grey, and in a pale stern face a pair of keen grey eyes." [[Tolkien]] later wrote in [[The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen]], that he was 6'6"
===Personality===
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love. <ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> Aragorn was also described as '[[Elves|Elven]]-wise' due to spending his youth in Rivendell with [[Elrond]] as well as learning from [[Gandalf]].

=== Weapons and skills ===
Aragorn wielded [[Anduril]], the sword re-forged from the shards of [[Narsil]] as his weapon of choice throughout the [[War of the Ring]].<ref>{{FR|South}} "Aragorn had Andúril but no other weapon."</ref> He was an extremely capable swordsman, as he was able to survive the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] unscathed along with [[Eomer]] and [[Imrahil]].<ref>{{RK|Battle}}</ref> He was also a capable military tactician, as during that same battle, he was able to reinforce the [[Rohirrim]] and hit the weakest point of the army of [[Mordor]], along with taking time to rearrange his army's positions during the [[Battle of the Morannon]].<ref>{{RK|Gate}}</ref> He was also a skilled healer, most notably with the herb [[Athelas]], as he was able to heal [[Faramir]] and [[Eowyn]] of their wounds,<ref>{{RK|Houses}}</ref> as well as slow down the effects of the [[Morgul-knife]] used to stab [[Frodo]] on [[Weathertop]].<ref>{{FR|Flight}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name, which means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

== Other names ==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> '''Edhelharn''' is the [[Sindarin]] word for [[Elfstone]] ([[Quenya|Q]]. ''[[Elessar]]''). Derived from the words ''[[edhel]]'' "elf" and ([[Lenition|lenited]]) ''[[sarn]].'' Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer". This title was claimed by Aragorn after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. It referred to the prophecy that he would renew the hope of the Dúnedain by reuniting the Two Kingdoms.
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

== Genealogy ==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see '''''[[Ancestry of Aragorn II]]''''' for Aragorn's full line of descent.

<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}
</div>

=== Relation to Arwen ===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen was also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

== Other versions of the legendarium ==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there with the character envisioned as a relative of Bilbo and Frodo. This name would carry over when the character was revised into a man and would remain in use for much of the book's composition. During writing of the latter portions of Book II, Tolkien would temporarily rename the character, ''[[Elfstone]]'' on the proposition that a man should not have an Elvish name. Another name considered was ''[[Ingold]].''<ref name="comp">{{HM|RC}}</ref>

== Portrayal in adaptations ==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

=== Films ===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have commented that he looks Native American.<ref>{{webcite|author=Conrad Brunstrom|articleurl=https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/2023/12/21/tolkien-and-diverse-casting-the-1978-animated-lord-of-the-rings/|articlename=Tolkien and Diverse Casting. The 1978 animated Lord of the Rings|dated=21 December 2023|website=[https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/ Conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com]|accessed=11 March 2024}}</ref>

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film. His role is dramatically reduced to a handful of scenes and there is no mention of any previous involvement with the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn as full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part in this film is largely similar to the events in the book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

=== Television ===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

=== Radio series ===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

=== Games ===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journeys through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him look in the surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When the player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits have already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions in War of the Ring campaign.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about a conversation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search for [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black Gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

== See also ==
*'''[[Timeline of Aragorn]]'''
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], compares the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]], ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{references|notes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aragorn}}

== Titles ==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]] Cadet branch of the [[House of Isildur]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}

{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2024-04-22T03:58:41Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Physical Appearance */

{{sources}}{{Disambig-more|Elessar|[[Elessar (disambiguation)]]}}{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:Yulia Alekseeva - Aragorn in Rivendell.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Aragorn in Rivendell" by [[:Category:Images by Yulia Alekseeva|Yulia Alekseeva]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=''See [[Aragorn#Other names|below]]''
| titles=[[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]] Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] (after [[Gandalf]]'s death) King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]] [[Rohan]] [[Rhûn]] and [[Harad]]<ref>{{FR|Council}}, p. 248</ref>
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]] [[Sindarin]] [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]] (father) [[Gilraen]] (mother) [[Elrond]] (foster father)
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] At least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=At least 6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (1.98 m)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref><ref>{{NM|P2vi}}, p. 194</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (as a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (as a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] [[Hasufel]]
}}
<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil (King of Arnor)|Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

== History ==
=== Early life ===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn II and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought such a stone, called the [[Elfstone|Elessar]], from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]] and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").
[[File:Anna Kulisz - Elrond and Estel.jpg|thumb|left|''Elrond and Estel'' by [[:Category:Images by Anna Kulisz|Anna Kulisz]]]]
When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he were his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the twin sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>

"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]

=== Life as a Ranger ===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from [[Mordor]]. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the [[Stewards of Gondor|Steward]], whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take a few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

=== Hunt for Gollum ===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

=== The War of the Ring ===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]] then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond, Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the [[Fellowship of the Ring|company]] for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

==== Leading the Fellowship of the Ring ====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into [[Fangorn Forest]], where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshalled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

==== The Return of the King ====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] and drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took their ships north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

=== Reign as Elessar ===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

He pardoned the [[Easterlings]] that had surrendered and made peace with the [[Haradrim]]. He freed the slaves of Mordor and gave them the [[Sea of Núrnen]].<ref>{{RK|Steward}}, p. 968</ref>

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councillor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.
==Characteristics==
==Physical Appearance==
Aragorn is described as "lean, dark, and tall," with "a shaggy head of dark hair flecked with grey, and in a pale stern face a pair of keen grey eyes."[[Tolkien]] later wrote in [[The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen]], that he was 6'6"
===Personality===
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love. <ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> Aragorn was also described as '[[Elves|Elven]]-wise' due to spending his youth in Rivendell with [[Elrond]] as well as learning from [[Gandalf]].

=== Weapons and skills ===
Aragorn wielded [[Anduril]], the sword re-forged from the shards of [[Narsil]] as his weapon of choice throughout the [[War of the Ring]].<ref>{{FR|South}} "Aragorn had Andúril but no other weapon."</ref> He was an extremely capable swordsman, as he was able to survive the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] unscathed along with [[Eomer]] and [[Imrahil]].<ref>{{RK|Battle}}</ref> He was also a capable military tactician, as during that same battle, he was able to reinforce the [[Rohirrim]] and hit the weakest point of the army of [[Mordor]], along with taking time to rearrange his army's positions during the [[Battle of the Morannon]].<ref>{{RK|Gate}}</ref> He was also a skilled healer, most notably with the herb [[Athelas]], as he was able to heal [[Faramir]] and [[Eowyn]] of their wounds,<ref>{{RK|Houses}}</ref> as well as slow down the effects of the [[Morgul-knife]] used to stab [[Frodo]] on [[Weathertop]].<ref>{{FR|Flight}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name, which means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

== Other names ==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> '''Edhelharn''' is the [[Sindarin]] word for [[Elfstone]] ([[Quenya|Q]]. ''[[Elessar]]''). Derived from the words ''[[edhel]]'' "elf" and ([[Lenition|lenited]]) ''[[sarn]].'' Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer". This title was claimed by Aragorn after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. It referred to the prophecy that he would renew the hope of the Dúnedain by reuniting the Two Kingdoms.
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

== Genealogy ==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see '''''[[Ancestry of Aragorn II]]''''' for Aragorn's full line of descent.

<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}
</div>

=== Relation to Arwen ===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen was also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

== Other versions of the legendarium ==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there with the character envisioned as a relative of Bilbo and Frodo. This name would carry over when the character was revised into a man and would remain in use for much of the book's composition. During writing of the latter portions of Book II, Tolkien would temporarily rename the character, ''[[Elfstone]]'' on the proposition that a man should not have an Elvish name. Another name considered was ''[[Ingold]].''<ref name="comp">{{HM|RC}}</ref>

== Portrayal in adaptations ==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

=== Films ===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have commented that he looks Native American.<ref>{{webcite|author=Conrad Brunstrom|articleurl=https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/2023/12/21/tolkien-and-diverse-casting-the-1978-animated-lord-of-the-rings/|articlename=Tolkien and Diverse Casting. The 1978 animated Lord of the Rings|dated=21 December 2023|website=[https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/ Conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com]|accessed=11 March 2024}}</ref>

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film. His role is dramatically reduced to a handful of scenes and there is no mention of any previous involvement with the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn as full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part in this film is largely similar to the events in the book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

=== Television ===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

=== Radio series ===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

=== Games ===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journeys through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him look in the surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When the player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits have already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions in War of the Ring campaign.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about a conversation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search for [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black Gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

== See also ==
*'''[[Timeline of Aragorn]]'''
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], compares the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]], ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{references|notes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aragorn}}

== Titles ==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]] Cadet branch of the [[House of Isildur]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}

{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2024-04-22T03:58:21Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Physical Appearance */

{{sources}}{{Disambig-more|Elessar|[[Elessar (disambiguation)]]}}{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:Yulia Alekseeva - Aragorn in Rivendell.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Aragorn in Rivendell" by [[:Category:Images by Yulia Alekseeva|Yulia Alekseeva]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=''See [[Aragorn#Other names|below]]''
| titles=[[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]] Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] (after [[Gandalf]]'s death) King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]] [[Rohan]] [[Rhûn]] and [[Harad]]<ref>{{FR|Council}}, p. 248</ref>
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]] [[Sindarin]] [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]] (father) [[Gilraen]] (mother) [[Elrond]] (foster father)
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] At least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=At least 6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (1.98 m)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref><ref>{{NM|P2vi}}, p. 194</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (as a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (as a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] [[Hasufel]]
}}
<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil (King of Arnor)|Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

== History ==
=== Early life ===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn II and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought such a stone, called the [[Elfstone|Elessar]], from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]] and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").
[[File:Anna Kulisz - Elrond and Estel.jpg|thumb|left|''Elrond and Estel'' by [[:Category:Images by Anna Kulisz|Anna Kulisz]]]]
When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he were his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the twin sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>

"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]

=== Life as a Ranger ===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from [[Mordor]]. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the [[Stewards of Gondor|Steward]], whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take a few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

=== Hunt for Gollum ===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

=== The War of the Ring ===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]] then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond, Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the [[Fellowship of the Ring|company]] for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

==== Leading the Fellowship of the Ring ====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into [[Fangorn Forest]], where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshalled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

==== The Return of the King ====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] and drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took their ships north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

=== Reign as Elessar ===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

He pardoned the [[Easterlings]] that had surrendered and made peace with the [[Haradrim]]. He freed the slaves of Mordor and gave them the [[Sea of Núrnen]].<ref>{{RK|Steward}}, p. 968</ref>

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councillor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.
==Characteristics==
==Physical Appearance==
Aragorn is described as "lean, dark, and tall," with "a shaggy head of dark hair flecked with grey, and in a pale stern face a pair of keen grey eyes." <ref>{FR/Pony}} [[Tolkien]] later wrote in [[The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen]], that he was 6'6"
===Personality===
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love. <ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> Aragorn was also described as '[[Elves|Elven]]-wise' due to spending his youth in Rivendell with [[Elrond]] as well as learning from [[Gandalf]].

=== Weapons and skills ===
Aragorn wielded [[Anduril]], the sword re-forged from the shards of [[Narsil]] as his weapon of choice throughout the [[War of the Ring]].<ref>{{FR|South}} "Aragorn had Andúril but no other weapon."</ref> He was an extremely capable swordsman, as he was able to survive the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] unscathed along with [[Eomer]] and [[Imrahil]].<ref>{{RK|Battle}}</ref> He was also a capable military tactician, as during that same battle, he was able to reinforce the [[Rohirrim]] and hit the weakest point of the army of [[Mordor]], along with taking time to rearrange his army's positions during the [[Battle of the Morannon]].<ref>{{RK|Gate}}</ref> He was also a skilled healer, most notably with the herb [[Athelas]], as he was able to heal [[Faramir]] and [[Eowyn]] of their wounds,<ref>{{RK|Houses}}</ref> as well as slow down the effects of the [[Morgul-knife]] used to stab [[Frodo]] on [[Weathertop]].<ref>{{FR|Flight}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name, which means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

== Other names ==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> '''Edhelharn''' is the [[Sindarin]] word for [[Elfstone]] ([[Quenya|Q]]. ''[[Elessar]]''). Derived from the words ''[[edhel]]'' "elf" and ([[Lenition|lenited]]) ''[[sarn]].'' Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer". This title was claimed by Aragorn after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. It referred to the prophecy that he would renew the hope of the Dúnedain by reuniting the Two Kingdoms.
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

== Genealogy ==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see '''''[[Ancestry of Aragorn II]]''''' for Aragorn's full line of descent.

<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}
</div>

=== Relation to Arwen ===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen was also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

== Other versions of the legendarium ==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there with the character envisioned as a relative of Bilbo and Frodo. This name would carry over when the character was revised into a man and would remain in use for much of the book's composition. During writing of the latter portions of Book II, Tolkien would temporarily rename the character, ''[[Elfstone]]'' on the proposition that a man should not have an Elvish name. Another name considered was ''[[Ingold]].''<ref name="comp">{{HM|RC}}</ref>

== Portrayal in adaptations ==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

=== Films ===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have commented that he looks Native American.<ref>{{webcite|author=Conrad Brunstrom|articleurl=https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/2023/12/21/tolkien-and-diverse-casting-the-1978-animated-lord-of-the-rings/|articlename=Tolkien and Diverse Casting. The 1978 animated Lord of the Rings|dated=21 December 2023|website=[https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/ Conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com]|accessed=11 March 2024}}</ref>

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film. His role is dramatically reduced to a handful of scenes and there is no mention of any previous involvement with the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn as full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part in this film is largely similar to the events in the book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

=== Television ===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

=== Radio series ===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

=== Games ===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journeys through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him look in the surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When the player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits have already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions in War of the Ring campaign.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about a conversation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search for [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black Gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

== See also ==
*'''[[Timeline of Aragorn]]'''
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], compares the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]], ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{references|notes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aragorn}}

== Titles ==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]] Cadet branch of the [[House of Isildur]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}

{{councilofelrond}}
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{{FellowshipRoute}}
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[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2024-04-22T03:56:01Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Characteristics */

Aragorn

2024-04-22T03:43:13Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Personality */

{{sources}}{{Disambig-more|Elessar|[[Elessar (disambiguation)]]}}{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:Yulia Alekseeva - Aragorn in Rivendell.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Aragorn in Rivendell" by [[:Category:Images by Yulia Alekseeva|Yulia Alekseeva]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=''See [[Aragorn#Other names|below]]''
| titles=[[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]] Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] (after [[Gandalf]]'s death) King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]] [[Rohan]] [[Rhûn]] and [[Harad]]<ref>{{FR|Council}}, p. 248</ref>
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]] [[Sindarin]] [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]] (father) [[Gilraen]] (mother) [[Elrond]] (foster father)
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] At least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=At least 6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (1.98 m)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref><ref>{{NM|P2vi}}, p. 194</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (as a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (as a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] [[Hasufel]]
}}
<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil (King of Arnor)|Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

== History ==
=== Early life ===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn II and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought such a stone, called the [[Elfstone|Elessar]], from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]] and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").
[[File:Anna Kulisz - Elrond and Estel.jpg|thumb|left|''Elrond and Estel'' by [[:Category:Images by Anna Kulisz|Anna Kulisz]]]]
When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he were his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the twin sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>

"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]

=== Life as a Ranger ===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from [[Mordor]]. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the [[Stewards of Gondor|Steward]], whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take a few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

=== Hunt for Gollum ===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

=== The War of the Ring ===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]] then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond, Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the [[Fellowship of the Ring|company]] for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

==== Leading the Fellowship of the Ring ====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into [[Fangorn Forest]], where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshalled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

==== The Return of the King ====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] and drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took their ships north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

=== Reign as Elessar ===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

He pardoned the [[Easterlings]] that had surrendered and made peace with the [[Haradrim]]. He freed the slaves of Mordor and gave them the [[Sea of Núrnen]].<ref>{{RK|Steward}}, p. 968</ref>

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councillor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.
==Characteristics==
===Personality===
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love. <ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> Aragorn was also described as '[[Elves|Elven]]-wise' due to spending his youth in Rivendell with [[Elrond]] as well as learning from [[Gandalf]].

=== Weapons and skills ===
Aragorn wielded [[Anduril]], the sword re-forged from the shards of [[Narsil]] as his weapon of choice throughout the [[War of the Ring]].<ref>{{FR|South}} "Aragorn had Andúril but no other weapon."</ref> He was an extremely capable swordsman, as he was able to survive the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] unscathed along with [[Eomer]] and [[Imrahil]].<ref>{{RK|Battle}}</ref> He was also a capable military tactician, as during that same battle, he was able to reinforce the [[Rohirrim]] and hit the weakest point of the army of [[Mordor]], along with taking time to rearrange his army's positions during the [[Battle of the Morannon]].<ref>{{RK|Gate}}</ref> He was also a skilled healer, most notably with the herb [[Athelas]], as he was able to heal [[Faramir]] and [[Eowyn]] of their wounds,<ref>{{RK|Houses}}</ref> as well as slow down the effects of the [[Morgul-knife]] used to stab [[Frodo]] on [[Weathertop]].<ref>{{FR|Flight}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name, which means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

== Other names ==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> '''Edhelharn''' is the [[Sindarin]] word for [[Elfstone]] ([[Quenya|Q]]. ''[[Elessar]]''). Derived from the words ''[[edhel]]'' "elf" and ([[Lenition|lenited]]) ''[[sarn]].'' Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer". This title was claimed by Aragorn after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. It referred to the prophecy that he would renew the hope of the Dúnedain by reuniting the Two Kingdoms.
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

== Genealogy ==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see '''''[[Ancestry of Aragorn II]]''''' for Aragorn's full line of descent.

<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}
</div>

=== Relation to Arwen ===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen was also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

== Other versions of the legendarium ==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there with the character envisioned as a relative of Bilbo and Frodo. This name would carry over when the character was revised into a man and would remain in use for much of the book's composition. During writing of the latter portions of Book II, Tolkien would temporarily rename the character, ''[[Elfstone]]'' on the proposition that a man should not have an Elvish name. Another name considered was ''[[Ingold]].''<ref name="comp">{{HM|RC}}</ref>

== Portrayal in adaptations ==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

=== Films ===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have commented that he looks Native American.<ref>{{webcite|author=Conrad Brunstrom|articleurl=https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/2023/12/21/tolkien-and-diverse-casting-the-1978-animated-lord-of-the-rings/|articlename=Tolkien and Diverse Casting. The 1978 animated Lord of the Rings|dated=21 December 2023|website=[https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/ Conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com]|accessed=11 March 2024}}</ref>

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film. His role is dramatically reduced to a handful of scenes and there is no mention of any previous involvement with the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn as full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part in this film is largely similar to the events in the book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

=== Television ===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

=== Radio series ===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

=== Games ===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journeys through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him look in the surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When the player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits have already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions in War of the Ring campaign.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about a conversation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search for [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black Gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

== See also ==
*'''[[Timeline of Aragorn]]'''
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], compares the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]], ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{references|notes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aragorn}}

== Titles ==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]] Cadet branch of the [[House of Isildur]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}

{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2024-04-22T03:42:12Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Personality */

{{sources}}{{Disambig-more|Elessar|[[Elessar (disambiguation)]]}}{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:Yulia Alekseeva - Aragorn in Rivendell.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Aragorn in Rivendell" by [[:Category:Images by Yulia Alekseeva|Yulia Alekseeva]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=''See [[Aragorn#Other names|below]]''
| titles=[[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]] Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] (after [[Gandalf]]'s death) King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]] [[Rohan]] [[Rhûn]] and [[Harad]]<ref>{{FR|Council}}, p. 248</ref>
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]] [[Sindarin]] [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]] (father) [[Gilraen]] (mother) [[Elrond]] (foster father)
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] At least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=At least 6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (1.98 m)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref><ref>{{NM|P2vi}}, p. 194</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (as a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (as a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] [[Hasufel]]
}}
<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil (King of Arnor)|Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

== History ==
=== Early life ===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn II and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought such a stone, called the [[Elfstone|Elessar]], from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]] and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").
[[File:Anna Kulisz - Elrond and Estel.jpg|thumb|left|''Elrond and Estel'' by [[:Category:Images by Anna Kulisz|Anna Kulisz]]]]
When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he were his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the twin sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>

"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]

=== Life as a Ranger ===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from [[Mordor]]. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the [[Stewards of Gondor|Steward]], whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take a few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

=== Hunt for Gollum ===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

=== The War of the Ring ===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]] then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond, Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the [[Fellowship of the Ring|company]] for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

==== Leading the Fellowship of the Ring ====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into [[Fangorn Forest]], where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshalled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

==== The Return of the King ====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] and drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took their ships north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

=== Reign as Elessar ===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

He pardoned the [[Easterlings]] that had surrendered and made peace with the [[Haradrim]]. He freed the slaves of Mordor and gave them the [[Sea of Núrnen]].<ref>{{RK|Steward}}, p. 968</ref>

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councillor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.
==Characteristics==
===Personality===
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love. <ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> Aragorn was also described as '[[Elves|Elven]]-wise' due to spending his youth in Rivendell with [[Elrond]] as well as learning from [[Gandalf]] </Appendix A>

=== Weapons and skills ===
Aragorn wielded [[Anduril]], the sword re-forged from the shards of [[Narsil]] as his weapon of choice throughout the [[War of the Ring]].<ref>{{FR|South}} "Aragorn had Andúril but no other weapon."</ref> He was an extremely capable swordsman, as he was able to survive the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] unscathed along with [[Eomer]] and [[Imrahil]].<ref>{{RK|Battle}}</ref> He was also a capable military tactician, as during that same battle, he was able to reinforce the [[Rohirrim]] and hit the weakest point of the army of [[Mordor]], along with taking time to rearrange his army's positions during the [[Battle of the Morannon]].<ref>{{RK|Gate}}</ref> He was also a skilled healer, most notably with the herb [[Athelas]], as he was able to heal [[Faramir]] and [[Eowyn]] of their wounds,<ref>{{RK|Houses}}</ref> as well as slow down the effects of the [[Morgul-knife]] used to stab [[Frodo]] on [[Weathertop]].<ref>{{FR|Flight}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name, which means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

== Other names ==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> '''Edhelharn''' is the [[Sindarin]] word for [[Elfstone]] ([[Quenya|Q]]. ''[[Elessar]]''). Derived from the words ''[[edhel]]'' "elf" and ([[Lenition|lenited]]) ''[[sarn]].'' Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer". This title was claimed by Aragorn after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. It referred to the prophecy that he would renew the hope of the Dúnedain by reuniting the Two Kingdoms.
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

== Genealogy ==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see '''''[[Ancestry of Aragorn II]]''''' for Aragorn's full line of descent.

<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}
</div>

=== Relation to Arwen ===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen was also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

== Other versions of the legendarium ==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there with the character envisioned as a relative of Bilbo and Frodo. This name would carry over when the character was revised into a man and would remain in use for much of the book's composition. During writing of the latter portions of Book II, Tolkien would temporarily rename the character, ''[[Elfstone]]'' on the proposition that a man should not have an Elvish name. Another name considered was ''[[Ingold]].''<ref name="comp">{{HM|RC}}</ref>

== Portrayal in adaptations ==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

=== Films ===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have commented that he looks Native American.<ref>{{webcite|author=Conrad Brunstrom|articleurl=https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/2023/12/21/tolkien-and-diverse-casting-the-1978-animated-lord-of-the-rings/|articlename=Tolkien and Diverse Casting. The 1978 animated Lord of the Rings|dated=21 December 2023|website=[https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/ Conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com]|accessed=11 March 2024}}</ref>

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film. His role is dramatically reduced to a handful of scenes and there is no mention of any previous involvement with the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn as full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part in this film is largely similar to the events in the book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

=== Television ===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

=== Radio series ===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

=== Games ===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journeys through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him look in the surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When the player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits have already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions in War of the Ring campaign.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about a conversation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search for [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black Gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

== See also ==
*'''[[Timeline of Aragorn]]'''
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], compares the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]], ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{references|notes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aragorn}}

== Titles ==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]] Cadet branch of the [[House of Isildur]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}

{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2024-04-22T03:40:31Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Personality */

{{sources}}{{Disambig-more|Elessar|[[Elessar (disambiguation)]]}}{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:Yulia Alekseeva - Aragorn in Rivendell.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Aragorn in Rivendell" by [[:Category:Images by Yulia Alekseeva|Yulia Alekseeva]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=''See [[Aragorn#Other names|below]]''
| titles=[[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]] Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] (after [[Gandalf]]'s death) King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]] [[Rohan]] [[Rhûn]] and [[Harad]]<ref>{{FR|Council}}, p. 248</ref>
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]] [[Sindarin]] [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]] (father) [[Gilraen]] (mother) [[Elrond]] (foster father)
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] At least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=At least 6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (1.98 m)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref><ref>{{NM|P2vi}}, p. 194</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (as a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (as a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] [[Hasufel]]
}}
<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil (King of Arnor)|Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

== History ==
=== Early life ===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn II and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought such a stone, called the [[Elfstone|Elessar]], from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]] and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").
[[File:Anna Kulisz - Elrond and Estel.jpg|thumb|left|''Elrond and Estel'' by [[:Category:Images by Anna Kulisz|Anna Kulisz]]]]
When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he were his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the twin sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>

"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]

=== Life as a Ranger ===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from [[Mordor]]. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the [[Stewards of Gondor|Steward]], whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take a few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

=== Hunt for Gollum ===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

=== The War of the Ring ===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]] then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond, Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the [[Fellowship of the Ring|company]] for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

==== Leading the Fellowship of the Ring ====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into [[Fangorn Forest]], where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshalled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

==== The Return of the King ====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] and drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took their ships north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

=== Reign as Elessar ===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

He pardoned the [[Easterlings]] that had surrendered and made peace with the [[Haradrim]]. He freed the slaves of Mordor and gave them the [[Sea of Núrnen]].<ref>{{RK|Steward}}, p. 968</ref>

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councillor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.
==Characteristics==
===Personality===
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love. <ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> Aragorn was also described as '[[Elves|Elven]]-wise' due to spending his youth in Rivendell with [[Elrond]] as well as learning from [[Gandalf]] {{Appendix A}}.

=== Weapons and skills ===
Aragorn wielded [[Anduril]], the sword re-forged from the shards of [[Narsil]] as his weapon of choice throughout the [[War of the Ring]].<ref>{{FR|South}} "Aragorn had Andúril but no other weapon."</ref> He was an extremely capable swordsman, as he was able to survive the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] unscathed along with [[Eomer]] and [[Imrahil]].<ref>{{RK|Battle}}</ref> He was also a capable military tactician, as during that same battle, he was able to reinforce the [[Rohirrim]] and hit the weakest point of the army of [[Mordor]], along with taking time to rearrange his army's positions during the [[Battle of the Morannon]].<ref>{{RK|Gate}}</ref> He was also a skilled healer, most notably with the herb [[Athelas]], as he was able to heal [[Faramir]] and [[Eowyn]] of their wounds,<ref>{{RK|Houses}}</ref> as well as slow down the effects of the [[Morgul-knife]] used to stab [[Frodo]] on [[Weathertop]].<ref>{{FR|Flight}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name, which means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

== Other names ==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> '''Edhelharn''' is the [[Sindarin]] word for [[Elfstone]] ([[Quenya|Q]]. ''[[Elessar]]''). Derived from the words ''[[edhel]]'' "elf" and ([[Lenition|lenited]]) ''[[sarn]].'' Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer". This title was claimed by Aragorn after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. It referred to the prophecy that he would renew the hope of the Dúnedain by reuniting the Two Kingdoms.
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

== Genealogy ==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see '''''[[Ancestry of Aragorn II]]''''' for Aragorn's full line of descent.

<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}
</div>

=== Relation to Arwen ===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen was also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

== Other versions of the legendarium ==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there with the character envisioned as a relative of Bilbo and Frodo. This name would carry over when the character was revised into a man and would remain in use for much of the book's composition. During writing of the latter portions of Book II, Tolkien would temporarily rename the character, ''[[Elfstone]]'' on the proposition that a man should not have an Elvish name. Another name considered was ''[[Ingold]].''<ref name="comp">{{HM|RC}}</ref>

== Portrayal in adaptations ==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

=== Films ===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have commented that he looks Native American.<ref>{{webcite|author=Conrad Brunstrom|articleurl=https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/2023/12/21/tolkien-and-diverse-casting-the-1978-animated-lord-of-the-rings/|articlename=Tolkien and Diverse Casting. The 1978 animated Lord of the Rings|dated=21 December 2023|website=[https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/ Conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com]|accessed=11 March 2024}}</ref>

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film. His role is dramatically reduced to a handful of scenes and there is no mention of any previous involvement with the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn as full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part in this film is largely similar to the events in the book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

=== Television ===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

=== Radio series ===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

=== Games ===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journeys through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him look in the surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When the player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits have already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions in War of the Ring campaign.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about a conversation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search for [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black Gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

== See also ==
*'''[[Timeline of Aragorn]]'''
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], compares the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]], ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{references|notes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aragorn}}

== Titles ==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]] Cadet branch of the [[House of Isildur]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}

{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2024-04-22T03:39:25Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Personality */

{{sources}}{{Disambig-more|Elessar|[[Elessar (disambiguation)]]}}{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:Yulia Alekseeva - Aragorn in Rivendell.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Aragorn in Rivendell" by [[:Category:Images by Yulia Alekseeva|Yulia Alekseeva]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=''See [[Aragorn#Other names|below]]''
| titles=[[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]] Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] (after [[Gandalf]]'s death) King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]] [[Rohan]] [[Rhûn]] and [[Harad]]<ref>{{FR|Council}}, p. 248</ref>
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]] [[Sindarin]] [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]] (father) [[Gilraen]] (mother) [[Elrond]] (foster father)
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] At least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=At least 6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (1.98 m)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref><ref>{{NM|P2vi}}, p. 194</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (as a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (as a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] [[Hasufel]]
}}
<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil (King of Arnor)|Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

== History ==
=== Early life ===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn II and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought such a stone, called the [[Elfstone|Elessar]], from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]] and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").
[[File:Anna Kulisz - Elrond and Estel.jpg|thumb|left|''Elrond and Estel'' by [[:Category:Images by Anna Kulisz|Anna Kulisz]]]]
When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he were his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the twin sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>

"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]

=== Life as a Ranger ===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from [[Mordor]]. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the [[Stewards of Gondor|Steward]], whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take a few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

=== Hunt for Gollum ===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

=== The War of the Ring ===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]] then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond, Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the [[Fellowship of the Ring|company]] for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

==== Leading the Fellowship of the Ring ====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into [[Fangorn Forest]], where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshalled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

==== The Return of the King ====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] and drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took their ships north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

=== Reign as Elessar ===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

He pardoned the [[Easterlings]] that had surrendered and made peace with the [[Haradrim]]. He freed the slaves of Mordor and gave them the [[Sea of Núrnen]].<ref>{{RK|Steward}}, p. 968</ref>

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councillor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.
==Characteristics==
===Personality===
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love. <ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> Aragorn was also described as '[[Elves|Elven]]-wise' due to spending his youth in Rivendell with [[Elrond]] as well as learning from [[Gandalf]]<The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen, Appendix A (V), The Return of the King>

=== Weapons and skills ===
Aragorn wielded [[Anduril]], the sword re-forged from the shards of [[Narsil]] as his weapon of choice throughout the [[War of the Ring]].<ref>{{FR|South}} "Aragorn had Andúril but no other weapon."</ref> He was an extremely capable swordsman, as he was able to survive the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] unscathed along with [[Eomer]] and [[Imrahil]].<ref>{{RK|Battle}}</ref> He was also a capable military tactician, as during that same battle, he was able to reinforce the [[Rohirrim]] and hit the weakest point of the army of [[Mordor]], along with taking time to rearrange his army's positions during the [[Battle of the Morannon]].<ref>{{RK|Gate}}</ref> He was also a skilled healer, most notably with the herb [[Athelas]], as he was able to heal [[Faramir]] and [[Eowyn]] of their wounds,<ref>{{RK|Houses}}</ref> as well as slow down the effects of the [[Morgul-knife]] used to stab [[Frodo]] on [[Weathertop]].<ref>{{FR|Flight}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name, which means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

== Other names ==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> '''Edhelharn''' is the [[Sindarin]] word for [[Elfstone]] ([[Quenya|Q]]. ''[[Elessar]]''). Derived from the words ''[[edhel]]'' "elf" and ([[Lenition|lenited]]) ''[[sarn]].'' Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer". This title was claimed by Aragorn after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. It referred to the prophecy that he would renew the hope of the Dúnedain by reuniting the Two Kingdoms.
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

== Genealogy ==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see '''''[[Ancestry of Aragorn II]]''''' for Aragorn's full line of descent.

<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}
</div>

=== Relation to Arwen ===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen was also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

== Other versions of the legendarium ==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there with the character envisioned as a relative of Bilbo and Frodo. This name would carry over when the character was revised into a man and would remain in use for much of the book's composition. During writing of the latter portions of Book II, Tolkien would temporarily rename the character, ''[[Elfstone]]'' on the proposition that a man should not have an Elvish name. Another name considered was ''[[Ingold]].''<ref name="comp">{{HM|RC}}</ref>

== Portrayal in adaptations ==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

=== Films ===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have commented that he looks Native American.<ref>{{webcite|author=Conrad Brunstrom|articleurl=https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/2023/12/21/tolkien-and-diverse-casting-the-1978-animated-lord-of-the-rings/|articlename=Tolkien and Diverse Casting. The 1978 animated Lord of the Rings|dated=21 December 2023|website=[https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/ Conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com]|accessed=11 March 2024}}</ref>

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film. His role is dramatically reduced to a handful of scenes and there is no mention of any previous involvement with the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn as full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part in this film is largely similar to the events in the book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

=== Television ===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

=== Radio series ===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

=== Games ===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journeys through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him look in the surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When the player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits have already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions in War of the Ring campaign.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about a conversation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search for [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black Gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

== See also ==
*'''[[Timeline of Aragorn]]'''
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], compares the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]], ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{references|notes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aragorn}}

== Titles ==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]] Cadet branch of the [[House of Isildur]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}

{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2024-04-22T03:38:18Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Personality */

{{sources}}{{Disambig-more|Elessar|[[Elessar (disambiguation)]]}}{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:Yulia Alekseeva - Aragorn in Rivendell.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Aragorn in Rivendell" by [[:Category:Images by Yulia Alekseeva|Yulia Alekseeva]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=''See [[Aragorn#Other names|below]]''
| titles=[[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]] Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] (after [[Gandalf]]'s death) King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]] [[Rohan]] [[Rhûn]] and [[Harad]]<ref>{{FR|Council}}, p. 248</ref>
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]] [[Sindarin]] [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]] (father) [[Gilraen]] (mother) [[Elrond]] (foster father)
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] At least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=At least 6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (1.98 m)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref><ref>{{NM|P2vi}}, p. 194</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (as a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (as a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] [[Hasufel]]
}}
<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil (King of Arnor)|Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

== History ==
=== Early life ===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn II and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought such a stone, called the [[Elfstone|Elessar]], from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]] and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").
[[File:Anna Kulisz - Elrond and Estel.jpg|thumb|left|''Elrond and Estel'' by [[:Category:Images by Anna Kulisz|Anna Kulisz]]]]
When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he were his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the twin sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>

"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]

=== Life as a Ranger ===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from [[Mordor]]. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the [[Stewards of Gondor|Steward]], whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take a few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

=== Hunt for Gollum ===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

=== The War of the Ring ===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]] then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond, Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the [[Fellowship of the Ring|company]] for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

==== Leading the Fellowship of the Ring ====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into [[Fangorn Forest]], where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshalled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

==== The Return of the King ====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] and drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took their ships north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

=== Reign as Elessar ===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

He pardoned the [[Easterlings]] that had surrendered and made peace with the [[Haradrim]]. He freed the slaves of Mordor and gave them the [[Sea of Núrnen]].<ref>{{RK|Steward}}, p. 968</ref>

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councillor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.
==Characteristics==
===Personality===
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love. <ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> Aragorn was also described as '[[Elves|Elven]]-wise' due to spending his youth in Rivendell with [[Elrond]] as well as learning from [[Gandalf]]{{The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen, Appendix A (V), The Return of the King}}

=== Weapons and skills ===
Aragorn wielded [[Anduril]], the sword re-forged from the shards of [[Narsil]] as his weapon of choice throughout the [[War of the Ring]].<ref>{{FR|South}} "Aragorn had Andúril but no other weapon."</ref> He was an extremely capable swordsman, as he was able to survive the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] unscathed along with [[Eomer]] and [[Imrahil]].<ref>{{RK|Battle}}</ref> He was also a capable military tactician, as during that same battle, he was able to reinforce the [[Rohirrim]] and hit the weakest point of the army of [[Mordor]], along with taking time to rearrange his army's positions during the [[Battle of the Morannon]].<ref>{{RK|Gate}}</ref> He was also a skilled healer, most notably with the herb [[Athelas]], as he was able to heal [[Faramir]] and [[Eowyn]] of their wounds,<ref>{{RK|Houses}}</ref> as well as slow down the effects of the [[Morgul-knife]] used to stab [[Frodo]] on [[Weathertop]].<ref>{{FR|Flight}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name, which means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

== Other names ==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> '''Edhelharn''' is the [[Sindarin]] word for [[Elfstone]] ([[Quenya|Q]]. ''[[Elessar]]''). Derived from the words ''[[edhel]]'' "elf" and ([[Lenition|lenited]]) ''[[sarn]].'' Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer". This title was claimed by Aragorn after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. It referred to the prophecy that he would renew the hope of the Dúnedain by reuniting the Two Kingdoms.
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

== Genealogy ==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see '''''[[Ancestry of Aragorn II]]''''' for Aragorn's full line of descent.

<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}
</div>

=== Relation to Arwen ===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen was also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

== Other versions of the legendarium ==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there with the character envisioned as a relative of Bilbo and Frodo. This name would carry over when the character was revised into a man and would remain in use for much of the book's composition. During writing of the latter portions of Book II, Tolkien would temporarily rename the character, ''[[Elfstone]]'' on the proposition that a man should not have an Elvish name. Another name considered was ''[[Ingold]].''<ref name="comp">{{HM|RC}}</ref>

== Portrayal in adaptations ==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

=== Films ===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have commented that he looks Native American.<ref>{{webcite|author=Conrad Brunstrom|articleurl=https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/2023/12/21/tolkien-and-diverse-casting-the-1978-animated-lord-of-the-rings/|articlename=Tolkien and Diverse Casting. The 1978 animated Lord of the Rings|dated=21 December 2023|website=[https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/ Conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com]|accessed=11 March 2024}}</ref>

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film. His role is dramatically reduced to a handful of scenes and there is no mention of any previous involvement with the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn as full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part in this film is largely similar to the events in the book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

=== Television ===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

=== Radio series ===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

=== Games ===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journeys through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him look in the surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When the player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits have already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions in War of the Ring campaign.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about a conversation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search for [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black Gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

== See also ==
*'''[[Timeline of Aragorn]]'''
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], compares the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]], ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{references|notes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aragorn}}

== Titles ==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]] Cadet branch of the [[House of Isildur]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}

{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2024-04-19T02:08:43Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Personality */

{{sources}}{{Disambig-more|Elessar|[[Elessar (disambiguation)]]}}{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:Yulia Alekseeva - Aragorn in Rivendell.jpg|275px]]
| caption="Aragorn in Rivendell" by [[:Category:Images by Yulia Alekseeva|Yulia Alekseeva]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=''See [[Aragorn#Other names|below]]''
| titles=[[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]] Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] (after [[Gandalf]]'s death) King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]] [[Rohan]] [[Rhûn]] and [[Harad]]<ref>{{FR|Council}}, p. 248</ref>
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]] [[Sindarin]] [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]] (father) [[Gilraen]] (mother) [[Elrond]] (foster father)
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] At least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=At least 6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (1.98 m)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref><ref>{{NM|P2vi}}, p. 194</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (as a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (as a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] [[Hasufel]]
}}
<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil (King of Arnor)|Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

== History ==
=== Early life ===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn II and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought such a stone, called the [[Elfstone|Elessar]], from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]] and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").
[[File:Anna Kulisz - Elrond and Estel.jpg|thumb|left|''Elrond and Estel'' by [[:Category:Images by Anna Kulisz|Anna Kulisz]]]]
When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he were his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the twin sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>

"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]

=== Life as a Ranger ===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from [[Mordor]]. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the [[Stewards of Gondor|Steward]], whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take a few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

=== Hunt for Gollum ===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

=== The War of the Ring ===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]] then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond, Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the [[Fellowship of the Ring|company]] for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

==== Leading the Fellowship of the Ring ====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into [[Fangorn Forest]], where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshalled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

==== The Return of the King ====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] and drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took their ships north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

=== Reign as Elessar ===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

He pardoned the [[Easterlings]] that had surrendered and made peace with the [[Haradrim]]. He freed the slaves of Mordor and gave them the [[Sea of Núrnen]].<ref>{{RK|Steward}}, p. 968</ref>

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councillor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.

== Personality ==
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love. <ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> Aragorn also possessed [[Elves|Elven]] wisdom due to spending most of his life in Rivendell with [[Elrond]] and the foresight of the Dúnedain.
== Weapons and Skills ==
Aragorn wielded [[Anduril]], the sword re-forged from the shards of [[Narsil]] as his weapon of choice throughout the [[War of the Ring]]. He was an extremely capable swordsman, as he was able to survive the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] unscathed along with [[Eomer]] and [[Imrahil]]. He was also a capable military tactician, as during that same battle, he was able to reinforce the [[Rohirrim]] and hit the weakest point of the army of [[Mordor]], along with taking time to rearrange his army's positions during the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. He was also a skilled healer, most notably with the herb [[Athelas]], as he was able to heal [[Faramir]] and [[Eowyn]] of their wounds, as well as slow down the effects of the [[Morgul-knife]] used to stab [[Frodo]] on [[Weathertop]].
== Etymology ==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name, which means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

== Other names ==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> '''Edhelharn''' is the [[Sindarin]] word for [[Elfstone]] ([[Quenya|Q]]. ''[[Elessar]]''). Derived from the words ''[[edhel]]'' "elf" and ([[Lenition|lenited]]) ''[[sarn]].'' Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer". This title was claimed by Aragorn after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. It referred to the prophecy that he would renew the hope of the Dúnedain by reuniting the Two Kingdoms.
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

== Genealogy ==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see '''''[[Ancestry of Aragorn II]]''''' for Aragorn's full line of descent.

<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}
</div>

=== Relation to Arwen ===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen was also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

== Other versions of the legendarium ==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there with the character envisioned as a relative of Bilbo and Frodo. This name would carry over when the character was revised into a man and would remain in use for much of the book's composition. During writing of the latter portions of Book II, Tolkien would temporarily rename the character, ''[[Elfstone]]'' on the proposition that a man should not have an Elvish name. Another name considered was ''[[Ingold]].''<ref name="comp">{{HM|RC}}</ref>

== Portrayal in adaptations ==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

=== Films ===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have commented that he looks Native American.<ref>{{webcite|author=Conrad Brunstrom|articleurl=https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/2023/12/21/tolkien-and-diverse-casting-the-1978-animated-lord-of-the-rings/|articlename=Tolkien and Diverse Casting. The 1978 animated Lord of the Rings|dated=21 December 2023|website=[https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/ Conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com]|accessed=11 March 2024}}</ref>

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film. His role is dramatically reduced to a handful of scenes and there is no mention of any previous involvement with the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn as full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part in this film is largely similar to the events in the book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

=== Television ===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

=== Radio series ===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

=== Games ===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journeys through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him look in the surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When the player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits have already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about a conversation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search for [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black Gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

== See also ==
*'''[[Timeline of Aragorn]]'''
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], compares the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]], ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{references|notes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aragorn}}

== Titles ==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]] Cadet branch of the [[House of Isildur]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}

{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2024-04-19T02:05:28Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Personality */ I wanted to acknowledge that Aragorn had Elven wisdom, since he spent much of his life being raised in Rivendell, as well as the foresight of the Dunedain

{{sources}}{{Disambig-more|Elessar|[[Elessar (disambiguation)]]}}{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:Yulia Alekseeva - Aragorn in Rivendell.jpg|275px]]
| caption="Aragorn in Rivendell" by [[:Category:Images by Yulia Alekseeva|Yulia Alekseeva]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=''See [[Aragorn#Other names|below]]''
| titles=[[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]] Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] (after [[Gandalf]]'s death) King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]] [[Rohan]] [[Rhûn]] and [[Harad]]<ref>{{FR|Council}}, p. 248</ref>
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]] [[Sindarin]] [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]] (father) [[Gilraen]] (mother) [[Elrond]] (foster father)
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] At least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=At least 6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (1.98 m)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref><ref>{{NM|P2vi}}, p. 194</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (as a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (as a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] [[Hasufel]]
}}
<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil (King of Arnor)|Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

== History ==
=== Early life ===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn II and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought such a stone, called the [[Elfstone|Elessar]], from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]] and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").
[[File:Anna Kulisz - Elrond and Estel.jpg|thumb|left|''Elrond and Estel'' by [[:Category:Images by Anna Kulisz|Anna Kulisz]]]]
When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he were his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the twin sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>

"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]

=== Life as a Ranger ===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from [[Mordor]]. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the [[Stewards of Gondor|Steward]], whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take a few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

=== Hunt for Gollum ===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

=== The War of the Ring ===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]] then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond, Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the [[Fellowship of the Ring|company]] for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

==== Leading the Fellowship of the Ring ====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into [[Fangorn Forest]], where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshalled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

==== The Return of the King ====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] and drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took their ships north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

=== Reign as Elessar ===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

He pardoned the [[Easterlings]] that had surrendered and made peace with the [[Haradrim]]. He freed the slaves of Mordor and gave them the [[Sea of Núrnen]].<ref>{{RK|Steward}}, p. 968</ref>

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councillor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.

== Personality ==
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love. <ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> Aragorn also possessed [[Elves|Elven]] wisdom due to his childhood in Rivendell with Elrond and the foresight of the Dúnedain.
== Weapons and Skills ==
Aragorn wielded [[Anduril]], the sword re-forged from the shards of [[Narsil]] as his weapon of choice throughout the [[War of the Ring]]. He was an extremely capable swordsman, as he was able to survive the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] unscathed along with [[Eomer]] and [[Imrahil]]. He was also a capable military tactician, as during that same battle, he was able to reinforce the [[Rohirrim]] and hit the weakest point of the army of [[Mordor]], along with taking time to rearrange his army's positions during the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. He was also a skilled healer, most notably with the herb [[Athelas]], as he was able to heal [[Faramir]] and [[Eowyn]] of their wounds, as well as slow down the effects of the [[Morgul-knife]] used to stab [[Frodo]] on [[Weathertop]].
== Etymology ==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name, which means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

== Other names ==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> '''Edhelharn''' is the [[Sindarin]] word for [[Elfstone]] ([[Quenya|Q]]. ''[[Elessar]]''). Derived from the words ''[[edhel]]'' "elf" and ([[Lenition|lenited]]) ''[[sarn]].'' Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer". This title was claimed by Aragorn after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. It referred to the prophecy that he would renew the hope of the Dúnedain by reuniting the Two Kingdoms.
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

== Genealogy ==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see '''''[[Ancestry of Aragorn II]]''''' for Aragorn's full line of descent.

<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}
</div>

=== Relation to Arwen ===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen was also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

== Other versions of the legendarium ==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there with the character envisioned as a relative of Bilbo and Frodo. This name would carry over when the character was revised into a man and would remain in use for much of the book's composition. During writing of the latter portions of Book II, Tolkien would temporarily rename the character, ''[[Elfstone]]'' on the proposition that a man should not have an Elvish name. Another name considered was ''[[Ingold]].''<ref name="comp">{{HM|RC}}</ref>

== Portrayal in adaptations ==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

=== Films ===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have commented that he looks Native American.<ref>{{webcite|author=Conrad Brunstrom|articleurl=https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/2023/12/21/tolkien-and-diverse-casting-the-1978-animated-lord-of-the-rings/|articlename=Tolkien and Diverse Casting. The 1978 animated Lord of the Rings|dated=21 December 2023|website=[https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/ Conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com]|accessed=11 March 2024}}</ref>

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film. His role is dramatically reduced to a handful of scenes and there is no mention of any previous involvement with the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn as full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part in this film is largely similar to the events in the book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

=== Television ===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

=== Radio series ===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

=== Games ===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journeys through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him look in the surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When the player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits have already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about a conversation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search for [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black Gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

== See also ==
*'''[[Timeline of Aragorn]]'''
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], compares the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]], ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{references|notes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aragorn}}

== Titles ==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]] Cadet branch of the [[House of Isildur]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}

{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2024-04-19T02:01:38Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Weapons and Skills */

{{sources}}{{Disambig-more|Elessar|[[Elessar (disambiguation)]]}}{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:Yulia Alekseeva - Aragorn in Rivendell.jpg|275px]]
| caption="Aragorn in Rivendell" by [[:Category:Images by Yulia Alekseeva|Yulia Alekseeva]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=''See [[Aragorn#Other names|below]]''
| titles=[[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]] Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] (after [[Gandalf]]'s death) King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]] [[Rohan]] [[Rhûn]] and [[Harad]]<ref>{{FR|Council}}, p. 248</ref>
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]] [[Sindarin]] [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]] (father) [[Gilraen]] (mother) [[Elrond]] (foster father)
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] At least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=At least 6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (1.98 m)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref><ref>{{NM|P2vi}}, p. 194</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (as a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (as a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] [[Hasufel]]
}}
<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil (King of Arnor)|Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

== History ==
=== Early life ===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn II and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought such a stone, called the [[Elfstone|Elessar]], from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]] and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").
[[File:Anna Kulisz - Elrond and Estel.jpg|thumb|left|''Elrond and Estel'' by [[:Category:Images by Anna Kulisz|Anna Kulisz]]]]
When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he were his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the twin sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>

"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]

=== Life as a Ranger ===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from [[Mordor]]. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the [[Stewards of Gondor|Steward]], whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take a few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

=== Hunt for Gollum ===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

=== The War of the Ring ===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]] then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond, Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the [[Fellowship of the Ring|company]] for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

==== Leading the Fellowship of the Ring ====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into [[Fangorn Forest]], where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshalled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

==== The Return of the King ====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] and drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took their ships north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

=== Reign as Elessar ===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

He pardoned the [[Easterlings]] that had surrendered and made peace with the [[Haradrim]]. He freed the slaves of Mordor and gave them the [[Sea of Núrnen]].<ref>{{RK|Steward}}, p. 968</ref>

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councillor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.

== Personality ==
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love. <ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref>
== Weapons and Skills ==
Aragorn wielded [[Anduril]], the sword re-forged from the shards of [[Narsil]] as his weapon of choice throughout the [[War of the Ring]]. He was an extremely capable swordsman, as he was able to survive the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] unscathed along with [[Eomer]] and [[Imrahil]]. He was also a capable military tactician, as during that same battle, he was able to reinforce the [[Rohirrim]] and hit the weakest point of the army of [[Mordor]], along with taking time to rearrange his army's positions during the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. He was also a skilled healer, most notably with the herb [[Athelas]], as he was able to heal [[Faramir]] and [[Eowyn]] of their wounds, as well as slow down the effects of the [[Morgul-knife]] used to stab [[Frodo]] on [[Weathertop]].
== Etymology ==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name, which means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

== Other names ==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> '''Edhelharn''' is the [[Sindarin]] word for [[Elfstone]] ([[Quenya|Q]]. ''[[Elessar]]''). Derived from the words ''[[edhel]]'' "elf" and ([[Lenition|lenited]]) ''[[sarn]].'' Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer". This title was claimed by Aragorn after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. It referred to the prophecy that he would renew the hope of the Dúnedain by reuniting the Two Kingdoms.
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

== Genealogy ==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see '''''[[Ancestry of Aragorn II]]''''' for Aragorn's full line of descent.

<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}
</div>

=== Relation to Arwen ===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen was also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

== Other versions of the legendarium ==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there with the character envisioned as a relative of Bilbo and Frodo. This name would carry over when the character was revised into a man and would remain in use for much of the book's composition. During writing of the latter portions of Book II, Tolkien would temporarily rename the character, ''[[Elfstone]]'' on the proposition that a man should not have an Elvish name. Another name considered was ''[[Ingold]].''<ref name="comp">{{HM|RC}}</ref>

== Portrayal in adaptations ==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

=== Films ===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have commented that he looks Native American.<ref>{{webcite|author=Conrad Brunstrom|articleurl=https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/2023/12/21/tolkien-and-diverse-casting-the-1978-animated-lord-of-the-rings/|articlename=Tolkien and Diverse Casting. The 1978 animated Lord of the Rings|dated=21 December 2023|website=[https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/ Conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com]|accessed=11 March 2024}}</ref>

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film. His role is dramatically reduced to a handful of scenes and there is no mention of any previous involvement with the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn as full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part in this film is largely similar to the events in the book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

=== Television ===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

=== Radio series ===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

=== Games ===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journeys through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him look in the surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When the player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits have already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about a conversation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search for [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black Gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

== See also ==
*'''[[Timeline of Aragorn]]'''
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], compares the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]], ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{references|notes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aragorn}}

== Titles ==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]] Cadet branch of the [[House of Isildur]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
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{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2024-04-19T01:57:52Z

MikeyofGondor25: I wanted to give a Weapons and Skills section to Aragorn, as he is shown to be a capable swordsman and military tactician, and skilled healer, all of which are shown throughout the books

{{sources}}{{Disambig-more|Elessar|[[Elessar (disambiguation)]]}}{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:Yulia Alekseeva - Aragorn in Rivendell.jpg|275px]]
| caption="Aragorn in Rivendell" by [[:Category:Images by Yulia Alekseeva|Yulia Alekseeva]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=''See [[Aragorn#Other names|below]]''
| titles=[[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]] Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] (after [[Gandalf]]'s death) King of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]] [[Rohan]] [[Rhûn]] and [[Harad]]<ref>{{FR|Council}}, p. 248</ref>
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]] [[Sindarin]] [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]] (father) [[Gilraen]] (mother) [[Elrond]] (foster father)
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] At least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=At least 6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (1.98 m)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref><ref>{{NM|P2vi}}, p. 194</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (as a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (as a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] [[Hasufel]]
}}
<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil (King of Arnor)|Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

== History ==
=== Early life ===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn II and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought such a stone, called the [[Elfstone|Elessar]], from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]] and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").
[[File:Anna Kulisz - Elrond and Estel.jpg|thumb|left|''Elrond and Estel'' by [[:Category:Images by Anna Kulisz|Anna Kulisz]]]]
When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he were his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the twin sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>

"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]

=== Life as a Ranger ===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from [[Mordor]]. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the [[Stewards of Gondor|Steward]], whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take a few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

=== Hunt for Gollum ===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

=== The War of the Ring ===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]] then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond, Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the [[Fellowship of the Ring|company]] for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

==== Leading the Fellowship of the Ring ====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into [[Fangorn Forest]], where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshalled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

==== The Return of the King ====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] and drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took their ships north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

=== Reign as Elessar ===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

He pardoned the [[Easterlings]] that had surrendered and made peace with the [[Haradrim]]. He freed the slaves of Mordor and gave them the [[Sea of Núrnen]].<ref>{{RK|Steward}}, p. 968</ref>

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councillor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.

== Personality ==
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love. <ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref>
== Weapons and Skills ==
Aragorn wielded [[Anduril]], the sword re-forged from the shards of [[Narsil]] as his weapon of choice throughout the [[War of the Ring]]. He was an extremely capable swordsman, as he was able to survuve the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] unscathed along with [[Eomer]] and [[Prince Imrahil]]. He was also a capable military tactician, as during that same battle, he was able to reinforce the [[Rohirrim]] and hit the weakest point of the army of [[Mordor]], along with taking time to rearrange his army's positions during the [[Battle of the Morranon]]. He was also a skilled healer, most notably with the herb [[Athelas]], as he was able to heal [[Faramir]] and [[Eowyn]] of their wounds, as well as slow down the effects of the [[Morgul-knife]] used to stab [[Frodo]] on [[Weathertop]].
== Etymology ==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name, which means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

== Other names ==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> '''Edhelharn''' is the [[Sindarin]] word for [[Elfstone]] ([[Quenya|Q]]. ''[[Elessar]]''). Derived from the words ''[[edhel]]'' "elf" and ([[Lenition|lenited]]) ''[[sarn]].'' Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer". This title was claimed by Aragorn after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. It referred to the prophecy that he would renew the hope of the Dúnedain by reuniting the Two Kingdoms.
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

== Genealogy ==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see '''''[[Ancestry of Aragorn II]]''''' for Aragorn's full line of descent.

<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}
</div>

=== Relation to Arwen ===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen was also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

== Other versions of the legendarium ==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there with the character envisioned as a relative of Bilbo and Frodo. This name would carry over when the character was revised into a man and would remain in use for much of the book's composition. During writing of the latter portions of Book II, Tolkien would temporarily rename the character, ''[[Elfstone]]'' on the proposition that a man should not have an Elvish name. Another name considered was ''[[Ingold]].''<ref name="comp">{{HM|RC}}</ref>

== Portrayal in adaptations ==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

=== Films ===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have commented that he looks Native American.<ref>{{webcite|author=Conrad Brunstrom|articleurl=https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/2023/12/21/tolkien-and-diverse-casting-the-1978-animated-lord-of-the-rings/|articlename=Tolkien and Diverse Casting. The 1978 animated Lord of the Rings|dated=21 December 2023|website=[https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/ Conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com]|accessed=11 March 2024}}</ref>

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film. His role is dramatically reduced to a handful of scenes and there is no mention of any previous involvement with the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn as full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part in this film is largely similar to the events in the book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

=== Television ===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

=== Radio series ===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

=== Games ===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journeys through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him look in the surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When the player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits have already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about a conversation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search for [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black Gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

== See also ==
*'''[[Timeline of Aragorn]]'''
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], compares the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]], ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{references|notes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aragorn}}

== Titles ==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=Founder of the [[House of Telcontar]] Cadet branch of the [[House of Isildur]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died=[[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}

{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Shadowfax

2024-04-17T22:18:29Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Appearance and abilities */

__NOTOC__
{{other infobox
| image=[[File:John Howe - Shadowfax 01.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Shadowfax" by [[John Howe]]
| name=Shadowfax
| pronun=
| othernames=
| titles=
| position=
| location=[[Rohan]]; [[Gondor]]
| affiliation=[[Gandalf]]
| language=
| birth=
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| sailedwest=[[29 September]], {{TA|3021}}
| sailedfrom=[[Grey Havens]]
| age=
| notablefor=
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=
| race=[[Horses|Horse]] ([[Mearas]])
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=''grey
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
'''Shadowfax''' was a mighty [[Horses|horse]] of [[Rohan]], the chief of the [[Mearas]], noted for his speed, "like an arrow".<ref name=siege>{{RK|Siege}}</ref>

==History==
In [[September]] {{TA|3018}}, Gandalf was in [[Rohan]] and [[Théoden]] reluctantly gave him any horse of his choosing. At first the horse did not allow him to come near, and Gandalf had to follow him far over the fields for two days before he tamed him,<ref>{{App|B3}}</ref> chasing him for over twenty miles.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "The Council of Elrond", p. 251</ref> Shadowfax was said to be much faster than the horses of the [[Nazgûl]], and carried Gandalf for about 620 miles from [[23 September|23]] to [[28 September]].<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "The Council of Elrond", pp. 252-253</ref> When they reached [[Weathertop]], Gandalf was followed and attacked by the Nazgûl on the night of [[3 October]].<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "A Knife in the Dark", pp. 166-8</ref> Shadowfax then carried Gandalf far into the north to distract the Ringwraiths from chasing the Ring-Bearer.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Flight tipo the Ford", p. 189</ref>

In [[February]] of [[Third Age 3019|the next year]], Shadowfax returned to [[Edoras]].<ref>{{TT|Riders}}</ref>

Shadowfax came alone to Gandalf in the outskirts of the [[Fangorn Forest]] and he introduced the horse to the [[Three Hunters]]. [[Hasufel]] and [[Arod]] recognised him as their chieftain. Shadowfax carried Gandalf and [[Gimli]] to [[Edoras]].<ref>{{TT|White}}</ref> The horse was able to run from Edoras to [[Minas Tirith]] almost without stopping, and his ground speed rivaled the flying speed of the [[fell beasts]] of the [[Nazgûl]].<ref>{{RK|V1}}</ref> Shadowfax was at the [[Grey Havens]] with [[Gandalf]] when he sailed on the [[White Ship]].<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref> Shadowfax, as one of the line of [[Nahar]], presumably was with him when sailing for the West.<ref>{{L|268}}, p. 354</ref><ref>{{SD|Epilogue}}, p. 123</ref>

Shadowfax also possessed extraordinary courage. He was the only free horse in the world capable of standing before the [[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]] during the [[Siege of Gondor]] instead of fleeing.<ref name=siege/><ref group=note>This reference excludes horses used by the forces of Sauron such as the horses ridden by the Nine Riders.</ref>

==Appearance and abilities==

Shadowfax was described to have a silvery-grey coat which was only visible by day, and seldomly visible by night. He was capable of understanding human speech. As chief of the Mearas, and by extension all horses, he possessed unrivaled speed, strength, intelligence, and endurance, capable of running faster than the wind in comparison to all other steeds, outrunning the Nazgul's horses and equaling the speeds of the winged Fell Beasts, as well as outrun an arrow in flight, and travel over great distances almost entirely without need for rest, and as mentioned above, he had immensely strong willpower and courageousness, enough so to stand up to The Witch-King of Angmar before the gate of Minas Tirith.

==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | | | | | NAH | | | | |NAH=[[Nahar]] }}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | FEL | | | | |FEL=[[Felaróf]] }}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | SHA | | | | |SHA='''SHADOWFAX''' }}
{{familytree/end}}

==Etymology==
It is an anglicized form of [[Old English]] ''Sceadu-fæx'' 'having shadow-grey mane (and coat)'. It does not actually occur in Old English. ''Fax'' is an obsolete English word, meaning "hair".<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, pp. 762-763</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Shadowfax in adaptations
|width=200
|height=150
|lines=2
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers - Shadowfax.png|Shadowfax in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Shadowfax.jpg|Shadowfax in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
}}

'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:Shadowfax is not named in the film, but is implied to be Gandalf's horse while riding with the Three Hunters to Edoras, and later appearing with Gandalf riding him again during the [[Battle of the Hornburg]].

'''1980: [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]:'''
:Shadowfax appears as Gandalf's steed, but is depicted wearing a full harness as opposed to being ridden bareback and without bridle.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Because of alterations to the story, Gandalf rides Shadowfax in pursuit of [[Éomer]] and other banished soldiers of the Rohirrim, rather than seeking survivors of the [[Battle of the Fords of Isen]] or riding to Isengard. Gandalf also rides him into battle alongside Éomer's company, rather than in the company of [[Erkenbrand]] and other men of Rohan on foot.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Gandalf's confrontation with the Witch-king, during which he falls from Shadowfax's back in the film, takes place higher in Minas Tirith, rather than at the gate as in the novel. Gandalf also rides him not only into [[Silent Street]], but into house of the Stewards itself in order to rescue [[Faramir]].

'''2012: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Shadowfax accompanies [[Gandalf]] since his return as Gandalf the White.

{{references|notes}}

[[Category:Horses]]

[[de:Schattenfell]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:animaux:chevaux:gripoil]]
[[fi:Hallavaharja]]

Shadowfax

2024-04-15T01:44:53Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Appearance and abilities */

__NOTOC__
{{other infobox
| image=[[File:John Howe - Shadowfax 01.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Shadowfax" by [[John Howe]]
| name=Shadowfax
| pronun=
| othernames=
| titles=
| position=
| location=[[Rohan]]; [[Gondor]]
| affiliation=[[Gandalf]]
| language=
| birth=
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| sailedwest=[[29 September]], {{TA|3021}}
| sailedfrom=[[Grey Havens]]
| age=
| notablefor=
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=
| race=[[Horses|Horse]] ([[Mearas]])
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=''grey
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
'''Shadowfax''' was a mighty [[Horses|horse]] of [[Rohan]], the chief of the [[Mearas]], noted for his speed, "like an arrow".<ref name=siege>{{RK|Siege}}</ref>

==History==
In [[September]] {{TA|3018}}, Gandalf was in [[Rohan]] and [[Théoden]] reluctantly gave him any horse of his choosing. At first the horse did not allow him to come near, and Gandalf had to follow him far over the fields for two days before he tamed him,<ref>{{App|B3}}</ref> chasing him for over twenty miles.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "The Council of Elrond", p. 251</ref> Shadowfax was said to be much faster than the horses of the [[Nazgûl]], and carried Gandalf for about 620 miles from [[23 September|23]] to [[28 September]].<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "The Council of Elrond", pp. 252-253</ref> When they reached [[Weathertop]], Gandalf was followed and attacked by the Nazgûl on the night of [[3 October]].<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "A Knife in the Dark", pp. 166-8</ref> Shadowfax then carried Gandalf far into the north to distract the Ringwraiths from chasing the Ring-Bearer.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Flight tipo the Ford", p. 189</ref>

In [[February]] of [[Third Age 3019|the next year]], Shadowfax returned to [[Edoras]].<ref>{{TT|Riders}}</ref>

Shadowfax came alone to Gandalf in the outskirts of the [[Fangorn Forest]] and he introduced the horse to the [[Three Hunters]]. [[Hasufel]] and [[Arod]] recognised him as their chieftain. Shadowfax carried Gandalf and [[Gimli]] to [[Edoras]].<ref>{{TT|White}}</ref> The horse was able to run from Edoras to [[Minas Tirith]] almost without stopping, and his ground speed rivaled the flying speed of the [[fell beasts]] of the [[Nazgûl]].<ref>{{RK|V1}}</ref> Shadowfax was at the [[Grey Havens]] with [[Gandalf]] when he sailed on the [[White Ship]].<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref> Shadowfax, as one of the line of [[Nahar]], presumably was with him when sailing for the West.<ref>{{L|268}}, p. 354</ref><ref>{{SD|Epilogue}}, p. 123</ref>

Shadowfax also possessed extraordinary courage. He was the only free horse in the world capable of standing before the [[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]] during the [[Siege of Gondor]] instead of fleeing.<ref name=siege/><ref group=note>This reference excludes horses used by the forces of Sauron such as the horses ridden by the Nine Riders.</ref>

==Appearance and abilities==

Shadowfax was described to have a silvery-grey coat which was only visible by day, and seldomly visible by night. He was capable of understanding human speech. As chief of the Mearas, and by extension all horses, he possessed unrivaled speed, strength, intelligence, and endurance, capable of running faster than the wind in comparison to all other steeds, outrunning the Nazgul's horses and equaling the speeds of the winged Fell Beasts, as well as outrun an arrow in flight, and travel over great distances almost entirely without need for rest, and as mentioned above, he had immensely strong willpower and courageousness, enough so to stand up to The Witch-King of Angmar before the gate Minas Tirith.

==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | | | | | NAH | | | | |NAH=[[Nahar]] }}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | FEL | | | | |FEL=[[Felaróf]] }}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | SHA | | | | |SHA='''SHADOWFAX''' }}
{{familytree/end}}

==Etymology==
It is an anglicized form of [[Old English]] ''Sceadu-fæx'' 'having shadow-grey mane (and coat)'. It does not actually occur in Old English. ''Fax'' is an obsolete English word, meaning "hair".<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, pp. 762-763</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Shadowfax in adaptations
|width=200
|height=150
|lines=2
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers - Shadowfax.png|Shadowfax in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Shadowfax.jpg|Shadowfax in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
}}

'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:Shadowfax is not named in the film, but is implied to be Gandalf's horse while riding with the Three Hunters to Edoras, and later appearing with Gandalf riding him again during the [[Battle of the Hornburg]].

'''1980: [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]:'''
:Shadowfax appears as Gandalf's steed, but is depicted wearing a full harness as opposed to being ridden bareback and without bridle.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Because of alterations to the story, Gandalf rides Shadowfax in pursuit of [[Éomer]] and other banished soldiers of the Rohirrim, rather than seeking survivors of the [[Battle of the Fords of Isen]] or riding to Isengard. Gandalf also rides him into battle alongside Éomer's company, rather than in the company of [[Erkenbrand]] and other men of Rohan on foot.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Gandalf's confrontation with the Witch-king, during which he falls from Shadowfax's back in the film, takes place higher in Minas Tirith, rather than at the gate as in the novel. Gandalf also rides him not only into [[Silent Street]], but into house of the Stewards itself in order to rescue [[Faramir]].

'''2012: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Shadowfax accompanies [[Gandalf]] since his return as Gandalf the White.

{{references|notes}}

[[Category:Horses]]

[[de:Schattenfell]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:animaux:chevaux:gripoil]]
[[fi:Hallavaharja]]

Shadowfax

2024-04-05T17:00:42Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Appearance and abilities */

__NOTOC__
{{other infobox
| image=[[File:John Howe - Shadowfax 01.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Shadowfax" by [[John Howe]]
| name=Shadowfax
| pronun=
| othernames=
| titles=
| position=
| location=[[Rohan]]; [[Gondor]]
| affiliation=[[Gandalf]]
| language=
| birth=
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| sailedwest=[[29 September]], {{TA|3021}}
| sailedfrom=[[Grey Havens]]
| age=
| notablefor=
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=
| race=[[Horses|Horse]] ([[Mearas]])
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=''grey
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
'''Shadowfax''' was a mighty [[Horses|horse]] of [[Rohan]], the chief of the [[Mearas]], noted for his speed, "like an arrow".<ref name=siege>{{RK|Siege}}</ref>

==History==
In [[September]] {{TA|3018}}, Gandalf was in [[Rohan]] and [[Théoden]] reluctantly gave him any horse of his choosing. At first the horse did not allow him to come near, and Gandalf had to follow him far over the fields for two days before he tamed him,<ref>{{App|B3}}</ref> chasing him for over twenty miles.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "The Council of Elrond", p. 251</ref> Shadowfax was said to be much faster than the horses of the [[Nazgûl]], and carried Gandalf for about 620 miles from [[23 September|23]] to [[28 September]].<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "The Council of Elrond", pp. 252-253</ref> When they reached [[Weathertop]], Gandalf was followed and attacked by the Nazgûl on the night of [[3 October]].<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "A Knife in the Dark", pp. 166-8</ref> Shadowfax then carried Gandalf far into the north to distract the Ringwraiths from chasing the Ring-Bearer.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Flight tipo the Ford", p. 189</ref>

In [[February]] of [[Third Age 3019|the next year]], Shadowfax returned to [[Edoras]].<ref>{{TT|Riders}}</ref>

Shadowfax came alone to Gandalf in the outskirts of the [[Fangorn Forest]] and he introduced the horse to the [[Three Hunters]]. [[Hasufel]] and [[Arod]] recognised him as their chieftain. Shadowfax carried Gandalf and [[Gimli]] to [[Edoras]].<ref>{{TT|White}}</ref> The horse was able to run from Edoras to [[Minas Tirith]] almost without stopping, and his ground speed rivaled the flying speed of the [[fell beasts]] of the [[Nazgûl]].<ref>{{RK|V1}}</ref> Shadowfax was at the [[Grey Havens]] with [[Gandalf]] when he sailed on the [[White Ship]].<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref> Shadowfax, as one of the line of [[Nahar]], presumably was with him when sailing for the West.<ref>{{L|268}}, p. 354</ref><ref>{{SD|Epilogue}}, p. 123</ref>

Shadowfax also possessed extraordinary courage. He was the only free horse in the world capable of standing before the [[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]] during the [[Siege of Gondor]] instead of fleeing.<ref name=siege/><ref group=note>This reference excludes horses used by the forces of Sauron such as the horses ridden by the Nine Riders.</ref>

==Appearance and abilities==

Shadowfax was described to have a silvery-grey coat which was only visible by day, and seldomly visible by night. He was capable of understanding human speech. As chief of the Mearas, and by extension all horses, he possessed unrivaled speed, strength, intelligence, and endurance, capable of running faster than the wind in comparison to all other steeds, outrunning the Nazgul's horses and equaling the speeds of the winged Fell Beasts, as well as an arrow in flight, and travel over great distances almost entirely without need for rest, and as mentioned above, he had immensely strong willpower and courageousness, enough so to stand up to The Witch-King of Angmar before the gate Minas Tirith.

==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | | | | | NAH | | | | |NAH=[[Nahar]] }}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | FEL | | | | |FEL=[[Felaróf]] }}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | SHA | | | | |SHA='''SHADOWFAX''' }}
{{familytree/end}}

==Etymology==
It is an anglicized form of [[Old English]] ''Sceadu-fæx'' 'having shadow-grey mane (and coat)'. It does not actually occur in Old English. ''Fax'' is an obsolete English word, meaning "hair".<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, pp. 762-763</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Shadowfax in adaptations
|width=200
|height=150
|lines=2
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers - Shadowfax.png|Shadowfax in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Shadowfax.jpg|Shadowfax in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
}}

'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:Shadowfax is not named in the film, but is implied to be Gandalf's horse while riding with the Three Hunters to Edoras, and later appearing with Gandalf riding him again during the [[Battle of the Hornburg]].

'''1980: [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]:'''
:Shadowfax appears as Gandalf's steed, but is depicted wearing a full harness as opposed to being ridden bareback and without bridle.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Because of alterations to the story, Gandalf rides Shadowfax in pursuit of [[Éomer]] and other banished soldiers of the Rohirrim, rather than seeking survivors of the [[Battle of the Fords of Isen]] or riding to Isengard. Gandalf also rides him into battle alongside Éomer's company, rather than in the company of [[Erkenbrand]] and other men of Rohan on foot.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Gandalf's confrontation with the Witch-king, during which he falls from Shadowfax's back in the film, takes place higher in Minas Tirith, rather than at the gate as in the novel. Gandalf also rides him not only into [[Silent Street]], but into house of the Stewards itself in order to rescue [[Faramir]].

'''2012: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Shadowfax accompanies [[Gandalf]] since his return as Gandalf the White.

{{references|notes}}

[[Category:Horses]]

[[de:Schattenfell]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:animaux:chevaux:gripoil]]
[[fi:Hallavaharja]]

Shadowfax

2024-04-05T16:59:32Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Appearance and abilities */

__NOTOC__
{{other infobox
| image=[[File:John Howe - Shadowfax 01.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Shadowfax" by [[John Howe]]
| name=Shadowfax
| pronun=
| othernames=
| titles=
| position=
| location=[[Rohan]]; [[Gondor]]
| affiliation=[[Gandalf]]
| language=
| birth=
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| sailedwest=[[29 September]], {{TA|3021}}
| sailedfrom=[[Grey Havens]]
| age=
| notablefor=
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=
| race=[[Horses|Horse]] ([[Mearas]])
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=''grey
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
'''Shadowfax''' was a mighty [[Horses|horse]] of [[Rohan]], the chief of the [[Mearas]], noted for his speed, "like an arrow".<ref name=siege>{{RK|Siege}}</ref>

==History==
In [[September]] {{TA|3018}}, Gandalf was in [[Rohan]] and [[Théoden]] reluctantly gave him any horse of his choosing. At first the horse did not allow him to come near, and Gandalf had to follow him far over the fields for two days before he tamed him,<ref>{{App|B3}}</ref> chasing him for over twenty miles.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "The Council of Elrond", p. 251</ref> Shadowfax was said to be much faster than the horses of the [[Nazgûl]], and carried Gandalf for about 620 miles from [[23 September|23]] to [[28 September]].<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "The Council of Elrond", pp. 252-253</ref> When they reached [[Weathertop]], Gandalf was followed and attacked by the Nazgûl on the night of [[3 October]].<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "A Knife in the Dark", pp. 166-8</ref> Shadowfax then carried Gandalf far into the north to distract the Ringwraiths from chasing the Ring-Bearer.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Flight tipo the Ford", p. 189</ref>

In [[February]] of [[Third Age 3019|the next year]], Shadowfax returned to [[Edoras]].<ref>{{TT|Riders}}</ref>

Shadowfax came alone to Gandalf in the outskirts of the [[Fangorn Forest]] and he introduced the horse to the [[Three Hunters]]. [[Hasufel]] and [[Arod]] recognised him as their chieftain. Shadowfax carried Gandalf and [[Gimli]] to [[Edoras]].<ref>{{TT|White}}</ref> The horse was able to run from Edoras to [[Minas Tirith]] almost without stopping, and his ground speed rivaled the flying speed of the [[fell beasts]] of the [[Nazgûl]].<ref>{{RK|V1}}</ref> Shadowfax was at the [[Grey Havens]] with [[Gandalf]] when he sailed on the [[White Ship]].<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref> Shadowfax, as one of the line of [[Nahar]], presumably was with him when sailing for the West.<ref>{{L|268}}, p. 354</ref><ref>{{SD|Epilogue}}, p. 123</ref>

Shadowfax also possessed extraordinary courage. He was the only free horse in the world capable of standing before the [[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]] during the [[Siege of Gondor]] instead of fleeing.<ref name=siege/><ref group=note>This reference excludes horses used by the forces of Sauron such as the horses ridden by the Nine Riders.</ref>

==Appearance and abilities==

Shadowfax was described to have a silvery-grey coat which was only visible by day, and seldomly visible by night. He was capable of understanding human speech. As chief of the Mearas, and by extension all horses, he possessed unrivaled speed, strength, intelligence, and endurance, capable of running faster than the wind in comparison to all other steeds, outrunning the Nazgul's horses and winged Fell Beasts, as well as an arrow in flight, and travel over great distances almost entirely without need for rest, and as mentioned above, he had immensely strong willpower and courageousness, enough so to stand up to The Witch-King of Angmar before the gate Minas Tirith.

==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | | | | | NAH | | | | |NAH=[[Nahar]] }}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | FEL | | | | |FEL=[[Felaróf]] }}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | SHA | | | | |SHA='''SHADOWFAX''' }}
{{familytree/end}}

==Etymology==
It is an anglicized form of [[Old English]] ''Sceadu-fæx'' 'having shadow-grey mane (and coat)'. It does not actually occur in Old English. ''Fax'' is an obsolete English word, meaning "hair".<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, pp. 762-763</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Shadowfax in adaptations
|width=200
|height=150
|lines=2
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers - Shadowfax.png|Shadowfax in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Shadowfax.jpg|Shadowfax in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
}}

'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:Shadowfax is not named in the film, but is implied to be Gandalf's horse while riding with the Three Hunters to Edoras, and later appearing with Gandalf riding him again during the [[Battle of the Hornburg]].

'''1980: [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]:'''
:Shadowfax appears as Gandalf's steed, but is depicted wearing a full harness as opposed to being ridden bareback and without bridle.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Because of alterations to the story, Gandalf rides Shadowfax in pursuit of [[Éomer]] and other banished soldiers of the Rohirrim, rather than seeking survivors of the [[Battle of the Fords of Isen]] or riding to Isengard. Gandalf also rides him into battle alongside Éomer's company, rather than in the company of [[Erkenbrand]] and other men of Rohan on foot.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Gandalf's confrontation with the Witch-king, during which he falls from Shadowfax's back in the film, takes place higher in Minas Tirith, rather than at the gate as in the novel. Gandalf also rides him not only into [[Silent Street]], but into house of the Stewards itself in order to rescue [[Faramir]].

'''2012: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Shadowfax accompanies [[Gandalf]] since his return as Gandalf the White.

{{references|notes}}

[[Category:Horses]]

[[de:Schattenfell]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:animaux:chevaux:gripoil]]
[[fi:Hallavaharja]]

Gandalf

2023-06-22T15:27:03Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Powers and abilities */

{{disambig-more|Gandalf|[[Gandalf (disambiguation)]]}}
{{maiar infobox
| name=Gandalf
| image=[[File:Matt Stewart - Gandalf - A Light in the Dark.jpg|250px|Gandalf - A light in the Dark by Matt Stewart]]
| caption="A Light in the Dark" by [[:Category:Images by Matt Stewart|Matt Stewart]]
| pronun=
| othernames=[[Gandalf/Names#Olórin|Olórin]], [[Gandalf/Names#Mithrandir|Mithrandir]], [[Gandalf/Names#Incánus|Incánus]], [[Gandalf/Names#Tharkûn|Tharkûn]], [[Gandalf/Names#Greyhame|Greyhame]], [[Gandalf/Names#Stormcrow|Stormcrow]], [[Gandalf/Names#Old Grey Beard|Old Grey Beard]], [[Gandalf/Names#Big Grey Beard|Big Grey Beard]], [[Gandalf/Names#Láthspell|Láthspell]]
| titles=Guardian of the Third Age [[Gandalf/Names#The Grey|The Grey]] [[The White]] [[Gandalf/Names#The White Rider|White Rider]] [[Gandalf/Names#The White Pilgrim|White Pilgrim]]
| position=
| location=No fixed abode
| affiliation=[[Five Guardians]], [[Order of Wizards]], [[White Council]], [[Thorin and Company]], [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Valarin]], [[Elvish]], [[Westron]], [[Hobbitish]]
| birth=[[Creation of the Ainur]]
| birthlocation=[[Timeless Halls]]
| rule=
| sailedwest=[[29 September]], {{TA|3021}}
| sailedfrom=[[Grey Havens]]
| age=
| notablefor=
| house=
| parentage=
| siblings=
| gender=Male
| height=5'6"<ref name="MB">{{HM|MB}}, page 49</ref>
| hair=Long white, silver beard<ref name="Meetings">{{FR|Meetings}}</ref>
| eyes=Black that could become red
| clothing=Grey robes (later white), blue hat, grey scarf, black boots<ref name="Party"/>
| weapons=Staff [[Glamdring]] [[Narya]]
| steed=[[Shadowfax]]
}}
{{Quote|Gandalf was shorter in stature than the [[Elrond|other]] [[Glorfindel|two]]; but his long white hair, his sweeping silver beard, and his broad shoulders, made him look like some wise king of ancient legend. In his aged face under great snowy brows his eyes were set like coals that could suddenly burst into fire.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[Many Meetings]]"}}

'''Gandalf''' was one of the five [[Order of Wizards|Istari]] sent to [[Middle-earth]] by the [[Valar]] in the [[Third Age]]. In [[Valinor]] he was known as Olórin. Gandalf was instrumental in bringing about the demise of [[Sauron]] in {{TA|3019}}, chiefly by encouraging others and dispensing his wisdom at pivotal times. He was originally robed in grey, and second to [[Saruman]] in the Order of Wizards. After his fall in [[Moria]], Gandalf returned to Middle-earth as head of the Order, robed in white. He was noteworthy for his keen interest in [[Hobbits]].

==History==
===Early history===
[[File:Kip Rasmussen - Olorin in the Gardens of Lorien.jpg|thumb|left|''Olorin in the Gardens of Lorien'' by [[:Category:Images by Kip Rasmussen|Kip Rasmussen]]]]
The wisest of the [[Maiar]], Gandalf was created by [[Ilúvatar]] before the [[Music of the Ainur]].<ref name="Ainu">{{S|Ainu}}</ref> At the beginning of [[Time]], he was amongst the [[Ainur]] who entered into [[Eä]].<ref name="SVala">{{S|Vala}}</ref> In his "youth" he was known as '''''Olórin''''' and lived in [[Lórien (Valinor)|Lórien]]. Yet his ways often took him to Nienna, from whom he learned pity and patience.<ref name=vala>{{S|IIc}}, p. 316</ref> He became one of the [[Maiar]] who served [[Manwë]], [[Varda]], [[Irmo]], and [[Nienna]]. He was associated with light and fire, much like [[Varda]].

After the Valar discovered the primeval [[Elves]] at [[Cuiviénen]], Olórin was sent there as one of the [[Five Guardians]] to guard the Elves from the forces of [[Melkor]].<ref>{{NM|P1xiii}}, p. 95</ref> It is unclear how long he remained or if he accompanied the [[Eldar]] on the [[Great Journey]]. But it is said he loved the Elves, and throughout his early life, he walked [[Unseen]] among them, or wore a [[Fana]] that appeared like an Elf, and he sent them fair visions in their hearts that made them wiser. Throughout his existence, he followed the example of Nienna, taking pity on the sorrows of the [[Children of Ilúvatar]] and driving those who listened to him out of despair.<ref name=vala/>

===Third Age===
====Arrival in Middle-earth====
During the [[Third Age]], while [[Sauron|Sauron's]] 'dark spirit of malice' was increasing over [[Middle-earth]], the Valar chose the [[Istari]], missionaries from among the Maiar, to go to Middle-earth and help the [[Portal:Characters|peoples]]. [[Manwë]] selected Olórin, who, at first, did not wish to go, as he feared Sauron. However, Manwë said that it was all the more reason why he should go.<ref name="Istari">{{UT|13}}</ref> Furthermore, [[the One Ring]], the location of much of Sauron's power, presumably still existed somewhere in Middle-earth.

Olórin submitted to the will of Manwë and departed Valinor to [[Mithlond]] in the year {{TA|1000}}.<ref name="Istari"/> He arrived shortly after two other Istari, [[Curumo]] and [[Aiwendil]], at about the same time the [[Necromancer]] appeared in [[Mirkwood]]. Like the other Wizards, he took the shape of an old man. He was robed in grey.

At Mithlond, he was welcomed by [[Glorfindel]], his friend from Valinor who was sent to Middle-earth earlier on a similar mission, and [[Círdan]] the shipwright, who possessed [[Narya]], one of the [[Three Rings|Three]] Elven [[Rings of Power]]. Círdan divined in Olórin a sense of strength and power despite his appearance as a bent and aged old man. Círdan gave Narya to Olórin with a prediction of his future struggles with evil, and a promise that it would support and aid him in his labours. Then Círdan said "''But as for me, my heart is with the [[Belegaer|Sea]], and I will dwell by the grey shores until the last ship sails. I will await you.''"<ref name="ThirdAge">{{App|B2}}</ref>

[[File:John Howe - Gandalf the Grey.jpg|thumb|''Gandalf the Grey'' by [[John Howe]]]]
Gandalf then began his sojourn in Middle-earth, going about as a wanderer and counsellor. Unlike Saruman, Gandalf did not take up a single permanent residence. Gandalf never went to the [[east]]<ref name="TT Window p. 670">{{TT|Window}}, p. 670</ref> and apparently restricted his activities to the [[Westlands]] of Middle-earth, where the remnants of the [[Dúnedain]] and the [[Eldar]] remained to oppose Sauron. He was known by many names during the long years he remained in Middle-earth: Elves named him ''[[Gandalf/Names#Mithrandir|Mithrandir]]'', the Grey Pilgrim, while the men of [[Arnor]] named him '''Gandalf''', which became his most common name. He was also known as ''[[Gandalf/Names#Incánus|Incánus]]'' in the south, and ''[[Gandalf/Names#Tharkûn|Tharkûn]]'' to the [[Dwarves]].<ref name="Istari"/>

A legend says that Gandalf was given the [[Elfstone]] of [[Eärendil]] by [[Yavanna]] to bring to the peoples of Middle-earth; this was to be a token that the Valar had not forsaken them. He gave it to [[Galadriel]], and remarked prophetically that she would in turn pass it to an individual who would also be called [[Aragorn|Elessar]].<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref>

====Early vigilance====
Around {{TA|1100}},<ref name="ThirdAge"/> the Istari and the Eldar discovered that some evil entity resided at [[Dol Guldur]] in Mirkwood. Dark shapes moved in the forest and evil began to multiply in the woods. Some thought a [[Nazgûl]] had returned to torment the world, or some new evil was arising. Gandalf was unsure, and feared that perhaps Sauron himself might have returned.<ref name="Rings">{{S|Rings}}</ref>
[[File:John Howe - Pass the Doors of Dol Guldur.jpg|thumb|left|''Pass the Doors of Dol Guldur'' by [[John Howe]]]]
Over the next two hundred years the evil continued to grow, as well as the source directing it. [[Orcs]] were multiplying in the [[Misty Mountains]] and elsewhere. The [[Witch-king]], the mightiest of the Nazgûl, had built a fortress in [[Angmar]] in the Northern wastelands and waged unending war against the Kingdom of [[Arnor]]. Meanwhile [[Moria]] and [[Minas Ithil]] fell under a shadow, while other wars, plagues, and catastrophes occurred across Middle-earth. Gandalf went to Dol Guldur in {{TA|2063|n}} to discover its secret.<ref name="ThirdAge"/> An entity known only as the '[[Necromancer]]' fled before him preventing Gandalf from identifying him.<ref name="Rings"/> After Gandalf's incursion, the evil there seemed to desist, and its absence allowed for some centuries of calmness.

That peaceful period was known as the [[Watchful Peace]] and lasted for almost four hundred years. However, the Nazgûl had used this period to prepare for Sauron's return, which occurred in {{TA|2460|n}}.<ref name="ThirdAge"/> Realising the returning evil, the [[Wise]] formed the [[White Council]] three years later. [[Galadriel]], bearer of one of the Three Elven Rings and mighty among the Eldar, wished Gandalf to be the chief of the Council, but he refused the position wishing to set down no roots and to maintain his independence; Saruman took this place because of his vast knowledge.<ref name="Rings"/>

During his wanderings in [[Eriador]], Gandalf met and befriended the isolated and secretive people of the [[Hobbits]] in their country, [[The Shire]]. During the [[Long Winter]] of {{TA|2758|n}} Gandalf came to their aid.<ref name="ThirdAge"/> It was then when he witnessed and admired the pity and courage the humble Hobbits reserved in their hearts.<ref name="Erebor"/>

When King [[Thráin|Thráin II]], a dwarf of the royal line of [[Lonely Mountain]], disappeared on a journey to [[Erebor]], Gandalf looked for him. At some point after {{TA|2845|n}} he entered the abandoned city of Khazad-dûm. After his vain search, the Wizard exited through the [[Doors of Durin]]; however this experience did not help him know how to open the doors from the outside.<ref name=journey>{{FR|Journey}}</ref>

In {{TA|2850|n}}, his quest led him once more to Dol Guldur, this time in secrecy.<ref name="ThirdAge"/> He found Thráin in the dungeons, who gave the Wizard his last possessions, the [[Thrór's Map|map]] and key to Erebor.<ref name="Durin">{{App|Durin}}</ref> Most importantly, Gandalf found that the Necromancer was no Nazgûl, but was Sauron himself, and he had taken [[Ring of Thrór|the last]] of the [[Seven Rings]] from the Dwarf King. Sauron was gathering the remaining [[Rings of Power]] and possibly searching for his lost [[The One Ring|One Ring]].

Gandalf escaped Dol Guldur and returned to the White Council.<ref name="Rings"/> After relating his discoveries, he urged the council to attack Sauron while the One Ring was still lost and Sauron's power immature. But Saruman said that it was better to watch and wait, and that the One Ring had long ago rolled from [[Anduin]] to the Sea.<ref name="Rings"/> The majority of the council agreed with Saruman. [[Elrond]] Half-elven, a powerful member of the council, later privately told Gandalf he had a foreboding that the Ring would be found, and that the war to end the [[Ages|Age]] was coming. Indeed, he added, he feared that it would end in darkness and despair. Gandalf encouraged him, saying there were many "strange chances," and that, "''help oft shall come from the hands of the weak when the Wise falter''".<ref name="Rings"/> Gandalf did not yet realise that Saruman now wanted the Ring for himself and was secretly searching for it along the banks of the river Anduin.

====Quest for Erebor====
Gandalf would visit the Shire occasionally and participate in the [[Midsummer]]-eve parties of the [[Old Took]] where he impressed young Hobbits with his fireworks, and his stories about [[Dragons]], [[Orcs#Orcs and Goblins|Goblins]] and princesses.<ref name="Erebor"/> He was thus known to be "responsible for so many quiet lads and lasses going off into the Blue for mad adventures". He also met a relatively adventurous Hobbit named [[Bilbo Baggins]] although he was far from "adventuresome."<ref name="Party"/>

Gandalf was concerned about the weak state of the North. [[Smaug]] the [[Dragons|Dragon]] had destroyed both the [[Kingdom under the Mountain]] and the town of [[Dale]], and Gandalf feared that [[Sauron]] might use the desolation around Erebor to regain the northern passes in the mountains and the old lands of Angmar. Gandalf knew that exiled Dwarf [[King of Durin's Folk]] [[Thorin Oakenshield]] planned to battle against Smaug, but he knew that it would not be enough. In {{TA|2941|n}},<ref name="ThirdAge"/> while staying the night in [[Bree]], Gandalf happened across the Dwarf King.<ref name="Erebor">{{UT|Erebor}}</ref> Thorin initiated conversation; he had been having a strange feeling urging him to seek Gandalf. Gandalf was intrigued, for he had thought to seek Thorin as well. They found they were taking the same road for a while (Thorin passing through [[the Shire]] on his way to the [[Blue Mountains|Ered Luin]]), and they agreed to travel together. Thorin wanted advice, and Gandalf in turn wanted to discuss the Dragon Smaug with Thorin.
[[File:David T. Wenzel - Good Morning Mr. Baggins.jpg|thumb|''Good Morning Mr. Baggins'' by [[David T. Wenzel]]]]
Ultimately, Gandalf concocted a plan wherein Thorin could destroy Smaug and recover his family fortune, albeit with a "burglar" of Gandalf's own choosing. Gandalf had a feeling that a Hobbit should be involved, and he remembered Bilbo Baggins. At first he found only [[Holman Cotton]] as Bilbo had left on the occasion of the [[Yestare|Elven new year]], something that persuaded Gandalf that Bilbo was the right person for the job.<ref name="Erebor"/> He visited Bilbo later, bringing along the kinsmen of Thorin.<ref name="Party">{{H|Party}}</ref> In the end Gandalf convinced the reluctant Baggins to become a burglar for Thorin.

Gandalf accompanied [[Thorin and Company]] to [[Rivendell]]. Gandalf saved them from a trio of [[Stone-trolls]], and later obtained the legendary sword [[Glamdring]] from their [[Trolls|Troll]]-hoard; Gandalf bore it thenceforth.<ref name="Mutton">{{H|Mutton}}</ref> He also helped Thorin and Company through the [[Misty Mountains]]. When they unknowingly camped in the [[Front Porch]] of the [[Goblin-town]], the Goblins captured the whole company except Gandalf, who surprised them much later by killing the [[Great Goblin]] and then rescuing the Dwarves and leading them to the exit.<ref name="Hill">{{H|Hill}}</ref> It was during this time that Bilbo obtained a "magic ring".<ref name="Riddles">{{H|Riddles}}</ref> The hobbit initially claimed he "won" it from the creature "[[Gollum]]" while the company was under the Misty Mountains,<ref name="Pan">{{H|Pan}}</ref> and he kept it secret from Gandalf for some time.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Lord of the Eagles.jpg|thumb|''The Lord of the Eagles'' by [[Darrell Sweet]]]]
On their escape out, the Company was saved by the [[Eagles]] of the Misty Mountains; Gandalf once had healed the [[Great Eagle]] from a poisoned wound,<ref name="Pan"/> and thenceforth they became friends. The Eagles picked them up and flew them to their eyrie. The next day, they dropped them to the other side of the Mountains.<ref name="Pan"/>

Gandalf then sought the hospitality of [[Beorn]], persuading him to welcome and host the whole Company in his [[Beorn's Hall|hall]]. But then he left the quest prior to its completion; after leading the Company to the outskirts of the [[Forest Gate]], he gave them some final advice (but little did he know that the lands had changed by then) before they entered [[Mirkwood]], and went to attend other obligations.<ref>{{H|Queer}}</ref> The [[White Council]] had met under the gravest of circumstances: Sauron's vast power was returning, even without his Ring. Gandalf at last convinced the Council to attack Dol Guldur, to which even Saruman agreed (as by now he feared Sauron as a rival, and wished to delay his search for the Ring). Gandalf joined his peers in assailing [[Dol Guldur]], ridding [[Mirkwood]] of the Necromancer's presence, who fled to [[Mordor]].<ref name="ThirdAge">{{App|B2}}</ref> When he was about to finish his task, news about what happened to Thorin's Company in Mirkwood reached him, and he realised that the instructions he gave them did not help; they had lost their way, and then vanished from the imprisonment of the [[Silvan Elves|Wood-elves]], who had captured them. He was anxious to get back to them as soon as possible.<ref>{{H|Welcome}}</ref>

Meanwhile Thorin's quest was successful: Erebor was retaken and Smaug was killed,<ref name="Fire">{{H|Fire}}</ref> but when Gandalf finally arrived to the area, he found the [[Dwarves of Erebor]] and [[Dwarves of the Iron Hills|the Iron Hills]] preparing for an attack by the [[Lake-men]] and the [[Elves of Mirkwood]]. He was with [[Bard]] and [[Thranduil]] and revealed his presence trying to reason with Thorin. When the attack was beginning, Gandalf halted them, to warn that the [[Orcs]] and [[Wargs]] were coming to claim the treasure. He invited [[Dáin Ironfoot]] for council, and soon Dwarves, Elves and Men formed an alliance, and defeated the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] in the [[Battle of Five Armies]].<ref name="Burst">{{H|Burst}}</ref>

King Thorin was mortally wounded and after his funeral and the reestablishment of Erebor under Dáin, Bilbo and Gandalf left Erebor for the Shire; on the way, they celebrated [[Yule]] at Beorn's, and then returned to Rivendell, where Gandalf discussed with [[Elrond]] the events of Dol Guldur and the Lonely Mountain. Gandalf had accomplished his immediate goal, which was to destroy Smaug, who could have been used to disastrous effect by Sauron. A large number of Orcs and Wargs also were killed in the North, removing threats to Rivendell and Lothlórien.<ref name="Erebor"/> But they both agreed that it would be better if the Necromancer were banished from the world altogether.<ref name="H19">{{H|19}}</ref>

As Gandalf and Bilbo passed by the site of their former encounter with the stone-trolls, they recovered the gold of the troll-hoard they had buried.<ref name="H19"/>

Gandalf was amazed by the hobbit; until then he had paid no attention to hobbits and knew little of them. For the rest of his sojourn in Middle-earth, Gandalf took a special interest in hobbits, and particularly in the Baggins family. [[Third Age 2949|Years later]], he and Balin paid a visit to Bilbo, discussing the news from Erebor and Dale.<ref name="ThirdAge"/><ref name="H19"/>

====Return of the Shadow====
Despite the Council's hopes, Sauron was not weakened by this attack. He had foreseen the move that drove him from Mirkwood, and his retreat was but a feint. Ten years after the attack, Sauron declared himself openly in Mordor in {{TA|2951|n}} and rebuilt [[Barad-dûr]]. The White Council met for one last time in {{TA|2953|n}} to debate about the [[Rings of Power]]. Saruman quieted his peers, claiming to have knowledge that the One Ring was lost in the [[Belegaer]]. After their meeting, Saruman, jealous and afraid of Gandalf, set spies to watch all his movements; this would affect the peaceful Hobbits, as from this, Saruman discovered their existence and noted Gandalf's interest in the Shire. As a result, he started sending agents to [[Bree]] and the [[Southfarthing]].<ref name="ThirdAge"/>

[[Gollum]] had come to Gandalf's knowledge, having left his hideout. He was looking for the thief of his ring: Bilbo. The [[Elves of Mirkwood]] had informed Gandalf that Gollum was traversing the forest. Then, coinciding with Sauron's declaration, Gollum apparently turned towards [[Mordor]] and was lost. Gandalf neglected the matter because he "had much else to think of at that time" and still trusted Saruman's knowledge. Later, Gandalf would regret this.<ref name=shadow/>

Meanwhile, Sauron began reassembling his forces for the final blow against the West. [[Easterlings]] from [[Khand]] and beyond the [[Sea of Rhûn]], joined by men from [[Harad]] reinforced his stronghold in [[Mordor]]; Orcs, trolls, and other foul beasts were multiplying while his minions were searching the Anduin for any sign of his precious One Ring.

Gandalf met [[Aragorn]], the hidden [[Heir of Isildur]] in {{TA|2956|n}}, and soon became friends with him.<ref name="ThirdAge"/> From that point on, Aragorn and Gandalf often worked together towards a common end - the defeat of Sauron.

He visited [[Minas Tirith]] and was welcomed by [[Faramir]], the son of the [[Ruling Steward]] [[Denethor]], and taught him from his wisdom. This displeased Denethor, who didn't trust Gandalf.<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref>

[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Arrival of Gandalf.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''The Arrival of Gandalf'' by [[Darrell Sweet]]]]
During this period Gandalf visited the Shire frequently, especially his friend Bilbo Baggins, and his younger cousin, [[Frodo Baggins]]. He noted Bilbo's unusual youthfulness, despite his advancing age; the suspicious "[[The One Ring|magic ring]]" that Bilbo had acquired during his adventure began to weigh on his mind. Gandalf recalled the deceit Bilbo used in originally claiming it for his own — Bilbo had later admitted to stealing it from [[Gollum]]. Gandalf could see that Bilbo was very preoccupied with the ring. Such un-hobbitlike behaviour aroused his suspicions. In {{TA|3001|n}} he organised [[Bilbo's Farewell Party]], and before leaving the Shire, he convinced Bilbo to leave the Ring for Frodo. He then emphatically warned Frodo not to use it; Gandalf had begun to suspect that the "magic ring" was indeed a [[Ring of Power]].<ref name=party>{{FR|Party}}</ref> Around that time, Gandalf became unpopular in the Shire; he was blamed for Bilbo's disappearance, and was even accused of plotting with Frodo to get a hold on Bilbo's wealth.<ref name=party/><Ref name=shadow>{{FR|Shadow}}</ref>

Gandalf was keen to find out more about Bilbo's ring, so he left the Shire,<ref name=party/> and resumed his search for Gollum. In this, he sought the help of [[Aragorn]]. The [[Rangers of the North]] were put to guard the Shire more closely.<ref name="ThirdAge"/> Gandalf showed up only [[Third Age 3004|three years later]] to check on Frodo and the Shire, and continued for the next four years always turning up unexpectedly and disappearing before dawn. In {{TA|3009|n}} he renewed the hunt for [[Gollum]] with Aragorn, searching in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], [[Rhovanion]], and even to the edges of Mordor. The search lasted eight years, for Gandalf did not know that Gollum had been captured by Sauron.<ref name="ThirdAge"/> Gandalf regretted ignoring Gollum for so many years, as his trail had become cold, resulting in many dark and dangerous days for Gandalf.<ref name=shadow/>

Studying the records in [[Minas Tirith]], Gandalf found the [[Scroll of Isildur]] in {{TA|3017|n}}, and from this, pieced together the missing history of the One Ring. On his way back to the Shire, he got word from the [[Galadhrim]] that Aragorn had finally captured Gollum<ref name="ThirdAge"/> and so he went to [[Mirkwood]] to meet him. For days he interrogated him in order to verify what he already knew. A great fear came over him when he learned that Gollum had been to [[Barad-dûr]]. Sauron had tortured Gollum and learned of the "magic ring", as well as the names "Shire" and "Baggins". The effects that Gandalf had seen on Gollum and Bilbo convinced him that Bilbo's Ring was not simply one of the [[Rings of Power]]: it was the ''[[The One Ring|One Ruling Ring]]'' of Sauron. Gandalf then returned in haste to the Shire.<ref name=shadow/><ref name=council>{{FR|Council}}</ref>

====War of the Ring====
[[File:Alan Lee - The Shadow of the Past.jpg|thumb|''The Shadow of the Past'' by [[Alan Lee]]]]
Gandalf returned to the Shire on [[12 April]] {{TA|3018}} and proved to Frodo that Bilbo's ring was the ancient [[One Ring]] which the Dark Power of [[Mordor]] was looking for. He told Frodo that he gathered much of this information by interrogating the creature [[Gollum]]. Frodo exclaimed that Gollum should have been killed, however Gandalf speculated that perhaps Gollum would have a part to play before the end, and in any case, it was not for Frodo to decide who should live and who should die.<ref>{{FR|Shadow}}</ref>

Gandalf suggested that he should leave the Shire soon and take the Ring to [[Rivendell]]. Frodo decided to leave on his next birthday, pretending to be moving to [[Buckland]], to which Gandalf agreed. The wizard stayed in the Shire for over two months,<ref name=three>{{FR|Three}}</ref> during which time, on [[1 May]] he went to [[Sarn Ford]] and met again Aragorn, informing him of Frodo's plans.<ref>{{FR|Strider}}</ref> He had a sense of foreboding and heard [[Sauron's attack on Osgiliath|disturbing news about war]] in [[Gondor]] and a [[Black Shadow]].<ref name=council/> He decided to leave for the South and left Frodo, promising to return for his birthday-farewell party in autumn, so that they would go to Rivendell together.<ref name=three/>

He wandered around [[Eriador]] hearing news from the refugees who had a fear they could not speak about, until he met [[Radagast]] who brought a message from [[Saruman]] that he must seek him at once, and a warning that the [[Ringwraiths]] were looking for the Shire.<ref name=council/> Gandalf went to [[the Prancing Pony]] at [[Bree]]. Believing that he would not be able to return to Frodo in time, he wrote [[Gandalf's letter|a letter]],<ref name=council/> urging him to move as soon as possible for Rivendell, and seek someone named "Strider", whose real name was Aragorn, with a [[Riddle of Strider|riddle]] to identify him; Gandalf would then try to catch up with them when he could. He instructed [[Barliman Butterbur]] to send the letter to [[Hobbiton]] and to expect a Mr. [[Baggins]] to arrive at the inn under the name of "[[Mr. Underhill]]". He left the inn, but Barliman would forget to send the letter.<ref>{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

=====Treachery of Saruman=====
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Gandalf Escapes Upon Gwaihir.jpg|thumb|left|''Gandalf Escapes Upon Gwaihir'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
Soon thereafter, Gandalf arrived at Isengard. At their meeting, Saruman at last revealed his desire for the One Ring.<ref name=council/> He offered to his "''old friend and helper''" that they take the Ring for themselves and seize power from Sauron. Gandalf rejected this with horror, and was imprisoned by Saruman on the pinnacle of [[Orthanc]]. [[Gwaihir]], chief of the Eagles, soon arrived and helped Gandalf escape.<ref name=council/> Gandalf knew he needed to return quickly to the Shire, as Frodo (and the Ring) were in grave danger from both Sauron's Nazgûl and Saruman's treacherous desire for the Ring.

Gandalf hurriedly went to [[Rohan]], desiring to find a strong steed; there he obtained [[Shadowfax]] from King [[Théoden]], who later resented the gift.<ref name=council/> This lord of horses and Gandalf forged a special bond, and Gandalf made quick use of Shadowfax's incredible strength and endurance.

Gandalf sped to the Shire. Fortunately, Frodo had already left the Shire without waiting for Gandalf,<ref name=council/> and was seeking [[Rivendell]]. Upon his arrival, Gandalf learned that the Nazgûl, arrayed as [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]], had been searching the area. Dismayed, he set out for Bree; Barliman apologised to Gandalf for forgetting to send the letter, and was worried that the hobbits had left with Strider, the suspicious [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]]. But for Gandalf, this was a hope which far exceeded his expectations. After congratulating a puzzled Barliman, Gandalf slept the night at the inn and in the morning left for [[Weathertop]], a high point in the region, to observe the surrounding area.<ref name=council/>
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Fire on Weathertop.jpg|thumb|''Fire on Weathertop'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
There he was assaulted at night by the Nazgûl, but drove them off after a great battle of light and flame.<ref name=B3>{{App|B3}}</ref> These phenomena were seen by Aragorn and the hobbits from afar, although they were unaware that Gandalf was involved.<ref>{{FR|I11}}</ref> Before leaving Weathertop, he marked some stones with the [[cirth|certh]] G for them to find. The next day he escaped to the north, followed by four Riders.<ref name=council></ref>

He then went directly to Rivendell, arriving a few days sooner than [[Aragorn]].<ref name=B3/> But when they arrived, Gandalf and Elrond joined their powers to cause a flood in [[Bruinen]] to drown the Riders, allowing Frodo some time to reach Rivendell.<ref name=council/> Then they welcomed Glorfindel, Aragorn and the hobbits upon their arrival. Frodo was sick with a [[Morgul-wound]], but was still in possession of the Ring.

=====Fellowship of the Ring=====
Elrond called a [[Council of Elrond|Council]] after Frodo was healed to consider the momentous decision of what would be done with the Ring. By chance, representatives of most of the free peoples were in Rivendell for various reasons. Elrond and Gandalf advised that the Ring should be destroyed in the fires of [[Orodruin]], where it was made. Others dissented or objected, but they eventually submitted to Gandalf's plan. Ultimately, Elrond appointed the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] as nine walkers, numerically set against Sauron's nine Nazgûl. The relatively small number reflected the realisation by Elrond and the other council members that the quest of Mount Doom would not rely upon strength of arms, but on stealth and good fortune. Gandalf was chosen to lead the company, which included [[Aragorn]], [[Boromir]], [[Legolas]] the Elf, [[Gimli]] the Dwarf, and the hobbits Frodo Baggins, who was named the [[Ring-bearer]], and [[Samwise Gamgee]], [[Peregrin Took]], and [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]].<ref name=council/>

Several obstacles stood in the company's way. The vast [[Misty Mountains]] had to be crossed, for Gandalf was determined not to lead the company near [[Isengard]]. Gandalf decided to take a southern route to the [[Redhorn Pass]] and there to cross the [[Misty Mountains]] near [[Caradhras]], thereby traversing the mountain range and avoiding Isengard.<ref name="The Ring Goes South, p. 283">{{FR|South}}, p. 283</ref> When this attempt failed due to a terrible storm, he decided to take the Fellowship through the ruins of Moria, where the remains of the great Dwarven city of [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]] was now a labyrinth of tunnels under the mountains. Others in the company were loathe enter the maze, as it was now the lair of orcs and something known only as "Durin's Bane".

At the [[Doors of Durin]] on the west side of the mountains, Gandalf, after some delay, spoke the password and led the company into the dark. Having been in Moria on an earlier perilous errand, he was somewhat familiar with the underground passages. Eventually the party came to the [[Chamber of Mazarbul]], where Gandalf read the [[Book of Mazarbul|Book of Records]], which revealed the fate of [[Balin]], the leader of an ill-fated attempt to re-colonise Moria. Soon after, the party was attacked by orcs, and forced to flee the chamber. By then, Gandalf was well aware of their location and he led the party quickly towards the eastern exit.
[[File:John Howe - Gandalf Falls with the Balrog.jpg|thumb|''Gandalf Falls with the Balrog'' by [[John Howe]]]]
However, [[Durin's Bane]] caught up to the group at the [[Bridge of Khazad-dûm]]. Gandalf and Legolas immediately realised what it was: a [[Balrogs|Balrog]] of [[Morgoth]]. Gandalf faced the demon and broke the bridge upon which they both stood, leaving the beast to fall into a seemingly bottomless chasm. But the Balrog's whip lashed out, and grasped Gandalf by the knees, causing him to fall into the pit. While falling, Gandalf shouted "Fly, you fools" and vanished into the abyss.<ref name=bridge>{{FR|Bridge}}</ref>

Yet Gandalf did not die; he and the Balrog fought long in the bowels and deep places of [[Arda]]. After restless pursuit over the course of eight days, Gandalf and the beast finally came to the summit of the [[Endless Stair]] upon the peak of [[Celebdil]]. There, he [[Battle of the Peak|fought the demon]] for two days and nights. The Balrog had burst into flame anew when it exited the stairs; ice, wind, and smoke swirled about them as they duelled. Gandalf used his last measure of strength to slay the Balrog, throwing him down the mountainside in ruin. Gandalf's spirit then left his body, having sacrificed himself to save the Fellowship.

=====Gandalf the White=====
But Gandalf's spirit did not depart Middle-earth forever. As the only one of the five Istari to stay true to his errand, Olórin was sent back to mortal lands by [[Ilúvatar|Eru]], and he became Gandalf once again. Yet, as he was now the sole emissary of the Valar to Middle-earth, he was granted the power to "reveal" more of his inner [[Maiar]] strength. This naked power that lay within him was seldom used during the remainder of his time in Middle-earth, as his mission was essentially the same: to support and succour those who opposed Sauron. Nevertheless, when Gandalf's wrath was kindled his "unveiled" strength was such that few of Sauron's servants could withstand him.
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Gandalf Returns.jpg|thumb|left|''Gandalf Returns'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
As he lay on the mountaintop, the great eagle [[Gwaihir]] came up and bore him to [[Lothlórien]], where he was clothed and replenished, and given a new staff by [[Galadriel]]. Gandalf soon learned that Frodo had left the Fellowship and was travelling to Mount Doom. As Frodo was beyond his assistance now, Gandalf promptly went south to [[Fangorn Forest]], where he met the [[Three Hunters]]: [[Aragorn]], [[Legolas]], and [[Gimli]], and gave them messages from Galadriel. From them, he learned that Sam went with Frodo, and he was pleased with this.<ref name="TT White"/>{{rp|496}} Then he called forth [[Shadowfax]], and rode with them to [[Edoras]]. There he found that Saruman's spy [[Gríma|Gríma Wormtongue]] had deceived King [[Théoden]] into hopeless impotence. Gandalf quickly deposed Wormtongue and encouraged Théoden to ride west to war against [[Saruman]]. By now, Gandalf was keenly aware that the great war to end the age was beginning; if Saruman conquered Rohan, then Gondor would be alone with enemies on all sides.

At Gandalf's encouragement, King Théoden went west to Helm's Deep where he was quickly besieged; Gandalf then searched for [[Erkenbrand]] and the forces of the [[Westfold]], which he later found and led to the Deep, thus breaking the siege. Meanwhile, the [[Ents]], along with the hobbits Merry and Pippin, moved against Saruman and sent [[Huorns]] against the orcs, resulting in the utter ruin of the outer walls of [[Isengard]] and the complete annihilation of Saruman's orcs. After the battle, Gandalf went to [[Orthanc]] with Théoden, Aragorn, and a small group. There Saruman rejected Gandalf's offer of forgiveness with contempt. Gandalf then broke Saruman's staff and cast him from the Order and the Council.<ref name="TT Voice"/>{{rp|583}} Gandalf imposed a strict watch on Isengard by the Ents and then advised King Théoden to ride to Gondor's defence as soon as possible. The wizard's mind had already turned to Gondor and the coming climactic battle in the east.

=====Siege of Minas Tirith=====
[[File:Donato Giancola - The White Rider.jpeg|thumb|right|200px|''The White Rider'' by [[Donato Giancola]]]]
As a 'reward' for Pippin, who had foolishly gazed into a [[Palantíri|palantír]], Gandalf took the Hobbit with him to [[Minas Tirith]], the last bastion of the west. Soon after arriving, Gandalf confronted [[Denethor|Denethor II]], the [[Ruling Steward]], and learned that he was near despair over the death of his eldest son, [[Boromir]]. Pippin entered the Steward's service in payment of the debt that he and Merry owed: the death of Boromir. Ostensibly they were allies, but the Steward treated him with disrespect and suspicion. When [[Faramir]], the Steward's younger son, returned from [[Osgiliath]] and was attacked by Nazgûl, Gandalf upon Shadowfax drove them away by revealing the power within him. Later, Faramir told him that Frodo and Sam were still alive and headed towards Mordor.<ref name="RK Siege">{{RK|Siege}}</ref>{{rp|812}}

The city was soon besieged by a vast force from Mordor, led by the [[Witch-king]]. An ill-advised counter attack resulted in Faramir receiving a wound from a poisoned dart; he lay near death inside the Tower. Still, Gandalf encouraged the men of Minas Tirith to have hope, and dispelled the fear of the Ringwraiths by his very presence. But Sauron's catapults hurled flaming bolts upon the city; soon the first circle of the city burned unchecked. Denethor then lost all heart as the city burned and his only remaining son hovered near death. He abandoned his leadership of the city, and Gandalf then took it upon himself to direct the defence of the city. When the gigantic battering ram [[Grond (battering ram)|Grond]] destroyed the ancient entrance to the city, Gandalf placed himself alone at the ruined gateway. The Witch-king then appeared in the midst of the blasted gate upon a black horse and threatened Gandalf with death; but Gandalf did not move — seated upon Shadowfax he defied the mightiest of Sauron's minions. However, the stand-off ended inconclusively, as the morning arrived along with the host of the Rohirrim. Hearing the horns of the [[Riders of Rohan]], the Witch-king departed.

However, Gandalf did not pursue his foe, for Pippin brought him news that Denethor was about to burn himself and his son Faramir to death on a pyre like the heathen kings of old. Gandalf rushed to stop this, and was able to save Faramir, but not Denethor, whose despair and grief had overcome his mind. Gandalf then learned how it was that Denethor's will had been broken: the Steward clutched a palantír in his hands as he burned.

Nevertheless, and against all hope, the siege was broken. [[Éowyn]] of Rohan and Merry defeated the Witch-king, whose last wail was heard by many as he was reduced to impotence. Soon after, Aragorn arrived with a large host of men from the southern fiefs upon a captured pirate fleet from Umbar. The forces of the men of the west then utterly defeated Sauron's attack against Minas Tirith, relieving the city and killing virtually all of the invaders. Gandalf's carefully laid plans and words of wisdom, along with acts of heroism not seen since the [[Elder Days]], had defeated Sauron's first move.

=====Last battle=====
But the attack against Minas Tirith was only a part of Sauron's plan to devastate the west and make himself the ruler of Middle-earth. Other armies moved in the north against [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]] and the Kingdom of Thranduil, as well as against Lothlórien and other points along the [[Anduin]]. Still commanding vast armies of orcs and men, the Dark Lord soon would move against Gondor again; the remnants of the Edain and their allies had little hope against his almost limitless resources.

In Minas Tirith, Gandalf was selected by Aragorn, [[Imrahil]], and [[Éomer]] (the remaining lords of the west) to be their leader in the coming final battles. This would be the culmination of Gandalf's efforts in Middle-earth. Fully aware that the west would stand or fall on the outcome of Frodo's mission, he advised the lords to drive north to the [[Morannon]], thereby drawing Sauron's eye away from Frodo's likely location. This plan would likely result in a catastrophic loss for the outnumbered army, but it gave Frodo a chance to achieve the quest of Mount Doom.

Led by Gandalf and Aragorn, the army of the West crossed the Anduin and marched north, pausing occasionally to announce their coming, and to dispatch small numbers of men to lesser tasks. Upon arriving at the Black Gate, the forces halted and prepared for battle. As they ordered their companies, the foul [[Mouth of Sauron]] rode forth to parley with them; he revealed Frodo's [[mithril coat]] and Arnor-blade and implied that their owner was captured and tortured. The emissary of Sauron then proposed that the forces of the west surrender; Gandalf however was undaunted, and, seizing his friend's belongings, rejected Sauron's offer. In shock, the Mouth of Sauron turned back towards the Black Gate, which slowly opened to reveal a vast army of orcs and trolls advancing on the lords of the west. Sauron's trap was sprung.

Yet Sauron himself became the victim of Gandalf's trap. Unbeknownst to all, Frodo and Sam had succeeded in scaling Mount Doom. Even as the Battle of Morannon began, Frodo stood at the [[Crack of Doom]]. But the power and lure of the Ring finally overcame his will and he placed the ring upon his finger, claiming it as his own. Immediately the Nazgûl were summoned by their lord, as he in terror realised his blunder: his enemies intended to destroy his Ring.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - The Shadow of Sauron.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''The Shadow of Sauron'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
But Gandalf's foresight proved accurate again as the creature Gollum, who had been doggedly following the Ring-bearer, seized the Ring from Frodo, and, while celebrating his reunion with "his precious," unwittingly fell into the fires of Orodruin. The ring was unmade as the fiery mountain erupted. The tower of [[Barad-dûr]] and the [[Towers of the Teeth]] began to collapse, their foundations crumbling. The Ring-wraiths burned out like shooting stars, and Sauron was reduced to a mere shadow of malice, never to torment the world again.

With Sauron gone, his forces scattered; the Men of the West now set upon them with fury. Gandalf announced the success of the [[Ring-bearer]] and the end of Sauron; the quest had been fulfilled. Seeing that victory was achieved, Gandalf then mounted [[Gwaihir]] the Eagle for the third time, and set out for Mount Doom in search of Frodo and Sam. To his great relief, the two were found on the slopes of Orodruin, clinging to life amid the volcanic eruptions.<ref>{{RK|Doom}}</ref>{{rp|948-51}} The great quest was over.

====End of the Order====
In Minas Tirith, Gandalf and the remaining members of the Fellowship reunited. At the coronation of King [[Aragorn|Elessar]], Gandalf, at Aragorn's request, set the crown upon the King’s head, and declared "''Now come the days of the King, and may they be blessed while the thrones of the [[Valar]] endure!''". Thus Gandalf ushered in the new age of men.

After the coronation and wedding of Aragorn to [[Arwen]], Gandalf left with the rest of the remaining Fellowship on the journey home. For Gandalf, it was his last long journey in Middle-earth. His errand to Arda had been fulfilled; Sauron had been defeated. He said farewell to his friends one by one until at last only the four Hobbits remained at his side. At the borders of the Shire he, too, turned away. He left the Hobbits to settle the affairs of the Shire themselves, for the shattered pieces of evil still remaining in the world were no longer his concern, and went to talk to [[Tom Bombadil]].<ref>{{RK|Homeward}}</ref>{{rp|996}}

What Gandalf did during the next two years is unknown; it is possible that his "''long talk''" with Bombadil was just that. At any rate, on [[29 September]] {{TA|3021|n}}, he met [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] at [[Mithlond]], ready to take the [[White Ship]] over the [[Belegaer|sea]] to [[Aman]]. He wore [[Narya]] openly on his finger, and Shadowfax was beside him (perhaps even to take ship with him). His mission was over, and his homecoming after more than 2000 years was nigh. He bade farewell to [[Samwise Gamgee|Samwise]], [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]], and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] (the latter two of whom he had forewarned of the passage), then boarded the ship beside Frodo, Bilbo, Elrond, and Galadriel. The ship passed west upon the sea,<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref> and then took the hidden straight path to [[Valinor]]. Gandalf became Olórin once more. There, presumably, he dwells still in the gardens of [[Irmo]]. Olórin, the wisest of the Maiar and the sole Istar to remain true to his mission, had successfully kindled the hearts of the [[free peoples]] of Middle-earth to overcome the evil of their time. 

==Characteristics==
===Personality===
[[File:Roger Garland - Gandalf.jpg|left|thumb|The Grey Pilgrim relaxing. Art by [[Roger Garland]]]]
Gandalf is often described in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' as quick to anger, and equally quick to laugh.<ref name="Lorien">{{FR|Lorien}}</ref>
His deep wisdom clearly derived from the patience he learned in Valinor, just as his care for all creatures of good will must have come from his strong sense of pity for the weak. Both his patience and sense of pity were revealed again and again, extending even to the servants of his enemies.
[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - G for Gandalf.png|thumb|Gandalf's signature, the [[cirth|rune]] "G".]]
Keen observers of Gandalf often detected a veiled power, usually revealed in his eyes, which appeared deep and wise.<ref>{{RK|MT}}</ref>{{rp|757}} He was alternately affectionate and brusque; he often surprised others with his bluntness when time was of the essence. Gandalf consistently upbraided foolish behaviour, but also richly rewarded those who acted with good intentions.

Hobbits appealed to him more than to the other Wizards, and he went often to the Shire for respites from his errands. It may be that he was amused by their nature. It may also be because they were untouched by the great evils of the world, and were more in touch with nature than Men; perhaps their agrarian lifestyle appealed to Gandalf's innate spirit and reminded him of the gardens of Valinor.

===Appearance===
[[File:John Howe - Gandalf the Grey 02.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Gandalf the Grey'' by [[John Howe]]]]

The first description of Gandalf is preserved in the initial pages of ''The Hobbit'', written in the early 1930s. Gandalf's fame is alluded to even before his physical description ("Tales and adventures sprouted up all over the place wherever he went, in the most extraordinary fashion"), while the protagonist's ("unsuspecting Bilbo") impression is that of:
{{Blockquote|...an old man with a staff. He had a tall pointed blue hat, a long grey cloak, a silver scarf over which a white beard hung down below his waist, and immense black boots.|''[[The Hobbit]]'', "[[An Unexpected Party]]"}}

Later, [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] wrote:
{{Blockquote|...a figure strongly built and with broad shoulder, though shorter than the average of men and now stooped with age, leaning on a thick rough-cut staff as he trudged along... Gandalf's hat was wide-brimmed [...] with a pointed conical crown, and it was ''blue''; he wore a long ''grey'' cloak, but this would not reach much below his knees. It was of an elven silver-grey hue, though tarnished by wear - as is evident from the general use of grey in [[The Lord of the Rings|the book]]... But his colours were always white, silver-grey, and blue - except for the boots he wore when walking in the wild...Gandalf even bent must have been at least 5 ft. 6... Which would make him a short man even in modern England, especially with the reduction of a bent back.<ref name="MB" />}}

Although some of the Wise knew his true nature, his "wizard-like" appearance caused many to mistake him for a simple conjurer. After his return, his "signature colour" changed from grey to white, for he had been sent back to replace the corrupt Saruman as the chief of the Wizards. In the book, he claimed that, in some ways, he now "was Saruman", or rather Saruman as he should have been.<ref name="TT White"/>{{rp|495}}

[[Círdan]] the Shipwright divined in him "the greatest spirit and the wisest" out of all of the Wizards that came from the West, and so he entrusted the care of [[Narya]], one of the [[Three Rings]] of the Elves, to Gandalf rather than to Saruman.<ref name="Istari"/>

===Powers and abilities===
[[File:Roger Thomasson - Gandalf the Grey.jpg|thumb|''Gandalf the Grey'' by [[Roger Thomasson]]]]
Gandalf demonstrated extensive knowledge of the land and an assortment of magical abilities from trivial to essential. For example he would use his powers for entertainment, by blowing glowing smoke rings that moved around a room at his direction, and [[Bilbo Baggins]] remembered him for his fantastic fireworks displays. He created blinding flashes and other pyrotechnics to distract the [[Orcs|goblins]] of the [[Misty Mountains]], aiding the dwarves in their escape from [[Goblin-town]]. On the eastern slopes, he turned pine cones into flaming projectiles that threw hot sparks and started fires that would not easily go out. He was also able to come and go from the presence of [[Thorin and Company]] without being noticed.

Though not as keen as [[Elves]], his eyesight was sharp enough to not only see in darkness, but also see in the dimension of the [[Nazgûl]].

He again displayed his proficiency with pyrotechnics at [[Bilbo's Farewell Party]]. When the Fellowship is attacked by [[Wargs]] in [[Eregion|Hollin]], Gandalf speaks words of power to inflame the trees on the hillock where the company had camped. He was also able to start fires under blizzard conditions, create light of varying intensity for the journey through [[Moria]], magically secure doors, and break the [[Bridge of Khazad-dûm]]. When angered or aroused for battle, he seemed to grow in height and assume a terrifying aspect.<ref name="party" />{{rp|34}} He fought the [[Durin's Bane|Balrog of Moria]] and killed his opponent, although he did not himself survive the battle.

Sent back to [[Middle-earth]] as Gandalf the White, he possessed greater charisma and a limited degree of clairvoyance, although he was unable to peer into the land of [[Mordor]] to see the progress of Frodo and [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]]. His power and authority had increased so that he could break [[Saruman]]'s staff with a spoken command, showing his authority to throw the treacherous wizard out of the order.<ref name="TT Voice">{{TT|Voice}}</ref>{{rp|583}} He also was successful in preventing Sauron's Eye from locating Frodo.<ref name="TT White">{{TT|White}}</ref>

Gandalf was the bearer of [[Narya]], the Ring of Fire, and described himself as the "servant of the [[Secret Fire]]" and "wielder of the [[flame of Anor]]".<ref name=bridge/> Many of Gandalf's displays of power were related to fire in some way. It is not known, though, whether or to what extent his possession of Narya affected his abilities.

===Special equipment===
It is unknown whether Gandalf required his staff to exercise certain powers. At times it appeared to focus or extend his powers, such as its emanation of light. [[Gríma|Gríma Wormtongue]] tried to forbid Gandalf from bringing it into [[Edoras]] in a clear attempt to limit his powers.<ref>{{TT|King}}</ref>{{rp|514}}

When he arrived in Middle-earth, Gandalf received the Elven ring [[Narya]] from [[Círdan]].<ref name=Istari/> Gandalf wore it from that time to the end of the Third Age but how he used its powers is not known.

In {{TA|2941}}, Gandalf acquired the Elven sword [[Glamdring]] from the treasure hoard of a band of trolls.<ref name="Mutton"/> He continued to wield this weapon throughout ''The Lord of the Rings'', in particular during his fight with the [[Durin's Bane|Balrog]] in Moria.

Throughout his time in Middle-earth Gandalf often was seen with a pipe which he used to smoke Old Toby.

==Etymology==
{{Pronounce|Gandalf.mp3|Ardamir}}
{{Pronounce|Quenya - Olórin.mp3|Gilgamesh}}
Within the legendarium, ''Gandalf'' translates an unknown name of the meaning "Elf-of-the-wand (or cane/staff)", or more literary "Wand-elf", in old northern Mannish. Most denizens of Middle-earth incorrectly assumed Gandalf was a [[Men|Man]], although he was really a Maia spirit (approximately equivalent to an angel). However, a less common misconception that occurred during the beginning of his career in Middle-earth was that for someone to be [[Immortality|immortal]] and use as much magic as he did, he must have been an Elf. Although it soon became apparent to all that he could not be an Elf, as he was old and Elves do not generally age, the nickname stuck with him. He later gave it as his name to others he met who did not know its original meaning.

==Other names==
{{Main|Gandalf/Names}}

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In early manuscripts of ''[[The Hobbit]]'', the name ''[[Bladorthin]]'' was used by Tolkien for the character who later would be named ''Gandalf''. The name ''Gandalf'' was instead used for the character known as [[Thorin]] in the published works.<ref>{{HH|Intro}}</ref>

==Inspiration==
[[File:Georg von Rosen - Oden som vandringsman, 1886 (Odin, the Wanderer).jpg|thumb|''Oden som vandringsman'' (''Odin the Wanderer'') by Georg von Rosen]]
[[File:Josef Madlener - Der Berggeist.jpg|left|thumb|''[[Der Berggeist]]'' by [[Josef Madlener]]]]

''Gandalfr''
appears in the list of dwarves in the ''[[Völuspá]]'' of the Elder Edda, the name means "Cane-elf". Tolkien took the name along with the other dwarves' names when he wrote ''The Hobbit'' in the 1930s. He came to regret the creation of this "rabble of eddaic-named dwarves [...] invented in an idle hour",<ref>{{TI|Runes}}, p. 452</ref> since it forced him to come up with an explanation of why Old Norse names should be used in [[Third Age]] Middle-earth. He solved the dilemma in 1942 by the explanation that [[Old Norse]] was a ''translation'' of the [[language of Dale]]. The figure of Gandalf has other influences from Germanic mythology, particularly Odin in his incarnation as "the Wanderer", an old man with one eye, a long white beard, a wide brimmed hat, and a staff: Tolkien states that he thinks of Gandalf as an ''"Odinic wanderer"'' in a letter of 1946.<ref>{{L|107}}</ref>

Tolkien had a postcard labelled ''[[Der Berggeist]]'' ("the mountain spirit"), and on the paper cover in which he kept it, he wrote "the origin of Gandalf" at some point. The postcard reproduces a painting of a bearded figure, sitting on a rock under a pine tree in a mountainous setting. He wears a wide-brimmed round hat and a long cloak and a white fawn is nuzzling his upturned hands.
[[Humphrey Carpenter]] in his 1977 biography said that Tolkien had bought the postcard during his 1911 holiday in Switzerland. However, Manfred Zimmerman discovered that the painting was by German artist Josef Madlener and dates to the late 1920s.<ref>[[Manfred Zimmerman]], "The Origin of Gandalf and Josef Madlener", in [[Mythlore|''Mythlore'']] [[Mythlore 34|34]] (Winter [[1983]])</ref> Carpenter concluded that Tolkien was probably mistaken about the origin of the postcard himself. Tolkien must have acquired the card at some time in the early 1930s, at a time when ''The Hobbit'' had already begun to take shape.

==Portrayals in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Gandalf in adaptations
|height=150
|width=200
|lines=3
|File:The Hobbit (1966 film) - Gandalf.png|Gandalf in [[The Hobbit (1966 film)|''The Hobbit'' (1966 film)]]
|File:The Hobbit (1977 film) - Gandalf.jpg|Gandalf in [[The Hobbit (1977 film)|''The Hobbit'' (1977 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Gandalf.jpg|Gandalf the Grey in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Gandalf the White.jpg|Gandalf the White in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:War in Middle Earth - Gandalf and three hobbits.png|Gandalf in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:LOTR-Gandalf 1990-1--1-.png|Gandalf in [[J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I (1990 video game)|''J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I'' (1990 video game)]]
|File:LOTR vol. 1 SNES Gandalf in the Shire.png|Gandalf in [[J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I (SNES)|''J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I'' (SNES)]]
|File:1121208-ror 010-1-.png|Gandalf in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's Riders of Rohan]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Gandalf reading the Book of Mazarbul.jpg|Gandalf the Grey in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy - Gandalf the White.jpg|Gandalf the White in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Gandalf.JPG|Gandalf in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:Gandalf 2Towers.png|Gandalf in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings- The Two Towers GBA - Gandalf, Frodo and Legolas.png|Gandalf in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)#Game Boy Advance version|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (Game Boy Advance)]]
|File:The Hobbit (2003) Gandalf.JPG|Gandalf in ''[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (2003 video game)]]
|File:Gandalf EA RotK.png|Gandalf in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings- The Return of the King GBA - Gandalf.png|Gandalf in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (Game Boy Advance)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Gandalf the Grey.png|Gandalf the Grey in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Gandalf the White.jpg|Gandalf the White in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online Shadows of Angmar - Gandalf.png|Gandalf the Grey in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings- Conquest -Gandalf fighting Orcs.png|'''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]''
|File:Aragorn's Quest - Gandalf the White.jpg|Gandalf the White in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest]]''
|File:Gandalf in LOTR- War in the North-1.png|''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:Lego - Gandalf the Grey mini figure.png|Gandalf the Grey as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
|File:Guardians of Middle-earth - Gandalf.png|Gandalf the Grey in ''[[Guardians of Middle-earth]]''
|File:The Hobbit (film series) - Gandalf.jpg|Gandalf the Grey in [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]
}}
===Films===
'''1966: [[The Hobbit (1966 film)|''The Hobbit'' (1966 film)]]:'''
:Gandalf's role is drastically reduced. He lives in a tower, where Thorin, the [[Mika Milovana|princess]] and the guard meet him to discuss the killing of [[Smaug|Slag]]. He introduces them to Bilbo, but does not go on the quest.<ref name="Deitch">{{webcite|articleurl=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=UBnVL1Y2src|articlename=The Hobbit.mp4|dated=5 January 2012|website=YouTube|accessed=10 January 2012}}</ref>

'''1977: [[The Hobbit (1977 film)|''The Hobbit'' (1977 film)]]:'''
:The voice of Gandalf was provided by [[John Huston]].

'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:Gandalf was voiced by [[William Squire]]. [[John A. Neris]] played him in the live-action filming used for rotoscoping.<ref>Jerry Beck, ''The Animated Movie Guide'', page 154 (at [http://books.google.com/books?id=fTI1yeZd-tkC&pg=PA154&dq=%22John+A.+Neris%22&hl=nl#PPA154,M1 GoogleBooks])</ref>

'''1980: [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]:'''
:[[John Huston]] reprised his role as Gandalf. In this adaptation, the tale is told by a minstrel of [[Gondor]], yet in the story, Gandalf serves as the narrator. Gandalf the White is portrayed without difference from Gandalf the Grey, in ''The Hobbit''.

'''1985: [[The Hobbit (1985 television film)|''The Fairytale Adventures of Mr. Baggins, the Hobbit'' (1985 film)]]:'''
:Ivan Krasko played Gandalf.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:[[Ian McKellen]] was cast as Gandalf. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Perhaps the most striking difference from all other adaptations is the difference between Gandalf the Grey and Gandalf the White. Where earlier no visible or audible difference was made, Gandalf the White is portrayed as much more virile, and with a shorter (and whiter) beard.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Because [[Imrahil]] had been cut from the film, it was up to Gandalf to lead the troops after the madness and death of [[Denethor]].

'''2012-14: [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]:'''
:[[Ian McKellen|Sir Ian McKellen]] reprised his role as Gandalf the Grey.<ref name="PJCasting">{{webcite|author=[[Peter Jackson]]|articleurl=http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150168211921558|articlename=Production begins in New Zealand on The Hobbit|dated=20-March-2011|website=[http://www.facebook.com/ Facebook]|accessed=23-Dec-2011}}</ref> A description of Gandalf in ''The Hobbit'' films was released by the studio:

:{{Blockquote|One of the most powerful Wizards in all Middle-earth, Gandalf the Grey joins the quest to reclaim the Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor and the great treasure that lies within its stone halls from a fire-breating dragon, Smaug the Terrible. Along the way, Gandalf finds evidence that an ancient evil may have found its way back into the world. In order to uncover the truth, Gandalf must leave his companions to fend for themselves – a journey that will take him into the darkest corners of Middle-earth where his worst suspicions are confirmed.|[[Warner Bros.]]<ref name="HobbitApp">{{webcite|author=[[Warner Bros.]]|articleurl=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hobbit-movies/id545808528|articlename=Hobbit Movies|dated=7-September-2012|website=[http://itunes.apple.com/ Apple iPhone/iPad App]|accessed=19-September-2012}}</ref>}}

===Television===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Actor [[Vesa Vierikko]] played both Gandalf the Grey and Gandalf the White. He appeared in 6 of 8 episodes.

===Radio series===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Gandalf was provided by [[Norman Shelley]].<ref>{{L|175}}</ref>

'''1968: [[The Hobbit (1968 radio series)|''The Hobbit'' (1968 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Gandalf was provided by [[Heron Carvic]].

'''1979: [[The Hobbit (1979 radio series)|''The Hobbit'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Gandalf was provided [[Bernard Mayes]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:[[Bernard Mayes]] reprised his role as Gandalf.

'''1980: [[Der Hobbit (1980 German radio series)|''Der Hobbit'' (1980 German radio series)]]:'''
:Gandalf is played by Bernhard Minetti.

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:[[Michael Hordern]] read the part of Gandalf. He had not read the book, and thought his agent made a mistake in telling him how many episodes he had to do. He did not know Gandalf's early death would prove only temporarily.<ref>[[Brian Sibley]], "[http://briansibleytheworks.blogspot.com/2008/01/this-page-is-still-under-construction_23.html The Ring Goes Ever On: The Making of BBC Radio's ''The Lord of the Rings'']", at ''[http://briansibleytheworks.blogspot.com/ Brian Sibley:The Works]''</ref>

'''1989: [[Hobit (1989 Slovak radio series)|''Hobit'' (1989 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Gandalf is provided by Karol Machata.

'''1992: [[Der Herr der Ringe (1992 German radio series)|''Der Herr der Ringe'' (1992 German radio series)]]:'''
:Gandalf is played by Manfed Steffen.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Gandalf is provided by Martin Huba.

===Games===
'''1982: [[The Hobbit (1982 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (1982 video game)]]:'''
:Gandalf can be met on several moments of the game's story line.<ref>[http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=ZXComputing/Issue8304/Pages/ZXComputing830400076.jpg ''ZX Computing'', iss. 8304, p. 76] reproduced at [http://www.worldofspectrum.org/archive.html World of Spectrum - Archive] (retrieved at 14 August 2010)</ref>

'''1990: [[J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I (1990 video game)|''J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I'' (1990 video game)]]:'''
:Gandalf can be "recruited" by [[Frodo Baggins]] as a playable character.

'''1990: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's Riders of Rohan]]'':'''
:Gandalf is one of the main characters of the game and one of the several heroes of the [[Rohan]] faction.

'''1994: [[J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I (SNES)|''J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I'' (SNES)]]:'''
:Gandalf can be acquired as a playable character.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Tom Kane]] provided the voice of Gandalf. He is a playable character in several levels, including the fight with [[Durin's Bane]].

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:The voice of Gandalf is provided by [[Ian McKellen]]. Gandalf the Grey appears at the campsite of the [[Fellowship of the Ring|fellowship]] in ''The Gates of Moria'' and during the fight of [[Balin's Tomb]] in ''Balin's Tomb''. He latter reappears in the game as Gandalf the White at the start of the mission ''The Plains of Rohan'', where he leaves Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli to search Éomer and his army. He also appears in some cutscenes.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)#Game Boy Advance version|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (Game Boy Advance)]]:'''
:In the [[wikipedia:Game Boy Advance|Game Boy Advance version]] of [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]] Gandalf is a playable character. Gandalf's story starts with a conservation between Gandalf and [[Théoden]], after which the story goes back to the [[Caradhras]], where the Fellowship tries to travel over the [[Misty Mountains]]. When that road fails, the Fellowship goes back and travels through [[Moria]]. In Moria Gandalf and the other member of the Fellowship are separated. After finding [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], [[Aragorn]] and [[Gimli]] the fellowship is attacked by a [[Cave-trolls|Cave-troll]] and [[Orcs#Orcs and Goblins|Goblins]]. After Gandalf defeats the Cave-troll the Fellowship has to flee for the [[Balrogs|Balrog]]. When they reach the [[Bridge of Khazad-dûm]] a cutscene is shown, in which Gandalf destroys the bridge and falls with the Balrog in the depths. After the fall Gandalf has to follow the footsteps of the Balrog through the depths of Moria and the [[Endless Stair]] until he reaches [[Durin's Tower]], where he has to defeat the Balrog.

:After being revived he returns as Gandalf the White in Fangorn, where he defeats several [[Trolls]] and [[Crebain]]. After defeating a stronger Forrest troll, named Fangorn troll, Gandalf meets Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. After a cutscene, the game moves to [[Edoras]]. Gandalf heals the corrupted Théoden in Edoras, and then travels through [[Rohan]] in search of [[Éomer]]. Gandalf convinces Éomer to lead his army to [[Helm's Deep]].

:The game ends with the [[Battle of the Hornburg|Battle of Helm's Deep]], in which Gandalf and Éomer fight alongside Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and [[Éowyn]] while protecting the wall, the [[Hornburg]] and the [[Glittering Caves]]. In the final level Gandalf has to destroy the siege weapons that bombard the Hornburg. The game ends with a conservation between Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli and Théoden.

'''2003: [[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (2003 video game)]]:'''
:[[Jim Ward]] provided the voice of Gandalf. He is shown with actual [[magic]]: he can shoot blue bolts of lightning from his staff.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Gandalf is the narrator, and a playable character. The game is built around him; the cut scene narration shows how he planned for the [[War of the Ring]]. He has several missions, collectively called the "Path of the Wizard". The first is the [[Battle of the Hornburg|the Battle of Helm's Deep]], which serves as a training mission. He has to fight [[Uruk-Hai]] in the forest of [[Huorns]] and [[Ents]] in "The Road to Isengard". After that, the missions move to [[Minas Tirith]]: the first mission, "Top of the Wall", has Gandalf warding off ladders and siege towers. In the second, "Courtyard", he has to protect civilians from the invading Orcs. His last playing mission is the [[Battle of the Morannon|Battle of the Black Gate]].

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (Game Boy Advance)]]:'''
:Just like on the console version of the game, Gandalf is a playable character. He has many missions, collectively called the "The Journey of the Wizard". He starts in a flooded [[Isengard]], where he has to kill several [[Uruk-hai]] and [[Crebain]] before he confronts [[Saruman]]. After the defeat of Saruman he travels to [[Minas Tirith]] through Rohan and the Misty Mountains. At the [[Pelennor Fields]] Gandalf has to protect the [[Beacons of Gondor|beacons]], so Rohan can be warned. During the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields|Battle of Minas Tirith]] he has to protect the gate, before making his way to the [[House of the Stewards|Steward's Tomb]]. Here Gandalf has to kill Denethor, before he burns [[Faramir]]. After the battle Gandalf travels through [[Ithilien]] to the [[Black Gate]], where he confronts a Nazgûl.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age]]'':'''
:Gandalf, voiced by [[Ian McKellen]], is a character in [[Electronic Arts|EA's]] "alternative [[Fellowship of the Ring|fellowship]]" game. In his battle against Durin's Bane, he is aided by the main characters.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Gandalf is voiced by [[Steven M. Kramer]], renowned for playing older mentor types.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:In non-storyline skirmishes Gandalf is the hero of the Gondor faction, who possesses several magical abilities. At first, he appears as Gandalf "the Grey", and becomes "Gandalf the White" after reaching level 5 (out of 10). Gandalf also narrates the prologue scene, repeating almost word for word the lines said by Galadriel in the ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''.

:His involvement in the storyline is notable for major differences from the original tale. First of all, Gandalf survives his encounter with Balrog, defeating him at the Bridge of Khazad-dum and continues the journey with the Fellowship - by the time of arrival in Lothlorien he already appears as Gandalf the White. He is present during the ambush at [[Amon Hen]], where thanks to his involvement Boromir is saved from certain death. Merry and Pippin are captured regardless and Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Boromir give chase, while Gandalf departs them to see to dealings in Rohan, including freeing of King Théoden from the spell. Following the Battle of Helm's Deep he travels to Minas Tirith along with both Pippin and Boromir, where they participate in the Siege of the city.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Gandalf is a hero for the "Men of the West" faction. Similar to the first game, he appears as Gandalf the Grey initially and Gandalf the White after level 5. He plays no part in the main storyline, but appears in the alternate "evil" campaign: after Sauron reclaims the Ring and lays waste to southern lands, Gandalf and few other survivors meet their end during a last stand in Rivendell.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Gandalf is a non-playable character voiced by [[Harry Chase]], who narrates cutscenes and instances throughout the original game, before the first expansion. He first meets the Dwarven characters in Ered Luin in {{TA|2941}}, shortly before the Quest for Erebor. Later, characters of all races meet him in Bree in October of {{TA|3018}}, but he is too busy with concerns for Frodo and the Ring and merely sends them away to find Radagast. Finally, the players have a chance to have a proper conversation with him in Rivendell, following the Council of Elrond. During that time, Gandalf is involved in several quests, including helping the player wreck havoc among the Goblins stirring at the [[High Pass]]. After the Fellowship leaves Rivendell, players are able to retrace many of their steps, including the marks left by Gandalf such as the Burnt Top in [[Eregion]] and the remains of his fire at the pass of [[Caradhras]]. Later, Lady [[Galadriel]] bids the player to find the sings of Gandalf following his fall from the Bridge of Khazad-dum - said signs include his burnt hat at the Foundations of Stone in Moria and the sings of his struggle with the Balrog at the [[Endless Stair]] - those allow Galadriel to discern that Mithrandir is not truly dead. Players later meet him as Gandalf the White in [[Caras Galadhon]] shortly after the Fellowship has departed Lothlorien. During that time, he engages into a spiritual battle with a Gaunt-Lord Gortheron the Doom-Caller; his display of his new abilities encourages the band of Free People players and allows them to defeat the servant of Sauron.

:Gandalf is also present in several historic "session plays", during which players witness the important events their characters were not present for. Such events include Gandalf infiltrating [[Dol Guldur]] with the help of an Elf named Raddir, first meeting between Gandalf and Aragorn on the outskirts of Lothlorien and Gandalf's imprisonment atop Orthanc by Saruman.

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:[[Martin Jarvis]] provides the voice of Gandalf. He is a playable mage hero and has three special powers: "Healing Wisdom", "You Shall not Pass!" and "Cleansing Fire". In the good campaign he appears at the end of the Isengard mission, where he has to kill Saruman in [[Orthanc]]. In Moria he can be played to destroy the [[Balrog]] and in Minas Tirith he has to defend the gates of the second ring. He is also one of the four playable heroes in the last mission, [[The Battle of the Morannon|the battle of the Black Gate]]. He appears aswell in the end of the last mission, the Shire, of the evil campaign, in which he is defeated by [[Sauron]].
:He is also playable in the Shire, Isengard, Minas Tirith and Moria with the ''Conquest'' Mode, in Isengard and Minas Tirith in the ''Team Deathmatch'' mode, the citadel of Minas Tirith in ''Capture the Ring'' mode, and at the Black Gate, Minas Morgul, Mout Doom and the Shire during ''Hero Team Deatmatch'' mode.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Gandalf is voiced by [[Tom Kane]], who also narrates the introduction of the game. He tells that heroes like "[[Aragorn|Aragorn the King]]", "[[Frodo Baggins|Frodo the Ringbearer]]" and "'''Gandalf the Wizard'''" are rightly honored, but that without a few heroes - [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]], [[Andriel]] and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] - the north of [[Middle-earth]] would have been lost.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He also appears in [[Rivendell]] later in the game. Players can interact with him and learn of various important events, yet the conversations do not unlock any side-quests and do not affect the main story in any way.

'''2012: ''[[Guardians of Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Gandalf is a mage-type "guardian" with four abilities: ''Narya's Power'', ''Flame of Anor'', ''Fireworks'' and ''Gandalf's Might''.<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.guardiansofmiddleearth.co.uk/guardians/gandalf|articlename=''Guardians of Middle-earth'': Gandalf|dated=|website=[http://www.guardiansofmiddleearth.com/ ''Guardians of Middle-earth'' official website]|accessed=16 July 2012}}</ref>

{{references}}
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=maiar
| house=[[Maiar|Maia]] of [[Manwë]] & [[Varda]]
| born=[[Creation of the Ainur]]
| died=Sailed west on [[29 September]], {{TA|3019}}
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Saruman]]
| list=Chief of the [[Wizards|Istari]]
| dates=[[5 March]], {{TA|3019}} - [[29 September]], {{TA|3021|n}}
| nvac=None
| next=Position abolished
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Círdan]]
| list=[[Three Keepers|Keeper]] of [[Narya]]
| dates=c. {{TA|1000}} - after [[29 September]], {{TA|3021|n}}
| nvac=None
| next=Presumably, still Gandalf
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=Position established
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[25 December]], {{TA|3018}} - [[15 January]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=[[Aragorn]]
}}
{{seq-end}}{{ainur}}{{Thorin and Company}}{{companyroute}}{{councilofelrond}}{{fellowship}}{{FellowshipRoute}}{{ringbearers}}{{hobbitfilms}}{{lordoftheringsfilms}}
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:First Age characters]]
[[Category:Maiar]]
[[Category:Norse names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]
[[Category:Wizards]]
[[de:Gandalf]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:ainur:maiar:istari:gandalf]]
[[fi:Gandalf]]

Shadowfax

2023-02-15T22:59:45Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Portrayal in adaptations */

__NOTOC__
{{other infobox
| image=[[File:John Howe - Shadowfax 01.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Shadowfax" by [[John Howe]]
| name=Shadowfax
| pronun=
| othernames=
| titles=
| position=
| location=[[Rohan]]; [[Gondor]]
| affiliation=[[Gandalf]]
| language=
| birth=
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| sailedwest=[[29 September]], {{TA|3021}}
| sailedfrom=[[Grey Havens]]
| age=
| notablefor=
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=
| race=[[Horses|Horse]] ([[Mearas]])
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=''grey
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
'''Shadowfax''' was a mighty [[Horses|horse]] of [[Rohan]], the chief of the [[Mearas]], noted for his speed, "like an arrow".<ref name=siege>{{RK|Siege}}</ref>

==History==
In [[September]] {{TA|3018}}, Gandalf was in [[Rohan]] and [[Théoden]] reluctantly gave him any horse of his choosing. At first the horse did not allow him to come near, and Gandalf had to follow him far over the fields for two days before he tamed him,<ref>{{App|B3}}</ref> chasing him for over twenty miles.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "The Council of Elrond", p. 251</ref> Shadowfax was said to be much faster than the horses of the [[Nazgûl]], and carried Gandalf for about 620 miles from [[23 September|23]] to [[28 September]].<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "The Council of Elrond", pp. 252-253</ref> When they reached [[Weathertop]], Gandalf was followed and attacked by the Nazgûl on the night of [[3 October]].<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "A Knife in the Dark", pp. 166-8</ref> Shadowfax then carried Gandalf far into the north to distract the Ringwraiths from chasing the Ring-Bearer.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Flight tipo the Ford", p. 189</ref>

In [[February]] of [[Third Age 3019|the next year]], Shadowfax returned to [[Edoras]].<ref>{{TT|Riders}}</ref>

Shadowfax came alone to Gandalf in the outskirts of the [[Fangorn Forest]] and he introduced the horse to the [[Three Hunters]]. [[Hasufel]] and [[Arod]] recognised him as their chieftain. Shadowfax carried Gandalf and [[Gimli]] to [[Edoras]].<ref>{{TT|White}}</ref> The horse was able to run from Edoras to [[Minas Tirith]] almost without stopping, and his ground speed rivaled the flying speed of the [[fell beasts]] of the [[Nazgûl]].<ref>{{RK|V1}}</ref> Shadowfax was at the [[Grey Havens]] with [[Gandalf]] when he sailed on the [[White Ship]].<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref> Shadowfax, as one of the line of [[Nahar]], presumably was with him when sailing for the West.<ref>{{L|268}}, p. 354</ref>

Shadowfax also possessed extraordinary courage. He was the only free horse in the world capable of standing before the [[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]] during the [[Siege of Gondor]] instead of fleeing.<ref name=siege/><ref group=note>This reference excludes horses used by the forces of Sauron such as the horses ridden by the Nine Riders.</ref>

==Appearance and abilities==

Shadowfax was described to have a silvery-grey coat which was only visible by day, and seldomly visible by night. He was capable of understanding humans when they talked. As chief of the Mearas, and by extension all horses, he possessed unrivaled speed, strength, intelligence, and endurance, capable of running faster than the wind in comparison to all other steeds, outrunning the Nazgul's horses and winged Fell Beasts, as well as an arrow in flight, and travel over great distances almost entirely without need for rest, and as mentioned above, he had immensely strong willpower and courageousness, enough so to stand up to The Witch-King of Angmar in Minas Tirith.

==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | | | | | NAH | | | | |NAH=[[Nahar]] }}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | FEL | | | | |FEL=[[Felaróf]] }}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | SHA | | | | |SHA='''SHADOWFAX''' }}
{{familytree/end}}

==Etymology==
It is an anglicized form of [[Old English]] ''Sceadu-fæx'' 'having shadow-grey mane (and coat)'. It does not actually occur in Old English. ''Fax'' is an obsolete English word.<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, pp. 762-763</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Shadowfax in adaptations
|width=200
|height=150
|lines=2
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers - Shadowfax.png|Shadowfax in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Shadowfax.jpg|Shadowfax in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
}}

'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:

Shadowfax isn't named in the film, but is implied to be Gandalf's horse while riding with the Three Hunters to Edoras, and later appearing with Gandalf riding him again during the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]

'''1980: [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]:
:Shadowfax appears as Gandalf's steed, but is depicted wearing a full harness as opposed to being ridden bareback and without bridle.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Because of alterations to the story, Gandalf rides Shadowfax in pursuit of [[Eomer]] and other banished soldiers of the Rohirrim, rather than seeking survivors of the [[Battle of the Fords of Isen]] or riding to Isengard. Gandalf also rides him into battle alongside Eomer's company, rather than in the company of [[Erkenbrand]] and other men of Rohan on foot.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Gandalf's confrontation with the Witch-king, during which he falls from Shadowfax's back in the film, takes place higher in Minas Tirith, rather than at the gate as in the novel. Gandalf also rides him not only into [[Silent Street]], but into house of the Stewards itself in order to rescue [[Faramir]].

'''2012: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Shadowfax accompanies [[Gandalf]] since his return as Gandalf the White.

{{references|notes}}
[[Category:Horses]]
[[de:Schattenfell]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:animaux:chevaux:gripoil]]
[[fi:Hallavaharja]]

Shadowfax

2023-02-15T22:59:13Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Portrayal in adaptations */

__NOTOC__
{{other infobox
| image=[[File:John Howe - Shadowfax 01.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Shadowfax" by [[John Howe]]
| name=Shadowfax
| pronun=
| othernames=
| titles=
| position=
| location=[[Rohan]]; [[Gondor]]
| affiliation=[[Gandalf]]
| language=
| birth=
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| sailedwest=[[29 September]], {{TA|3021}}
| sailedfrom=[[Grey Havens]]
| age=
| notablefor=
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=
| race=[[Horses|Horse]] ([[Mearas]])
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=''grey
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
'''Shadowfax''' was a mighty [[Horses|horse]] of [[Rohan]], the chief of the [[Mearas]], noted for his speed, "like an arrow".<ref name=siege>{{RK|Siege}}</ref>

==History==
In [[September]] {{TA|3018}}, Gandalf was in [[Rohan]] and [[Théoden]] reluctantly gave him any horse of his choosing. At first the horse did not allow him to come near, and Gandalf had to follow him far over the fields for two days before he tamed him,<ref>{{App|B3}}</ref> chasing him for over twenty miles.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "The Council of Elrond", p. 251</ref> Shadowfax was said to be much faster than the horses of the [[Nazgûl]], and carried Gandalf for about 620 miles from [[23 September|23]] to [[28 September]].<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "The Council of Elrond", pp. 252-253</ref> When they reached [[Weathertop]], Gandalf was followed and attacked by the Nazgûl on the night of [[3 October]].<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "A Knife in the Dark", pp. 166-8</ref> Shadowfax then carried Gandalf far into the north to distract the Ringwraiths from chasing the Ring-Bearer.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Flight tipo the Ford", p. 189</ref>

In [[February]] of [[Third Age 3019|the next year]], Shadowfax returned to [[Edoras]].<ref>{{TT|Riders}}</ref>

Shadowfax came alone to Gandalf in the outskirts of the [[Fangorn Forest]] and he introduced the horse to the [[Three Hunters]]. [[Hasufel]] and [[Arod]] recognised him as their chieftain. Shadowfax carried Gandalf and [[Gimli]] to [[Edoras]].<ref>{{TT|White}}</ref> The horse was able to run from Edoras to [[Minas Tirith]] almost without stopping, and his ground speed rivaled the flying speed of the [[fell beasts]] of the [[Nazgûl]].<ref>{{RK|V1}}</ref> Shadowfax was at the [[Grey Havens]] with [[Gandalf]] when he sailed on the [[White Ship]].<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref> Shadowfax, as one of the line of [[Nahar]], presumably was with him when sailing for the West.<ref>{{L|268}}, p. 354</ref>

Shadowfax also possessed extraordinary courage. He was the only free horse in the world capable of standing before the [[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]] during the [[Siege of Gondor]] instead of fleeing.<ref name=siege/><ref group=note>This reference excludes horses used by the forces of Sauron such as the horses ridden by the Nine Riders.</ref>

==Appearance and abilities==

Shadowfax was described to have a silvery-grey coat which was only visible by day, and seldomly visible by night. He was capable of understanding humans when they talked. As chief of the Mearas, and by extension all horses, he possessed unrivaled speed, strength, intelligence, and endurance, capable of running faster than the wind in comparison to all other steeds, outrunning the Nazgul's horses and winged Fell Beasts, as well as an arrow in flight, and travel over great distances almost entirely without need for rest, and as mentioned above, he had immensely strong willpower and courageousness, enough so to stand up to The Witch-King of Angmar in Minas Tirith.

==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | | | | | NAH | | | | |NAH=[[Nahar]] }}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | FEL | | | | |FEL=[[Felaróf]] }}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | SHA | | | | |SHA='''SHADOWFAX''' }}
{{familytree/end}}

==Etymology==
It is an anglicized form of [[Old English]] ''Sceadu-fæx'' 'having shadow-grey mane (and coat)'. It does not actually occur in Old English. ''Fax'' is an obsolete English word.<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, pp. 762-763</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Shadowfax in adaptations
|width=200
|height=150
|lines=2
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers - Shadowfax.png|Shadowfax in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Shadowfax.jpg|Shadowfax in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
}}

'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:

Shadowfax isn't named in the film, but is implied to be Gandalf's horse while riding with the Three Hunters riding to Edoras, and later appearing with Gandalf riding him again during the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]

'''1980: [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]:
:Shadowfax appears as Gandalf's steed, but is depicted wearing a full harness as opposed to being ridden bareback and without bridle.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Because of alterations to the story, Gandalf rides Shadowfax in pursuit of [[Eomer]] and other banished soldiers of the Rohirrim, rather than seeking survivors of the [[Battle of the Fords of Isen]] or riding to Isengard. Gandalf also rides him into battle alongside Eomer's company, rather than in the company of [[Erkenbrand]] and other men of Rohan on foot.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Gandalf's confrontation with the Witch-king, during which he falls from Shadowfax's back in the film, takes place higher in Minas Tirith, rather than at the gate as in the novel. Gandalf also rides him not only into [[Silent Street]], but into house of the Stewards itself in order to rescue [[Faramir]].

'''2012: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Shadowfax accompanies [[Gandalf]] since his return as Gandalf the White.

{{references|notes}}
[[Category:Horses]]
[[de:Schattenfell]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:animaux:chevaux:gripoil]]
[[fi:Hallavaharja]]

Shadowfax

2023-02-15T22:58:53Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Portrayal in adaptations */

__NOTOC__
{{other infobox
| image=[[File:John Howe - Shadowfax 01.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Shadowfax" by [[John Howe]]
| name=Shadowfax
| pronun=
| othernames=
| titles=
| position=
| location=[[Rohan]]; [[Gondor]]
| affiliation=[[Gandalf]]
| language=
| birth=
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| sailedwest=[[29 September]], {{TA|3021}}
| sailedfrom=[[Grey Havens]]
| age=
| notablefor=
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=
| race=[[Horses|Horse]] ([[Mearas]])
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=''grey
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
'''Shadowfax''' was a mighty [[Horses|horse]] of [[Rohan]], the chief of the [[Mearas]], noted for his speed, "like an arrow".<ref name=siege>{{RK|Siege}}</ref>

==History==
In [[September]] {{TA|3018}}, Gandalf was in [[Rohan]] and [[Théoden]] reluctantly gave him any horse of his choosing. At first the horse did not allow him to come near, and Gandalf had to follow him far over the fields for two days before he tamed him,<ref>{{App|B3}}</ref> chasing him for over twenty miles.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "The Council of Elrond", p. 251</ref> Shadowfax was said to be much faster than the horses of the [[Nazgûl]], and carried Gandalf for about 620 miles from [[23 September|23]] to [[28 September]].<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "The Council of Elrond", pp. 252-253</ref> When they reached [[Weathertop]], Gandalf was followed and attacked by the Nazgûl on the night of [[3 October]].<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "A Knife in the Dark", pp. 166-8</ref> Shadowfax then carried Gandalf far into the north to distract the Ringwraiths from chasing the Ring-Bearer.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Flight tipo the Ford", p. 189</ref>

In [[February]] of [[Third Age 3019|the next year]], Shadowfax returned to [[Edoras]].<ref>{{TT|Riders}}</ref>

Shadowfax came alone to Gandalf in the outskirts of the [[Fangorn Forest]] and he introduced the horse to the [[Three Hunters]]. [[Hasufel]] and [[Arod]] recognised him as their chieftain. Shadowfax carried Gandalf and [[Gimli]] to [[Edoras]].<ref>{{TT|White}}</ref> The horse was able to run from Edoras to [[Minas Tirith]] almost without stopping, and his ground speed rivaled the flying speed of the [[fell beasts]] of the [[Nazgûl]].<ref>{{RK|V1}}</ref> Shadowfax was at the [[Grey Havens]] with [[Gandalf]] when he sailed on the [[White Ship]].<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref> Shadowfax, as one of the line of [[Nahar]], presumably was with him when sailing for the West.<ref>{{L|268}}, p. 354</ref>

Shadowfax also possessed extraordinary courage. He was the only free horse in the world capable of standing before the [[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]] during the [[Siege of Gondor]] instead of fleeing.<ref name=siege/><ref group=note>This reference excludes horses used by the forces of Sauron such as the horses ridden by the Nine Riders.</ref>

==Appearance and abilities==

Shadowfax was described to have a silvery-grey coat which was only visible by day, and seldomly visible by night. He was capable of understanding humans when they talked. As chief of the Mearas, and by extension all horses, he possessed unrivaled speed, strength, intelligence, and endurance, capable of running faster than the wind in comparison to all other steeds, outrunning the Nazgul's horses and winged Fell Beasts, as well as an arrow in flight, and travel over great distances almost entirely without need for rest, and as mentioned above, he had immensely strong willpower and courageousness, enough so to stand up to The Witch-King of Angmar in Minas Tirith.

==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | | | | | NAH | | | | |NAH=[[Nahar]] }}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | FEL | | | | |FEL=[[Felaróf]] }}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | |:| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | SHA | | | | |SHA='''SHADOWFAX''' }}
{{familytree/end}}

==Etymology==
It is an anglicized form of [[Old English]] ''Sceadu-fæx'' 'having shadow-grey mane (and coat)'. It does not actually occur in Old English. ''Fax'' is an obsolete English word.<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, pp. 762-763</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Shadowfax in adaptations
|width=200
|height=150
|lines=2
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers - Shadowfax.png|Shadowfax in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Shadowfax.jpg|Shadowfax in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
}}

'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:

Shadowfax isn't named in the film, but is implies to be Gandalf's horse while riding with the Three Hunters riding to Edoras, and later appearing with Gandalf riding him again during the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]

'''1980: [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]:
:Shadowfax appears as Gandalf's steed, but is depicted wearing a full harness as opposed to being ridden bareback and without bridle.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Because of alterations to the story, Gandalf rides Shadowfax in pursuit of [[Eomer]] and other banished soldiers of the Rohirrim, rather than seeking survivors of the [[Battle of the Fords of Isen]] or riding to Isengard. Gandalf also rides him into battle alongside Eomer's company, rather than in the company of [[Erkenbrand]] and other men of Rohan on foot.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Gandalf's confrontation with the Witch-king, during which he falls from Shadowfax's back in the film, takes place higher in Minas Tirith, rather than at the gate as in the novel. Gandalf also rides him not only into [[Silent Street]], but into house of the Stewards itself in order to rescue [[Faramir]].

'''2012: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Shadowfax accompanies [[Gandalf]] since his return as Gandalf the White.

{{references|notes}}
[[Category:Horses]]
[[de:Schattenfell]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:animaux:chevaux:gripoil]]
[[fi:Hallavaharja]]

User talk:MikeyofGondor25

2023-02-15T06:24:13Z

MikeyofGondor25: I'm responding to this

The rules of Tolkien Gateway require that statements are accompanied with a reference that points to a source written by J.R.R. Tolkien (and in some cases the page number) that supports those statements. Since you did not follow those rules, I will revert your edit. I recommend to you to read [[Help:References]] and [[Tolkien Gateway:Manual of Style]]. --[[User:Akhorahil|Akhorahil]] ([[User talk:Akhorahil|talk]]) 14:35, 13 February 2023 (UTC)

Whatever information I add ''is'' from Tolkien's works. Some have references, while others are hard to find. I'm speaking in a general consensus. The reason why I add more information on certain characters is to make it more engaging to read about. All of that information is from Tolkien's works, as I've previously mentioned, but I paraphrase what is said.

Aragorn

2023-02-14T23:05:11Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Weapons and characteristics */

{{disambig-two|the King of [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]]|[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]|[[Aragorn I]]}}
{{sources}}
{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:John Howe - Elessar.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Elessar" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=Aragorn II, ''[[Elessar]]'', [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]], ''[[Thorongil]]'', ''[[The Dúnadan]]'', ''[[Estel]]'' (''[[Aragorn#Other names|see below]]'')
| titles=[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<Ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]]
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]], [[Sindarin]], [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]] {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]] {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]], founded the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]], father [[Gilraen]], mother [[Elrond]], foster father
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] and at least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (198cm)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (As a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (As a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] and [[Hasufel]]
}}

<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

==History==
===Early Life===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn, and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought [[Elfstone|such a stone]], called the Elessar, from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]], and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").

When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he was his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]
"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>

===Life as a Ranger===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from Mordor. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the Steward, whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster-son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

===Hunt for Gollum===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

===War of the Ring===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, and Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]], then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the company for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

====Leading the Fellowship of the Ring====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day soon Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into Fangorn Forest, where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshaled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

====Return of the King====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took the [[Black Ships]] north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

===Reign as Elessar===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councellor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.

==Personality==
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love.<ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> However, he was not immune to self-doubt, as he doubted his decisions in leading the Fellowship after Gandalf's death in Moria, and blamed himself for their hardships.{{Fact}}

==Weapons and characteristics==
Aragorn was the wielder of the sword [[Anduril]], the sword reforged from the shards of [[Narsil]]. Due to his time in Rivendell, he had [[Elven]] wisdom. He also had the foresight of the [[Dunedain]]. Though he was not immortal, he had a greatly enhanced lifespan due to being a descendant of [[Numenor]]. He was a mighty warrior and battle commander, and as such was able to lead his army to victory at the [[Black Gate]] and reinforce the [[Rohirrim]] at the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]. He was also a skilled healer with the use of the plant [[Athelas]].

==Etymology==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name. It means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

This clear etymology from Tolkien was not revealed until the publication in 2007 of "Words, Phrases & Passages in ''The Lord of the Rings''", a late 1950s manuscript. Before that, several theories were proposed:
*[[Ruth S. Noel]] and several others proposed "King of the Tree",<ref>[[Ruth S. Noel]], ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'', p. 114</ref> but Tolkien specifically said that this was not the case.<ref>{{L|347}}</ref>
*[[David Salo]] deduces "Having Kingly Valor"<ref>[[David Salo]], ''[[A Gateway to Sindarin]]'', p. 341</ref> from Tolkien's cryptic "'Kingly Valour' (for so is that name interpreted)".<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}, p. xii</ref> This is still the most often cited etymology; Robert Ireland's ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'' gives the variation "Royal Zeal".<ref>Robert Ireland, ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'', [http://www.quicksilver899.com/Tolkien/LOTR/LOTR_AC.html The Lord of the Rings A-C].</ref>
*[[Carl F. Hostetter]] proposed the meanings "King of the Globe" or "King of the Hill" in his analysis of the [[King's Letter]].<ref>[[Carl F. Hostetter]], "The 'King's Letter': An Historical and Comparative Analysis", [[Vinyar Tengwar 31|''Vinyar Tengwar'' 31]], p. 18</ref>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

==Other names==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer".
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

==Genealogy==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see [[Ancestry of Aragorn II]] for Aragorn's full line of descent.

{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}

===Relation to Arwen===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

===Films===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have accused this character of looking too much like a [[wikipedia:Stereotypes_of_Native_Americans|Native American stereotype]].{{Citation needed}}

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part is this film is largely similar to the events in book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

===Television===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

===Radio Series===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

===Games===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journey through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him looking in surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about an conservation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search to [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Aragorn]]
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], comparing the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]] of ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{References|notes}}

==Titles==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Cadet branch of [[House of Elros]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died={{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}
{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2023-02-14T23:04:15Z

MikeyofGondor25: I made this edit myself. I wanted to expand more on Aragorn's personality and skills, as the books shed light on them. The more depth is added to any character, the more interested the reader can be when looking at him or her.

{{disambig-two|the King of [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]]|[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]|[[Aragorn I]]}}
{{sources}}
{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:John Howe - Elessar.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Elessar" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=Aragorn II, ''[[Elessar]]'', [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]], ''[[Thorongil]]'', ''[[The Dúnadan]]'', ''[[Estel]]'' (''[[Aragorn#Other names|see below]]'')
| titles=[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<Ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]]
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]], [[Sindarin]], [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]] {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]] {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]], founded the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]], father [[Gilraen]], mother [[Elrond]], foster father
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] and at least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (198cm)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (As a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (As a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] and [[Hasufel]]
}}

<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

==History==
===Early Life===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn, and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought [[Elfstone|such a stone]], called the Elessar, from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]], and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").

When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he was his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]
"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>

===Life as a Ranger===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from Mordor. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the Steward, whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster-son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

===Hunt for Gollum===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

===War of the Ring===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, and Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]], then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the company for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

====Leading the Fellowship of the Ring====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day soon Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into Fangorn Forest, where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshaled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

====Return of the King====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took the [[Black Ships]] north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

===Reign as Elessar===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councellor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.

==Personality==
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love.<ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> However, he was not immune to self-doubt, as he doubted his decisions in leading the Fellowship after Gandalf's death in Moria, and blamed himself for their hardships.{{Fact}}

==Weapons and characteristics==
Aragorn was the wielder of the sword [[Anduril]], the sword reforged from the shards of [[Narsil]]. Due to his time in Rivendell, he had [[Elven]] wisdom. He also had the foresight of the [[Dunedain]]. Though he was not immortal, he had a greatly enhanced lifespan due to being a descendant of [[Numenor]], he was a mighty warrior and battle commander, and as such was able to lead his army to victory at the [[Black Gate]] and reinforce the [[Rohirrim]] at the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]. He was also a skilled healer with the use of the plant [[Athelas]].

==Etymology==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name. It means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

This clear etymology from Tolkien was not revealed until the publication in 2007 of "Words, Phrases & Passages in ''The Lord of the Rings''", a late 1950s manuscript. Before that, several theories were proposed:
*[[Ruth S. Noel]] and several others proposed "King of the Tree",<ref>[[Ruth S. Noel]], ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'', p. 114</ref> but Tolkien specifically said that this was not the case.<ref>{{L|347}}</ref>
*[[David Salo]] deduces "Having Kingly Valor"<ref>[[David Salo]], ''[[A Gateway to Sindarin]]'', p. 341</ref> from Tolkien's cryptic "'Kingly Valour' (for so is that name interpreted)".<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}, p. xii</ref> This is still the most often cited etymology; Robert Ireland's ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'' gives the variation "Royal Zeal".<ref>Robert Ireland, ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'', [http://www.quicksilver899.com/Tolkien/LOTR/LOTR_AC.html The Lord of the Rings A-C].</ref>
*[[Carl F. Hostetter]] proposed the meanings "King of the Globe" or "King of the Hill" in his analysis of the [[King's Letter]].<ref>[[Carl F. Hostetter]], "The 'King's Letter': An Historical and Comparative Analysis", [[Vinyar Tengwar 31|''Vinyar Tengwar'' 31]], p. 18</ref>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

==Other names==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer".
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

==Genealogy==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see [[Ancestry of Aragorn II]] for Aragorn's full line of descent.

{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}

===Relation to Arwen===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

===Films===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have accused this character of looking too much like a [[wikipedia:Stereotypes_of_Native_Americans|Native American stereotype]].{{Citation needed}}

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part is this film is largely similar to the events in book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

===Television===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

===Radio Series===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

===Games===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journey through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him looking in surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about an conservation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search to [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Aragorn]]
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], comparing the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]] of ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{References|notes}}

==Titles==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Cadet branch of [[House of Elros]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died={{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}
{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2023-02-14T04:43:30Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Weapons and skills */

{{disambig-two|the King of [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]]|[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]|[[Aragorn I]]}}
{{sources}}
{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:John Howe - Elessar.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Elessar" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=Aragorn II, ''[[Elessar]]'', [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]], ''[[Thorongil]]'', ''[[The Dúnadan]]'', ''[[Estel]]'' (''[[Aragorn#Other names|see below]]'')
| titles=[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<Ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]]
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]], [[Sindarin]], [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]] {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]] {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]], founded the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]], father [[Gilraen]], mother [[Elrond]], foster father
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] and at least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (198cm)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (As a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (As a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] and [[Hasufel]]
}}

<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

==History==
===Early Life===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn, and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought [[Elfstone|such a stone]], called the Elessar, from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]], and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").

When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he was his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]
"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>

===Life as a Ranger===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from Mordor. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the Steward, whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster-son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

===Hunt for Gollum===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

===War of the Ring===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, and Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]], then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the company for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

====Leading the Fellowship of the Ring====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day soon Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into Fangorn Forest, where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshaled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

====Return of the King====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took the [[Black Ships]] north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

===Reign as Elessar===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councellor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.

==Personality==
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love.<ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> However, he was not immune to self-doubt, as he doubted his decisions in leading the Fellowship after Gandalf's death in Moria, and blamed himself for their hardships.{{Fact}}

==Weapons and skills==
Aragorn was an extremely skilled swordsman and battle commander. He was the wielder of the sword [[Anduril]] reforged from the shards of [[Narsil]]. He was also a notably skilled healer, particularly with the plant [[Athelas]].

==Etymology==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name. It means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

This clear etymology from Tolkien was not revealed until the publication in 2007 of "Words, Phrases & Passages in ''The Lord of the Rings''", a late 1950s manuscript. Before that, several theories were proposed:
*[[Ruth S. Noel]] and several others proposed "King of the Tree",<ref>[[Ruth S. Noel]], ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'', p. 114</ref> but Tolkien specifically said that this was not the case.<ref>{{L|347}}</ref>
*[[David Salo]] deduces "Having Kingly Valor"<ref>[[David Salo]], ''[[A Gateway to Sindarin]]'', p. 341</ref> from Tolkien's cryptic "'Kingly Valour' (for so is that name interpreted)".<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}, p. xii</ref> This is still the most often cited etymology; Robert Ireland's ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'' gives the variation "Royal Zeal".<ref>Robert Ireland, ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'', [http://www.quicksilver899.com/Tolkien/LOTR/LOTR_AC.html The Lord of the Rings A-C].</ref>
*[[Carl F. Hostetter]] proposed the meanings "King of the Globe" or "King of the Hill" in his analysis of the [[King's Letter]].<ref>[[Carl F. Hostetter]], "The 'King's Letter': An Historical and Comparative Analysis", [[Vinyar Tengwar 31|''Vinyar Tengwar'' 31]], p. 18</ref>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

==Other names==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer".
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

==Genealogy==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see [[Ancestry of Aragorn II]] for Aragorn's full line of descent.

{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}

===Relation to Arwen===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

===Films===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have accused this character of looking too much like a [[wikipedia:Stereotypes_of_Native_Americans|Native American stereotype]].{{Citation needed}}

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part is this film is largely similar to the events in book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

===Television===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

===Radio Series===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

===Games===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journey through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him looking in surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about an conservation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search to [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Aragorn]]
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], comparing the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]] of ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{References|notes}}

==Titles==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Cadet branch of [[House of Elros]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died={{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}
{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2023-02-14T04:39:33Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Weapons and skills */

{{disambig-two|the King of [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]]|[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]|[[Aragorn I]]}}
{{sources}}
{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:John Howe - Elessar.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Elessar" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=Aragorn II, ''[[Elessar]]'', [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]], ''[[Thorongil]]'', ''[[The Dúnadan]]'', ''[[Estel]]'' (''[[Aragorn#Other names|see below]]'')
| titles=[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<Ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]]
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]], [[Sindarin]], [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]] {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]] {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]], founded the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]], father [[Gilraen]], mother [[Elrond]], foster father
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] and at least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (198cm)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (As a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (As a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] and [[Hasufel]]
}}

<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

==History==
===Early Life===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn, and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought [[Elfstone|such a stone]], called the Elessar, from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]], and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").

When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he was his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]
"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>

===Life as a Ranger===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from Mordor. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the Steward, whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster-son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

===Hunt for Gollum===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

===War of the Ring===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, and Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]], then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the company for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

====Leading the Fellowship of the Ring====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day soon Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into Fangorn Forest, where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshaled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

====Return of the King====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took the [[Black Ships]] north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

===Reign as Elessar===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councellor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.

==Personality==
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love.<ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> However, he was not immune to self-doubt, as he doubted his decisions in leading the Fellowship after Gandalf's death in Moria, and blamed himself for their hardships.{{Fact}}

==Weapons and skills==
Aragorn was an extremely skilled swordsman and battle commander. He was the wielder of the sword [[Anduril]] reforged from the shards of [[Narsil]].

==Etymology==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name. It means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

This clear etymology from Tolkien was not revealed until the publication in 2007 of "Words, Phrases & Passages in ''The Lord of the Rings''", a late 1950s manuscript. Before that, several theories were proposed:
*[[Ruth S. Noel]] and several others proposed "King of the Tree",<ref>[[Ruth S. Noel]], ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'', p. 114</ref> but Tolkien specifically said that this was not the case.<ref>{{L|347}}</ref>
*[[David Salo]] deduces "Having Kingly Valor"<ref>[[David Salo]], ''[[A Gateway to Sindarin]]'', p. 341</ref> from Tolkien's cryptic "'Kingly Valour' (for so is that name interpreted)".<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}, p. xii</ref> This is still the most often cited etymology; Robert Ireland's ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'' gives the variation "Royal Zeal".<ref>Robert Ireland, ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'', [http://www.quicksilver899.com/Tolkien/LOTR/LOTR_AC.html The Lord of the Rings A-C].</ref>
*[[Carl F. Hostetter]] proposed the meanings "King of the Globe" or "King of the Hill" in his analysis of the [[King's Letter]].<ref>[[Carl F. Hostetter]], "The 'King's Letter': An Historical and Comparative Analysis", [[Vinyar Tengwar 31|''Vinyar Tengwar'' 31]], p. 18</ref>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

==Other names==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer".
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

==Genealogy==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see [[Ancestry of Aragorn II]] for Aragorn's full line of descent.

{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}

===Relation to Arwen===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

===Films===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have accused this character of looking too much like a [[wikipedia:Stereotypes_of_Native_Americans|Native American stereotype]].{{Citation needed}}

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part is this film is largely similar to the events in book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

===Television===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

===Radio Series===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

===Games===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journey through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him looking in surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about an conservation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search to [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Aragorn]]
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], comparing the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]] of ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{References|notes}}

==Titles==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Cadet branch of [[House of Elros]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died={{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}
{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2023-02-14T04:38:52Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Weapons and skills */

{{disambig-two|the King of [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]]|[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]|[[Aragorn I]]}}
{{sources}}
{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:John Howe - Elessar.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Elessar" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=Aragorn II, ''[[Elessar]]'', [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]], ''[[Thorongil]]'', ''[[The Dúnadan]]'', ''[[Estel]]'' (''[[Aragorn#Other names|see below]]'')
| titles=[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<Ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]]
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]], [[Sindarin]], [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]] {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]] {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]], founded the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]], father [[Gilraen]], mother [[Elrond]], foster father
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] and at least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (198cm)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (As a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (As a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] and [[Hasufel]]
}}

<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

==History==
===Early Life===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn, and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought [[Elfstone|such a stone]], called the Elessar, from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]], and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").

When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he was his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]
"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>

===Life as a Ranger===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from Mordor. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the Steward, whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster-son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

===Hunt for Gollum===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

===War of the Ring===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, and Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]], then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the company for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

====Leading the Fellowship of the Ring====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day soon Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into Fangorn Forest, where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshaled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

====Return of the King====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took the [[Black Ships]] north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

===Reign as Elessar===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councellor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.

==Personality==
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love.<ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> However, he was not immune to self-doubt, as he doubted his decisions in leading the Fellowship after Gandalf's death in Moria, and blamed himself for their hardships.{{Fact}}

==Weapons and skills==
Aragorn was an extremely skilled swordsman and battle commander. He was the wielder of the sword [[Anduril]] reforged from the shards of [[Narsil]]. His skill in battle was such that he, along with [[Imrahil]] and [[Eomer]] were the only three to survive unscathed in the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]].{{Return of the King Chapter 6 }} He was also a capable healer, particularly with the plant [[Athelas]] which he used on [[Frodo]], and even healed [[Faramir]] and [[Eowyn]]. He was a capable leader, as he was the one who led the [[Army of the West]] to victory at the [[Black Gate]].

==Etymology==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name. It means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

This clear etymology from Tolkien was not revealed until the publication in 2007 of "Words, Phrases & Passages in ''The Lord of the Rings''", a late 1950s manuscript. Before that, several theories were proposed:
*[[Ruth S. Noel]] and several others proposed "King of the Tree",<ref>[[Ruth S. Noel]], ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'', p. 114</ref> but Tolkien specifically said that this was not the case.<ref>{{L|347}}</ref>
*[[David Salo]] deduces "Having Kingly Valor"<ref>[[David Salo]], ''[[A Gateway to Sindarin]]'', p. 341</ref> from Tolkien's cryptic "'Kingly Valour' (for so is that name interpreted)".<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}, p. xii</ref> This is still the most often cited etymology; Robert Ireland's ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'' gives the variation "Royal Zeal".<ref>Robert Ireland, ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'', [http://www.quicksilver899.com/Tolkien/LOTR/LOTR_AC.html The Lord of the Rings A-C].</ref>
*[[Carl F. Hostetter]] proposed the meanings "King of the Globe" or "King of the Hill" in his analysis of the [[King's Letter]].<ref>[[Carl F. Hostetter]], "The 'King's Letter': An Historical and Comparative Analysis", [[Vinyar Tengwar 31|''Vinyar Tengwar'' 31]], p. 18</ref>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

==Other names==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer".
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

==Genealogy==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see [[Ancestry of Aragorn II]] for Aragorn's full line of descent.

{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}

===Relation to Arwen===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

===Films===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have accused this character of looking too much like a [[wikipedia:Stereotypes_of_Native_Americans|Native American stereotype]].{{Citation needed}}

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part is this film is largely similar to the events in book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

===Television===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

===Radio Series===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

===Games===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journey through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him looking in surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about an conservation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search to [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Aragorn]]
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], comparing the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]] of ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{References|notes}}

==Titles==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Cadet branch of [[House of Elros]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died={{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}
{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2023-02-14T04:38:26Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Weapons and skills */

{{disambig-two|the King of [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]]|[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]|[[Aragorn I]]}}
{{sources}}
{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:John Howe - Elessar.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Elessar" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=Aragorn II, ''[[Elessar]]'', [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]], ''[[Thorongil]]'', ''[[The Dúnadan]]'', ''[[Estel]]'' (''[[Aragorn#Other names|see below]]'')
| titles=[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<Ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]]
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]], [[Sindarin]], [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]] {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]] {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]], founded the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]], father [[Gilraen]], mother [[Elrond]], foster father
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] and at least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (198cm)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (As a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (As a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] and [[Hasufel]]
}}

<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

==History==
===Early Life===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn, and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought [[Elfstone|such a stone]], called the Elessar, from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]], and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").

When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he was his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]
"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>

===Life as a Ranger===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from Mordor. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the Steward, whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster-son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

===Hunt for Gollum===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

===War of the Ring===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, and Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]], then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the company for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

====Leading the Fellowship of the Ring====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day soon Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into Fangorn Forest, where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshaled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

====Return of the King====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took the [[Black Ships]] north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

===Reign as Elessar===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councellor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.

==Personality==
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love.<ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> However, he was not immune to self-doubt, as he doubted his decisions in leading the Fellowship after Gandalf's death in Moria, and blamed himself for their hardships.{{Fact}}

==Weapons and skills==
Aragorn was an extremely skilled swordsman and battle commander. He was the wielder of the sword [[Anduril]] reforged from the shards of [[Narsil]]. His skill in battle was such that he, along with [[Imrahil]] and [[Eomer]] were the only three to survive unscathed in the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] despite being in the thick of fighting.{{Return of the King Chapter 6 }} He was also a capable healer, particularly with the plant [[Athelas]] which he used on [[Frodo]], and even healed [[Faramir]] and [[Eowyn]]. He was a capable leader, as he was the one who led the [[Army of the West]] to victory at the [[Black Gate]].

==Etymology==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name. It means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

This clear etymology from Tolkien was not revealed until the publication in 2007 of "Words, Phrases & Passages in ''The Lord of the Rings''", a late 1950s manuscript. Before that, several theories were proposed:
*[[Ruth S. Noel]] and several others proposed "King of the Tree",<ref>[[Ruth S. Noel]], ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'', p. 114</ref> but Tolkien specifically said that this was not the case.<ref>{{L|347}}</ref>
*[[David Salo]] deduces "Having Kingly Valor"<ref>[[David Salo]], ''[[A Gateway to Sindarin]]'', p. 341</ref> from Tolkien's cryptic "'Kingly Valour' (for so is that name interpreted)".<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}, p. xii</ref> This is still the most often cited etymology; Robert Ireland's ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'' gives the variation "Royal Zeal".<ref>Robert Ireland, ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'', [http://www.quicksilver899.com/Tolkien/LOTR/LOTR_AC.html The Lord of the Rings A-C].</ref>
*[[Carl F. Hostetter]] proposed the meanings "King of the Globe" or "King of the Hill" in his analysis of the [[King's Letter]].<ref>[[Carl F. Hostetter]], "The 'King's Letter': An Historical and Comparative Analysis", [[Vinyar Tengwar 31|''Vinyar Tengwar'' 31]], p. 18</ref>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

==Other names==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer".
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

==Genealogy==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see [[Ancestry of Aragorn II]] for Aragorn's full line of descent.

{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}

===Relation to Arwen===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

===Films===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have accused this character of looking too much like a [[wikipedia:Stereotypes_of_Native_Americans|Native American stereotype]].{{Citation needed}}

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part is this film is largely similar to the events in book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

===Television===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

===Radio Series===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

===Games===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journey through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him looking in surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about an conservation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search to [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Aragorn]]
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], comparing the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]] of ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{References|notes}}

==Titles==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Cadet branch of [[House of Elros]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died={{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}
{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2023-02-14T04:37:27Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Weapons and skills */

{{disambig-two|the King of [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]]|[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]|[[Aragorn I]]}}
{{sources}}
{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:John Howe - Elessar.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Elessar" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=Aragorn II, ''[[Elessar]]'', [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]], ''[[Thorongil]]'', ''[[The Dúnadan]]'', ''[[Estel]]'' (''[[Aragorn#Other names|see below]]'')
| titles=[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<Ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]]
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]], [[Sindarin]], [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]] {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]] {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]], founded the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]], father [[Gilraen]], mother [[Elrond]], foster father
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] and at least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (198cm)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (As a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (As a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] and [[Hasufel]]
}}

<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

==History==
===Early Life===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn, and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought [[Elfstone|such a stone]], called the Elessar, from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]], and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").

When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he was his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]
"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>

===Life as a Ranger===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from Mordor. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the Steward, whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster-son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

===Hunt for Gollum===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

===War of the Ring===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, and Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]], then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the company for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

====Leading the Fellowship of the Ring====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day soon Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into Fangorn Forest, where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshaled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

====Return of the King====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took the [[Black Ships]] north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

===Reign as Elessar===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councellor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.

==Personality==
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love.<ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> However, he was not immune to self-doubt, as he doubted his decisions in leading the Fellowship after Gandalf's death in Moria, and blamed himself for their hardships.{{Fact}}

==Weapons and skills==
Aragorn was an extremely skilled swordsman and battle commander. He was the wielder of the sword [[Anduril]] reforged from the shards of [[Narsil]]. His skill in battle was such that he, along with [[Imrahil]] and [[Eomer]] were the only three to survive unscathed in the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] despite being in the thick of fighting.{{Fact}} He was also a capable healer, particularly with the plant [[Athelas]] which he used on [[Frodo]], and even healed [[Faramir]] and [[Eowyn]]. He was a capable leader, as he was the one who led the [[Army of the West]] to victory at the [[Black Gate]].

==Etymology==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name. It means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

This clear etymology from Tolkien was not revealed until the publication in 2007 of "Words, Phrases & Passages in ''The Lord of the Rings''", a late 1950s manuscript. Before that, several theories were proposed:
*[[Ruth S. Noel]] and several others proposed "King of the Tree",<ref>[[Ruth S. Noel]], ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'', p. 114</ref> but Tolkien specifically said that this was not the case.<ref>{{L|347}}</ref>
*[[David Salo]] deduces "Having Kingly Valor"<ref>[[David Salo]], ''[[A Gateway to Sindarin]]'', p. 341</ref> from Tolkien's cryptic "'Kingly Valour' (for so is that name interpreted)".<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}, p. xii</ref> This is still the most often cited etymology; Robert Ireland's ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'' gives the variation "Royal Zeal".<ref>Robert Ireland, ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'', [http://www.quicksilver899.com/Tolkien/LOTR/LOTR_AC.html The Lord of the Rings A-C].</ref>
*[[Carl F. Hostetter]] proposed the meanings "King of the Globe" or "King of the Hill" in his analysis of the [[King's Letter]].<ref>[[Carl F. Hostetter]], "The 'King's Letter': An Historical and Comparative Analysis", [[Vinyar Tengwar 31|''Vinyar Tengwar'' 31]], p. 18</ref>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

==Other names==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer".
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

==Genealogy==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see [[Ancestry of Aragorn II]] for Aragorn's full line of descent.

{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}

===Relation to Arwen===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

===Films===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have accused this character of looking too much like a [[wikipedia:Stereotypes_of_Native_Americans|Native American stereotype]].{{Citation needed}}

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part is this film is largely similar to the events in book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

===Television===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

===Radio Series===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

===Games===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journey through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him looking in surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about an conservation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search to [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Aragorn]]
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], comparing the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]] of ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{References|notes}}

==Titles==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Cadet branch of [[House of Elros]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died={{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}
{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2023-02-14T04:37:00Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Weapons and skills */

{{disambig-two|the King of [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]]|[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]|[[Aragorn I]]}}
{{sources}}
{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:John Howe - Elessar.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Elessar" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=Aragorn II, ''[[Elessar]]'', [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]], ''[[Thorongil]]'', ''[[The Dúnadan]]'', ''[[Estel]]'' (''[[Aragorn#Other names|see below]]'')
| titles=[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<Ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]]
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]], [[Sindarin]], [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]] {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]] {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]], founded the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]], father [[Gilraen]], mother [[Elrond]], foster father
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] and at least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (198cm)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (As a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (As a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] and [[Hasufel]]
}}

<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

==History==
===Early Life===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn, and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought [[Elfstone|such a stone]], called the Elessar, from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]], and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").

When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he was his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]
"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>

===Life as a Ranger===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from Mordor. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the Steward, whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster-son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

===Hunt for Gollum===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

===War of the Ring===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, and Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]], then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the company for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

====Leading the Fellowship of the Ring====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day soon Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into Fangorn Forest, where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshaled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

====Return of the King====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took the [[Black Ships]] north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

===Reign as Elessar===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councellor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.

==Personality==
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love.<ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> However, he was not immune to self-doubt, as he doubted his decisions in leading the Fellowship after Gandalf's death in Moria, and blamed himself for their hardships.{{Fact}}

==Weapons and skills==
Aragorn was an extremely skilled swordsman and battle commander, capable of taking on many enemies. {{Fact}} He was the wielder of the sword [[Anduril]] reforged from the shards of [[Narsil]]. His skill in battle was such that he, along with [[Imrahil]] and [[Eomer]] were the only three to survive unscathed in the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] despite being in the thick of fighting.{{Fact}} He was also a capable healer, particularly with the plant [[Athelas]] which he used on [[Frodo]], and even healed [[Faramir]] and [[Eowyn]]. He was a capable leader, as he was the one who led the [[Army of the West]] to victory at the [[Black Gate]].

==Etymology==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name. It means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

This clear etymology from Tolkien was not revealed until the publication in 2007 of "Words, Phrases & Passages in ''The Lord of the Rings''", a late 1950s manuscript. Before that, several theories were proposed:
*[[Ruth S. Noel]] and several others proposed "King of the Tree",<ref>[[Ruth S. Noel]], ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'', p. 114</ref> but Tolkien specifically said that this was not the case.<ref>{{L|347}}</ref>
*[[David Salo]] deduces "Having Kingly Valor"<ref>[[David Salo]], ''[[A Gateway to Sindarin]]'', p. 341</ref> from Tolkien's cryptic "'Kingly Valour' (for so is that name interpreted)".<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}, p. xii</ref> This is still the most often cited etymology; Robert Ireland's ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'' gives the variation "Royal Zeal".<ref>Robert Ireland, ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'', [http://www.quicksilver899.com/Tolkien/LOTR/LOTR_AC.html The Lord of the Rings A-C].</ref>
*[[Carl F. Hostetter]] proposed the meanings "King of the Globe" or "King of the Hill" in his analysis of the [[King's Letter]].<ref>[[Carl F. Hostetter]], "The 'King's Letter': An Historical and Comparative Analysis", [[Vinyar Tengwar 31|''Vinyar Tengwar'' 31]], p. 18</ref>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

==Other names==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer".
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

==Genealogy==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see [[Ancestry of Aragorn II]] for Aragorn's full line of descent.

{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}

===Relation to Arwen===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

===Films===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have accused this character of looking too much like a [[wikipedia:Stereotypes_of_Native_Americans|Native American stereotype]].{{Citation needed}}

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part is this film is largely similar to the events in book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

===Television===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

===Radio Series===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

===Games===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journey through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him looking in surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about an conservation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search to [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Aragorn]]
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], comparing the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]] of ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{References|notes}}

==Titles==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Cadet branch of [[House of Elros]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died={{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}
{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2023-02-14T04:36:24Z

MikeyofGondor25: I made this edit myself. All information I gathered is from Tolkien's works.

{{disambig-two|the King of [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]]|[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]|[[Aragorn I]]}}
{{sources}}
{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:John Howe - Elessar.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Elessar" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=Aragorn II, ''[[Elessar]]'', [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]], ''[[Thorongil]]'', ''[[The Dúnadan]]'', ''[[Estel]]'' (''[[Aragorn#Other names|see below]]'')
| titles=[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<Ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]]
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]], [[Sindarin]], [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]] {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]] {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]], founded the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]], father [[Gilraen]], mother [[Elrond]], foster father
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] and at least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (198cm)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (As a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (As a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] and [[Hasufel]]
}}

<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>

'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

==History==
===Early Life===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn, and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought [[Elfstone|such a stone]], called the Elessar, from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]], and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").

When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he was his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]
"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>

===Life as a Ranger===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from Mordor. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the Steward, whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster-son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

===Hunt for Gollum===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

===War of the Ring===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, and Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]], then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the company for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

====Leading the Fellowship of the Ring====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day soon Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into Fangorn Forest, where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshaled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

====Return of the King====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took the [[Black Ships]] north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly, but Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

===Reign as Elessar===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councellor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.

==Personality==
Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to commit to a single path in life in the name of love.<ref name="Tale"/> He possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious.<ref name=Company>{{RK|Company}}</ref> Yet this will did not prevent him from honoring his own word and the words of his forebears.<ref name=Debate>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> However, he was not immune to self-doubt, as he doubted his decisions in leading the Fellowship after Gandalf's death in Moria, and blamed himself for their hardships.{{Fact}}

==Weapons and skills==
Aragorn was an extremely skilled swordsman and battle commander, capable of taking on many enemies. {{Fact}} He was the wielder of the sword [[Anduril]] reforged from the shards of [[Narsil]]. His skill in battle was such that he, along with [[Prince Imrahil]] and [[Eomer]] were the only three to survive unscathed in the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] despite being in the thick of fighting.{{Fact}} He was also a capable healer, particularly with the plant [[Athelas]] which he used on [[Frodo]], and even healed [[Faramir]] and [[Eowyn]]. He was a capable leader, as he was the one who led the [[Army of the West]] to victory at the [[Black Gate]].

==Etymology==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name. It means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

This clear etymology from Tolkien was not revealed until the publication in 2007 of "Words, Phrases & Passages in ''The Lord of the Rings''", a late 1950s manuscript. Before that, several theories were proposed:
*[[Ruth S. Noel]] and several others proposed "King of the Tree",<ref>[[Ruth S. Noel]], ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'', p. 114</ref> but Tolkien specifically said that this was not the case.<ref>{{L|347}}</ref>
*[[David Salo]] deduces "Having Kingly Valor"<ref>[[David Salo]], ''[[A Gateway to Sindarin]]'', p. 341</ref> from Tolkien's cryptic "'Kingly Valour' (for so is that name interpreted)".<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}, p. xii</ref> This is still the most often cited etymology; Robert Ireland's ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'' gives the variation "Royal Zeal".<ref>Robert Ireland, ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'', [http://www.quicksilver899.com/Tolkien/LOTR/LOTR_AC.html The Lord of the Rings A-C].</ref>
*[[Carl F. Hostetter]] proposed the meanings "King of the Globe" or "King of the Hill" in his analysis of the [[King's Letter]].<ref>[[Carl F. Hostetter]], "The 'King's Letter': An Historical and Comparative Analysis", [[Vinyar Tengwar 31|''Vinyar Tengwar'' 31]], p. 18</ref>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

==Other names==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was possibly named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer".
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

==Genealogy==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see [[Ancestry of Aragorn II]] for Aragorn's full line of descent.

{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}

===Relation to Arwen===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

===Films===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have accused this character of looking too much like a [[wikipedia:Stereotypes_of_Native_Americans|Native American stereotype]].{{Citation needed}}

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part is this film is largely similar to the events in book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

===Television===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]], the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

===Radio Series===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

===Games===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journey through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him looking in surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]].

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about an conservation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search to [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Aragorn]]
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], comparing the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]] of ''The Fellowship of the Ring.

{{References|notes}}

==Titles==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Cadet branch of [[House of Elros]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died={{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}
{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{northernline}}
{{southernline}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2023-02-13T00:42:09Z

MikeyofGondor25: /* Personality */

{{disambig-two|the King of [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]]|[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]|[[Aragorn I]]}}
{{sources}}
{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:John Howe - Elessar.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Elessar" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=Aragorn II, ''[[Elessar]]'', [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]], ''[[Thorongil]]'', ''[[The Dúnadan]]'', ''[[Estel]]'' (''[[Aragorn#Other names|see below]]'')
| titles=[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<Ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]]
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]], [[Sindarin]], [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]] {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]] {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]], founded the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]], father [[Gilraen]], mother [[Elrond]], foster father
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] and at least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (198cm)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (As a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (As a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] and [[Hasufel]]
}}

<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>
'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

==History==
===Early Life===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn, and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought [[Elfstone|such a stone]], called the Elessar, from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]], and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").

When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he was his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]
"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>

===Life as a Ranger===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from Mordor. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the Steward, whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster-son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

===Hunt for Gollum===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

===War of the Ring===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, and Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]], then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the company for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

====Leading the Fellowship of the Ring====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day soon Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into Fangorn Forest, where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshaled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

====Return of the King====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took the [[Black Ships]] north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly. But Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

===Reign as Elessar===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councellor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.

==Personality==

Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to protect his friends whenever the need arose. He also possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious. However, he was not immune to self-doubt, as he doubted his decisions in leading the Fellowship after Gandalf's death in Moria, and blamed himself for their hardships.

==Weapons and skills==

Aragorn was extremely skilled with a variety of weapons, such as swords, spears, and bows. But primarily focused on his swordsmanship. He was capable of taking on many enemies ranging from [[Orcs]] to more powerful [[Trolls]] and even the [[Nazgûl]]. His weapon throughout the events of the Lord of the Rings was [[Anduril]] reforged from the shards of [[Narsil]]. He was arguably the greatest swordsman of the Third Age, surpassing the likes of [[Boromir]], [[Faramir]], and possibly [[Elrond]]. He also possessed Elven wisdom due spending the majority of his life in [[Rivendell]], and a highly skilled healer with the use of the plant [[Athelas]]. He was an immensely skilled tactician and commander, as he was able to defeat the armies of Mordor at the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] after reinforcing the [[Rohirrim]], and survive unscathed, and through strategy, defeat Sauron's army at the [[Black Gate]].

==Etymology==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name. It means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

This clear etymology from Tolkien was not revealed until the publication in 2007 of "Words, Phrases & Passages in ''The Lord of the Rings''", a late 1950s manuscript. Before that, several theories were proposed:
*[[Ruth S. Noel]] and several others proposed "King of the Tree",<ref>[[Ruth S. Noel]], ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'', p. 114</ref> but Tolkien specifically said that this was not the case.<ref>{{L|347}}</ref>
*[[David Salo]] deduces "Having Kingly Valor"<ref>[[David Salo]], ''[[A Gateway to Sindarin]]'', p. 341</ref> from Tolkien's cryptic "'Kingly Valour' (for so is that name interpreted)".<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}, p. xii</ref> This is still the most often cited etymology; Robert Ireland's ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'' gives the variation "Royal Zeal".<ref>Robert Ireland, ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'', [http://www.quicksilver899.com/Tolkien/LOTR/LOTR_AC.html The Lord of the Rings A-C].</ref>
*[[Carl F. Hostetter]] proposed the meanings "King of the Globe" or "King of the Hill" in his analysis of the [[King's Letter]].<ref>[[Carl F. Hostetter]], "The 'King's Letter': An Historical and Comparative Analysis", [[Vinyar Tengwar 31|''Vinyar Tengwar'' 31]], p. 18</ref>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

==Other names==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was likely named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer".
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

==Genealogy==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see [[Ancestry of Aragorn II]] for Aragorn's full line of descent.

{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}
===Relation to Arwen===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

===Films===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have accused this character of looking too much like a [[wikipedia:Stereotypes_of_Native_Americans|Native American stereotype]].{{Citation needed}}

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part is this film is largely similar to the events in book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

===Television===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]],the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

===Radio Series===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

===Games===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journey through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him looking in surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]]

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about an conservation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search to [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Aragorn]]
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], comparing the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]] of ''The Fellowship of the Ring.
{{References|notes}}

==Titles==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Cadet branch of [[House of Elros]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died={{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
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| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
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}}
{{seq-end}}{{councilofelrond}}{{fellowship}}{{FellowshipRoute}}{{northernline}}{{southernline}}{{lordoftheringsfilms}}
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar| ]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]

Aragorn

2023-02-13T00:40:28Z

MikeyofGondor25: I made this edit myself. I wanted to expand more on Aragorn's personality and skills, as the books shed light on them. Some of this information used to be from a similar source, (Lord of the Rings Fandom), but is now edited out to some degree. The more depth is added to any character, the more interested the reader can be when looking at him or her.

{{disambig-two|the King of [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]]|[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]|[[Aragorn I]]}}
{{sources}}
{{arnorian infobox
| name=Aragorn
| image=[[File:John Howe - Elessar.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Elessar" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈaraɡorn]}}
| othernames=Aragorn II, ''[[Elessar]]'', [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]], ''[[Thorongil]]'', ''[[The Dúnadan]]'', ''[[Estel]]'' (''[[Aragorn#Other names|see below]]'')
| titles=[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] [[High King of the Dúnedain]] [[King of Gondor and Arnor]]<Ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> [[King of the West]]<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Lord of the [[Westlands]]
| position=[[Rangers of the North|Ranger]]
| location=[[Rivendell]] [[Gondor]] [[Arnor]]
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]], [[Sindarin]], [[Quenya]]
| birth=[[1 March]] {{TA|2931}}
| birthlocation=[[Eriador]]
| rule={{TA|2933}} - {{TA|3019|n}} (Chieftain) {{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}} (King)
| death=[[1 March]] {{FoA|120}}<ref>{{App|B5}}, entry '''1541''', p. 1098</ref>
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
| age=210
| notablefor=Reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]]
| house=[[House of Isildur]], founded the [[House of Telcontar]]
| parentage=[[Arathorn II]], father [[Gilraen]], mother [[Elrond]], foster father
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Arwen]]
| children=[[Eldarion]] and at least two daughters<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref>
| gender=Male
| height=6'6<nowiki>''</nowiki> (198cm)<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 272 citing from a note written by J.R.R. Tolkien approximately in 1969</ref>
| hair=Dark, flecked with grey<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref>
| eyes=Grey<ref name="Sign"/>
| clothing=High leather boots, dark-green cloak (As a [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]])<ref name="Sign"/> Pure white mantle, black mail girt with silver (As a King)<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>
| weapons=[[Andúril]]
| steed=[[Roheryn]] and [[Hasufel]]
}}

<center>{{quote|Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}</center>
'''Aragorn II''' was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many<ref group="note">Aragorn II is of the 39th generation descended from Isildur, through 23 generations of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain (beginning with [[Valandil]] and ending with [[Arvedui]]) and 15 generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain (beginning with [[Aranarth]] and ending with Arathorn II).</ref> generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn would become the greatest [[Men|Man]] of his time, leading the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy [[the One Ring]], and reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

==History==
===Early Life===
Aragorn was born in {{TA|2931}} to the Chieftain Arathorn, and received the name Aragorn. His grandmother, [[Ivorwen]], noted with [[foresight]] that Aragorn would one day wear on his breast a green stone.<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}</ref>

A legend says that the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had brought [[Elfstone|such a stone]], called the Elessar, from [[Valinor]]. He gave the Elessar to the [[Elves|Elven]] Lady [[Galadriel]], and remarked prophetically that she would pass it to another, who will also be called Elessar.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> From this would come Aragorn's royal name ''Elessar'' ([[Quenya]] for "Elfstone").

When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when an [[Orcs|Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]] as if he was his own son. The [[Wise]] decided that his identity was to be kept secret, as he would be vulnerable to [[Sauron|the Enemy]]. Aragorn was called '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead. During his life in Rivendell he accompanied the sons of Elrond, [[Elrohir]] and [[Elladan]], on their journeys.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|''Aragorn and Arwen'' by [[Stephen Hickman]]]]
"Estel" grew to be fair and noble, and was seemingly more mature than his age. When Aragorn was twenty-one years old, after returning from a journey with the [[twins]] in {{TA|2952}}, Elrond decided to reveal his true name and ancestry. As part of this revelation, Elrond delivered to him the heirlooms of [[House of Isildur|his House]]: the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. Elrond also said that he should earn the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]]. The next day, full of hope, Aragorn was sitting in the forest singing a part of the ''[[Lay of Leithian|Lay of Lúthien]]''; as he sang of the meeting [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], [[Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lothlórien]], appeared to him. Aragorn thought that Lúthien herself had appeared, and fell in love.<ref name="Tale"/>

===Life as a Ranger===
Estel took up his proper name as Aragorn, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and after he took leave of his mother and Elrond he went into [[The Wild]].<ref name="Tale"/> In {{TA|2953}} he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] in {{TA|2956}}, and they became great friends.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> At Gandalf's advice he started to become interested in [[the Shire]] and became known as '''''Strider''''' in this region.
[[File:Catherine Chmiel - Ecthelion,Thorongil and Boromir study.jpg|thumb|right|''"Thorongil" with Ecthelion II'' by [[Catherine Karina Chmiel]]]]
From {{TA|2957}} to {{TA|2980}} Aragorn took great journeys aiding the [[West]] against [[Sauron]] and his allies. After serving King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], he went to [[Ruling Steward|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] of [[Gondor]],<ref name="TA"/> who was in dire need of able men to guard his realm from Mordor. Aragorn kept his identity secret but as he wore a silver star upon his cloak, and was swift and keen-eyed, the [[Gondorians]] called him '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"). He was a great leader by land and sea and Ecthelion trusted and loved him most. Some believed that there was rivalry between him and the Steward's son, [[Denethor]], who probably knew his identity as [[Heir of Isildur]], and suspected that he and Gandalf worked to supplant him. Thorongil however saw himself only as the servant of the Steward, whom he advised to not trust [[Saruman]] and instead to welcome Gandalf (whom Denethor didn't trust or love).

Ecthelion was anticipating an attack from Sauron who had just returned, and Thorongil warned him that in that event the [[Southern Fiefs]] would be vulnerable to the [[Corsairs of Umbar]]. He was allowed by Ecthelion to take few ships and lead an [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|attack against Umbar]]; at night he burned many ships, and in a fight slew the [[Captain of the Haven]] with only few casualties. Great honour awaited him in [[Minas Tirith]] but he did not return; while in [[Pelargir]], he sent a farewell message to Ecthelion, speaking of other tasks calling him, and saying that fate would not bring him again to Gondor soon. To the grief and wonder of his companions he crossed the [[Anduin]] and was last seen staring at the [[Mountains of Shadow]].<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> He left Gondor to travel into the far East and South "exploring the hearts of men good and evil" and learning about the "plots and devices" of the servants of the Dark Lord. His exploits ensured the survival of the [[West]] much later during the [[War of the Ring]].

Later in 2980 on his return to Rivendell he entered [[Lothlórien]], and there once again met Arwen in [[Caras Galadhon]]. For one season they wandered together in Lothlórien. At midsummer he gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.<ref name="Tale"/>

Elrond gave his foster-son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This harsh condition had a precedent: King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].<ref name="Tale"/>

===Hunt for Gollum===
In the year {{TA|3001}}, as a now revealed [[Sauron]] continued to regain power in [[Mordor]], Aragorn began assisting [[Gandalf]] in his search for news of [[Gollum]]. Gandalf suspected that the ring [[Bilbo Baggins]] found near Gollum's lake was in fact [[the One Ring]]. In {{TA|3007}}, he briefly returned to [[Eriador]] where he visited his mother for the last time. She died before that year's spring.

In {{TA|3009}} Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum, searching intermittently in the [[vales of Anduin]], [[Mirkwood]], and [[Rhovanion]], even to the confines of [[Mordor]], without knowing that around that time Gollum ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron.<ref name="TA"/> [[Third Age 3017|After eight years]] Gollum was released and Aragorn finally overtook him in the [[Dead Marshes]]<ref name="TA"/> on [[1 February]]. With Gollum he travelled through the northern [[Emyn Muil]], to prevent being found by Sauron's spies, and crossed the Anduin at the [[Sarn Gebir]]. He travelled further north along the edges of [[Fangorn Forest]] and through Lothlórien,<ref name="UT">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> where the Elves sent a message to Gandalf.<ref>{{UT|Hunt}}, Note 5</ref> He travelled alongside the Anduin to the north until he arrived at the [[Carrock]]. With the aid of the [[Beornings]] he crossed the Anduin with Gollum and entered [[Mirkwood]]. He took Gollum to [[Thranduil]] to be held captive.<ref name="UT"/><ref name="TA"/> He then returned west where he met with Gandalf at [[Sarn Ford]] and learned of [[Frodo Baggins]]' plan to leave the Shire with the Ring in late September. Aragorn then continued his own journey.<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>

===War of the Ring===
When Aragorn returned to his area, the [[Elves]] who followed [[Gildor Inglorion]] told Aragorn the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] had been seen, and Gandalf had been missing and there were no messages from him. Aragorn and his [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] kept watch over the border of [[the Shire]] and the [[East Road]] waiting for sight of Frodo but there was no news of them leaving [[Buckland]].<ref name="Strider"/>

While staying in [[Bree]], Aragorn crossed the paths of four hobbits in [[The Prancing Pony]]. Aragorn watched as the hobbits clumsily hid their names and intentions, and as [[Frodo Baggins]], the leader of the party, fell from a table and disappeared as he put the ring on. Aragorn, whose name was given as Strider, seemed to show no surprise, only annoyance at Frodo’s foolish vanishing act. He arranged for an interview that night, where he warned them of the Black Riders and [[Bill Ferny]], then bluntly requested that they use him as a guide. After some consideration, and a note given them by the forgetful [[Barliman Butterbur]] from Gandalf condoning him, Frodo agreed.
[[File:Jef Murray - Amon Sûl.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jef Murray]] - ''Amon Sûl'']]
Aragorn’s plan to reach Rivendell was to first head toward [[Archet]] and bear right to [[Weathertop]]. After the ambush at Weathertop and the wounding of Frodo, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] took over the position as leader of the Hobbits. After a while they met [[Glorfindel]], a friend of Aragorn’s, and it was not much later that they arrived in Rivendell.
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Reforging of the Sword.jpg|thumb|[[Darrell Sweet]] - ''The Reforging of the Sword'']]
After the Council of Elrond Aragorn became a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. As a preparation for his travel, the ancient shards of [[Narsil]], the heirloom of his House, were reforged after 3 millennia. Aragorn carried the Sword Reforged, and renamed it [[Andúril]].

Aragorn's intentions were to travel with the company for a while before returning to [[Gondor]] with [[Boromir]]. Aragorn encouraged the taking of the [[Caradhras|Redhorn Pass]], which ended in disaster. He conceded to Gandalf’s choice to pass through [[Moria]], but warned Gandalf to be cautious if he entered Moria, because he had a very evil memory from his previous visit to Moria. Indeed, after Gandalf fell into the abyss with [[Durin's Bane]], Aragorn was naturally elected leader of the company, despite some resentment by Boromir.

====Leading the Fellowship of the Ring====
Aragorn again amazed the rest of the Fellowship by his apparent closeness to the people of [[Lothlórien]], and his friendship with [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]]. At their departure, Galadriel offered him the [[Elfstone]] as a wedding gift from the family of the Elven bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|P3II3}}</ref> It was worn by Aragorn ever after and from that he later took the name '''Elessar'''.

Even at the [[Rauros|Falls of Rauros]] he was undecided, leaving it to Frodo for the final decision. For though it was obvious he wished to go to [[Minas Tirith]] with Boromir, he yet felt that it was his duty to go where the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] chose.

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - Death of Boromir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Death of Boromir'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
After Frodo escaped him and Boromir perished, he with the remaining members of the Fellowship, namely [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], chose to try and save [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] from the [[Uruk-hai]] that had ambushed them, forming the group that would later be known as the [[Three Hunters]].

He met [[Éomer]] in the fields of [[Rohan]], and an instant friendship formed, both feeling the honesty and lordliness of the other. Éomer took a risk for his sake, giving him horses, with the promise that one day soon Aragorn would return to [[Edoras]]. Aragorn, tracking the Hobbits, followed into Fangorn Forest, where he met the resurrected [[Gandalf|Gandalf the White]]. After the restoration of [[Théoden]], he rode to [[Helm's Deep]] to fight in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]]. There he, alongside his new-found “brother” Éomer, and King Théoden, marshaled the defence against [[Saruman]]’s army. His revealed majesty upon the battlements of the Hornburg as he waited for the dawn caused some of the [[Dunlendings|Wild men]] to pause and shudder, and he heralded the return of Gandalf with [[Erkenbrand]].

After Pippin’s terrifying experience with the [[Orthanc-stone]], Gandalf presented it in a formal manner to Aragorn, its rightful master, who hinted that it would be used by him eventually. After the departure of Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith, he rode for a while longer with Théoden, meeting up with his friend [[Halbarad]] of the North, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and a company of staunch and fearless Rangers. Elladan and Elrohir gave him a message from Elrond: "''The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the [[Paths of the Dead]]''". Halbarad bore a gift from the Lady Arwen – the [[Standard of Elendil]]. Aragorn knew the path set before him.

====Return of the King====
A little while later Aragorn took his companions and his rangers and set out for [[Dunharrow]], departing from the King’s company. His course was clear: to take the Paths of the Dead, to summon the [[Oathbreakers|Dead Men]]. In Dunharrow, he met the lady [[Éowyn]], who had fallen in love with him. After making it clear that he could not accept her love, he turned towards the evil road with the dawn.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Thus Came Aragorn.jpg|thumb|right|''Thus Came Aragorn'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The [[Grey Company]] passed through the [[Dark Door]] and the [[Dwimorberg]], the Dead following, and coming at last to the [[Stone of Erech]], Aragorn summoned them to his aid. They drew their swords and blew their horns in answer, and swept down upon the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] at [[Pelargir]] drove the mariners away. Aragorn released them, and took the [[Black Ships]] north to Minas Tirith, where the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] raged. The Standard of Elendil broke forth, and his Dúnedain swept down, giving the final blow to the army of [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]. The counter-attacked army of [[Sauron]] crumbled utterly. But Aragorn did not enter the city.

Aragorn, furling his banner, appointed [[Imrahil]] the temporary lord of the City, as the law demanded. Eventually, however, Aragorn did come to the [[Houses of Healing]], where he tended and restored Merry, Éowyn, and [[Faramir]], in accordance with the prophecy “''The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known''”. Many of the people of Minas Tirith came to Aragorn and followed him, asking that he heal those they knew. Aragorn worked late into the night, before finally leaving the city, hooded and cloaked. When in the morning the people saw the banner of [[Dol Amroth]], they wondered if the Return of the King had been but a dream.<ref name=Houses>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>

[[File:Inger Edelfeldt - The Crowning of Aragorn.jpg|thumb|left|''The Crowning of Aragorn'' by [[Inger Edelfeldt]]]]
Aragorn held [[Last Debate|council]] with his trusted companions, namely Gandalf, Éomer, Imrahil, and Elrond’s sons – Halbarad had fallen in battle. He agreed to draw forth the forces of [[Mordor]] for the benefit of the [[Quest of the Ring]], and so arranged matters for the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. After the destruction of the Ring in [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and victory at the [[Morannon]], Aragorn returned at last in the triumphant manner that befitted his position. He was crowned at the gates of Minas Tirith, winning the hearts of the people of [[Gondor]].

===Reign as Elessar===
Aragorn ruled the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]].

Some days after his coronation, Gandalf took Elessar up the slopes of Mount [[Mindolluin]], and there he found the scion of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]], the symbol of his mastery of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Elrond and Arwen came to Gondor and Elrond gave Elessar the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]] signifying the Kingship of Arnor. He wedded Arwen on Midsummer's day of 3019, and then was forced to bid his old friends farewell. He turned back to his new kingdom as the [[Fourth Age]] dawned and the Ringbearers left the shores of Middle-earth forever.

One of his first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of [[Orthanc]] and ordered the [[Orthanc-stone]] to be returned there. With this opportunity, many secrets and hoarded treasures were revealed including the [[Elendilmir]] which Saruman took from Isildur's body. Elessar received the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

Elessar gave his [[Steward]] Faramir the title [[Lord of Emyn Arnen]] and created him as [[Prince of Ithilien]]<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>. He declared the [[Drúadan Forest]] to belong to the [[Drúedain]] and a protected enclave of his Kingdom.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref> He also re-established the Great [[Council of Gondor]] whose chief councellor was the Steward<ref>{{L|244}}</ref>. He also renewed the [[Oath of Cirion]] with Éomer.

As for [[the Shire]], he declared it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre and forbade Men from entering it. He appointed the [[Thain]], the [[Master of Buckland]], and the [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Also he offered to the Shire the [[Westmarch|lands]] up to the [[Tower Hills|Emyn Beraid]].<ref name=later>{{App|Later}}</ref>

He founded the royal [[House of Telcontar]], he had a son, [[Eldarion]], and a number of daughters.

King Elessar died after 210 years of life and 122 years of rule and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.

==Personality==

Aragorn held his heritage in high esteem and was willing to protect his friends whenever the need arose. He also possessed a nigh indomitable will, as he psychically challenged [[Sauron]] for control of the [[Palantir]] of [[Orthanc]] and proved to be victorious. However, he was not immune to self-doubt, as he doubted his decisions in leading the Fellowship after Gandalf's death in Moria, and blamed himself for their misfortunes.

==Weapons and skills==

Aragorn was extremely skilled with a variety of weapons, such as swords, spears, and bows. But primarily focused on his swordsmanship. He was capable of taking on many enemies ranging from [[Orcs]] to more powerful [[Trolls]] and even the [[Nazgûl]]. His weapon throughout the events of the Lord of the Rings was [[Anduril]] reforged from the shards of [[Narsil]]. He was arguably the greatest swordsman of the Third Age, surpassing the likes of [[Boromir]], [[Faramir]], and possibly [[Elrond]]. He also possessed Elven wisdom due spending the majority of his life in [[Rivendell]], and a highly skilled healer with the use of the plant [[Athelas]]. He was an immensely skilled tactician and commander, as he was able to defeat the armies of Mordor at the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] after reinforcing the [[Rohirrim]], and survive unscathed, and through strategy, defeat Sauron's army at the [[Black Gate]].

==Etymology==
{{Pronounce|Aragorn Elessar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Aragorn''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name. It means "revered king".<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 31 entry S ''Ara(n)gorn''</ref><ref name=PE17Turgond>{{PE|17}}, p. 113 entry S '''Turgond-'''</ref> It contains the phonetic reduction ''ara'' of ''[[aran]]'' ("king") and the adjective ''[[gorn|(n)gorn]]'' ("dreaded, revered").<ref name=PE17Turgond/>

This clear etymology from Tolkien was not revealed until the publication in 2007 of "Words, Phrases & Passages in ''The Lord of the Rings''", a late 1950s manuscript. Before that, several theories were proposed:
*[[Ruth S. Noel]] and several others proposed "King of the Tree",<ref>[[Ruth S. Noel]], ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'', p. 114</ref> but Tolkien specifically said that this was not the case.<ref>{{L|347}}</ref>
*[[David Salo]] deduces "Having Kingly Valor"<ref>[[David Salo]], ''[[A Gateway to Sindarin]]'', p. 341</ref> from Tolkien's cryptic "'Kingly Valour' (for so is that name interpreted)".<ref>{{PM|Foreword}}, p. xii</ref> This is still the most often cited etymology; Robert Ireland's ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'' gives the variation "Royal Zeal".<ref>Robert Ireland, ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]'', [http://www.quicksilver899.com/Tolkien/LOTR/LOTR_AC.html The Lord of the Rings A-C].</ref>
*[[Carl F. Hostetter]] proposed the meanings "King of the Globe" or "King of the Hill" in his analysis of the [[King's Letter]].<ref>[[Carl F. Hostetter]], "The 'King's Letter': An Historical and Comparative Analysis", [[Vinyar Tengwar 31|''Vinyar Tengwar'' 31]], p. 18</ref>

The [[Quenya]] form of ''Aragorn'' was '''''Arakorno'''''.<ref name="WP">{{PE|17}}, p. 70 f. entry Q '''ar''' in the translation of the sentence into Quenya ''Sanome tarne Olórin, Arakorno, [...]''</ref>

==Other names==
* '''Aragorn II''' - Aragorn's name as [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]. He was likely named after [[Aragorn I]].
* [[Thorongil]] - [[Sindarin|S]] "Eagle of the Star", a pseudonym used in [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]. Pronounced {{IPA|[θoˈroŋɡil]}}.
* '''Elessar''' - [[Quenya|Q]] "Elfstone", Aragorn's name as a king. Despite popular use as such, Aragorn was never known as "Aragorn Elessar", "Aragorn II Elessar" or "[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|King Aragorn]]". Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈlesːar]}}.
* '''Edhelharn''' - The [[Sindarin]] equivalent of Elessar, used in the King's Letter.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 128ff</ref> Pronounced {{IPA|[eˈðel.harn]}}.
* [[Elfstone]] - The [[Westron|Common Speech]] version of the previous two.
* [[Envinyatar|''Envinyatar'']] - [[Quenya|Q]] "the Renewer".
* [[Estel]] - [[Quenya|Q]]. Usually glossed as "Hope", the concept ''estel'' more widely means "hope, trust, a temper of mind, steady fixed in purpose, and difficult to dissuade and unlikely to fall into despair or abandon its purpose". Pronounced {{IPA|[ˈestel]}}.
* [[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]] - A sobriquet given by the men of [[Bree]]. Aragorn used it mockingly.
* '''Wingfoot''' - An honorary name given by [[Éomer]] after the pursuit of the [[Uruk-hai]] through the [[Eastemnet]].<ref>{{TT|III2}}</ref>
* [[Telcontar]] - A [[Quenya]] form of "Strider", this was the name of Elessar's Royal House. It was not used independently. Pronounced {{IPA|[telˈkontar]}}.
* [[Heir of Isildur|Isildur's Heir]] - A poetic address, as he was the heir of [[Isildur]].
* '''The Dúnadan''' - "[[Dúnedain|Man of the West]]", a name given by [[Bilbo Baggins]] when their friendship evolved.
* '''Longshanks''' - another, though less frequently used, sobriquet in Bree, ascribed to [[Bill Ferny]]. The legs of the [[Bree-landers|Bree-men]] were shorter than the legs of the [[Dúnedain]].
* '''Arakorno''' - A rare Quenya form of Aragorn, which only appeared in a discussion about the words for Quenya.<ref name="WP"/> Pronounced {{IPA|[ˌaraˈkorno]}}.

==Genealogy==
This is an abbreviated family tree; see [[Ancestry of Aragorn II]] for Aragorn's full line of descent.

{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | EAR |y| ELW | | GAL |y| CEL |GAL=[[Galadriel]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]}}
{{familytree | | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ROS | | RON |y| CLB | | |ROS=[[Elros]]|RON=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | KON | | | | |!| | | | | |KON=''[[Kings of Númenor]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | LOA | | | | |!| | | | | |LOA=''[[Lords of Andúnië]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ELE | | | | |!| | | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ISI | | ANA | | |!| | | | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | KOG | | |!| | | | | |KOA=''[[Kings of Arnor]]''|KOG=''[[Kings of Gondor]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |:| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | KOA | | OND | | |!| | | | | |OND=[[Ondoher]]|KOA=''[[Kings of Arthedain]]''}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ARV |V| FIR | | |!| | | | | |ARV=[[Arvedui]]|FIR=[[Fíriel]]}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | COD | | | | |!| | | | | |COD=''[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]''}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | ART |y| GIL |!| | | | | |ART=[[Arathorn II]]|GIL=[[Gilraen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ARA |y| ARW | | | | |ARA='''ARAGORN '''|ARW=[[Arwen]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | ELD | | SDS | | | | |ELD=[[Eldarion]]|SDS=''several sisters''}}
{{familytree/end}}
===Relation to Arwen===
Arwen was a very distant cousin of Aragorn. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref name="Numenor">{{App|A1i}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the kings of the three kindreds of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Elwë]], [[Olwë]], and [[Elmo]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-grandmother, [[Melian]]. There were at least two marriages between descendants of Elendil in Aragorn's ancestry, so Aragorn was related to Arwen by blood along at least three lines.

Through his father, Arathorn II, Aragorn was Arwen's first cousin sixty-two times removed through his ancestor Arvedui and sixty-seven times removed through his ancestor Fíriel. Both of these lines descend through four<ref name="Numenor"/> generations of the Kings of Númenor, Silmariën, eighteen<ref>{{UT|Kings}}</ref> generations of the Lords of Andúnië, and Elendil, as well as Aranarth and fifteen<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> succeeding generations of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn himself. Aragorn's mother Gilraen also descended from Aranarth,<ref name="North"/> but the number of generations between them is unknown.

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He had wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Aragorn in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:War in Middle Earth - Aragorn and Frodo against a Nazgul.png|Aragorn with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Strider.jpg|Strider in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
|File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Aragorn.JPG|Aragorn in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Aragorn.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:2011-12-23 00061.jpg|Aragorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|File:LEGO Aragorn poster.png|Aragorn as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

===Films===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[John Hurt]]. Some critics have accused this character of looking too much like a [[wikipedia:Stereotypes_of_Native_Americans|Native American stereotype]].{{Citation needed}}

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]] in the 1980 [[Rankin/Bass]] animated film.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is played by [[Viggo Mortensen]], though [[Stuart Townsend]] was originally cast in the role. Townsend was deemed too young. Mortensen had just two weeks to train for his first scene, the standoff with the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]]. Utilizing the modern "reluctant hero" trope, Mortensen portrays Aragorn full of self-doubt, while he is much more sure of himself in the book.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Aragorn's part is this film is largely similar to the events in book. The most significant difference is that, in the book, there was no [[Wargs|Warg]] attack on the party traveling to Helm's Deep and Aragorn did not fall down a cliff.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Aragorn finally steps into his role as king after having a lot of self-doubt beforehand.

'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Although he is not physically present, he is mentioned by [[Thranduil]] to his son, [[Legolas]]. Thranduil tells Legolas to seek a young ranger known as "Strider" and that Legolas would have to discover Strider's true name for himself. In the continuity of the films, Aragorn would have been 27 rather than a ten-year-old child.

===Television===
'''1993: [[Hobitit|''Hobitit'']]:'''
:Aragorn is portrayed by [[Kari Väänänen]],the same actor who played [[Gollum]] in the series.

===Radio Series===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Godfrey Kenton]].

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by [[Tom Luce]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Aragorn was voiced by [[Robert Stephens]]. For his early scenes, according to [[John McAndrew]] (Pippin) Stephens adopted an accurate Bristol accent to help suggest the disguise Strider adopted in Bree.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Aragorn is provided by Boris Farkaš.

===Games===
'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable character. He has brown hair and is bearded, he bears a golden sword.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] provided the voice of Aragorn, who is one of the three playable characters.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is one of the three playable characters, as well as narrator for most of the game. He is versatile in both melee and ranged attacks. Viggo Mortensen reprises his role from the film trilogy.

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Aragorn is a playable character, his storyline is dubbed "Path of a King". He journey through Paths of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli, later they fight on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate. Chris Edgerly takes over for Mortensen as Aragorn's voice actor.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Free People side. He is present in Lothlorien, Battle of Hornburg and Siege of the Minas Morgul.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a Hero Unit for the Rohan faction in skirmishes, he also accompanies the Fellowship in the storyline mode.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Aragorn is now the Hero for the Men of the West faction.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:In the Prologue, Aragorn saves Men/Hobbit characters from brigands, but is forced to leave soon, as he has to intercept Frodo in Bree. Later arriving at the Prancing Pony, the characters meet him again and help him looking in surrounding area for Hobbits, who did not arrive in time. When player returns, Aragorn and the Hobbits already departed, and their next meeting is in Rivendell, where Aragorn entrusts the player with defence of the North while the Fellowship is gone. Later, in [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn is seen residing in [[Caras Galadhon]]

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Aragorn is a playable hero available in several missions.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Aragorn is an important character of the game, and is mentioned as one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]] in the introduction of the game.<ref name="Prologue">[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>
:He is a friend of two of the game's main characters, [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]] and [[Andriel]]. Aragorn had met [[Andriel]] during his visits at [[Rivendell]],<ref name="Backstory Andriel">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#elfAnchor|articlename=Elven Character: Andriel's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=25 December 2011}}</ref> while he had met Eradan, when he served as Ranger at Sarn Ford. Aragorn was impressed by his skills and bravery, and taught him much about tracking. Eradan was a companion of Aragorn on many of his journeys. Aragorn trusted Eradan much, though he never told him what the reason was behind the protection of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/the-game/heroes/backstory#dunedainAnchor|articlename=Human Character: Eradan's History|dated=|website=War in the North|accessed=24 December 2011}}</ref>

:Eradan, Andriel and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] meet Aragorn in the Prancing Pony to warn him, on Halbarad's request, after the Nazgûl attacked and defeated the [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] at [[Sarn Ford]], and entered the Shire. They also tell him about an conservation between the Witch-king and [[Agandaûr]], which the three heroes overheard shortly after the attack. Agandaûr summoned the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and assembled an army in [[Fornost]], which plans to aid the Nazgûl in their search to [[the One Ring]]. Aragorn sends Eradan, Andriel and Farin to Fornost, to stop Agandaûr and his army.<ref name="Prologue"/> While Eradan, Andriel, Farin, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] stopped Agandaûr's army,<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 1: Fornost''</ref> Aragorn met with [[Frodo Baggins]] and left Bree.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Chapter 2: The Barrow Downs'', Bree</ref>

'''2012: ''[[Lego|Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:A mini figure of Aragorn is included in the [[Lego#Sets|sets]] '''Attack at Weathertop''', '''The Battle of Helm's Deep''', '''The Battle at the Black gate''', and '''The Pirate ship ambush'''.<ref name="2012 sets">{{webcite|author=Calisuri|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/12/53563-more-lord-of-the-rings-lego-details-from-toy-fare-2012/|articlename=More Lord of the Rings LEGO Details from Toy Fare 2012|dated=12 February 2012|website=TORN|accessed=18 February 2012}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Aragorn]]
*[http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/1871/10975/1/Aragorn_Final.pdf "Aragorn Seen Through Different Media"] by [[Connie Veugen]], comparing the introduction of Strider in Ralph Bakshi's film, the 1981 BBC radio play, Peter Jackson's film and [[Vivendi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|video game]] of ''The Fellowship of the Ring.
{{References|notes}}

==Titles==
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=arnorian
| house=[[House of Isildur]] Cadet branch of [[House of Elros]]
| born=[[1 March]], {{TA|2931}}
| died={{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=2
| prev=[[Arathorn II]]
| list=16th [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} – [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| list=39th [[Heir of Isildur|Heir]] of [[Isildur]]
| dates={{TA|2933}} - [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Gandalf]]
| list=Leader of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| dates=[[15 January]] - [[22 August]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=Position abolished
| nvac=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärnur]]''', 969 years earlier
| list=34th [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
| next=[[Eldarion]]
| nrow=4
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]]''', 2,158 years earlier
| list=11th [[Kings of Arnor|King of Arnor]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Isildur]]''', 3,017 years earlier
| list=1st [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=New title
| list=Head of the [[House of Telcontar]]
| dates=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}} – [[1 March]], {{FoA|120}}
}}
{{seq-end}}{{councilofelrond}}{{fellowship}}{{FellowshipRoute}}{{northernline}}{{southernline}}{{lordoftheringsfilms}}
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chieftains of the Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Isildur]]
[[Category:House of Telcontar| ]]
[[Category:Mariners]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Aragorn II.]]
[[fi:Aragorn II]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/3adunedain/dunedain_du_nord/aragorn_ii]]