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Posted on 03/19/2003 12:35:28 AM PST by JameRetief
Kingship in the Westlands of Middle-Earth
Introduction
This study examines the power and role of kings in the realms of Gondor and Rohan, the regions for which there is the most detailed evidence. It should be noted therefore that royal traditions in the Dunedain realms grew out of Numenorean law, whereas Rohan’s kingship was most likely based on the customs of the Northmen.
In Endor royal rule was the norm where peoples were strong enough. Thus there existed, at various times, crowns in Harad, Rhun, Rohan, Dale, Arnor and Gondor. In their absence, either because the kingship had failed or the people were not powerful enough, there were chieftainships (as among the Beornings and Woses) and independent settlements (Bree and Lake-Town, for example).
The king was the most important person in the society he ruled: this is symbolised in various ways. For example, the King of Rohan’s exclusive right to ride the Mearas horses, the royal residences and burial places at Edoras and Minas Anor, and the centrality of kings in recorded history (i.e in Tolkien’s appendices to LOTR).
Royal Authority and Duties
The extent of a Numenorean king’s authority and power is spelt out in a draft letter by Professor Tolkien to a fan:
‘A Numenorean king was monarch, with the power of unquestioned decision in debate; but he governed the realm with the frame of ancient law, of which he was administrator (and interpreter) but not maker.’
(Letters, No. 244)
The Kings of Gondor and Arnor were restrained, to varying degrees, by the law and by the advice of their Council; most significantly, a king did not make laws. This could imply a very tradition-bound form of government.
The functions of a king were to act as war-leader and to provide justice. He was owed obedience and service by his people. In turn he provided reward, honours and protection. Details of Aragorn’s reign demonstrates the tasks of a king:
‘In the days that followed his crowning the King sat on his throne in the Hall of Kings and pronounced judgements...And there were brought before him many to receive his praise and reward for their valour;’
(LOTR, B6 V, p.1004-5)
On one of these occasions Aragorn makes Faramir Prince of Ithilien and judges Beregond of Minas Tirith for breaking the law. King Elessar also rewards the Woses of Firien Wood for their aid before the Battle of the Pelennor Fields (LOTR B6 VII, p. 1012). In later days he leads the armies of Gondor on military campaigns in Rhun and Harad (LOTR App A II, p. 1108).
The lack of details about more peaceful reigns gives an unbalanced picture of the king as war-leader. But this was his most important duty: defending the realm or extending its power. The extent to which kings were personally involved in war can be judged from the fact that of thirty- three kings of Gondor before Elessar (including Elendil and Anarien), ten of them died in battle. The figure for Rohan is three out of seventeen kings before Eomer (excluding one killed by orcs while not on campaign). (See LOTR Appendix A & the Tale of Years)
Royal Succession
The crowns of Gondor, Arnor and Rohan were hereditary, passing from father to eldest son, or closest male heir. Could women govern the realm ? In 1944, when Arvedui of Arnor made a claim to the throne of Gondor via his wife Firiel, the deceased King of Gondor’s only surviving child, the Council of Gondor stated:
‘In Gondor, this heritage [the Kingship] is reckoned through the sons only.’
(Appendix A (iv), p. 1086)
In reply, Arvedui pointed out that by Numenorean law the eldest child of the king succeeded to the throne, whether man or woman. However, he also noted that this law was not followed:
‘It is true that the law has not been observed in the lands of exile ever troubled by war’
(Appendix A (iv), p. 1086)
The role of the King as war-leader in Dunedain society precluded female rulers.
In Gondor, in the case of an unclear succession, the Council seems to have had a deciding role over whose claim was most valid. Any claimant needed a pure Numenorean bloodline, royal descent and high status, aided by prowess in battle; see for example the reasons for Earnil receiving the crown in 1944 (App. A (iv), p.1087). It is also instructive to read Faramir’s declaration of the basis of Aragorn’s right to the throne of Gondor:
‘Behold, one has come to claim the kingship again at last. Here is Aragorn, son of Arathorn, chieftain of the Dunedain of Arnor, Captain of the Host of the West, bearer of the Star of the North, wielder of the Sword Reforged, victorious in battle, whose hand brings healing, the Elfstone, Elessar of the line of Valandil, Isildur’s son, Elendil’s son of Numenor.’
(LOTR B6 V, p.1003 )
Faramir emphasises Aragorn’s position, prowess and lineage and refers to his regalia and healing ability as evidence of his royal lineage. These were the qualities of a king.
Royal Vassals and Council
Beneath the King in authority were the lords of the realm. These men held lands [fiefs] from the crown. In Gondor at the end of the Third Age, the vassals of the Stewards included the Lords of Lossarnach, Ringlo Vale, Morthond, Lamedon and Anfalas, and the Prince of Dol Amroth (LOTR B5 I, p.801 & B5 IX, p.909). These lords probably held their lands through hereditary succession, like the Crown and Stewards. From their ranks were drawn important royal officers, or even successors to the throne. They also had a role in the Council of Gondor, whose advice the kings or ruling stewards were obliged to consider:
‘In all debatable matters of importance domestic, or external, however, even Denethor had a Council and at least listened to what the Lords of the Fiefs and the Captains of the Forces had to say.’
(Letters, No. 244)
Reading this it seems (by the end of the Third Age at least) there was a permanent group of persons who made up the Council. Different rulers over the centuries may have paid varying heed to their Council depending on their character and the strength of their situation. The traditionalism of the Dunedain would suggest that the council was based on the Council of the Sceptre in Numenor itself (Unf 2 II, p.216-17) and did not change much over the centuries in power or role.
The lords presumably held power locally, administering the law and organising the forces and defences of their fief. Their main duty to the crown that we glimpse was military: bringing men of their fief to royal musters and acting as captains of these forces (see for example LOTR B5 I, p.801).
In Rohan the situation was similar. The king had under him various lords (for example, the Lord of Deeping Comb and the Lord of Harrowdale). The Marshals of the Mark were the king’s chief lieutenants; these three posts were filled by persons related to the king or by vassals. The evidence of Helm’s and Theoden’s reigns is that the king held councils, made up from his marshals and leading captains (LOTR Appendix A II, p.1103) but it is not clear if there were regular members and meetings. (See Unf 3 V, p.367-69 for details on Rohan’s military/power structure).
There are a few recorded examples of conflict between lords and their king: the Kin-Strife (1437 - 1448) saw large-scale rebellion against the King of Gondor by lords protesting at the perceived diminishing of the royal blood-line that would result from King Eldacar’s marriage to Vidumavi, a non-Dunedain. And in 2754 King Helm of Rohan slew Freca of the West-March, an ambitious and powerful vassal (LOTR Appendix A II 1102-03). It is conceivable then that at other times tensions existed between kings and their vassals, or between different lords (for example, over contributions to the royal campaigns or rivalry for influence with the king). However, the rarity of recorded rebellions against the kings of Gondor and Rohan indicates that, customarily, a king enjoyed strong authority and obedience among his subjects.
The bibliography is as follows:
TH - The Hobbit (Unwin Paperbacks, 1985) - References are by Chapter and/or Page
Unf - Unfinished Tales (Unwin Paperbacks, 1985) - References are by Part, Section and/or Page
Sil & QS - The Silmarillion (Unwin Paperbacks, 1979) - References are by Page
Letters - The Letters of J.R.R Tolkien (HarperCollins, 1995) - References are by letter number
LOTR - The Lord of the Rings (Unwin Paperbacks, 1984) - References are by Book, Chapter and Page
Background information contained in LOTR's Appendix A and the Tale of Years is sometimes used without reference.
Author: Warren Lawless
Published: 1995-1999
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| ARTICLES 11-20 | ARTICLES 11-20 |
| ARTICLES 21-30 | 21) Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad |
| ARTICLES 31-40 | 22) Of Turin Turambar |
| ARTICLES 41-50 | 23) Of the Ruin of Doriath |
| 51) And Now for the Other Love Story | |
| 52) Kryptic Tales of Middle-earth | |
| 53) The People of Eriador in the later Third Age | |
| 54) The Wild, Wild, Wood-elf West | |
| 55) The Middle-earth Mysteries | |
| 56) Relations Between the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor | |
| 57) Resurrecting Dale, City of A Thousand Untold Stories | |
| 58) The Historic Baranduin | |
| 59) Kingship in the Westlands of Middle-Earth |
Your Daily Tolkien Ping! Coming from many sources, these articles cover many aspects of Tolkien and his literary works. If anyone would like for me to ping them directly when I post articles such as this let me know. Enjoy!
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