Free Republic

The artifact provides an amazing insight into Tolkien's mind - including his observation that Hobbiton is on the same latitude as the city of Oxford. It also suggests that Ravenna in Italy is the inspiration behind Minas Tirith, a fictional city that became the heavily fortified capital of Gondor. And it references Cyprus, Belgrade and Jerusalem.

Harondor ~The Strategic Role of South Gondor~ This essay examines the region of Harondor and its role within the realm of Gondor. By the end of the Third Age, South Gondor had become “a desert and debateable land”, contested between the Stewards of Gondor and the Corsairs of Umbar. Like other parts of the realm that had been given up or overrun, its inhospitable state at the time of the War of the Ring does not reveal the full history of the region. The reoccurring theme though is the influence on its history of external powers, principally Umbar, Harad...

Kingship in the Westlands of Middle-EarthIntroductionThis 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...

Relations between the Kingdoms of Gondor and ArnorThis article is a result of my interest in the relationship between the two Dunedain realms of Middle-Earth.The Realms-In-Exile were founded by the Faithful Numenoreans who survived the fall of Numenor in 3320 Second Age (SA). After the War of the Last Alliance (3434-41 SA) the relative standing of each throne changed, with Gondor growing to become a mighty power, whereas Arnor split into three separate kingdoms, Cardolan, Rhudaur and Arthedain and declined in strength until it was destroyed in war with Angmar. In the Second Age Gondor was ruled cojointly by Elendil's...

The men who would be StewardGuardianship is the mark of the Stewards of Gondor. They are guardians, wardens, keeping an ancient trust placed in their hands by a family of kings which, at the end of the Third Age, no longer exists. Gondor's Ruling Stewards are a curious example of how authority combined with tradition can produce a subtle irony in power and position.The Elvish word for "steward" is Arandur, "King's servant". The name implies that the Stewards began their long career as something less than government officials. They may have been the personal servants of Gondor's early kings. At...