Steward of Gondor

The Stewards of Gondor is a reference to fictional rulers from J. R. R. Tolkien's universe of Middle-earth.

"Steward" was the traditional title of a chief counsellor to one of the Kings of Gondor. During the time of the Steward Pelendur, from the famous House of Húrin, this title became a hereditary one, passing the station of counsellor from father to son, much like the kingship.

After the death of King Eärnur, who left no heir to the throne of Gondor, the reigning steward Mardil Voronwë became the first of the Ruling Stewards. These were the first of the Stewards to administer Gondor, and Mardil's descendants did so for 26 generations.

In short, the Stewards watched over the throne until it could be reclaimed by a true king of Gondor, an heir of Isildur.

The Quenya name of the title is Arandur: "Servant of the King"

The following is a list of the Stewards of Gondor. (All dates Third Age).

1. Mardil Voronwë 'the Steadfast' (2029 - 2080)
2. Eradan (2080 - 2116)
3. Herion (2116 - 2148)
4. Belegorn (2148 - 2204)
5. Hurin I (2204 - 2244)
6. Turin I (2244 - 2278)
7. Hador (2278 - 2395)
8. Barahir (3295 - 2412)
9. Dior (2412 - 2435)
10. Denethor I (2435 - 2477)
11. Boromir (2477 - 2489)
12. Cirion (2489 - 2567),
13. Hallas (2567 - 2605)
14. Hurin II (2605 - 2628)
15. Belecthor (2628 - 2655)
16. Orodorth (2655 - 2685)
17. Ecthelion (2685 - 2698)
18. Egalmoth (2698 - 2763)
19. Beren (2743 - 2763)
20. Beregond (2763 - 2811)
21. Belecthor II (2811 - 2872)
22. Thorondir (2872 - 2882)
23. Turin II (2872 - 2914)
24. Turgon (2914 - 2953)
25. Ecthelion II (2953 - 2984)
26. Denethor II (2984 - 3019)

With the death of Denethor II and the events of the War of the Ring, the line of Gondorian kings was restored by Aragorn Elessar, who founded the House of Telcontar which ruled into the Fourth Age and beyond.

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Note #1: Aragorn did not take kingship immediatly after Denethor II perished, so technically, the surviving son of Denethor II; Faramir, was the Ruling Steward for a short time. However, since the succession process is not completely documented, he may not of actually been the Steward until an official ceremony of some sort was performed. In any event, this was a very short period of time, and Denethor II is generally considered the last of the Ruling Stewards. The line of Stewards continued in the Princes of Ithilien, a new fiefdom of Gondor granted to Faramir and his heirs by King Elessar. The Prince of Ithilien remained a councellor of the King.

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