Arthedain
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In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Arthedain was one of the three kingdoms of Middle-earth that resulted from the breakup of Arnor during the Third Age.
During the reign of Eärendur, King of Arnor his sons were in open discord, which erupted into civil war after Eärendur's death in T.A. 861. Amlaith, the true heir to the throne of Arnor, was opposed by his two brothers. Unable to resolve the situation, he was reduced to ruling the region of Arthedain (his brothers created the kingdoms of Cardolan and Rhudaur to the south and east).
Arthedain was bounded upon the north by Forochel and the west by the Lune; upon the east by the Weather Hills and the south by the Baranduin. Arthedain nominally included the Shire. The kingdom's capital was at Fornost, and Bree was one of its important towns. Annúminas was in the territory of Arthedain, but mostly abandoned and falling into ruin.
Around T.A. 1300 the kingdom of Angmar appeared at Arthedain's north-eastern border. Its King was the chief of the Ringwraiths, the Witch-king, although this was not known to the Dúnedain. Rhudaur, aided by Angmar, attacked in T.A. 1356. Argeleb I died in this conflict. When this new threat came Cardolan placed itself under the suzerainty of Arthedain, which then began to call itself Arnor again. Cardolan repeatedly sent aid to Arthedain when needed but by T.A. 1409 Cardolan and Rhudaur were conquered by Angmar and Arthedain only survived with the help of Elvish reinforcements from Lórien and the Havens.
After 1409 Angmar's power was temporarily broken and the North Kingdom enjoyed relative peace although its population continued to decline. Indeed the decline was so severe that in 1601 Argeleb II granted a large portion of Arthedain's best farmland to Hobbit refugees, as these lands had become deserted. Arthedain was not badly affected by the Great Plague and it can be guessed that warfare with Angmar resumed in earnest sometime after 1800, although sources for the Kingdom's history are sketchy until the beginning of the 20th century of the Third Age. Arthedain spent the next seventy years in desperate conflict with Angmar but the Northern realm probably lacked the manpower and resources to win the war, as aid from Gondor was not forthcoming owing to the Wainrider threat. In T.A. 1974 Arthedain was overrun and Fornost fell into the hands of Angmar. King Arvedui fled northwards and was killed in a ship wreck the following year, taking with him the palantíri of the North. Arthedain fell just one year too soon for help was finally sent from Gondor under the lead of Eärnur. This army reached Arthedain in T.A. 1975 and destroyed Angmar at the Battle of Fornost.
The death of Arvedui spealt the end of the North Kingdom. The kings of Arthedain were also the lords of The Shire and the Shire chose the Thain to replace the kings. His son, Aranarth decided to not rebuild the kingdom and so became the first Chieftain of the Dúnedain. From him Aragorn is descended.
[edit] See also
| Realms from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium during the Third Age | |
|---|---|
| Realms of Men: | Arnor | Arthedain | Breeland | Cardolan | Corsairs of Umbar | Dale | Dol Amroth | Dunland | Éothéod | Esgaroth | Gondor | Harad | Khand | Rhovanion | Rhudaur | Rhûn | Rohan | Umbar |
| Realms of the Elves: | Lindon | Lothlórien | Northern Mirkwood | Rivendell |
| Realms of the Dwarves: | Belegost | Erebor | Grey Mountains | Iron Hills | Khazad-dûm |
| Realms of the Hobbits: | Breeland | Gladden Fields | The Shire |
| Realms of the Ents: | Fangorn forest |
| Uncertain population: | Dorwinion |
| Realms of the enemy: | Angmar | Barad-dûr | Dol Guldur | Isengard | Mordor |
