Dúnedain

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In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, the Dúnedain (singular: Dúnadan) were a race of Men descended from the Númenóreans that survived the fall of their island kingdom and came to Eriador in Middle-earth, led by Elendil and his sons, Isildur and Anárion. They are also called the Men of the West and the Men of Westernesse (direct translations of the Sindarin term). They settled mainly in Arnor and Gondor.

The Westron name for Dúnadan was simply Adûn, "westerner", but this name was seldom used. This name was reserved to those Númenóreans who were friendly to the Elves: the other, hostile survivors of the Downfall were known as the Black Númenóreans.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] History

After the fall of Arnor and then Arthedain, some of the northern Dúnedain became the Rangers of the North. The surviving Dúnedain population of Arnor retreated to the Angle south of Rivendell, while smaller populations made isolated settlements in far western Eriador. In the mean time, the southern Dúnedain intermarried more and more with so-called Middle Men, except in some regions (such as Dol Amroth).

In the Fourth Age, the Dúnedain of Gondor and Arnor were reunited under King Aragorn II Elessar (who was also called the Dúnadan).

[edit] Characteristics

The Dúnedain were superior to other Men in nobility of spirit and body, although they were of course capable of evil if corrupted. They had dark hair and grey eyes and were tall.

In addition, Dúnedain, especially those of high rank, possessed great wisdom and discernment, and occasional prophecy. They benefited from longer life-spans (some to over 200 years old) than ordinary men and could retain their fitness until the very end of their days. Though the reason is not fully explained in the Tale of the Years, one thing that led to the diminishment of the Dúnedain was their tendency to have few children, in many cases only one. Aragorn descended from a long line of only children.