Princely Houses of the Númenórean Realms-in-Exile
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In J. R. R. Tolkien's literary works, The Númenórean Realms-in-Exile were Arnor and Gondor. The Royal House was the House of Elendil, namely the House of Isildur in Arnor and House of Anárion in Gondor, both sons of Elendil. Later the male Line of Anárion came to an end and Gondor was ruled by her Stewards of the House of Húrin, which was one of the Princely Houses. There were other Princely Houses in the Realms-in-Exile. Only one other is identified, the House of Dol Amroth, and one other, unnamed, House is mentioned as taking the crown of Cardolan after the ending of the royal line there. It is speculated that as many as four others may exist, making it one for each of the Nine Ships that escaped from the Akallabêth. According to this speculation, each of the Captains of those ships was given an autonomous Princedom in either Arnor or Gondor.
Following the War of the Ring, only the House of Isildur, the House of Hùrin and the House of Dol Amroth survived. However, the House of Isildur had been renamed to the House of Telcontar and ruled Gondor, and the House of Húrin had become Princes of Ithilien rather than Stewards. Of the original Houses, only the House of Dol Amroth is known to have survived nearly unchanged throughout the Third Age.
[edit] Sources
- The Collected Works of J.R.R. Tolkien