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Imrahil is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He is introduced in Return of the King as the twenty-second Prince of Dol Amroth.
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Imrahil, son of Prince Adrahil II, was born in year 2955 of the Third Age. He had two older sisters. The eldest was Ivriniel (born T.A. 2947) and the next eldest was Finduilas. According to one version of Tolkien's legendarium, Imrahil is descended from the Númenorean Imrazôr and a Silvan Elf named Mithrellas. This would make Imrahil and his line part-Elvish. Whether this account in true or merely a legend within Middle-earth is unknown, though usually only three pairings of Elves and Men are referenced in Tolkien's writings. When Legolas meets Imrahil he tells him that he has the look of one with elvish blood, confirming his elvish ancestry.
During the War of the Ring, Prince Imrahil led a company of Swan Knights and 700 men at arms to Minas Tirith to help defend the City. Prince Imrahil led the sortie that rode to the aid of Faramir and the rearguard retreating from Osgiliath. During the siege of Minas Tirith he assisted Gandalf in leading the city's defence. Imrahil was the first to notice that Éowyn of Rohan had not been slain in the battle and he sent to the City for help. Soon after, Éomer and his Riders were outnumbered, and Imrahil rode to their aid.
After the Battle of the Pelennor Fields Imrahil recognized that Aragorn was the rightful King of Gondor, but he agreed that it was wise for Aragorn to wait to enter the city, because his brother-in-law Denethor was strong-willed and proud. When Imrahil learned that Denethor was dead and Faramir dying, he suggested that Aragorn be summoned, remembering that the Kings of old were great healers. Though he entered the city as a healer Aragorn did not wish to contest the kingship during the war and Imrahil ruled Minas Tirith in the days after the siege had ended.
Imrahil and his knights marched with the Captains of the North to attack Mordor, but was concerned that the city should not be left unprotected while they were on campaign and ensured a large force was left behind to protect it. During the march toward Mordor the heralds of the army announced the coming of King Elessar at Imrahil's suggestion. When Sauron's forces emerged from the Black Gate, Imrahil stood on the front line with his men in the Battle of the Morannon.
Prince Imrahil was present at the celebrations of the field of Cormallen, and the coronation of Aragorn as King Elessar, and rode with the funeral procession of King Théoden to Rohan, remaining in Edoras after the King's burial. Imrahil and Éomer became great friends, and in T.A. 3021 Éomer wed Imrahil's daughter Lothíriel.
After the War of the Ring, Prince Imrahil and his nephew Faramir, Steward of Gondor, were King Elessar's chief commanders. Imrahil was also part of the Great Council of Gondor, and remained an advisor of the King.
Prince Imrahil died in the year F.A. 34, and was succeeded by his eldest son Elphir, who continued the line of Princes.
Imrahil appeared neither in the animated film adaptation of The Return of the King by Rankin/Bass, nor in Peter Jackson's film trilogy. Jackson explained in a DVD commentary that Imrahil appeared in earlier drafts but was stricken as it was too difficult to introduce another new character so late in the narrative. Jackson joked that Imrahil could have been filled as a cameo role by Arnold Schwarzenegger. In the Decipher Trading Card game based on the movies the Gondorian captain Irolas who was created for the movies is instead credited as being Imrahil.
Adrahil
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Denethor = Finduilas Imrahil
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Boromir Faramir Elphir Erchirion Amrothos Lothíriel = Éomer
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