Thanks all for the continued support, keeps this thing going after all!
#310 Argeleb II, 10th King of Arthedain – arnorian dúnadan king
He succeeded his father at the age of 116 on Araphor’s death in 1589 T.A. It was Argeleb II who granted the unpopulated royal hunting grounds to the halflings Marcho & Blanco and their followers. Story-wise, having given the Shire to the Hobbits, he probably should rank even higher. But this list is 96.3% objective, and since no one thought to vote for him on the initial thread, or the few other subjective lists I used, he’s just shy of the top-quarter. The Great Plague, the continuing threat of Angmar, and the onset of the Barrow-Wights, were other notable events during his reign. Argeleb II ruled 81yrs until his death in 1670 at the age of 197, and was succeeded by his son Arvegil. [TG:22,EoA:5,WK:6,RF:4,JT:10,LR:1,H12:4=52pts,10indx.pgs]
#309 *Telimektar, son of Tulkas – ainu warrior
Only 10 asterisked characters will remain after Telimektar to grace the top 300. I was careful to scale back points resulting from the indexation of the star-constellation (Orion) which bears the same name, and early in the mythology was considered one-&-the-same with this child of a Vala. His entries in the ‘Lost Tales’ lexicons &
Tolkien Gateway helps prop him up. Telimektar fought at his father's side against Melkor, and he had "a long sword girt about his waist by a silver girdle… his face and weapons gleam as silver in the dark… he has diamonds on his sword-sheath, and this will go red when he draws his sword at the Great End". Obviously Telimektar was an integral part of the earliest framework of the legendarium, along with Ingil son of Ingwë, who appeared here not long ago. It was they who kept watch over the exiled Morgoth, as the heavenly bodies Orion & Sirius, until the end of days. (Had I been a little more liberal with Ingil’s Sirius/Nelluin references, the High Prince of All Elves probably would’ve been right here alongside his companion). One of Telimektar’s final mentions is by Manwë, who tells that Sirius is "nigh the foot of Telimektar son of Tulkas whose tale is yet to tell". But it was yet another tale unfortunately never told… [TG:25,JG:1,H1:4,B1:16,H2:4,H4:2=52pts,12indx.pgs]
#308 Aragorn I, 5th Chieftain of the Dúnedain – arnorian dúnadan chieftain
He was born in 2227 T.A. and succeeded his father Aravir who died in 2319. Aragorn I reigned during the Watchful Peace, and little is known of that time in the North. His major claim to fame, and a probable reason for inflated points, is of course in lending his name to his distant descendant. Aragorn I was killed by wild wolves in 2327 at the age of 100, after having ruled only 8yrs, and was succeeded by his son Araglas. [TG:18,EoA:11,WK:6,RF:3,JT:1,DD:11,LR:1,H12:2=53pts,4indx.pgs]
#307 Boromir, 11th Ruling Steward of Gondor – gondorian dúnadan ruling-steward
Speaking of name inflation, this Boromir succeeded his father Denethor I upon his death in 2477 T.A. Boromir at age 67 inherited a realm under siege by Uruk-hai. He was a great captain whom the Witch-king even feared, and fought several campaigns to win back Ithilien. Though successful in the end, Osgiliath was ruined and its stone-bridge broken. Boromir also received a Morgul-wound in the war, numbering his days so that he ruled a mere 12yrs, dying a painful death in 2489 when he was succeeded by his son Cirion. [TG:20,EoA:10,WK:4,RF:6,JT:10,LR:1,H12:2=53pts,6indx.pgs]
#306 Artamir, son of King Ondoher of Gondor – gondorian dúnadan prince
Prince Artamir was the son of King Ondoher, and the elder brother of Faramir & Firiel. Unfortunately Gondor was at war during their time, and the King and both sons were killed outside the Black Gate from an assault from the East. The King’s nephew Minohtar, who would have been in line for the throne, was also slain leading the retreat. The result was that Gondor was left without a legitimate heir. Artamir gets most of his points here from
Tolkien Gateway &
Encyclopedia of Arda, largely due to commentary on the above circumstances; the latter even stating “the loss of Artamir was a turning point in the history of Middle-earth”. As such, it should probably be his younger brother Faramir’s decision to accompany the army in disguise, and against policy, which was the
real turning point. Faramir appeared back at #444, and Ondoher will appropriately appear closer to #200. [TG:26,EoA:12,WK:1,RF:3,JT:4,LR:1,UT:4,H12:2=53pts,7indx.pgs]
#305 Aldor the Old, 3rd King of Rohan – rohirrim king
He was the 2nd son of King Brego, but became heir when his older brother Baldor vanished in the Paths of the Dead. When Brego died of grief in 2570 T.A., Aldor became King. During his reign the remaining Dunlendings east of the Isen were driven out, Harrowdale and other valleys were settled, and the population of the Rohirrim grew. Aldor had 3 daughters before his first son was born, and he reigned for 75yrs, the longest of any ruler of Rohan, hence his epithet. When he died in 2645 at the age of 101, he was succeeded by his son Fréa. [TG:15,EoA:7,WK:5,RF:6,JT:11,LR:1,UT:4,H8:2,H12:2=53pts,7indx.pgs]
#304 Amlach son of Imlach – 3rd house adan warrior
He was a grandson of Marach of the 3rd House, and was born in 337 F.A. Amlach’s claim to fame is that he was a pawn of subterfuge by Morgoth. Amlach, along with Bereg of the 1st House, are recorded as being leaders of discontent, unwilling to join the Elves in war against Morgoth. When a council of the Edain was called to debate the issue, Bereg voices his concerns, but then Amlach is seen to rise and speak ‘fell words that shook the hearts of all that heard him… and a shadow of fear fell’. Later however, Amlach denied he was even at the council, leading to the conclusion that Morgoth’s emissaries were present among them, and all the more reason to join with the Elves. Amlach eventually did join them, if purely out of anger towards ‘this Master of Lies’. As for what happened at that council, and why Amlach would not have chosen to be at such an important debate in the first place, especially if he was originally a leader of discontent and confederate of Bereg who goes through with leading followers away, is a mystery at all levels. Tyler, in his entry for Amlach, casts enough doubts to suggest that Amlach maybe
was present, and either had a change of heart, or was in fact possessed in some way by Morgoth. Amlach’s eventual fate also remains unknown. [TG:15,EoA:10,WK:1,RF:5,JT:13,SL:3,H11:4,H12:2=53pts,8indx.pgs]
#303 Boromir of Ladros, 4th Lord of the 1st House – 1st house adan lord
He was the great-grandson of Bëor the Old, and may have been present at the council mentioned above (Bereg being a first-cousin, and all 3, including Amlach, born within 3yrs). Boromir, however, was the eldest son of Boron 3rd Lord of the 1st House, and he himself became Lord in 408 F.A. on Boron’s death. He was also given the region of Ladros in 410 by the Elves, since his House had long been loyal to them. He lived 94yrs, and he was succeeded by his son Bregor, the father of Barahir, in 432. Notable as well, Andreth the Wise was Boromir's daughter! [TG:29,EoA:7,WK:1,RF:3,JT:3,SL:2,H5:2,H10:2,H11:4,=53pts,9indx.pgs]
#302 Galathilion, the White Tree of Tirion (n)It was made by Yavanna for the Elves of Tirion in 1142 of the Years of the Trees as an image of Telperion the Silver Tree, but it gave no light. It was known as the White Tree of Tirion, and grew in a high open courtyard beneath the Mindon Eldaliéva, the Tower of Ingwë. It was thus the first in the long line of White Trees of the Children of Ilúvatar. Galathilion had many seedlings in Eldamar, and from it came Celeborn the White Tree of Tol Eressëa, through which it became the ancestor of Nimloth of Númenor and the White Trees of Gondor - a lineage exceeding 10,000yrs! [TG:8,EoA:2,WK:1,RF:8,JT:11,MD:1,DK:2,LR:4,SL:4,H10:8,H12:4=53pts,10indx.pgs]
#301 Narmacil II, 29th King of Gondor – gondorian dúnadan king
He succeeded his father Telumehtar Umbardacil in 1850 T.A. at the age of 166. During Narmacil's reign the Wainriders appeared from the East and assaulted Gondor. Narmacil brought his army into the plains south of Mirkwood and gathered what Northmen he could to meet the threat. However, these new enemies mounted in chariots were stronger, better equipped, and apparently inflamed by emissaries of Sauron. Narmacil was slain north-east of the Morannon in the Battle of the Plains after reigning only 6yrs. The people of southern and eastern Rhovanion were enslaved thereafter while the border of Gondor was withdrawn to the Anduin. Brief & unfortunate was his reign, notable only for being on the losing side of a new powerful enemy, but a fitting personage to close the 3rd quarter of this list! [TG:18,EoA:5,WK:4,RF:3,JT:15,MD:1,LR:1,UT:4,H12:2=53pts,15indx.pgs]
glossary:
*=as in CT's indexing in UT (ie. characters not appearing in Hobbit/LotR/AdvTB/Sil)
@=guest at Bilbo’s Farewell Party
(f)=female (n)=neutral
POINTS - for ENTRIES:
TG=
Tolkien Gateway,
EoA=
Encyclopedia of Arda,
WK=Wikipedia,
RF=Robert Foster’s
Complete Guide to Middle-earth,
JT=J.E.A. Tyler’s
Tolkien Companion,
DD=David Day’s
A-Z of Tolkien; for INDICES:
LR=
Lord of the Rings,
SL=
Silmarillion,
UT=
Unfinished Tales,
HX=
History of Middle-earth Vol.X,
LT=
Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien,
HC=Humphrey Carpenter’s
Biography,
JG=John Garth’s
Tolkien and the Great War,
JR=John Rateliff’s
History of The Hobbit,
DK=Douglas Kane’s
Arda Reconstructed; for both ENTRIES & INDICES:
MD=Michael Drout’s
Tolkien Encyclopedia; for NAME-LISTS:
CoH=
Children of Húrin,
B1 or
B2=the ‘Qenya & Gnomish Lexicons’ from
Book of Lost Tales Vols.1&2,
FoG=the ‘Fall of Gondolin’ from BoLT Vol.2,
LoE=the ‘Line of Elros’ tree & list from UT; MISC:
HoF=votes from the
Hall of Fire thread that initiated this project + a composite of selected favourite character lists.