Cities of Gondor

[Maeglanthirion]

How many other cities of Gondor are there really and what is their significance? You only really hear about Minias Tirith and Osgiliath. Are the others like Minias Tirith: great fortresses? And does the King of Gondor reside in Minias Tirith along with it's Steward?

[Meela]

Dol Amroth is another significant city of Gondor. Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth came to Minas Tirith's aid at the Battle Of Pelennor.

Is Erech a city as well? I'm sure I saw it on the map. I was reading Return of the King just earlier... it listed the sites of the beacons, and I'm sure some of those were cities.

I don't know how many are great fortresses. Osgiliath and Minas Tirith appear to be the greatest fortresses. I don't know that much about Dol Amroth.

I'm looking at a map right now. I can see Erech, Edhellond, and Pelargir.

The King Of Gondor resides in the Citadel, in the seventh and uppermost ring of Minas Tirith. I assume the Steward lives nearby.

Found this:

'Gondor's territories included Anfalas, Belfalas and Lebennin (on the coast) and further inland, Lamedon, Tolfalas, Calenardhon, Anorien, Lossarnach and of course, Ithilien. Gondor had five cities of the first rank. Pelagir upon the Anduin and Dol Amroth; a great ancient citadel in Belfalas. Three other great cities were situated in central Gondor and were situated on the plains between Mordor and the White Mountains. In the East was Minas Ithil, 'Tower of the Moon', in the West Minas Anor, 'Tower of the Sun' and the capital of Gondor was Osgiliath, 'Citadel of the Stars.' It was built across the Anduin and joined by a stone bridge. During the WR Boromir had defended Osgiliath till his departure to Rivendell and Minas Ithil was taken by the enemy in 2002 and renamed Minas Morgul.'

Hope I've helped in some way smilies/smile.gif

[Maeglanthirion]

That helps, but if Osgiliath is the capital of Gondor, then why does the King reside in Minias Tirith? Safety?

[Selmo]

Osgiliath was partly destroyed and most of its people left during the terrible civil war of The Kin Strife. The city was completely abandoned, except by the Army, when Sauron's forces captured the eastern half.
I assume that King Elessar (Aragorn) would rebuild Osgiliath at the begining of the Fourth Age.

[Meela]

Osgiliath was never rebuilt after the war.

[Selmo]

Further to my last post re. Osgilliath:

The city was partly destroyed and its Palantir lost during the KIn-strife in Third Age 1437. The Royal Court presided over a half-empty city until TA 1640 when the King moved his throne to Minas Arnor after a plague further reduced the population.

Osgiliath slowly fell into ruins, hastened by the fall of Minas Ithil to the Nazgul in TA 2002 when Minas Ithil was renamed Minas Morgul and Minas Arnor renamed Minas Tirith.
It was finaly abandoned in TA 2475 when the eastern half of the city fell to The Ememy, five hundred years before the War of The Ring.