Kings of Gondor
 

Forgive me if this is a simple question..I'm pretty familiar with Tolkien-lore, but this particular question of mine has not been answered..I believe that Eärnur was the last King of Gondor before the stewards and then the reign of Aragorn..what was the reason of such a long absence from having a King?

[ January 27, 2003: Message edited by: JenFramp ]

Your Answer
Also i think it has to do with Aragorn being the long lost King, having not returned for so long.

Earnur, the last king of Gondor, disapeared into Minas Morgul in the year TA 2050 and Mardil, steward to Earnur, took over the government as the first Ruling Steward.

Earnur had no direct heir, but he had several very distant relatives who could have claimed the throne. Some time earlier, in TA 1432, there had been a devastating civil war in Gondor over the succession and Mardil wanted to avoid the same thing happening again. At first, he took power as a temporary measure, using the fact that there was no evidence that Earnur was dead as an excuse. By the time it became obvious that the King was not coming back, Mardil was firmly entrenched.

Civil war had been avoided and the office of Ruling Steward had become accepted, "to rule in the name of the King, until he should come again". No-one believed that anyone would ever appear with a legitimate claim. When Aragorn amde his claim almost a thousand years later, it was a complete surprise.

All these details can be found in the Appendices at the end of The Return of the King.

[ January 27, 2003: Message edited by: Selmo ]

aah..ok...so...was aragorn a direct descendent?

Aragorn was a direct descendant of not only Isildur of the elder line of Elendil but also of Onodher (through his daughter Firiel who married Arvedui,) the last king before a new line was set up with Earnil. So he is descended rom both Isidlir and Anarion.

Aragorn was a direct descendant of Isildur and Anarion but not of Earnur, the last King of Gondor before Aragorn.
Earnur had no descendants.

oooooooooh....i get it ok