[lindil]

Some of the decline may have been due to
* intermarrying, but who were they to marry [besides other Dunedain?] Breelanders? The culture's would have been very different in most cases. Other than the breelanders, the only Men north of Rohan we hear about are dunlendings [hillybilly breelanders more or less - they were both descended from the 'free edain ' of old, not from the numenoreans, and some scattered fisherman on the tip of one of the rivers.

We are never told of ANY population centers with non-Dunedain in the north other than Bree. I imagine Tharbad was a 'greater-Bree' in it's day. A meeting place for couriers North and South, the civilized Dunlanders, the remote fisherman, etc. Tharbad would have been, as long as 'Arnor' maintained it, the 'face' of the north kingdoms to the outside world.

*The Witch King - an heir of isildur [presumably having or knowing of the ring], was an especial reason for targeting the north kingdom. That and hatred of Elrond/Rivendell. This constant low-level warfare for how many hundreds of years? Kept a tap on the vigor of Arthedain and Cardolan. Who did remain allies w/ Rivendell and the Havens.

*Colder, harder lands populate more slowly than the bright sunny south!

As for who would [from Gondor] want to repopulate the North?

2nd sons of nobility who would not become minor Lords in their own right in the South spring immediately to mind.

Do not discount the fascination for the southerners that the mysterious homes of High King Aragorn and Queen Arwen would have had. Not too mention fascination with the Shire, Rivendell etc. In short Gondorians would have learned they [and Rohan] were NOT the only 'civilized' Men left.


So I think the days of hope, expansion, etc after the fall of Sauron would have fueled repopulated Arnor, for a while...

And what better way to get the attention of the new king than to volunteer to repopulate Arnor?