Please Help me Understand Gondor Stewardship and Kingship

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Cirion's decision was realpolitik. He granted Calenardhon to Eorl because he could not hold it. Better to gain fealty from an ally than have the land overrun by Easterlings. Cirion's decision proved farsighted. It's certainly not something a Denethor II would have done.

Well, Cirion and Eorl does acknowledge that Cirion didn't make the offer solely from the goodness, of his heart; he did, though, genuinely have an affection for Eorl and his people, and wanted to give them some great reward.

I think Denethor might have done the same, though the potential benefit to Gondor would have been the driving factor.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Pelendur started this by rejecting Arvedui's claim to the throne for the far weaker one of General Earnil

Far weaker? Not at all. Earnil was a direct descendant of Anarion, which Arvedui wasn't. Note that while Arvedui's son theoretically might have claimed distaff descent via his mother, Arvedui could hardly do so in right of his wife. Besides, as far as mighty Gondor was concerned, Arvedui was already "last of a ragged house long bereft of lordship and dignity." It was probably seen as nearly as risible as some Holy Roman Emperor claiming the Byzantine throne.

When Earnil's son Earnur died without issue, matters had changed because apparently "descendants of Anarion" was now a null set. But by this time Arvedui was dead and Arnor no more.