Chieftain of the Dunedain

Chieftain of the Dúnedain, also called Lord of the Dúnedain, was a title taken by the Heirs of ISILDUR after the loss of the Kingdom of ARTHEDAIN; sixteen lords of Men, from ARANARTH (elder son of ARVEDUI, last KING OF ARTHEDAIN) to Aragorn II today. The title is hereditary.
The title was created following the final destruction of Arthedain in TA 1974 by the WITCH-KING OF ANGMAR. The heir to the throne of Arthedain, Aranarth son of Arvedui, chose in TA 1976 not to claim the kingship, and instead ruled the remnants of his people as Chieftain. The Chieftains were raised in Rivendell, where the heirlooms of the House of Isildur were also kept.
They were descendants of Isildur through the Kings of Arthedain and ANARION through FIRIEL. The Chieftains continued to take the kingly prefix of ar(a)-, to signify their royal heritage and their right to rule Arnor. When the HOUSE OF ANARION failed, the Chieftains considered themselves the heirs of Anárion through their ancestor Fíriel; as such they regarded themselves as the rightful heirs to the thrones of both Arnor and Gondor.
The Dunedain of Arnor became known as the Rangers of the North, a wandering people living in secret. Due to the destruction of Angmar, and the WATCHFUL PEACE, which followed after the Wizard Gandalf, the Grey and his investigation of Dol Gulder drove Sauron temporarily into the East, there was little evil in Eriador and attacks by the enemy were few and far between.
It is notable that most of the Chieftains lived their full life-span, and their longevity did not decrease as quickly as that of the Men of Gondor.
Aragorn II became the last Chieftain of the Dúnedain when he claimed the title of High King of the Reunited Kingdom.

Type

Nobility, Hereditary

Source of Authority

Heir of Isildur of Arnor

Related Locations

• Eriador

Related Organizations

• Rangers of the North