Chapter One
In an age long before our own reckoning, a great realm ruled over vast amounts of territory. Much of this territory is unknown to the Shire, for our cartographers seldom venture so far from home. This fact alone illustrates how mighty this kingdom truly was, in its own day. For certain, it stretched for many thousands of miles from every point of the compass. Arnor, otherwise the North Kingdom, it was called. This was opposed to the South Kingdom, Gondor, which rarely features in our own books.
Arnor was a kingdom of the Big Folk; those thought to have been descendants of the lost island of Westernesse across the sea in the far west. Today, the name ‘Eriador’ describes the former territories of this lost realm. Those who had once ruled this mighty island settled upon our own land, establishing their own realms and building their own fortresses. They became kings and lords, claiming the right to rule over all natives of their newfound land. Such was their ultimate domination that the ancient and vast woodlands, untouched for thousands of years, were lost. These folk of the Westernesse, often called the Ship-kings, were legendary for their great fleets. Much of their power came from naval supremacy, the likes of which required wood – and plenty of it. The natural beauty of the world was soon lost, to be replaced by stone towers and cities.
The Kings of the North Kingdom of Arnor and the South Kingdom of Gondor are thought to descend from the same lineage, with the division of these ancient realms coming as a result of a divided inheritance. Whilst thought to be close in alliance and friendship in the very early days, the two kingdoms eventually drifted apart. Both had their own concerns; likely in the form of war. There was also a great distance, thousands of miles, between them. In time, perhaps, North and South simply forgot one another.
The capital of the North Kingdom, Annúminas, sat upon the Lake Evendim. The Brandywine River, of our own Shire, flows north from the sea into this very lake. Now thought to be ruined and submerged in the great lake, the capital was the jewel of the realm in its day. Tales speak of the great palaces and spires of the city, of the bustling maritime trade, and of the grand tombs of deceased kings. This was the residence of the King and his counsellors, where all the business of government took place. The Sceptre of Annúminas, a rod in which the authority of the king was vested in ancient times, also rested in the city. Although many tales speak of the Sceptre, it is thought now to be long lost.
There were ten Kings of Arnor, each possessing absolute authority over their realm. Although counselled by the many lords of the realm, the king’s word was law. The last king was Eärendur, whose death in some eight hundred years before our reckoning heralded the end of Arnor as a united kingdom. It might be assumed that this was due to a lack of successors; those male heirs who continue the lineage on. On the contrary, in Eärendur’s case, he was in excess of successors. Upon Eärendur’s death, his three sons, those princes of the realm, each claimed his throne.
These rival claimants, Amlaith and his two younger brothers, soon took up arms against each other. The bloody civil war that followed resulted in the division of Arnor: into Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur. Arthedain, founded by Amlaith, was the greatest of these three splinter-realms. The true royal line of Arnor, Amlaith being Eärendur’s rightful heir, was continued only in Arthedain. In time, the royal line would fail in both Cardolan and Rhudaur.
Arnor, the North Kingdom, thereafter became known as the Lost Realm. Mighty and undefeated for thousands of years, it was torn asunder by the squabbling ambitions of three sons as soon as its last king, their father, had died. This account now follows the realm of Arthedain; those claiming descent of King Amlaith, the rightful yet denied King of Arnor.
