Arthedain was one of the three kingdoms of Middle-earth that resulted from the breakup of Arnor during the Third Age.
History
During the reign of Eärendur his sons were in open discord, which erupted into civil war after Eärendur's death in TA 861. Amlaith, the true heir to the throne of Arnor, was opposed by his two brothers. Unable to resolve the situation, he was reduced to ruling the region of Arthedain, which consisted approximately of the lands west of the Brandywine River and north of the Great East Road. (His brothers created the kingdoms of Cardolan and Rhudaur to the south.)
The kingdom's capital was at Fornost, and Bree was one of its most important towns. Annúminas was in the territory of Arthedain, but mostly abandoned and falling into ruin.
In TA 1300 the kingdom of Angmar appeared at Arthedain's north-eastern border. Its King was the chief of the Ringwraiths, although this was not known to the Dúnedain. When this new threat came Cardolan placed itself under the suzerainty of Arthedain, which then began to call itself Arnor again. Cardolan repeatedly sent aid to Arthedain when needed but by TA 1409 Cardolan and Rhudaur were conquered by Angmar.
Arthedain kept up the resistance against Angmar for over 500 years but in TA 1974 Arthedain was overrun and Fornost fell into the hands of Angmar. It fell just one year too soon for help was underway from Gondor under the lead of Eärnur. This army reached Arthedain in TA 1975 and destroyed Angmar at the Battle of Fornost.
Fornost, Arthedain's capital city
Its last King, Arvedui, drowned just before the battle was fought. The kings of Arthedain were also the lords of The Shire and the Shire chose the Thain to replace the kings.
The son of Arvedui, Aranarth decided not to rebuild the kingdom and so became the first Chieftain of the Dúnedain. From him Aragorn is descended.[1]
Etymology
Arthedain was a Sindarin word that meant 'Realm of the Edain'.[1]
See also
Translation around the World
| Foreign Language | Translated name |
|---|---|
| Belarusian | Артедайн |
| Bulgarian | Арведуи |
| Russian | Артэдайн |
| Serbian | Артхедаин (Cyrillic) |
| Urdu | ارٹہیداان |
| Yiddish | אַרטהעדאַין |
| Amon Ereb • Forest of Brethil • Dor-lómin • Eriador • Estolad • Ladros | |
| Arnor • Dunland • Gondor • Haradwaith • Númenor • Rhûn • Umbar | |
| Arnor (later split into Arthedain, Cardolan, and Rhudaur) • Rohan • Dale • Dunland • Lake-town (later part of the kingdom of Dale) • Gondor • Haradwaith • Khand • Rhovanion • Rhûn • Umbar • Vales of Anduin | |
| Dale • Haradwaith • Núrn • Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor • Rohan • Rhûn • Khand • Eriador • Vales of Anduin | |
