The Kingdom of Gondor is the greatest realm of Men in the west of Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age. It was founded by the Exiles of Númenor, led by Elendil, who established the Realms in Exile of Arnor and Gondor in S.A. 3320 (3127 years ago).
Summary
Main article: History of Gondor
Gondor was founded by the brothers Isildur and Anárion, exiles from the downfallen island kingdom of Númenor. Along with Arnor in the north, Gondor, the South-kingdom, served as a last stronghold of the Men of the West. After an early period of growth, Gondor gradually declined as the Third Age progressed, being continually weakened by internal strife, plague, and conflict with the allies of the Dark Lord Sauron. 956 years ago, the last king of Gondor, Eärnur, passed into Minas Morgul to answer the challenge of the Witch-king, and was never seen again. From that time onward, Gondor has been ruled by the Stewards in the kings' stead. The kingdom's principalities and fiefdoms still pay deference to the absent king by showing their loyalty to the Stewards of Gondor.
Regions
Gondor was divided between several nearly autonomous regions. These were the following:
- Andrast, the de-populated peninsula of Ras Morthil
- Anfalas, or the Langstrand, in the south-west
- Anórien, surrounding Minas Tirith and north of Ered Nimrais
- Belfalas, the peninsula jutting out from the southern coast of Gondor ruled by the Prince of Dol Amroth
- Ethir Anduin, the estuary of the River Anduin
- Ithilien, the lands across the Anduin from Minas Tirith
- Lamedon, north of the Ringló
- Lebennin, the land between Lossarnach and the Bay of Belfalas
- Lossarnach, in the mountain vales south-west of Minas Tirith
- Morthond, south of Erech
- Pinnath Gelin, the hills north of Anfalas and east of the river Lefnui
- Ringló Vale, between Lamedon and Belfalas
Additionally, Gondor held or had held the following regions at certain points in its history:
- South Gondor, which was contested between Gondor and the forces of Harad and Umbar
- Calenardhon, which was given to the Éothéod and became Rohan
- Enedwaith, the timberlands of Gondor (shared with Arnor), which were never really populated and soon abandoned
- Rhovanion, which was never fully under the control of Gondor but under Gondorian influence at certain times during the Third Age
- Haradwaith, tributary of Gondor for a while
Cities
Cities in Gondor included:
Architecture
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Architectural Epochs
The Tal-Elmar/Agar & Udul location is theoretical. It could also be near the site of Linhir or Ethir Anduin, before the Númenoreans settled in those regions.
Pelargir is founded, and various satellite settlements around it. Trade with Edhellond, encounters with the Men of the Mountains (dead men) and other Tall Men and such who lived in the area.
Notes
- Early cities would be founded around colonial centres/manor or palace complexes, nobles from Númenor’s old established mansions etc. from a pre-faithful time perhaps as well?
- Pelargir and Dol Amroth are said to have been founded as explicitly settlements by and for the Faithful after the dichotomy between King's Men and Faithful had emerged. The logging issue had taken place centuries earlier starting under Aldarion before the Rings of Power, and was a primary issue mainly in Enedwaith and Minhiriath.
- The settlers of Pelargir are explicitly said to have not interacted with the Men of the White Mountains for some years after the founding of the city, and when they did so it was friendly. It is doubted that enslavement or logging were thus of primary concern to the settlements in Gondor. It was primarily a Puritans/Pilgrims situation of religious persecution as well as political asylum, combined with a desire to dwell nearer to the Elves and a need to keep an eye on the doings of Sauron nearby.
- Tower complex in this period facing westward in their palaces (toward the holy mountain in Númenor)
- Palaces centred around logging or trade/enslavement would have grown towns around them.
- Good equivalent for Pelargir would be Boston; the Faithful founded the city due to persecution, but unlike Boston were backed by several great families from Númenor.
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