Highlights
- Gondor, the great and long-lasting realm of Men, faced decline and destruction during the War of the One Ring, but its loyalty and resilience allowed it to rise up once again.
- After the war, Gondor faced the loss of Boromir and the tragic fate of Denethor, leaving Faramir to become Prince of Ithilien and the captain of the King’s guard.
- The return of Aragorn marked a new direction for Gondor, as he claimed the throne and united Gondor and Arnor, creating the Reunited Kingdom and bringing hope and stability to both kingdoms.
Men in Lord of the Rings inhabit many different kingdoms in Middle-earth. Among these lands stands the Kingdom of Gondor, the greatest and one of the longest-lasting realms of Men, known for its strategic location, history, and the resilience of its people. After Númenor fell to ashes, Gondor was born, and throughout the centuries it survived countless wars, disease, and conflicts. Located in the western part of Middle-earth, Gondor is bordered by Rohan, Harad, the Cape of Andrast, the Sea, and Mordor, an extremely well-connected and important position in troubled times. It served as a key location during the War of the One Ring, but what happened to the once great kingdom when the war was over?
Gondor is not only an essential place within the Lord of the Rings narrative and setting to many of the most memorable scenes in the trilogy, but it is also home to multiple characters, most notably brothers Boromir and Faramir, their father and Steward Denethor II, and Prince Imrahil. But just like its inhabitants, Gondor went through many ups and downs, and the journey ahead of the kingdom after the end of the War of the One Ring was not without its hurdles.
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Gondor Before the War of the One Ring
During its golden age, the Kingdom of Gondor was a great and prosperous land of Men, marked by incredible cities, wealth, a proud and diverse population, and a heritage that traced back to the lost realm of Númenor.
Gondor Quick Facts:
- Founded by Isildur and Anarion following their exile from Numenor.
- The city of Osgiliath served as its capital, but it was later changed to Minas Tirith
- Gondor faced a long period of decline after being struck by plagues, enemy invasions, and other conflicts
- Gondor was a kingdom without a king, instead ruled by 30 generations of Stewards
At the time of the events of Lord of the Rings, Gondor was still facing a gradual decline, but it stood a strong resistance against the forces of Sauron. Boromir and Faramir led the Gondorian forces in the Battle of Osgiliath, after which Sauron’s army took control of the city, leading to the Siege of Gondor and the Battle of Pelennor Fields. After the Great Gate was breached by the Dark Lord’s forces, Gondor was severely destroyed, but its forces managed to prevent a further invasion with the help of the Rohirrim. Aragorn then led a smaller army to the Black Gate of Mordor to distract Sauron from Frodo and Sam, who were close to destroying the One Ring. After the Hobbits succeeded and Sauron was defeated, the war was over, and the Third Age came to an end.
The Men of Gondor are mostly descendants of the exiled Númenóreans who settled in the strategic location, and they continued the traditions of the great fallen kingdom, although over the centuries they mixed with the Men of Middle-earth. As Faramir states in Tolkien’s The Two Towers book,
We are truth-speakers, we men of Gondor. We boast seldom, and then perform, or die in the attempt. “Not if I found it on the highway would I take it,” I said. Even if I were such a man as to desire this thing, and even though I knew not clearly what this thing was when I spoke, still I should take those words as a vow, and be held by them.
While Gondor underwent many hardships throughout history and no longer had its former glory at the time Tolkien’s trilogy began, it proved itself to be able to rise up time and time again. The loyalty, resilience, and other values of the Gondorians played an essential role in shaping the fate of their kingdom after the war.
What Happened to Gondor After the War of the One Ring?
The War of the One Ring, although successful in the quest of defeating Sauron and destroying the Ring, left a lasting impact on Gondor. The kingdom paid a great price for the victory in the war and faced death, tragedy, and destruction. Some of the losses and challenges the people of Gondor suffered included the death of Boromir, the brave and noble son of Denethor II, Steward of Gondor at the time of the war. Like his son, Denethor also met a tragic fate. This left the kingdom in the hands of Faramir, the Steward’s youngest son. However, Faramir had a different plan in mind and stepped down from his role as Steward. He became Prince of Ithilien and served as the captain of the King’s guard.
Perhaps the most important change in Gondor after the war was the return of Aragorn, who rightfully claimed the throne and was crowned King Elessar of Gondor and Arnor, which marked the end of the Stewardship and set Gondor’s fate in a new direction, opening the door to a promising future. As Aragorn said on the day of his coronation:
This day does not belong to one man, but to all. Let us together rebuild this world that we may share in the days of peace.
During his reign, the alliance between Gondor and Rohan was renewed, and both armies fought alongside each other against the Haradrim and the Easterlings. Aragorn re-founded Gondor and united it with its sister kingdom Arnor once again, creating the Reunited Kingdom. This was a crucial moment for both kingdoms, as they had been divided for many years, and this unity was not only a symbol of hope for its people, but also brought a stronger and more stable front in the event of any future conflicts.
As the Third Age came to an end and the Fourth Age started following Aragorn’s coronation, Gondor began its reconstruction. The Fourth Age is also known as the Age of Men, and focused on Men taking center stage and ruling their land after the Elves’ departure from Middle-earth. Under Aragorn’s leadership, Gondor revived its former power and prestige. Aragorn and his people dedicated their time to rebuilding the kingdom and its cities from the ground up, eventually restoring the kingdom’s former power, wealth, glory, and solidifying its legacy as the greatest Kingdom of Men in Lord of the Rings.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is one of the most iconic names in entertainment. The franchise started with novels from J. R. R. Tolkien before being adapted onto the big screen by Peter Jackson in one of the most critically-acclaimed film trilogies of all time. There have also been numerous The Lord of the Rings video games of varying quality.
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