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Timeline Event

Arvedui's claim to the crown of Gondor is rejected

Event Type: Political

Age: 3rd Age - The Kings

Date: September 1, 1944

Description:
'On the death of Ondoher and his sons, Arvedui of the North-kingdom claimed the crown of Gondor, as the direct descendant of Isildur, and as the husband of Fíriel, only surviving child of Ondoher. The claim was rejected. In this Pelendur, the Steward of King Ondoher, played the chief part.
'The Council of Gondor answered: "The crown and royalty of Gondor belongs solely to the heirs of Meneldil, son of Anárion, to whom Isildur relinquished this realm. In Gondor this heritage is reckoned through the sons only; and we have not heard that the law is otherwise in Arnor."
'To this Arvedui replied: "Elendil had two sons, of whom Isildur was the elder and the heir of his father. We have heard that the name of Elendil stands to this day at the head of the line of the Kings of Gondor, since he was accounted the high king of all the lands of the Dúnedain. While Elendil still lived, the conjoint rule in the South was committed to his sons; but when Elendil fell, Isildur departed to take up the high kingship of his father, and committed the rule in the South in like manner to the son of his brother. He did not relinquish his royalty in Gondor, nor intend that the realm of Elendil should be divided for ever.
'"Moreover, in Númenor of old the sceptre descended to the eldest child of the king, whether man or woman. It is true that the law has not been observed in the lands of exile ever troubled by war; but such was the law of our people, to which we now refer, seeing that the sons of Ondoher died childless."
To this Gondor made no answer.
RotK, Appendix A, I, iv, Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion

If the date of King Araphant's death (1964) was correct, then his son, Arvedui, claimed the Crown of Gondor when he was still a prince. However, this could be acceptable considering that Arvedui was claiming the throne using the reason that he was the husband of Firiel.

[Note: the date is arbitrarily selected to follow the deaths of Ondoher, King of Gondor, and his heirs.]

Contributors:
Lyllyn 7.22.03; Loquacious 12.13.03; added date estimate and note: Elena Tiriel 7.18.04

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