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Of Thegns and Kings and Rangers and Things - Page 7

© Michael Martinez

Therefore, a distinction between captain and chieftain, if it exists, supplies an entirely new meaning to Faramir's speech to the people of Gondor before Minas Tirith, when Aragorn formally presents his claim to the throne to the people of the South-kingdom:

'Men of Gondor hear now the Steward of this Realm! Behold! one has come to claim the kingship again at last. Here is Aragorn son of Arathorn, chieftain of the Dúnedain of Arnor, Captain of the Host of the West, bearer of the Star of the North, wielder of the Sword Reforged, victorious in battle, whose hands bring healing, the Elfstone, Elessar of the line of Valandil, Isildur's son, Elendil's son of Númenor. Shall he be king and enter into the City and dwell there?'

Now, it's entirely reasonable to argue that Aragorn's title of Chieftain of the Dunedain of Arnor means nothing more than that he is the leader of the northern Dunedain. When Elrond introduces Aragorn to Boromir, the Lord of Rivendell says, "He is the Chief of the Dúnedain in the North, and few are now left of that folk". But Aragorn's claim to the kingship of Gondor may have been asserted as one of a successful captain in war. Another question readers often ask is why none of Aragorn's ancestors ever tried to claim the throne of Gondor. Arvedui tried to claim the throne, of course, but his claim was rejected by the Council of Gondor. Since Arvedui had asserted his claim as the Heir of Isildur, no Heir of Isildur would ever again be able to claim the throne of Gondor. Aragorn's claim was asserted as the Heir of Elendil. When Boromir confided in Elrond's Council about Gondor's troubles, Aragorn asked him, "Do you wish for the House of Elendil to return to the land of Gondor?" When the Company of the Ring debated what course of action they should take, Aragorn was thrown into doubt. "His own plan," the narrative tells the reader, "while Gandalf remained with them, had been to go with Boromir, and with his sword help to deliver Gondor. For he believed that the message of the dreams was a summons, and that the hour had come at last when the heir of Elendil should come forth and strive with Sauron for the mastery." When Galadriel gave the green Elfstone to Aragorn in Lorien, she told him, "In this hour take the name that was foretold for you, Elessar, the Elfstone of the house of Elendil!" He called himself "the heir of Isildur Elendil's son of Gondor" when he introduced himself formally to Eomer, who in turned recognized Aragorn as "the heir of Elendil". When Aragorn revealed himself to Sauron, he somehow conveyed the knowledge to Sauron that he was Elendil's heir (probably by showing Sauron Anduril).

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