Aragorn is central to movie so compelling. Frodo and Gollum provided the central contrast within Lord of the Rings' key theme, with Frodo representing contentedness with a natural and simple life and Gollum representing the problematic thirst for life everlasting, an echo of the same thirst in Tolkien's original villain, Morgoth. But while the Hobbits communicated the civilian manifestation of this theme, Aragorn's kingship concerned its sociopolitical application.

Aragorn had a valid claim to the throne, but he was heavily motivated to claim the crown by Elrond's ultimatum - that Aragorn could only marry Elrond's daughter, Arwen, if he became king of Gondor and Arnor. This motivation wasn't totally clear in the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings movies. Not just a competent leader, Aragorn was driven by a romance that sacrificed immortality for one precious lifetime. Aragorn also succeeded in ensuring the life-extending One Ring's destruction where his ancestor, Isildur, had clung to the ring. Aragorn respected natural life as a selfless ruler, but he struggled to get there.

Gondor's Last King Before Aragorn & Why The Stewards Took Over

Eärnur Disappeared Without An Heir

Eärnur was the 33rd and final King of Gondor, ruling at a time when Arnor had already been not just subdivided but invaded and broken, and he disappeared without a trace in the year 2050 of the Third Age. Eärnur was something of a hot-head as far as kings went, preferring the battlefield to the court. Eärnur had faced ongoing strife with the realm of Angmar, led by the Witch-king, one of Sauron's powerful Ringwraiths. It was the Witch-king's smart but cruel appeal to Eärnur's honor and ego that killed Eärnur.

The Witch-king summoned Eärnur to a single-combat duel, which Eärnur accepted despite the warnings of the Stewards of Gondor, which was essentially his cabinet. Leaving his crown on the lap of his father in the Houses of the Dead, Eärnur left with a small troupe for Minas Morgul and was never seen again. The Stewards of Gondor started ruling, as was the law, but no king was elected because Eärnur's death was hard to prove, and he had no heir. Plus, those with claims to the throne weren't keen to provoke more civil war, which was a big part of Gondor's history.

Aragorn's Connection To Isildur & Claim To The Throne Explained

Aragorn Is Isildur's Descendant

Aragorn was the rightful king of Gondor and Arnor, descended from the royal line, but this line had been struck by the confusion of Eärnur's disappearance years ago. Elrond's royal brother, Elros, was half-Elven, but given the choice between mortality and immortality, chose mortality back in the early Second Age. Elros became the king of Númenor and his royal line descended to Isildur and Anárion, who escaped the fall of Númenor to establish the Realms in Exile, Gondor and Arnor. Anárion's line ended in Eärnur, although this wasn't clear for many years, as he had gone missing.

Legally, Aragorn's claim to the throne couldn't have been stronger.

This was just the male line, though - the line that ensures kingship. A woman of Anárion's line, Fíriel, married someone of Isildur's line in the Third Age. Aragorn was descended from this union of both Isildur and Anárion's lines, but was a direct descendant of Isildur's male line, making him the only rightful king of Gondor and Arnor by the time of the events of The Lord of the Rings. His claim was stronger even than if he was just Isildur's heir - he was also the closest thing Anárion had to an heir. Legally, Aragorn's claim to the throne couldn't have been stronger.

How Aragorn's Ancestors Became Rangers Of The North

Aragorn's Ancestors Were Dispossessed

Aragorn's ancestors were dispossessed of their realm by Angmar's invasion. Squabbling royalty divided Arnor into Arthedain, Rhudaur, and Cardolan in the year 861 of the Third Age. Isildur's line faded in Rhudaur and Cardolan but survived in Arthedain. Arvedui was the 15th and final King of Arthedain, and the man Fíriel married. He inherited a kingdom that was struggling already when Angmar invaded and overtook Rhudaur, Cardolan, and Arthedain, forcing Arveduir and his followers to hide. Arvedui died at sea but his son, Aranarth, survived.

Arnor's allies eventually recaptured the territory from Angmar, but the realm was left shattered, leaving the remnants of its people scattered, wandering, and secretive. Having been known as the Dúnedain for a long time, it was around this time that Aragorn's people began to resemble the nomadic race known from The Lord of the Rings movies. The remnants of Arnor's Dúnedain were the Rangers of the North, with Aranarth inheriting leadership, which ed to Aragorn. The Rangers of the North were led by true royalty but had no land or riches, contrasting the Ruling Stewards of Gondor.

Aragorn Sought Experience & Knowledge As A Ranger, Making Him A Better King

Aragorn Earned His Crown In The Lord of The Rings

Aragorn proved his ability to rule Gondor and Arnor, he didn't just claim a birthright. Arvedui had tried to claim the throne many generations before Aragorn, having equal claim to it, but failed. Aragorn had barely more land and wealth than Arvedui, but he had an Elvish upbringing, a marriage at stake, and self-imposed years of military experience. As one of Lord of the Rings' most powerful characters, Aragorn was compelled to claim the throne and earned the knowledge and experience to do so fairly.

Aranarth's son was sent to Rivendell to be raised, and this tradition was continued for heirs of Isildur. Aragorn absorbed the lore and expertise of the Elvish Eldar, preparing him for kingship. When he was of a suitable age, Aragorn took it upon himself to travel Middle-earth, getting to know future allies and serving in armies to oppose Sauron. He really proved himself as a member of the Fellowship, winning the Battle of the Pelennor in The Lord of the Rings so that the Stewards of Gondor couldn't possibly deny his suitability to claim the throne, as was his right.