[SpaceWeavil]

I have a question. I’m working on my challenge story, which is all revolving around the Last Alliance, and so have been scouring the books I have to get any information I can. One thing that I have noticed. Isildur died in the second year of the third age, right? At Gladden Fields. His only surviving son was still at Rivendell at that time, but was only a child (hence his not going to the Last Alliance like the other three). He assumed the throne of Arnor in the year 10 T.A. as far as I can make out from the tale of years.

What I want to check is this delay between Isildur’s death and Valandil’s assuming the throne. Now, assuming he had to be at least 7 years old at the beginning of the third age (since Isildur had been off fighting for 7 years at Barad-dúr), I would think they were waiting for him to become old enough, i.e. at least about 17 or 18, before he took the throne. So who would have been in charge of Arnor in the meantime? Would it have been Anárion’s son, ruling both Gondor and Arnor until his cousin was old enough?

I just want to make sure I get my facts straight, so would appreciate any help

[KhazarKhum]

What typically happens is that the boy's mother acts as his regent until he is old enough to assume power.

[sindohte]

Here's some info that I found in The Peoples of Middle Earth related to Valandil. He was born in the year 3430 of the Second Age. The Second Age ended in 3441, which would have made 11 years old at that time. He then takes over the throne in the year 10 of the Third Age, when he was 21 years old.

Khazar is correct that a child's mother would typically rule in her son's place until he came of age. However, since Valandil was living in Imladris as a child, one would presume that his mother was living there with him as well. It would seem likely that Meneldil would have become king in the interim. However when Valandil came of age, his cousin retained control of the kingdom of Gondor, while Valandil assumed control of Arnor. Then there is the whole hoohah with the Gondorian line dying out with the death of Earnur and the line of Stewards assuming control until Aragorn reunites the two kingdoms.

The point of sharing all of this information (besides boring the crap out of you) is to lay the groundwork for my assertation that Meneldil would have ruled until Valandil was old enough. Because if Isildur's wife had served as regent, she would have turned over control of both Gondor and Arnor to her son upon his majority. The fact that this split in the line of kins took place says to me that Cousin M got a mite bit greedy and figured that he would keep one of the kingdoms for himself.

[SpaceWeavil]

I was thinking along the lines of Meneldil as well, rather than the mother. See, I knew that the mother becoming regent happened occasionally in this country, but with Gondor / Arnor it’s a different matter, as you said, since you already have a king there. That was my initial plan, to have Meneldil take over for a while, but then it occurred that since I don’t own all the HoME books yet, I should really check.

Another question though – don’t suppose Isildur’s wife is actually named at all? So far in Unfinished Tales I found the other three sons, but that’s it.

Thanks all for your help in this, btw. It is much appreciated.

[sindohte]

I didn't see anything about Isildur's wife. Only his four sons were listed. However I did find some speculations about the history of Mrs. Isildur by Michael Martinez. You might find this article to be useful - http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/tolkien/26794

[SpaceWeavil]