Home

Arthedain

Arthedain was a northern kingdom in Eriador, one of the successor realms of Arnor in Middle-earth. It was established in the Third Age by the line of Isildur after Arnor fractured into Arthedain, Cardolan, and Rhudaur, and it remained the principal northern realm for much of that era.

Its capital was Fornost in the Weather Hills; Annúminas, the ancient capital of Arnor, lay nearby and

Arthedain’s borders touched Cardolan to the south and Rhudaur to the east, with Angmar pressing from the

Legacy: The memory of Arthedain persisted in Dúnedain tradition and in the lineage of leaders who guided

retained
ceremonial
significance.
The
realm
was
ruled
by
a
line
of
kings
beginning
with
Argeleb
I,
and
its
last
king
was
Arvedui,
who
perished
in
exile
after
Arthedain’s
fall.
north.
The
Witch-king’s
realm
of
Angmar
invaded
the
lands,
and
Fornost
was
eventually
captured.
Arvedui
died
in
the
north,
marking
the
end
of
Arthedain
as
an
independent
kingdom.
The
surviving
Dúnedain
continued
as
the
Rangers
of
the
North,
guarding
Eriador
for
generations.
the
Rangers.
Its
history
contributed
to
the
northern
heritage
that
underpinned
the
later
Reunited
Kingdom
under
Aragorn.
The
ruins
of
Fornost
and
Annúminas
remain
as
tangible
markers
of
the
northern
realm’s
once-great
polity.