Isildur

In J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, Isildur is a Dúnadan of Númenor, elder son of Elendil. He is (briefly) the second king of Gondor and Arnor. His name probably means "devoted to the moon".

Related Topics:
J. R. R. Tolkien - Middle-earth - Dúnadan - Númenor - Elendil - Gondor - Arnor - Moon

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Isildur is born in the year 3220 of the Second Age in Númenor as first son of Elendil son of Amandil, the last Lord of Andúnie. He has a younger brother Anárion. Isildur has four sons: Elendur, Aratan, Ciryon, and Valandil.

Related Topics:
Second Age - Amandil - Andúnie - Anárion - Elendur - Valandil

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In his youth, Isildur steals a fruit of Nimloth before it is cut down, preserving the line of the White Tree, and later plants a seedling in the city of Minas Anor.

Related Topics:
Nimloth - White Tree - Minas Anor

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Isildur together with his father and brother are saved from the Downfall of Númenor when they flee for Middle-earth. Isildur and Anárion land in the south and establish the realm of Gondor, and their father lands in the north, founding the realm of Arnor.

Related Topics:
Gondor - Arnor

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Isildur lives on the east bank of the Anduin and establishes the city of Minas Ithil (which would later be named Minas Morgul), as well as the province of Ithilien. However, in 3428 Sauron takes Minas Ithil, and Isildur flees down the Anduin, then northwest to Gil-gilad in Lindon and his father in Arnor, leaving Anárion to rule over Gondor.

Related Topics:
Anduin - Minas Ithil - Ithilien - Sauron

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He returns with his father and the Elven High King Gil-galad in the Last Alliance of Elves and Men in 3434. His father and brother are killed as is Gil-galad, but Isildur takes the hilt shard of his father's sword Narsil, which had broken beneath Elendil in the combat with Sauron, and cuts the One Ring from Sauron's finger, destroying Sauron's physical form and winning the war.

Related Topics:
Elven - Gil-galad - Last Alliance of Elves and Men - Narsil - The One Ring

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Despite the advice of Elrond and Círdan, lieutenant of Gil-galad, he does not destroy the Ring, instead claiming it as an heirloom for his House.

Related Topics:
Elrond - Círdan

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After the fall of Sauron, Isildur leaves Meneldil, son of his brother Anárion, in charge of Gondor, and returns north to Arnor with his three sons. His fourth son Valandil had stayed behind in Rivendell. At the Gladden Fields, Isildur is ambushed by roaming Orcs, and due to the Ring's treachery he is killed, losing the Ring in the Anduin.

Related Topics:
Meneldil - Anárion - Arnor - Valandil - Rivendell - Gladden Fields - Orc - Anduin

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He is the last king to rule both Gondor and Arnor until King Elessar reunites the Kingdom in the Fourth Age.

Related Topics:
King Elessar - Fourth Age

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In the riddling rhyme "Seek for the Sword that was Broken" the Ring is referred to cryptically as Isildur's Bane.

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