How Is Aragorn Related to Isildur?
Aragorn II Elessar is known as the Heir of Isildur and the rightful Heir of Gondor. He would be the Heir of Arnor, as well, but he only restored the Kingdom upon taking the crown. However, Isildur lived thousands of years before Aragorn, and the line that connected them is quite clear. So, how is Aragorn related to Isildur?
Aragorn is the 39th Heir of Isildur, related to him through direct bloodline stemming from Isildur’s son, Valandil – the only son that survived the Disaster of Gladden Fields. The bloodline went in unbroken succession from father to son.
However, some Kings of Arnor didn’t have any sons, so their nephews took over the throne. On other occasions, Kings were killed, so their brothers would take over the throne. If they had no brother, cousins took the crown. But, the heirloom of the Gondor crown passed on through generations directly from father to son, leading all the way to Aragorn II.
Who Is Aragorn?
Aragorn II Elessar was the child of Arathor II, known as the last Heir of both Isildur and his brother Anarion. When Aragorn was only two years old, his father was killed by an arrow to the eye tracking down Orcs.
The child was taken in by Elrond and raised in Rivendell among the Elves. Aragorn’s mother asked for the child’s identity and lineage to be kept a secret as any heir of Isildur would be a threat to Sauron – therefore, a target. Elrond renamed Aragorn into Estel and didn’t tell him about his heritage until he found him ready when he was 20 years old.
As it turned out, Aragorn was the rightful heir to the throne of both Gondor and Arnor, but he kept his heritage and identity a secret still. He worked as a ranger and protected a small community called the Shire – the home of the hobbits.
While working as a ranger, Aragorn was known as Strider. Upon meeting Gandalf and falling in love with his future wife, Arwen, Aragorn played a vital role in defeating the Dark Lord Sauron once and for all and helping Frodo destroy the One Ring.
He then took his rightful place on the throne and reunited the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor. It was kind of odd to me that Aragorn was the last heir of Isildur alive, but when you put the pieces together, it all makes sense. Here’s how Aragorn II Elessar came to be the final heir of Isildur and descendant of Elendil, the founder of Gondor and Arnor.
How Are Aragorn and Isildur Related?
Aragorn’s father, Arathorn II, was a direct descendant of Arvedui (whose heritage leads back to Elendil), who wedded Firiel. In contrast, she descended from Anarion, Isildur’s brother, and bore their son Aranarth, also Aragorn’s ancestor.
It’s a lot to digest, so in simple terms – Aragorn is the last descendant of both Isildur, and Anarion, making his heirloom to the throne twice as strong.
Aragorn II Elessar is the 39th heir of Isildur. As I mentioned, sometimes the Kings of Arnor died, and their cousins took the throne, while sometimes they didn’t have sons, so their nephews took over. For instance, Earnil I inherited the throne as the nephew of Falastur. The bloodline remained the same, but it wasn’t straight like in Aragorn’s case.
I’ve compiled the complete list of Isildur’s heirs leading to Aragorn. The number in the brackets shows the age at which they died, while the adjacent number suggests when they lived. S.A. means the Second Age, while T.A. stands for Third Age. F.O. is the Fourth Age, which started with Aragorn’s claim of the crown. Here’s the list:
- Elendil (322) 3119 S.A – 3441 S.A.
- Isildur (245) 3209 S.A. – 2 T.A.
- Valandil (260) 3430 S.A. – 249 T.A.; ruled from 10 – 249
- Eldacar (252) 87 – 339; ruled from 249 – 339
- Arantar (250) 185 – 435; ruled from 339 to 435
- Tarcil (235) 280 – 515; ruled from 435 – 515
- Tarondor (230) 372 – 602; ruled from 515 – 602
- Valandur (190) 462 – 652; ruled from 602 – 652
- Elendur (225) 552 – 777; ruled from 652 – 777
- Eärendur (221) – 640 – 861; ruled from 777 – 861
- Amlaith (220) 726 – 946; ruled Arthedain from 861 – 946
- Beleg (218) 811 – 1029; ruled from 946 – 1029
- Mallor (215) 895 – 1110; ruled from 1029 – 1110
- Celepharn (212) 979 – 1191; ruled from 1110 – 1191
- Celebrindor (210) 1062 – 1272; ruled from 1191 – 1272
- Malvegil (205) 1144 – 1349; ruled from 1272 – 1349
- Argeleb (130) -; ruled from 1349 – 1356
- Arveleg (180) 1309 – 1409; ruled from 1356 – 1409
- Araphor (198) 1391 – 1589; ruled from 1409 – 1589
- Argeleb ll (197) 1473 – 1670; ruled from 1589 – 1670
- Arvegil (190) 1553 – 1743; ruled from 1670 – 1743
- Arveleg ll (180) 1633 – 1813; ruled from 1743 – 1813
- Araval (180) 1711 – 1891; ruled from 1813 – 1891
- Araphant (175) – 1789 – 1964; ruled from 1891 – 1964
- Arvedui (110) 1864 – 1974; ruled from 1964 – 1974
- Aranarth (166) – The first Chieftain. 1938 – 2106
- Arahael (165) 2012 – 2177
- Aranuir (163) 2084 – 2247
- Aravir (163) 2156 – 2319
- Aragorn l (100) 2227 – 2327
- Araglas (159) 2296 – 2455
- Arahad l (158) 2365 – 2523
- Aragost (157) 2431 – 2588
- Aravorn (157) 2497 – 2654
- Arahad ll (156) 2563 – 2719
- Arassuil (156) 2628 – 2784
- Arathorn l (155) 2693 – 2848
- Argonui (155) 2757 – 2912
- Arador (110) 2820 – 2930
- Arathorn ll (60) 2873 – 2933
- Aragorn ll (210) T.A. 2931 – F.O. 120
How Many Years Are There Between Isildur and Aragorn?
There have been 3163 years between the birth of Isildur and the Birth of Aragorn II Elessar. If you start counting after Isildur’s death, there are 2929 years between him and his 39th heir.
In normal human age, there would be many more generations between them. Still, due to the prolonged life of the Dunedain, only 39 descendants share the title of the Heir of Isildur, despite 3000 years passing from his first heir, Valandil, to the last, Aragorn II.
