Eärnur of Gondor

Like his father Eärnil II, Eärnur was a superb seaman and Warrior. Unlike his predecessor, though, Earnur proved to be a poor ruler. His love for contests and battle outweighed any feeling for effectively governing his people, and his proud, selfish nature prevented him from marrying and giving Gondor an heir. Earnur ruled Gondor as the thirty-third King (T.A. 2043-50). He was the last of Anarion's line and the last monarch of the South Kingdom. The era of the Ruling Stewards followed his short reign. Then, after the crowning of Aragorn II as King Elessar, the Kingdoms in Exile were reunited and the same High-king ruled both Gondor and Arnor. While heir to the throne, Eärnur commanded the Dúnadan army that embarked from Pelargir in T.A. 1974 in order to assist King Arvedui of Arthedain to withstand the impending attack from Angmar. Although he arrived too late to save the North Kingdom from being overrun by the Witch-king's minions, he did lead his soldiers to victory over the Angmarrim. His Knights broke the flank of the enemy at the Battle of Fornost (T.A. 1975), and Prince Eärnur foolishly chased the fleeing Nazgûl-lord. His horse reared, however, when the Witch-king turned to engage him, and the Prince no longer held any advantage in the impending melee. Only the intervention of the Elf-lord Glorfindel saved him. The Ringwraith rode off, deserting his defeated kingdom and swearing revenge.

The Witch-king's opportunity came in T.A. 2043, upon the death of King Eärnil II and the ascension of Eärnur as the monarch in Gondor. Hoping to slay his old adversary and continue the pressure against the South Kingdom that began with taking of Minas Ithil in T.A. 2002, the Chieftain of the Ringwraiths issued an open challenge to Eärnur to duel, but the Steward Mardil restrained the fiery nature of the new King. Eärnur reluctantly refused the offer, and the Witch-king proclaimed the Dúnadan monarch a coward. Fortunately, Mardil's care tempered Eärnur's pride, for the King's second realized that it would be easier to reclaim Minas Ithil by force of arms. The crowning of Eärnur coincided with the renaming of Minas Anor as Minas Tirith. The change embodied the new King's resolve, for he hoped to drive the Witch-king from Ithilien. Unfortunately, the Ringwraith's host proved too well entrenched and patience began to wear on Eärnur's mind. Rashness and pride gradually supplanted his reason. When the Witch-king called him both faint-hearted and feeble in T.A. 2050, thereby renewing the challenge, Mardil failed to dissuade the Gondorian monarch from riding to his doom. Earnur gathered some Knights and rode to Minas Ithil (Minas Morgul). There, he accepted combat with the Lord of the Nazgûl, losing the duel, his life, and his compatriots. Heirless, he left Gondor without a King. The bereaved Mardil became the first in the line of Ruling Stewards.