An encyclopedia of Middle-earth and Numenor
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An encyclopedia of Middle-earth and Numenor |
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Vital Statistics:Race:
Men
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Prince Imrahil tending Faramir by Anke-Katrin Eissmann (See the full-size picture) |
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Imrahil was the Prince of Dol Amroth during the War of the Ring. He ruled the great fiefdom of Belfalas in southern Gondor where the coastal city of Dol Amroth was located. It was said that the Princes of Dol Amroth were descended from Imrazor - a Man of Numenorean descent who lived in Belfalas - and Mithrellas - an Elf of Lothlorien who came to Belfalas with Nimrodel. After the line of Kings ended in the South, the Princes of Dol Amroth ruled Belfalas independently for the most part, though they remained loyal to the Stewards of Gondor.
Imrahil, son of Adrahil, was born in 2955 of the Third Age. He had a noble bearing and was tall with dark hair and sea-grey eyes. Imrahil had two older sisters: Ivriniel and Finduilas, who married Denethor, the Steward of Gondor and bore him two sons, Boromir and Faramir. The name of Imrahil's wife is not known. He had four children: Elphir born in 2987, Erchirion born in 2990, Amrothos born in 2994, and Lothiriel born in 2999. Imrahil became the twenty-second Prince of Dol Amroth on the death of his father in 3010.
During the War of the Ring on March 9, 3019, Prince Imrahil led a company of Knights and 700 men at arms to Minas Tirith to help defend the City. When the forces of Sauron overran the Pelennor Fields on March 13, Prince Imrahil led the sortie that rode to the aid of Faramir and the rear-guard who were retreating from Osgiliath. With them rode Gandalf, and the Winged Nazgul fled before him. Faramir was struck by a dart and the Haradrim would have slain him, but the Knights of Dol Amroth drove them away. Imrahil drew the arrow from Faramir's body and staunched the wound, and then he carried his nephew back to the City on his horse. Denethor retreated to the White Tower with his son and would not come down, so Gandalf took command of the besieged city and Prince Imrahil assisted him.
At the Battle of the Pelennor Fields on March 15, Imrahil saw the procession bearing the body of King Theoden of Rohan and he dismounted to pay his respects. Then Imrahil noticed that the Rohirrim also bore the body of Eowyn of Rohan, but the Prince perceived that she was still alive and he sent a man to the City for help.
Imrahil then rode into battle, and he came to the aid of Eomer and his Riders, who were outnumbered and hard pressed. Then Aragorn arrived in the ships of the Corsairs and the tide of the battle was turned. When no foes remained alive on the Pelennor, Aragorn, Eomer and Imrahil rode to the Gate of Minas Tirith.
Aragorn did not want to enter the City without the permission of the Steward. Imrahil recognized that Aragorn was the rightful King, but he agreed that it was wise to wait because he knew his kinsman Denethor was strong-willed and proud. But when Imrahil learned that Denethor was dead and Faramir was gravely ill, he suggested that Aragorn, the rightful ruler, be summoned. Aragorn came at Gandalf's request to heal Faramir, Eowyn and Merry, but he declared that Prince Imrahil should rule the City until Faramir awoke.
On March 16, Prince Imrahil attended the debate of the Captains of the West. Gandalf counselled that victory could only be achieved by the destruction of the One Ring and he proposed that they march to the Black Gate to distract Sauron's attention from Frodo the Ring-bearer. Imrahil said that he would follow his liege Aragorn, but since Minas Tirith was under his command the Prince advised that some should remain to defend the City. In the end it was decided that an army 7,000 would ride forth. Then Imrahil laughed and said:
"Surely this is the greatest jest in all the history of Gondor: that we should ride with seven thousands, scarce as many as the vanguard of its army in the days of its power, to assail the mountains and the impenetrable gate of the Black Land! So might a child threaten a mail-clad knight with a bow of string and green willow!"The Host of the West left Minas Tirith on March 18. Imrhail suggested that they first attack Minas Morgul, but Gandalf did not want to risk drawing attention to the route that Frodo had taken into Mordor. As they marched north, the heralds announced their coming, and Imrahil told them proclaim Aragorn as King Elessar. When Saruon's forces emerged from the Black Gate on March 25, Imrahil stood on the front line with his men. They fought the Battle of the Morannon until the Ring was destroyed and the realm of Sauron fell.
The Return of the King: "The Last Debate," p. 158
Prince Imrahil attended the celebrations honoring Frodo and Sam at the Field of Cormallen on April 8. On May 1, the Prince witnessed the coronation of his liege Aragorn, King Elessar. Imrahil rode with the funeral procession of King Theoden to Rohan and he remained in Edoras after the King's burial on August 10. Imrahil and Eomer became great friends. In the last year of the Third Age, Eomer wed Imrahil's daughter Lothiriel.
After the War of the Ring, Prince Imrahil and Faramir were King Elessar's chief commanders. As one of the Lords of the Fiefs, Imrahil was also part of the Great Council of Gondor who advised the King on matters of importance to the realm.
Prince Imrahil died in the year 34 of the Fourth Age.* He was succeeded by his eldest son Elphir.
Third Age:
2955
Birth of Imrahil.
2976
Imrahil's sister Finduilas marries
Denethor, heir to the Steward of Gondor.
2987
Birth of Imrahil's son and heir
Elphir.
2990
Birth of Imrahil's second son Erchirion.
2994
Birth of Imrahil's third son Amrothos.
2999
Birth of Imrahil's daughter Lothiriel.
3010
Death of Imrahil's father Adrahil.
Imrahil becomes the 22nd Prince of Dol Amroth.
3017
Birth of Imrahil's grandson Alphros,
son of Elphir.
3019
March 9: Imrahil and his
Knights arrive in Minas Tirith.
March 13: Imrahil leads a
sortie to aid Faramir's retreat. He finds Faramir gravely wounded and brings
him back to Minas Tirith.
March 15: Battle of the Pelennor
Fields. Imrahil realizes Eowyn is still alive. Imrahil meets his liege,
Aragorn.
March 16: Imrahil attends
the debate of the Captains of the West.
March 18: The Host of the
West leaves Minas Tirith for the Black Gate.
March 25: The Host of the
West battles the forces of Sauron at the Black Gate until the Ring is destroyed
and Sauron's realm falls.
April 8: Imrahil attends the celebration on the Field of Cormallen.
May 1: Imrahil attends the coronation of King Elessar.
July 22: Imrahil leaves Minas Tirith with the funeral procession of King Theoden.
August 10: Imrahil attends the funeral of King Theoden.
3021
Imrahil's daughter Lothiriel weds
King Eomer of Rohan.
Fourth Age:
34
Death of Imrahil.
Note:
This Fourth Age date is calculated
according to the New Reckoning of Gondor. According to the reckoning used
in the Shire, Imrahil's date of death would be 33 F.A.
Imrahil:
The name Imrahil is of the
Adunaic language of Numenor. Its meaning is not known.
Prince of
Dol Amroth / Lord of Dol Amroth:
Imrahil was the twenty-second Prince
of Dol Amroth. He was also called Lord of Dol Amroth.
Imrahil
the fair:
Imrahil was called "the fair" most
likely because of his noble demeanor and his Numenorean and Elvish blood.
Family tree of Prince Imrahil:
Genealogy source:
The History
of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs
of Elendil - The Line of Dol Amroth," p. 221-23
The Return
of the King: "Minas Tirith," 22, 43-44
"The Siege
of Gondor," p. 90, 93-94, 98, 102
"The Battle
of the Pelennor Fields," p. 118, 120-24
"The Pyre
of Denethor," p. 127, 131
"The Houses
of Healing," 137-40, 142, 147
"The Last
Debate," p. 148-49; 154-58
"The Black
Gate Opens," p. 160-61, 164-65, 168
"The Field
of Cormallen," p. 231, 233
"The Steward
and the King," p. 243-44
"Many Partings,"
p. 254, 256
Appendix E of The Lord of the Rings: "Writing and Spelling," p. 391
Unfinished Tales: "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields - Appendix: Numenorean Linear Measures," p. 286
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil - The Line of Dol Amroth," p. 220-24
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter #244
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