The Fantasy Review’s brief history of Elendil.
Known as Elendil the Tall and Elendil the Fair, was a great mariner from Númenor. His history is one of great significance in Middle-earth.
Elf-friend – The Faithful of Númenor
Born in 3119 SA (Second Age), Elendil’s father was Amandil, leader of the Faithful and last Lord of Andúnië. He had dark hair, grey eyes, and grew to be 7’11” tall (2.41 m).
Elendil was the leader of the Faithful of Númenor, also called the Elendili, (Quenya for elf-friends). He fled Númenor with his sons, Isildur and Anárion, and a small number of the Faithful on nine boats before Ar-Pharazôn sailed for the Undying Lands, leading his people to their doom.
The Faithful also took with them the palantíri, seeing stones, made by the Ñoldor in Eldamar, probably by Fëanor himself.
After the Fall of Númenor, The Faithful settled in Middle-earth, and Elendil founded the Kingdom of Arnor, becoming the first High King of Arnor and Gondor.
His descendants became the last in the bloodline that began with Elros, and ruled those lands for many years. They are also the ancestors of Aragorn.
“Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come.
In this place I will abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world.”
The Last Alliance
Elendil led his men alongside Gil-galad and Elrond, and with his sword, Narsil, in the War of the Last Alliance. There, they defeated Sauron, with Elendil dealing the killing blow, but both Elendil and Gil-galad were slain at the Siege of Barad-dûr, on the slopes of Orodruin.
Elendil died in 3441 SA, at the age of 322. He had ruled as High King of the Dúnedain for 121 years.
After his death, his son, Isildur, became the High King of Arnor and Gondor, but because he could not part with the One Ring he had taken from Sauron, he met with a similar tragic fate.
