ARAGORN is pivotal to The Lord of the Rings, and his right to the throne is a significant aspect of what makes The Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King film so engaging. Frodo and Gollum serve as the primary contrast within the core theme of the story, with Frodo embodying contentment in a natural and simple existence, while Gollum illustrates the troubling desire for eternal life, reminiscent of the same longing in Tolkien’s original antagonist, Morgoth. While the Hobbits represented the everyday expression of this theme, Aragorn’s kingship related to its sociopolitical implications.
Aragorn had a legitimate claim to the throne, but his desire for the crown was significantly fueled by Elrond’s ultimatum—that he could only wed Elrond’s daughter, Arwen, if he ascended to the kingship of Gondor and Arnor. This motivation was not entirely evident in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films. More than just a capable leader, Aragorn was inspired by a romance that traded immortality for a single, treasured lifetime.
Eärnur was the 33rd and last King of Gondor, reigning during a period when Arnor had not only been divided but also invaded and shattered. He vanished without a trace in the year 2050 of the Third Age. Eärnur was somewhat of a hothead among kings, favoring the battlefield over the court.
Aragorn was the legitimate king of Gondor and Arnor, hailing from the royal lineage, which had been marred by the mystery surrounding Eärnur’s disappearance years earlier. Elrond’s Royal sibling, Elros, was half-Elven, but when faced with the decision between mortality and immortality, he opted for mortality in the early Second Age. Elros became The Ruler of Númenor, and his royal lineage continued through Isildur and Anárion, who survived the downfall of Númenor to found the Realms in Exile, Gondor and Arnor.
Aragorn’s forebears were stripped of their kingdom due to Angmar’s Invasion. Quarreling nobility split Arnor into Arthedain, Rhudaur, and Cardolan in the year 861 of the Third Age. Isildur’s lineage diminished in Rhudaur and Cardolan but persisted in Arthedain. Arvedui was the 15th and last King of Arthedain, and the man who married Fíriel. He inherited a realm that was already in distress when Angmar invaded and conquered Rhudaur, Cardolan, and Arthedain, forcing Arvedui and his supporters to go into hiding. Arvedui perished at sea, but his son, Aranarth, survived.
Aranarth’s Son was sent to Rivendell for his upbringing, and this practice continued for the heirs of Isildur. Aragorn immersed himself in the knowledge and skills of the Elvish Eldar, equipping him for kingship. When he reached an appropriate age, Aragorn took it upon himself to journey through Middle-earth, meeting future allies and serving in armies to resist Sauron.
Aragorn demonstrated his capability to govern Gondor and Arnor; he didn’t merely assert a birthright. Arvedui had attempted to seize the throne many generations prior, with an equal claim, but was unsuccessful. While Aragorn possessed only slightly more land and wealth than Arvedui, he had an Elvish upbringing, a marriage on the line, and years of self-directed military experience.