Aragorn’s Full Ancestry: Easy Edition

Aragorn is rightfully one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s most popular characters and might be one of the most well-known personalities in modern fiction. His fame comes for a good reason. Aragorn personifies the masculine virtues more than almost any other character out there. However, he is also an incredibly complex character, standing in the center of thousands of years of history and geopolitics. Indeed, J.R.R. Tolkien’s entire body of work essentially tells one story: the story of a single extended family’s struggle against the two Dark Lords of Middle-Earth: Melkor/Morgoth and his successor Sauron. This family’s fight against the Dark Lords comes through three ages, thousands of years, and dozens of generations. Aragorn just happens to be the latest branch of the family tree, who comes at just the moment Sauron is poised to launch his last war against the now-weak Free Peoples of Middle-Earth. Yet, Sauron’s war also gives Aragorn the chance to restore the prestige of his family, and his pedigree is crucial to that quest. What is that heritage and why is it so important to the story in The Lord of the Rings? Here is Aragorn’s full ancestry, in several easily digestible lists.

Descent from Melian the Maia

Aragorn’s earliest ancestor on record is Melian the Maia, who was present at the creation of the world. She alone of all the spirits created by the supreme creator, Eru Illuvatar, married a terrestrial being, the Elf lord Thingol. Aragorn descends from Melian in the following line:

1. Melian the Maia.
2. Luthien, Melian’s daughter.
3. Dior, Luthien’s son.
4. Elwing, Dior’s daughter.

Descent from the Elves

Though a man, Aragorn’s distant ancestors were elves. The first of these immortal beings to awaken were the “Elf-fathers” and their wives. These were Imin and Iminye, Tata and Tatie, and Enel and Enelye. These three pairs of Elves would create the three elf clans: the Vanyar, the Noldor, and the Teleri, respectively. Aragorn descends from all three lines.

Descent from the Vanyar through Indis

The Vanyar were elves who left Middle-Earth for Valinor and, for the most part, never returned. Aragorn nevertheless descends from the Vanyar in two lines. The first is as follows:

1. Imin and Iminye
2. Their descendant Ilion.
3. Ilion’s unknown offspring.
4. Indis, second wife of Finwe.
5. Fingolfin, Indis’ son and High King of the Noldor in Middle-Earth.
6. Turgon, Fingolfin’s son.
7. Idril, Turgon’s daughter.
8. Earendil, Idril’s son.

Descent from the Vanyar through Idril

Elenwe, Turgon’s wife, was a Vanyar Elf. Aragorn descends from Elenwe through her daughter Idril and her son Earendil.

Descent from the Noldor

The Noldor left Middle-Earth for Valinor, but many of them returned in an event called The Exile of the Noldor after Melkor (who they called Morgoth) killed their King, Finwe, and stole the precious Silmaril jewels. As a result, they played a prominent role in Middle-Earth’s history. Aragorn descends from the exiles in an unbroken line:

1. Tata and Tatie.
2. Unknown generations of offspring.
3. Finwe, King of the Noldor.
4. Fingolfin, Finwe’s son.
5. Turgon Fingolfin’s second son and High King of the Noldor.
6. Idril, Turgon’s daughter.
7. Earendil, Idril’s son.

Descent from the Teleri through Thingol

Unlike the Vanyar and Noldor, the Teleri did not all complete the journey from Middle-Earth to Valinor. Aragorn descends from those who did not in two different lines, the most prominent being Thingol’s:

1. Enel and Enelye.
2. Unknown generations of offspring.
3. Thingol, King of Doriath.
4. Luthien, Thingol’s daughter.
5. Dior, Luthien’s son and King of Doriath after Thingol’s death.
6. Elwing, Dior’s daughter.

Descent from the Teleri through Elmo

Elmo was Thingol’s younger brother. Aragorn descends from Elmo through the following sequence:

1. Enel and Enelye.
2. Unknown generations of offspring.
3. Elmo.
4. Galadhon, Elmo’s son.
5. Galathil, Galadhon’s son.
6. Nimloth, Galadhil’s daughter.
7. Elwing, Nimloth’s daughter.

Descent from the Patriarchs of the High Men (Edain)

The rising of the sun marked the beginning of the First Age and with it, the awakening of men. A few centuries later, three clans of men, who the Elves called the Edain, met them in Beleriand, the westernmost part of Middle-Earth. These were the Beorians founded by Beor, Haleth or Haladin, founded by Haldad, and Hadorians, founded by Marach. As you might have guessed by now, Aragorn descends from all three patriarchs.

Descent from Beor through Baran

Aragorn descends from Beor three times through two lines. The first line of descent, through Baran, is as follows:

1. Beor
2. Baran, Beor’s oldest son.
3. Boron, Baran’s son.
4. Boromir, Boron’s son.
5. Bregor, Boromir’s son.
6. Bregolas, Bregor’s oldest son.
7. Belegund, Bregolas’ younger son.
8. Rian, Belegund’s daughter.
9. Tuor, Rian’s son.
10. Earendil, Tuor’s son.

The second line of descent through Baran goes like this:

1. Beor
2. Baran, Beor’s oldest son.
3. Boron, Baran’s son.
4. Boromir, Boron’s son.
5. Bregor, Boromir’s son.
6. Barahir, Bregor’s youngest son.
7. Beren Erchamion, Barahir’s son.
8. Dior, Beren’s son.
9. Elwing, Dior’s daughter.

Descent from Beor through Belen

Aragorn descends from Beor one more time in the following sequence:

1. Beor.
2. Belen, Beor’s youngest son.
3. Beldir, Belen’s son.
4. Belemir, Beldir’s son.
5. Beren, Belemir’s son.
6. Emeldir, Beren’s daughter.
7. Beren Erchamion, Emeldir’s son.
8. Dior, Beren’s son.
9. Elwing, Dior’s daughter.

Descent from Haldad

Haldad was the patriarch of the House of Haleth. Aragorn descends from him in one line.

1. Haldad.
2. Haldar, Haldad’s son.
3. Haldan, Haldar’s son.
4. Halmir, Haldan’s son.
5. Hareth, Haldan’s daughter.
6. Huor, Hareth’s son.
7. Tuor, Huor’s son.
8. Earendil, Tuor’s son.

Descent from Marach

Aragorn descends from Marach twice. The first line is as follows.

1. Marach.
2. Malach, Marach’s son.
3. Magor, Malach’s son.
4. Hathol, Magor’s son.
5. Hador, Hathol’s son.
6. Galdor, Hador’s son.
7. Huor, Galdor’s son.
8. Tuor, Huor’s son.
9. Earendil, Tuor’s son.

Aragorn’s ancestry to Marach in the second line goes like this:

1. Marach.
2. Malach, Marach’s son.
3. Adanel, Malach’s daughter.
4. Beren, Adanel’s son.
5. Emeldir, Beren’s daughter.
6. Beren Erchamion, Emeldir’s son.
7. Dior, Beren Erchamion’s son.
8. Elwing, Dior’s daughter.

Descent from Earendil and Elwing

Though this genealogy might be confusing you by now, there is one pattern you should have plainly made out. Whether through Melian, the three lines of elves, or the three lines of men, all roads lead to two people: Earendil, son of Tuor and Idril, and Elwing, daughter of Dior and Nimloth. Naturally, these two products of Maia, elves, and men marry each other, unifying all the branches of the family tree.

Also conveniently, for us at least, by the time of Earendil and Elwing’s marriage, Morgoth had conquered most of Beleriand and went on such a rampage that he wiped out all other branches of these royal lines. They and their twin children, Elrond and Elros, were the only survivors by the middle of the last century of the First Age.

Earendil and Elwing took a desperate voyage to Valinor and their selfless plea started the War of Wrath which overthrew Morgoth, leaving Elrond and Elros alone and with a choice. As these two were the products of both elves and men, they were given the choice of whether they should be counted as one or the other race. Elrond chose to be counted as an elf, but Elros chose to be a mortal man.

Thus ended the short but tumultuous First Age of Middle-Earth.

Descent from the Kings of Numenor

Elros’ choice led to the foundation of the island Kingdom of Numenor, the most powerful civilization of men seen in Tolkien’s world. As you might have figured out by now, Aragorn descends from Elros, who became the first King of Numenor. The initial ancestry is as follows:

1. Elros Tar-Minyatur, Earendil and Elwing’s son.
2. Tar-Vardamir, Elros’ son.
3. Tar-Amandil, Tar-Vardamir’s son.
4. Tar-Elendil, Tar-Amandil’s son.
5. Silmarien, Tar-Elendil’s daughter.

Descent from the Lords of Andunie

At this juncture, the Numenorean royal line branches off. Early in Numenor’s history, women could not inherit the throne, so Silmarien married a nobleman named Elatan and their descendants were given the title of Lord of Andunie, the westernmost region of Numenor. These nobles were the most powerful in the land after the King. Aragorn descends from this offshoot of Elros’ line in the following sequence:

1. Valandil, Elatan and Silmarien’s son.
2. 13 unnamed Lords of Andunie, all male.
3. Earendur, 15th Lord of Andunie.
4. Earendur’s son, 16th Lord of Andunie.
5. Numendil, 17th Lord of Andunie
6. Amandil, Numendil’s son.

Descent from Elendil

Amandil, the 18th and final Lord of Andunie, sailed west to Valinor to seek aid from the Valar against the shadow that had overtaken Numenor. It was an imitation of his distant ancestor Earendil. However, he was never heard from again. Before leaving, Amandil warned his son, Elendil (not to be confused with Tar-Elendil), to be prepared to depart Numenor at a moment’s notice. As a result, he, his two sons, and their small band of followers escaped the flood that destroyed the now-corrupt kingdom.

Elendil founded the Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor in Middle-Earth and proved a critical figure in the War of the Last Alliance that defeated Sauron. He paid with his life in the process. You probably remember that from the movies.

The Second Age was at an end, but Elendil’s legacy would last through the Third Age, as Aragorn descends from him twice.

Descent from Isildur and the Kings of Arnor

We now come to the part of Tolkien’s story you’re probably most familiar with. After Elendil’s death, Isildur became the High King of the Realms in Exile and cut the One Ring from Sauron’s finger. However, after the war, Isildur decided to take up his High Kingship in Arnor and entrusted the day-to-day rule in Gondor to his nephew Meneldil. On the way back, Isildur met disaster at the Gladden Fields. He and his three eldest sons were killed and The One Ring was lost. Aragorn descends from Isildur’s fourth son. The line to Aragorn through the Kings of Arnor is as follows:

1. Isildur, Elendil’s son.
2. Valandil, Isildur’s fourth son.
3. Eldacar, Valandil’s son.
4. Arantar, Eldacar’s son.
5. Tarcil, Arantar’s son.
6. Tarondor, Tarcil’s son.
7. Valandur, Tarondor’s son.
8. Elendur, Valandur’s son.
9. Earendur, Elendur’s son.

At this point, a succession dispute tore Arnor into three competing principalities, but the royal line continued through Arnor’s most legitimate successor state, Arthedain.

Descent from the Kings of Arthedain

1. Amlaith, Earendur’s eldest son.
2. Beleg, Amlaith’s son
3. Mallor, Beleg’s son.
4. Celepharn, Mallor’s son.
5. Celebrindor, Celepharn’s son.
6. Malvegil, Celebrindor’s son.
7. Argeleb I, Malvegil’s son.
8. Arveleg I, Argeleb I’s son.
9. Araphor, Arveleg I’s son.
10. Argeleb II, Araphor’s son.
11. Arvegil, Argeleb II’s son.
12. Arveleg II, Arvegil’s son.
13. Araval, Arveleg II’s son.
14. Araphant, Araval’s son.
15. Arvedui, Araphant’s son.

Descent from the Kings of Gondor

Aragorn is not only Isildur’s heir. In fact, this lineage was not even his strongest claim to Gondor’s throne. Go all the way back to Isildur and recall how we mentioned that he had a nephew? Recall how Elendil had another son who escaped Numenor’s downfall with him? This son was Anarion, who the movies did not mention. After Isildur’s death, the throne of Gondor passed exclusively through Anarion’s descendants.

Fortunately as you might have guessed by now, Aragorn descends from Anarion, too, representing the second line of descent from Elendil. He does so in the following line:

1. Anarion, Elendil’s son.
2. Meneldil, Anarion’s son.
3. Cemendur, Meneldil’s son.
4. Earendil, Cemendur’s son, not to be confused with THAT Earendil.
5. Anardil, Earendil’s son.
6. Ostoher, Anardil’s son.
7. Romendacil I (Tarostar), Ostoher’s son.
8. Turambar, Romendacil I’s son.
9. Atanatar I, Turambar’s son.
10. Siriondil, Atanatar I’s son.
11. Tarciryan, Sirondil’s younger son.
12. Earnil I, Tarciryan’s son.
13. Ciryandil, Earnil I’s son.
14. Hyarmendacil I, Ciryandil’s son.
15. Atanatar II, Hyarmendacil I’s son.
16. Calmacil, Atanatar II’s younger son.
17. Romandacil II (Minalcar), Calmacil’s son.
18. Valacar, Romandacil II’s son.
19. Eldacar, Valacar’s son.
20. Aldamir, Eldacar’s son.
21. Hyarmendacil II (Vinyarion), Aldamir’s son.
22. Mindardil, Hyarmendacil II’s son.
23. Minastan, Minardil’s younger son.
24. Tarondor, Minastan’s son.
25. Telumehtar Umbardacil, Tarondor’s son.
26. Narmacil II, Telumehtar Umbardacil’s son.
27. Calimehtar, Narmacil II’s son.
28. Ondoher, Calimehtar’s son.
29. Firiel, Ondoher’s daughter.

Descent from the Chieftains of the Dunedain

Much like Earendil and Elwindg millennia before, we have another marriage of convenience now. Arvedui, the last king in the line directly founded by Isildur, married Firiel. At that point, Aragorn’s lineage breaks off from the Kings of Gondor. After the deaths of Firiel’s father and brothers in battle, Arvedui attempted to claim the Crown of Gondor by asserting his wife’s rights and his own descent from Isildur, but the Gondorians rejected him and the crown passed to a more junior line of descent through Anarion.

Arvedui’s attempt would be futile in another way, as his Kingdom of Arthedain was destroyed by Angmar and its Witch King. His and Firiel’s heirs now lived as the chiefs of wandering exiles, the Rangers or Dunedain of the North.

As you probably guessed, we are finally closing in on Aragorn himself. The line of descent from the Chieftains of the Dunedain goes like so:

1. Aranarth, Arvedui and Firiel’s son.
2. Arahael, Aranarth’s son.
3. Aranuir, Arahael’s son.
4. Aravir, Aranuir’s son.
5. Aragorn I, Aravir’s son.
6. Araglas, Aragorn I’s son.
7. Arahad I, Araglas’ son.
8. Aragost, Arahad I’s son.
9. Aravorn, Aragost’s son.
10. Arahad II, Aravorn’s son.
11. Arassuil, Arahad II’s son.
12. Arathorn I, Arassuil’s son.
13. Argonui, Arathorn I’s son.
14. Arador, Argonui’s son.
15. Arathorn II, Arador’s son.
16. Aragorn II, Arathorn II’s son. This is our man, who later became King Elessar after Sauron and his ruling ring was destroyed, ending the Third Age.

Counting the Generations!

At long last, we have come to the end of Tolkien’s legendarium! Over how many generations was it told? To figure that out, it’s best to go through waypoints.

Aragorn is the 39th generational descendant of Isildur in direct male line. He descends from Anarion over 44 generations in the female line through Firiel. That would put him at 40 and 45 generations, respectively, to Elendil.

There are an additional 23 generations from Elendil to Elros, 18 through the Lords of Andunie and five through the Kings of Numenor. Aragorn is thus the 63rd generational descendant of Elros Tar-Minyatur through Isildur and 68th through Anarion.

From Elros to Melian is an additional four generations. That means that Aragorn descends from Melian over 67 generations through Isildur and 72 through Anarion.

From Elros to Imin and Iminye is at least an additional eight generations through his great-grandfather Turgon. That makes Aragorn the 71st and 76th generational descendant of the Vanyar’s founders through Isildur and Anarion respectively.

In the second line from Elros to Imin and Iminye through Elros’ great-grandmother Elenwe, there is at least an additional four generations, though the number is likely greater. Still, that means Aragorn again descends from the Vanyar’s founders, this time over 67 and 72 generations via Isildur and Anarion respectively.

From Elros to Tata and Tatie is at least an additional seven generations through his father Earendil. That means Aragorn descends from the Noldor’s founders over 70 and 75 generations through Isildur and Anarion respectively.

From Elros to Enel and Enelye is at least six more generations through his grandfather Dior. Which means Aragorn descends from Enel and Enelye over 69 and 74 generations through Isildur and Anarion respectively.

From Elros to Enel and Enelye in the second line is at least seven more generations through his grandmother Nimloth. That makes Aragorn the 70th and 75th generational descendants of the Teleri’s founders through Isildur and Anarion respectively.

From Elros to Beor is an additional 10 generations in the first line through his father Earendil, making Aragorn  the 73rd and 78th generational descendent of the founder of the House of Beor through Isildur and Anarion’s two branches.

From Elros to Beor in the second line, through his mother Elwing, is nine more generations. Aragorn thus descends again from Beor in 72 and 77 generations through Isildur and Anarion each.

From Elros to Beor in the third line, again through his mother Elwing, is yet again nine generations, so Aragorn again descends from Beor over 72 and 77 generations through Isildur and Anarion each.

From Elros to Haldad spans eight generations through his father Earendil. That means Aragorn descends from the founder of the House of Haleth through 71 and 76 generations through Isildur and Anarion respectively.

From Elros to Marach comes nine more generations through his father Earendil. That means Aragorn descends from the founder of the House of Hador over 72 and 77 generations through Isildur and Anarion’s respective lines.

From Elros to Marach in the second line is eight generations through his mother Elwing. Aragorn thus descends from Marach over 71 and 76 generations through Isildur and Anarion’s respective branches of the family tree.

Aragorn’s full ancestry is very, very rich indeed!

Conclusion: Why Aragorn’s Full Ancestry Matters

What a long, extensive history we have here! Why have I bothered to show you? First, I thought it would be an engaging exercise for me. Second, it’s a good subject for search engines and video (that will come shortly). Third and most importantly, it shows you just how detailed Tolkien was in creating his world.

In a critique of Amazon’s atrocious Rings of Power (which I went over here), I heard a Tolkien scholar mentioning that stories can’t be faked. One of the reasons why Tolkien’s world got so popular and means so much is certainly because of the fine details he created. He didn’t need to mention them all in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Indeed, the reason why the Silmarillion is the weakest of his works and was rejected by publishers is because it is an often dry recounting of these details.

Yet, those details mattered a lot in creating the world that his beloved works took place in. Why was Aragorn such a well-rounded and beloved character? Because he had deep motivations, which came precisely because of these details. Aragorn knew he was the sole heir to this long line. He had the duty to restore his family’s prominence and honor and the only way he could do that (and marry Arwen) was by defeating Sauron and becoming king. The details proved solid bedrock from which Tolkien could create an amazing character, and more besides.

So when you’re creating your world, don’t stint on the details. Trust me, everything matters. That is another reason why The Fall of the Fated Queen marks the maturity of my writing. The details it was built on, and will build in turn, matter. I did not stint or take shortcuts on them. It will soon enter the beta reading phase, but you can see the draft alpha chapters on my Patreon starting here. Please tell me what you think. And sign up for my email list here to stay up to date with all of my work.

Read Lives of the Luminaries in the meantime.

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