<P> This is a list of the ruling kings of Gondor, one of the realms in Middle - earth in the fantasy works of J.R.R. Tolkien . </P> <P> The kings of Gondor claimed descent through Amandil from the Lords of Andúnië, and from there to Silmariën and the Kings of Númenor . The line of Kings began with Elendil, who fled the downfall of Númenor with his sons Isildur and Anárion and established the twin realms - in - exile of Arnor and Gondor . For several hundred years after its foundation, Gondor was ruled by the High - King of both Arnor and Gondor, but after Isildur's death early in the Third Age, the connection between the two kingdoms was severed and Gondor was ruled independently of Arnor . The Line of Kings in Gondor continued through the descendants of Anárion for over two thousand years . Several calamities befell the house, such as the civil war of the Kin - Strife from TA 1432 to 1447 and the death of the King and his close family in the Great Plague of TA 1636 . In addition, through inter-marriage over several generations the Númenorean blood of the Kings of Gondor was mingled with that of lesser men of Middle - Earth . After King Ondoher and his two sons were slain in battle with the Wainriders, Arvedui (heir of the North Kingdom) claimed the throne of Gondor . Arvedui's claim rested on his descent from Isildur and his marriage to Fíriel, the only surviving child of Ondoher . His claim was rejected by Gondor, who elected instead Eärnil II, a male descendant of Telumehtar and victor over the Wainriders . The line of Kings finally came to an end in TA 2050 when the last King of Gondor, Eärnur son of Eärnil II, disappeared after riding to answer the challenges of the Witch - King in Minas Morgul . Thereafter Gondor was ruled by the Line of the Stewards until the return of King Aragorn II . </P> <P> Each king was a son of the previous king, unless otherwise indicated . </P>

What happened to the last king of gondor