Minalcar, the 18th King of Gondor, had chief concern with the Northmen. These had increased greatly in the peace brought by the power of Gondor, and the Kings showed them favour, for they were nearest in kin of lesser Men to the Dunedain, and gave them great lands beyond Anduin south of Greenwood the Great(Mirkwood).

However, it was known that the Northmen were not true to Gondor, and they would join up with the Easterlings, and attack Gondor. Therefore, Minalcar set out with a great force and defeated the Easterlings.

On his return Minalcar fortified the west shore of Anduin and forbade any stranger to pass down beyond the Emyn Muil. But he needed men, and wishing to strengthen the bonds with the Northmen, took many of them into his service.

Minalcar showed special favour towards Vidugavia, who had aided him in the war. Therefore, he sent his son Valacar to learn the customs and language of the Northmen, However, Valacar married Vidumavi, daughter of Vidugavia, and from this marriage later came the Kin-strife. For the high men of Gondor looked askance at the Northmen, and there was rebellion before Valacar grew old. They were unwilling to accept his son, Eldacar, to ascend the throne, because he had been born in the North and had been given the name Vinitharya, a name of his mother’s people.

Therefore when Eldacar succeeded the throne there was war in Gondor. In that war the palantir of Osgiliath was lost, and the Dome of Osgiliath destroyed. Eldacar came to his kinsfolk in Rhovanion, and many Northmen and men of the Dunedain came to him.

Castamir, Eldacar’s usurper, had taken over the throne. Therefore, Eldacar led a great army out of the North, and there was battle in Lebennin at the Crossings of Erui, and much blood was shed. However, Castamir’s sons escaped, and set up their city at Umbar, which remained out of control of the Kings.

After the return of Eldacar the blood of the kingly house and other houses of the Dunedain became mingled with that of lesser men. For many of the people of Gondor were slain, and the people of Gondor were replenished by numbers of people from Rhovanion.

Eldarion