Founder of Gondor – Isildur and Anarion – Aragorn’s lineage
Isildur and Anarion were brothers born to Elendil, the High King of the Northern Kingdom Arnor and the Southern Kingdom of Gondor.
Arnor and Gondor were founded on Middle Earth as the island kingdom of Numenor sank to the abyss by the wrath of Iluvatar(the All-Might and Divine Being) and the Valars(god-like beings of Legendarium).
Anarion would rule Gondor from Minas Anor that would later become Minas Tirith while Isildur would rule Gondor from Minas Ithil(Minas Ithil would be calle Minas Morgul after it was captured by Sauron and the Witch-King of Angmar).
To honor the first kings of Gondor and the brothers Anarion and Isildur, the Aragonath, the massive stone pillar statues of Anarion and Isildur on the lakes at the border of Gondor were builit.
Aragorn was the heir of both Isildur and Anarion as he was a descendant of the prince of Arthedain(A descending kingdom of Arnor) and the princess of Gondor by an arranged marriage.
This marriage was completed after a long time since Gonndor was founded so it isn’t incestuous. Thus by blood right, Aragorn was the rightful king of Gondor, the still existing Southern Kingdom and Arnor the perished Northern Kingdom.
Life of Isildur, the heir of the High King of Gondor and Arnor
Isildur was born on the island kingdom of Numenor, the most powerful human kingdom during the Second Age of Middle Earth. Isildur was the brother of Anarion, another founder of Gondor and Isildur was the eldest son of Elendil, the leader who led the Numenoreans still faithful to the Valars.
Before the downfall of Numenor, Sauron deceived the king of Numenor Ar Pharazon and Ar Pharazon declared war against the Valars and attempted to invade Valinor.
After Ar Pharazon and the majority of Numenor were in the frenzy of war against the Valars, Elendil planned on the evacuation of Numenoreans to Middle Earth.
Isildur would steal and secure a seed of the White Tree of Numenor that would become the symbol of Gondor proving its heritage of Numenor. While Isildur’s father Elendil would sail to Eriador, Isildur and his brother Anarion would sail south when Numenor sank to the abyss.
Anarion and Isildur together would found the Southern Kingdom of Exile Numenor Gondor while Elendil found the Northern Kingdom of Exile Numenor Arnor.
Isildur would rule Gondor together with Anarion while they served their father Elendil as the High King of both kingdoms Arnor and Gondor.
During the final battle of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men against Sauron, the battle of the Dagorlad plains, Sauron murdered the Noldor elf king Gil-Galad and Elendil, the High King of Arnor and Gondor.
However, Isildur cut off Sauron’s finger that wielded the One Ring with a broken shard of his father’s sword Narsil.
Despite the imploration of elf lords Cirdan and Elrond, Isildur claimed the One Ring instead of destroying it as compensation for the sacrifice of his father Elendil and his brother Anarion.
As the new High-King of Arnor and Gondor, Isildur headed to Arnor but he was slayed at the Gladden Fields and lost the One Ring.
Why was Sauron destroyed when Isildur cut off the One Ring off Sauron’s finger
Sauron also lost his body during the downfall of Numenor as the waves and tides caused by the wrath of Iluvatar the Divine being of the Legendarium. Sauron could barely form a physical form and body by the powers of the One Ring as Sauron forged parts of his soul into the One Ring.
Thus, Sauron could only maintain his body with the One Ring. Sauron was thus destroyed when Isildur cut off his finger with the One Ring.
Why wasn’t Sauron completely destroyed by Isildur
Sauron forged the One ring at Mount Doom or Orodruin while he infused parts of his soul as well. Even when Sauron’s body was destroyed and sunk together with Numenor, parts of Sauron’s soul was infused inside the One Ring so Sauron could never be destroyed unless the One Ring was destroyed.
Also, Sauron used to be a Maia(Maiar) before he served his master Melkor(Morgoth).
A Maia is an angel-like being with supernatural powers and technically was an immortal by birth. Thus, Sauron, although weak could still dwell on Middle Earth and Sauron secretly restored power and plotted his return waiting and searching for the return of the One Ring.
Why Isildur couldn’t’ resist the temptation of the One Ring
Many may blame Isildur for not destroying the One Ring, however the temptation of the One Ring was too strong for even the elf lords and Maias(angel-like beings). Gandalf after realizing the existence of the One Ring refused to even gaze at the One Ring as he feared the temptation of the One Ring.
Galadriel also had to suffer from the ‘test of the One Ring’ when Frodo simply offered to hand over the One Ring to her. Saruman eventually was possessed by the desire to take the One Ring and corrupted.
The One Ring would constantly remind its bearer of its greatest desire and eventually consume the ring bearer. The One Ring had its own will as it contained the soul and fragments of Sauron to corrupt its bearer and eventually return to its original creator and master Sauron.
Thus, Isildur wasn’t weak nor simply evil that he ignored Elrond and Cirdan’s advice but the One Ring was simply too powerful for even a Numenor human Isildur. It was impossible to simply resist the temptation of the One Ring.
Why was the royal bloodline of Gondor cut off and ruled by Stewards?
The Witch King of Angmar took down the three kingdoms that descended from Arnor. Also, the Witch King of Angmar lured the 33rd king of Gondor Earnur to a trap and Earnur went missing.
Most of Middle Earth believed that the royal bloodline of Gondor and Arnor were both lost and the Age of the Ruling Stewards of Gondor began.
However, the heir of both Anarion and Isildur, Aranarth from Arthedain, a kingdom that derived from Arnor survived. Aranarth would become the first Chieftain of the Dunedain that would inherit the legacy of Numenor, Arnor and Gondor.
The Dunedain would also become known as the Rangers of the North. The royal bloodline of Gondor and Arnor would be kept in secret by Elrond as he would adopt the heirs and taught them in Rivendell.
Why no one knew Aragorn was the heir of the king of Gondor and Arnor – Isildur’s Heir
The survival of the bloodline of Anarion and Isildur was kept a top secret and the descendants of Aranarth including Aragorn would be secretly raised and educated by Elrond at Rivendell.
Thus, throughout the whole series of Lord of the Rings, the secret of Aragorn as the heir of Isildur and the king of Gondor and Arnor surprised many including Sauron as all believed the heritage of Numenor and the royal bloodline of Arnor and Gondor were lost.
Why the movie neglected Anarion, Isildur’s brother
Aragorn was the rightful king of Gondor, not only as he was a descendant of Isildur, but also as he was the descendant of Anarion. Anarion and Isildur joint ruled Gondor, however it was much more complicated to explain this to the viewers of the movie Lord of the Rings and the majority of the public.
Also, even though Isildur never reached the throne of Arnor, Isildur was the heir as the High King of both Gondor and Arnor after the death of Elendil.
Thus, to make Lord of the Rings much public friendly and as Isildur’s lineage was the orthodox rightful High King for both Gondor and Arnor, the stories of Anarion weren’t revealed in the movie Lord of the Rings.
