Minas Tirith – Minas Anor
Minas Tirith means “Tower of the Guard” and it used to be called Minas Anor which means the “Tower of the Sun”. Minas Anor was the main city where Anarion, one of the founders of Gondor, resided.
Isildur was Anarion’s brother while technically Isildur became the last High King of Arnor and Gondor the house of Anarion became the royal bloodline of Gondor.
Aragorn inherits both Anarion and Isildur’s blood. Minas Anor or Minas Tirith became the capital of Gondor after various events such as the kinstrife of Gondor and the Great Plague. Gondor’s previous capital was Osgilaith.
After Mordor and Sauron started to threaten Gondor, Minas Anor’s name was changed to Minas Tirith as Gondor’s will to fight against Sauron.
Minas Tirith was a natural fortress where its walls were built with Numenor masonry with numerous walls, layers and countermeasures for defense with the White Mountains at the back.
Minas Tirith had a great food supply from the Pelennor Fields and a great water source from the Anduin River. Also, the walls of Rammas Echor defended the Pelennor Fields that made Minas Tirith almost invincible.
White Tower of Minas Tirith
The Tower of Ecthelion or the White Tower of Minas Tirith was the tower that stood up on the summit of Minas Tirith.
First built by Ecthelion 1st, the White Tower of Ecthelion became a symbol of Minas Tirith that stood above the Court of the Foutain where the White Tree of Gondor used to grow.
White Tree of Gondor
The White Tree of Gondor was the symbol of Gondor and the symbol of the royalty of Gondor as well. There were several White trees of Gondor that all derived from the White Tree that Isildur stole from the White Tree of Numenor Nimloth.
The first White Tree of Minas Tirith was planted by Isildur as Isildur planted this tree in memories of his brother Anarion who died during the wars of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men against Sauron.
However, this also died later on during the Great Plague. Another White Tree of Minas Tirith was planted but also died during the periods of the ruling stewards.
The White Tree of Minas Tirith was put in the Tombs of Kings while the dead tree stood alone in Court of the Fountain while it relentlessly waited for the return of the king.
Gandalf and Pippin’s arrival at Minas Tirith
Gandalf and Pippin arrive at Minas Tirith and heads the Tower of Ecthelion to meet Denethor 2nd, the ruling steward of Gondor, the father of Borormir and Faramir.
Life of Denethor II – Ruling Steward of Gondor
Denethor 2nd was the 26th Ruling Steward of Gondor and the son of Ecthelion 2nd the 25th steward. Denethor 2nd married Finduilas, the princess of Dol Amroth and he was the father of Faramir and Boromir
During his father Ecthelion 2nd’s reign, Denethor 2nd met Aragorn who was under the alias Thorongil. Aragorn, as the name Thorongil successfully drove off the attacks of the pirates(corsairs) of Umbar.
Aragorn earned great respect from the people of Gondor and Ecthelion 2nd, however Denethor 2nd became jealous of Aragorn and even disliked Gandalf who was a close friend of Gandalf.
Nevertheless, Denethor 2nd was a fair leader and Gondor was prosperous under his leadership. However…
Pippin – Guard of the Citadel of Gondor
Gandalf informs Pippin to remain quiet in front of Denethor 2nd especially of the death of Boromir, the eldest and most favorite son of Denethor 2nd.
However, Denethor 2nd shows Gandalf and Pippin the Great Horn of Gondor that was left with Boromir’s corpse. Denethor 2nd doesn’t greet Gandalf and insists that he wields as much knowledge as Gandalf.
Pippin interferes with the conversation and offers his service to Denethor 2nd as Pippin insisted that he would like to pay for Boromir’s life.
Denethor 2nd disliked Gandalf, however he became curious of Pippin and became fond of Pippin. Eventually Denethor II accepts Pippin’s offer and appoints Pippin as one of the guard of the Citadel of Gondor to serve him.
Denethor II ‘s hostility to Gandalf and the Corruption by the Palantir
Gandalf informs Denethor II of the fall of Saruman and Isengard at the battle of the Hornburg Castle at Helm’s Deep and the Last March of the Ents. However, Denethor 2nd scoffs Gandalf that he already knew that through the wisdom of the Tower of Ecthelion.
Denethor 2nd was jealous of Aragorn and almost for sure knew that Aragorn was the lost royal bloodline of Elendil and Isildur and heir of the throne of Gondor.
Denethor 2nd disliked Gandalf as he was a friend of Aragorn which was also one of the reasons why Denethor 2nd didn’t like his son Faramir who respected Gandalf.
Eventually jeaolousy, desire of power and knowledge drove Denethor II to put his hand on the forbidden Palantir of Minas Tirith sealed in the Tower of Ecthelion. The Palantir was forbidden after Sauron got his hands of the Palantir of Ithil(Palantir of Morgul).
Denethor 2nd has seen the fall of Isengard through this Palantir. However, Sauron has also corrupted Denethor II’s mind and Denethor II who used to be a fair ruler started to lose his mind and started to make irrational decisions.
Sauron corrupted Denethor II ‘s mind that Gondor couldn’t stand a chance against the power of Mordor. Denethor II even became obsessed with the throne of Gondor and refused to call for Rohan’s aid nor listen to Gandalf’s wisdom.
Gandalf’s concern of Gondor and Minas Tirith
Gandalf insisted Denethor 2nd call for aid to Rohan as he knew that king Theoden was still in doubts of the old alliance with Gondor and Rohan. Gandalf believed that still king Theoden would answer the old Oath of Cirion and Oath of Eorl.
However, Denethor 2nd that distrusted Gandalf believed that Aragorn, the son of Arathorn would attack Gondor with king Theoden’s Rohirrim to take the throne.
Denethor II was already incapable of making rational decisions as Sauron already defiled his mind by the Palantir that turned Denethor II into a reckless coward.
Gandalf sighed as the attack of Mordor was imminent while Gondor was desperate but also helpless at the moment.
Kings made tombs more splendid than houses of the living. and counted old names in the rolls of their descent dearer than the names of sons. Childless lords sat in aged halls musing on heraldry; (in secret chambers withered men compounded strong elixirs,) or in high cold towers asked questions of the stars. (And the last king of the line of Anárion had no heir)
- Gandalf after witnessing Denethor 2nd’s madness -
