Amlaith, son of Earendur, always stood apart from his two younger brothers. Heir to Arnor, he was a stubborn and uncompromising soul. While he could be charming, he was far more often blunt and to the point, caring little for the ruffled feathers of others. Even from a young age he had experienced friction with his brother Thorondor, and both brothers breathed a sigh of relief when Earendur appointed Thorondor to the position of royal governor in Minhiriath. This was a fairly common choice for the Kings in regards to second and third sons, appointing them as castellans throughout the broader royal demesne in Arnor. Likewise, Galadhion was appointed to the position of Castellan of Amon Raen, though he had not the antipathy towards Amlaith that Thorondor had.

In his time in Minhiriath, Thorondor found himself charmed by the bucolic, proud provincial nobility of the region, who came to court him. Indeed, he increasingly began to believe he should be granted a greater position, that of Prince of the whole region. After all, his brother, while competent, would never be able to speak the language of these lords, who required a deft and careful touch. Thorondor ultimately petitioned his father Earendur to make it so, but found his designs shut out, and Amlaith was outraged by the gall of his brother to propose to seize such power at the expense of the crown. Thus the two argued fiercely, and many words were said in passion and haste that perhaps should not have been, and their quarrel worsened. But Earendur refused to recall or remove Thorondor, believing it better to give the brothers time to cool off and reconsider what both had said, for to him, both had points the other should have considered. Yet, it was not to be so. For Thorondor with his stung pride proved fertile ground for the whispers of Cardolan's nobility, about the cold and uncaring demands of Annuminas. And Amlaith in turn now desired to firmly put Thorondor in his place.

So it was that when Earendur died, Amlaith issued an order to summon Thorondor to Annuminas - a standard practice, so that the new King can appoint a new royal governor, or affirm the old one in his station. Yet Thorondor knew that if he acquised, he very likely would never again have any semblence of power. And so he refused, and with the support of the nobility of Cardolan, proclaimed himself king. Amlaith, unsurprisingly, took this quite poorly. To make matters worse, Galadhion in turn proclaimed himself King as well, rallying the support of the nobility of Rhudaur. Galadhion had remained quiet during the long smoldering feud between Amlaith and Thorondor, such that both had assumed him friendly to them and he would support them when the time came. Yet Galadhion judged both his brothers, precisely for their feud, as unworthy of the throne and claimed as much in his declaration. And so the collapse of Arnor was all but assured.

1. Elendil

High King of the Dúnedain-in-Exile, founder of Arnor.

Slain by Sauron in the Last Alliance

S.A. 3119 - 3441

2. Isildur

Second High-King of the Dúnedain-in-Exile, Last High-King until Aragorn.

Dies in the disaster of the Gladden Fields

S.A. 3209 - T.A. 2

3. Valandil

S.A. 3430 - T.A. 249

4. Eldacar

T.A. 87 - 339

5. Arantar

T.A. 185 - 435

6. Tarcil

T.A. 280 - 515

7. Tarondor

T.A. 372 - 602

8. Valandur

Noted as the only King of Arnor to have died violently other than Isildur before the Angmarin War.

T.A. 462 - 652

9. Elendur

T.A. 552 - 777

10. Eärendur

T.A. 640 - 861