The sword of Thingol, King of Doriath and overlord of the Sindar. We know little of its origins or history, except that its name Aranrúth means 'King's Ire'. After Thingol's fall, it was rescued from the sack of Menegroth and taken south by the survivors in the keeping of Thingol's great-granddaughter Elwing. Elwing in turn gave it to her son Elros, who would become the first King of Númenor, and Aranrúth remained the sword of the Kings of Númenor after his time. The sword's final fate is uncertain: it may have been lost in the Downfall of Númenor, or Ar-Pharazôn may have taken it with him to Aman, in which case it still lies within the Caves of the Forgotten.
Notes
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We have no specific information about the origins of Aranrúth, but we do know that there was a particular point in time when Thingol set about arming his people. This was the time when Orcs and other creatures of Morgoth were first seen in Beleriand, and we're told that at this point '...Thingol took thought for arms, which before his people had not needed...' (Quenta Silmarillion 10, Of the Sindar). This would seem to be the most likely moment for Thingol to acquire his sword (and from what we're told in that source, it was likely of Dwarf-make). The events that led to the arming of Doriath are dated as Valian Year 1330, placing them a little more than 1,600 years before the first rising of the Sun.
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- Updated 4 July 2014
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