View source for Gondor

====Númenórean kingdom====
{{further|Númenor}}
{{anchor|Osgiliath}}{{anchor|Nimloth the fair}}{{anchor|Anárion}}

The shorelands of Gondor were widely colonized by the [[Númenóreans]] from the middle of the [[Second Age]], especially by Elf-friends loyal to [[Elendil]].<ref name="OtRoP" group=T>{{Harvnb|Tolkien|1977}} "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"</ref> His sons [[Isildur]] and Anárion landed in Gondor after the drowning of Númenor, and co-founded the Kingdom of Gondor. Isildur brought with him a seedling of Nimloth (Sindarin: ''nim'', "white" and ''loth'', "blossom"<ref name="Foster 1978 p186">{{cite book |last=Foster |first=Robert |title=The Complete Guide to Middle-earth |year=1978 |publisher=[[Ballantine Books]] |isbn=978-0-345-44976-4 |page=186}}</ref>) the Fair, the white tree from Númenor. This tree and its descendants came to be called the White Tree of Gondor, and appears on the kingdom's [[coat of arms]].  Elendil, who founded the Kingdom of Arnor to the north, was held to be the [[High King]] of all the lands of the [[Dúnedain]].<ref name="AppA" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955}} Appendix A, I (iv)</ref> Isildur established the city of [[Minas Morgul|Minas Ithil]] (Sindarin: "Tower of the Moon") while Anárion established the city of Minas Anor (Sindarin: "Tower of the Sun").<ref name="AppA" group=T/>

Sauron survived the destruction of Númenor and secretly returned to his realm of Mordor, soon launching a war against the Númenórean kingdoms. He captured Minas Ithil, but Isildur escaped by ship to Arnor; meanwhile, Anárion was able to defend Osgiliath.<ref name="OtRoP" group=T/> Elendil and the [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elven]]-king [[Gil-galad]] formed the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, and together with Isildur and Anárion, they besieged and defeated Mordor.<ref name="OtRoP" group=T/> Sauron was overthrown; but the [[One Ring]] that Isildur took from him was not destroyed, and thus Sauron continued to exist.<ref name="Gladden Fields" group=T/>

Both Elendil and Anárion were killed in the war, so Isildur conferred rule of Gondor upon Anárion's son Meneldil, retaining [[suzerainty]] over Gondor as High King of the Dúnedain. Isildur and his three elder sons were ambushed and killed by [[Orc (Middle-earth)|Orcs]] in the Gladden Fields. Isildur's remaining son Valandil did not attempt to claim his father's place as Gondor's monarch; the kingdom was ruled solely by Meneldil and his descendants until their line died out.<ref name="Gladden Fields" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1980}} part 3 ch. 1 "Disaster of the Gladden Fields"</ref>