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Perhaps one of the most mysterious and intriguing characters in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Aragorn is known by many names: Strider, Elessar, Estel, and finally Aragorn II, heir to the throne of Gondor and Arnor. From a shadowy tracker who mysteriously comes to Frodo's aid to an essential member of the Fellowship of the Ring to the long-awaited king who restores harmony and peace to Middle-earth, Aragorn plays many important roles in the fantasy epic. And he has quite an interesting history.
Who is Aragorn?
Although the series offers very few details on Aragorn's physical appearance, we know he is tall and lean with "a shaggy head of dark hair flecked with grey, and in a pale stern face a pair of keen grey eyes." Aragorn is often described as solemn, but can have moments of humor. He understands his ultimate purpose—to become king and reunite his kingdom—but is also committed to the fight against Sauron and spends many years gaining experience and battling evil before taking the throne.
A descendant of the rulers of Gondor and Arnor, Aragorn is considered the lost heir of Gondor. When he was just two years old, his father was killed by Orcs and his mother sent him to live among the Elves in Rivendell. He was raised by Elrond, the half-Elf Lord of Rivendell, and renamed Estel. Aragorn is kept in the dark about his heritage until his 20th birthday, when Elrond tells him the truth. After that revelation, he becomes a ranger, known as the mysterious Strider, and dedicates himself to protecting the Shire from forces of evil.
As he travels widely, serving the greater good of Gondor, he is known by several other aliases. Aragorn is unwilling to reveal his true identity, lest his life be imperiled. During this time, he befriends Gandalf, going so far as to capture Gollum so that the wizard could question him about the location of the Ring. When Gandalf traces the Ring to Bilbo Baggins, who then gives it to his nephew, he again calls on Aragorn to aid Frodo and protect him from the Nazgul. Aragorn does so, under his disguise as Strider, saving their lives. He then sees the Hobbits to Rivendell, where they reconvene with Gandalf, and the Fellowship of the Ring is formed.
Soon after, the Fellowship departs Rivendell for Mordor on a mission to destroy the Ring. Aragorn notices that Gollum is following them. When the Fellowship is attacked in the mines of Moria, Aragorn protects the group and, after Gandalf falls into a chasm battling the Balrog, assumes leadership. While under attack, Merry and Pippin are taken captive while Frodo and Sam get separated from the group. Aragorn makes the difficult decision to leave Frodo and Sam to their own devices while he, Legolas, and Gimli set out to rescue Merry and Pippin. It is a choice he struggles with, but understands that his duties are to the cause, and not necessarily to any one individual.
Soon after, Aragorn is reunited with Gandalf and joins the battle against Sauron's forces, leading armies at Helm's Deep and contributing to the defeat of Saruman. Aragorn is also integral in luring Sauron into attacking Minas Tirith, which he helped defend. At this point, Aragorn finally reveals his lineage, but refuses to be crowned king until Sauron is defeated. He plays a pivotal role in one final tactical battle to distract Sauron, thus enabling Frodo to destroy the Ring once and for all.
After Sauron's defeat, Aragorn is crowned King Elessar of Gondor and Arnor, a name bestowed to him by Galadriel.
How old is Aragorn?
Considering that Aragorn is 87 years old when he first meets Frodo at the Inn of the Prancing Pony, some people might wonder: Is Aragorn half Elf? Why did Aragorn live so long? Aragorn is not half Elf, although he is a descendant of Elros, who is half Elf (and the brother of Elrond, the half-Elf who raised him), which explains why Aragorn's life span is unusually long. However, he does not possess the ability to live forever, and he cannot choose to be mortal or immortal like Arwen, the half-Elf he loves and eventually claims as his wife.
Because Aragorn is mortal and Arwen chose to remain in Gondor and become mortal, their son, Eldarion, is mortal as well, despite his Elven lineage. Little else is known about Aragorn's successor, as J.R.R. Tolkien did not get very far in his planned sequel set during Eldarion's reign.
Does Aragorn have a special weapon?
Aragorn is famous for carrying the shards of Narsil, a legendary sword carried by one of his ancestors, which was later reforged by the Elves of Rivendell into a sword called Andúril, Flame of the West. Its scabbard is enchanted, so it will not break in battle. The sword is more than a magical weapon—it is proof of Aragorn's heritage and his destiny to become the king and restore Gondor. In the movie adaptations, Aragorn is seen wielding other weapons, such as a staff, a dagger, and a bow and arrows, but none of these weapons are as notable as Andúril.
Aragorn's family tree and relationships
Aragorn is the son of Arathorn and the rightful heir of Gondor, Arnor, and Anárion.
Aragorn eventually marries Arwen, whom he meets when living with Elrond, his foster father in Rivendell. Arwen is half-Elf, but she chooses to remain with Aragorn when he ascends the throne, forfeiting her immortality. They have a son named Eldarion, as well as multiple unnamed daughters.
Aragorn is friends with Gandalf, and he serves in the Fellowship alongside Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Legolas the Elf, Gimli the Dwarf, and Boromir of Gondor.
Aragorn is also respected by Galadriel, who gives him the Elfstone.
Aragorn is devoted to Arwen. He meets Eowyn, a beautiful and brave noblewoman, when assisting her uncle, King Théoden. Although Eowyn expresses feelings for Aragorn, he turns her down. However, he does heal Eowyn after her fight with the Witch-King, whom she kills in battle.
Best Aragorn quotes
One of the most often-quoted lines from the trilogy comes from a poem that Bilbo Baggins wrote about Aragorn:
“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost.” — The Fellowship of the Ring
Memorable quotes directly from Aragorn include:
“If by my life or death I can protect you, I will.” — The Fellowship of the Ring
"Not idly do the leaves of Lórien fall." — The Two Towers
"Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta!" (This translates to "Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come. In this place will I abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world.") — The Return of the King
