Editing Gondor (section)

{{short description|Fictional kingdom in Tolkien's Middle-earth}}
{{distinguish|text=[[Gondar]] or [[Gondour]]}}
{{good article}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox fictional location
| name         = Gondor
| source       = [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s [[Tolkien's legendarium|legendarium]]
| image        = Escudo Real de Gondor.svg
| image_size   = 150px 
| caption      = Coat of arms bearing the white tree,<br/>Nimloth the fair<ref name="UT Field of Cormallen" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955}} book 6, ch. 4 "The Field of Cormallen": "a great standard was spread in the breeze, and there a white tree flowered upon a sable field beneath a shining crown and seven glittering stars"</ref>
| alt_name     = The South-kingdom
| type         = Southern Númenórean realm in exile
| blank_label  = Location
| blank_data   = Northwest Middle-earth
| blank_label1 = Capital
| blank_data1  = Osgiliath, then Minas Tirith
| blank_label2 = Lifespan
| blank_label3 = Founder
| blank_data3  = [[Isildur]] and Anárion
| ruler        = Kings of Gondor; Stewards of Gondor
| first        = ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''
}}
'''Gondor''' is a fictional kingdom in [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s writings, described as the greatest realm of [[Man (Middle-earth)|Men]] in the west of [[Middle-earth]] at the end of the [[Third Age]]. The third volume of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Return of the King]]'', is largely concerned with the events in Gondor during the [[War of the Ring]] and with the restoration of the realm afterward. The history of the kingdom is outlined in the appendices of the book.

Gondor was founded by the brothers [[Isildur]] and Anárion, exiles from the downfallen island kingdom of [[Númenor]]. Along with Arnor in the north, Gondor, the South-kingdom, served as a last stronghold of the [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]]. After an early period of growth, Gondor gradually declined as the Third Age progressed, being continually weakened by internal strife and conflict with the allies of the Dark Lord [[Sauron]]. By the time of the War of the Ring, the throne of Gondor is empty, though its principalities and fiefdoms still pay deference to the absent king by showing their loyalty to the Stewards of Gondor. The kingdom's ascendancy is restored only with Sauron's final defeat and the crowning of [[Aragorn]] as king.

Based upon early conceptions, the history and geography of Gondor were developed in stages as Tolkien extended [[Tolkien's legendarium|his legendarium]] while writing ''The Lord of the Rings''. Critics have noted the contrast between the cultured but lifeless Stewards of Gondor, and the simple but vigorous leaders of the Kingdom of [[Rohan (Middle-earth)|Rohan]], modelled on Tolkien's favoured [[Anglo-Saxons]]. Scholars have noted parallels between Gondor and the [[Normans]], [[Ancient Rome]], the [[Vikings]], the [[Goths]], the [[Langobards]], and the [[Byzantine Empire]].