Narsil Sword (Aragorn's Sword)

Narsil was a longsword wielded by King Elendil during the War of the Last Alliance, and used by his son, Isildur, to cut the One Ring from Sauron's hand during the final battle of that war, being shattered in the process. It consequently was known as the Sword that was Broken.

It was later reforged into Andúril, and would become the sword of Aragorn II Elessar.

History The sword was forged during the First Age by the famed Dwarven-smith Telchar of Nogrod; its knife mate was Angrist.

Second Age The sword was presumably taken to Númenor, where it eventually became the property of the Lords of Andúnië. Nothing is known of Narsil's owners in this time, save that the sword eventually passed to Elendil of Andúnië.

War of the Last Alliance During the final battle between the Last Alliance and Mordor, Narsil broke into two pieces when Elendil and Gil-galad fought Sauron themselves and were slain. Taking up the handle-shard of Narsil after his father's defeat, Isildur cut the One Ring from Sauron's hand, defeating him.

Isildur took the shards home with him. Shortly before he was killed in the second year of the Third Age in the Disaster of the Gladden Fields, Isildur gave the shards to his squire Ohtar and commanded him to escape if he could. Ohtar did so and took the shards to Rivendell, where they passed to the next king, Isildur's son, Valandil.

Third Age The shards of Narsil were passed down as an heirloom by the heirs of Isildur among the Dúnedain of the North. The sword's last owner was Aragorn, son of Arathorn.

War of the Ring Before the Fellowship of the Ring departed Rivendell on the Quest of the Ring, the shards of Narsil were re-forged by the Elves into Andúril, which Aragorn carried into the Battle of the Pelennor Fields and the Battle of the Black Gate.

Etymology In Quenya, Narsil means Red and white flame, from nár (fire) and thil (white flame). It symbolizes the Sun and Moon, thechief heavenly lights, as enemies of darkness".

Other versions of the legendarium In other writings, Narsil was named Branding, after it was reforged into Andúril.

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