Denethor II
Dünedain lord of Gondor. Denethor II, son of Ecthelion II,
ruled Gondor from 2984 until the War of the Ring in 3019.
He was the twenty-sixth and last Ruling Steward of Gondor.
In 2976 he married Finduilas, the fair daughter of the Prince
of Dol Amroth. Finduilas gave birth to two sons, Boromir and
Faramir, but died after a dozen years of marriage. Although
once a noble and wise man, after Finduilas� death, he became
an increasingly solitary and secretive ruler. Knowing that the
final confrontation with Sauron would come during his time,
he trusted few others and excluded both Aragorn and Gandalf
as counselors. Bravely and rather unwisely, he often looked
into the Palautir �Seeing Stone� in the White Tower.
Although he undoubtedly gained knowledge that helped him
prepare Gondor for the oncoming war, the stone caused him
to age and finally had a corrupting influence upon him.
When his eldest son, Boromir, died in the Ring Quest and
Faramir lay in a coma brought on by the Black Breath of a
Ringwraith, Denethor�s iron will was at last broken. In mad
despair he attempted to take both his own life and that of
Faramir. Gandalf was able to intercede and prevent Faramir
from being burned alive but he was unable to stop Denethor
immolating himself.
