Isildur was the eldest son of Elendil, born in Númenor in 3209 of the Second Age. He was brother to Anárion and father to Elendur, Aratan, Ciryon and Valandil. There is no record of his wife’s name.
His family, the Lords of Andúnië, descended from Elros Tar-Minyatur, the first king of Númenor, and were regarded as the highest nobility after the royal family. They were the leaders of the Faithful (Elendili) of Númenor, people who remained Elf-friends and respected the Valar when the majority of the Númenóreans drifted away from them and finally turned to the Darkness.
When Isildur heard that King Ar-Pharazôn might soon order the White Tree of Númenor, Nimloth, to be cut down, he disguised himself and snuck into the courts of the king. This area was forbidden to the Faithful, but he was able to get in and take a fruit from the tree. The guards were roused when he tried to leave, and he had to fight his way out. They did not recognize him, and he got away wounded. He was near death when he got back, but when much later the first leaf opened on the shoot that grew from the plant, he was cured.
He was among those of the Faithful that escaped the Drowning of Númenor by ship and landed in Middle-earth. He and his brother founded the realm of Gondor. Isildur lived in Minas Ithil, and the White Tree was planted outside of his house.
When Sauron attacked Gondor, he took Minas Ithil and destroyed the White Tree. Isildur escaped, and took with him a seedling of the Tree. He then sailed north, seeking the aid of his father Elendil and the elven king Gil-galad.
This lead to the forming of the Last Alliance of Men and Elves. Isildur fought in the ensuing war, and saw Sauron kill his father. To avenge his father’s death, he picked up what was left of Elendil’s sword, Narsil, and cut the One Ring from Sauron’s hand. He would not listen to counsel from Elrond and Círdan, who advised him to destroy it at the Cracks of Doom, but claimed it for himself as weregild for his father and brother, and an heirloom of his house.
He returned to Minas Anor and planted the seedling of the White Tree there in memory of his brother. In year 2 of the Third Age he started to travel to his father’s realm, Arnor, in Eriador, of which he was now king; but first he wanted to go to Rivendell, where he had left his wife and youngest son. Moreover, he wanted the counsel of Elrond.
At the Gladden Fields his company was overwhelmed by orcs, and most of his men were killed, including his three oldest sons. Isildur gave the shards of Narsil to the keeping of his esquire, and commanded him to save it from capture by all means, even at the cost of being held a deserter. (This esquire, Ohtar, was one of the only three survivors of the battle.) Isildur escaped the battle on the demand of his oldest son so that he could try and bring the Ring to the Keepers of the Three; he had himself realized that he didn’t have the power to wield it. However, he did use the ring to make himself invisible, but when he was swimming across the River Anduin, it betrayed him and slipped off. He was killed by orc arrows piercing his heart and throat.
by Morwinyoniel
Sources:
CoE Library article by Hathaldir
The Silmarillion
Unfinished Tales
