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"Steward" was the traditional title of a chief counsellor to one of the Kings of Gondor. During the time of the Steward Pelendur, from the famous House of Húrin, this title became a hereditary one, passing the station of counsellor from father to son, much like the kingship.
After the death of King Eärnur, who left no heir to the throne of Gondor, the Steward Mardil Voronwë became the first of the Ruling Stewards. Mardil was the first of the Stewards to administer Gondor, and his descendants did so for 26 generations. (Much the same happened in the history of Scotland, where the present Queen is descended from the House of Stewart/Stewards of Scotland, and also in the history of France.)
The Stewards watched over the throne until it could be reclaimed by a true king of Gondor, an heir of Elendil. When asked by Boromir how long must pass before a Steward becomes a King, Denethor II replies, "Few years, maybe, in other places of less royalty...In Gondor ten thousand years would not suffice."
The Quenya name of the title is Arandur: "Servant of the King"
The following is a list of the Ruling Stewards of Gondor. (All dates Third Age).