[Taimar]

The Stewards in general, and Denethor in particular, may not have accepted the claim of any Chieftain of the Northern Dunedain. They could, with some legitimacy, claim that the rightful King of Gondor should have direct male descent from Anarion, a condition that the Northern chieftains could obviously not satisfy.

The argument from Arvedui when he claimed the throne on the death of Ondoher was that Elendil should be reckoned the first King of Gondor. Pelendur, the Steward at the time, rejected this.

I have always wondered what may have happened after the War of the Ring if Denethor had survived. I doubt that he would have surrendered the rule of Gondor to Aragorn willingly and I also doubt that he could have been legitimately compelled to do so.