Arvedui

[doug*platypus]

Before I forget, here's a link to another interesting thread on the Númenórean kingdoms in exile. Watch out for staunch dwarven monarchists. Although this thread is another one of those what-if threads, I think that the two kingdoms had a very interesting history, and are worthy of exploration.

I always deduced that it was a mix of aristocratic provincial pride and shortsighted nepotism that led Gondor to promote a King from within their own ranks

Yes *sigh* nepotism is rife in many, many monarchies. For some reason they always seem to give positions of authority to their family members.