A "pretender" is someone who has a claim to a throne that they believe is legit, but which has been denied by whoever makes those decisions; Aragorn's ancestors had tried to claim the throne of Gondor by right of blood, but the ruling Stewards told them to shove off. Aragorn succeeded by right of blood, saving his capitol city, and saving the life of an agreeable ruling Steward.
At the time of TTT, Aragorn was a pretender with a more legitimate claim than most, rather than a total fake like the False Dmitri of Russia. But he was still a pretender, as at the time someone else was doing the ruling.
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[italic]Pretender: A pretender is one who maintains a claim that he is entitled to a position of honour or rank, which may be occupied by an incumbent, or whose powers may currently be exercised by another person or authority. Most often, it refers to a former monarch, or descendant thereof, whose throne is occupied or claimed by a rival or has been abolished.[/italic]
“Seventy-seven courses and a regicide, never a wedding like it!
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dijomaja-382-516639
8 years ago
Tolkien had a way with words, too, but he always referred to Aragorn as the rightful King, "heir" (not "pretender") to the throne. I understand your clarification (as, no doubt, did Tolkien) but this is mythology, not politics, and Aragorn's kingship is a matter of fact whether it is generally recognized or not. "Permission is not granted to (us) to deny the Return of the King".
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