Denethor II was the last Ruling Steward of Gondor. He ruled Gondor for 35 years and defended his land and people from the growing threat of Sauron. But during the War of the Ring, Denethor was deeply grieved by the loss of his eldest son <link="proto:Boromir">Boromir</link>, and he succumbed to despair when Sauron showed him visions of Gondor's doom in the palantir. Denethor burned himself alive and he tried to take his youngest son <link="proto:Faramir">Faramir</link> with him, but while Denethor perished in flames, Faramir survived and became Steward to Aragorn, <link="proto:Aragorn Elessar">King Elessar</link>. 

The Stewards originally served the Kings of Gondor, but after the line of Kings failed in 2050, the Stewards ruled Gondor as caretakers. It was the duty of the Stewards to preserve and protect the Kingdom until a King returned. The Stewards sat on a chair at the foot of the dais where the King's throne stood empty. They bore a white rod instead of a crown and their banner was plain white. But in fact the Stewards exercised all the powers of a King.

