Denethor
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In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, Denethor II is the twenty-sixth and last Ruling Steward of Gondor. He succeeded his father Ecthelion II at his death in T.A. 2984.
Denethor in the books
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Denethor (T.A 2930 - 3019) is known to have secretly used a palantír to probe Sauron's strength. The effort aged him quickly, and the knowledge of Sauron's overwhelming force depressed him greatly. Sauron used the palantír to drive him mad with despair. He retained, however, an air of nobility and power.
In 2976 he married Finduilas of Dol Amroth (2950 - 2988), daughter of Prince Adrahil of Dol Amroth. She gave birth to two sons: Boromir (2978 - 26 February 3019) and Faramir (b. 2983).
The death of Boromir, his firstborn and favorite, together with the siege and apparent doom of his capital city, drove him over the edge into insanity. He ordered his men to burn him alive on a pyre. He also attempted to take the grievously injured and apparently dying Faramir with him, but was thwarted in that by the timely intervention of Peregrin Took with the aid of Beregond, a guard of the City, and ultimately Gandalf the White.
Denethor committed suicide on 15 March 3019, having thrown a torch onto the pyre prepared for him and Faramir. He took the white rod of his office and broke it on his knee, casting it into the flames, symbolizing the end of his stewardship and the end of the rule of the Stewards. He laid himself down on the table and so perished, clasping the palantír in his hands. The Stewardship passed to Faramir, who remained in the Houses of Healing for a time, although the command of the city fell to the Prince of Dol Amroth during the remainder of the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
Denethor in the films
In Peter Jackson's movie trilogy, Denethor was played by John Noble. In the movie, Denethor appears completely irrational; he sends his remaining son on a suicidal mission to enemy-captured Osgiliath and refuses to light the warning beacons of Gondor to call for the aid of Rohan. In the book, the danger of his madness is that it seems to follow a certain logic; Sauron does have vastly superior forces, all of which he has surely shown to the Steward in the palantír. His actions, however, do not immediately proclaim his insanity; the Osgiliath mission is less obviously suicidal, as the city has not yet been overrun, and the warning beacons have indeed been lit, although Denethor expects little help.
For Denethor, leader of the Nandor see: Denethor (First Age).