Amandil

(See also Amandil of Númenor)

Amandil (Second Age c. 3029 – 3316, aged approx. 287 years at his disappearance) was the 18th and last Lord of Andúnië in Númenor, suceeding his father Númendil upon his death. Amandil was the father of Elentir¹ and Elendil, the later who would one day found the Númenórean Realms in Exile.

History

Amandil, like his father, was the leader of the "Faithful", those Númenóreans who still respected the will of the Valar and opposed the pride and policies of the King's Men.

In his youth Amandil was a great friend of Ar-Pharazôn, the last King of Númenor. Amandil was also famed across Númenor for being a great sea-captain in the days of Nùmendil. However when Ar-Pharazon brought the conquered Sauron from Middle-earth, his friendship with Amandil withered. As time passed, Ar-Pharazon began persecuting the "Faithful" more vigorously. He eventually stripped Amandil of his Lordship over Andúnië and commanded him to move his family to Rómenna. Amandil, however, was too respected and influential to remove entirely and remained a member of the Royal Council.

Foreseeing the Downfall of Númenor, Amandil urged his son Elendil to prepare for departure to Middle-earth, and he himself decided to travel to Valinor to beg the Valar for forgiveness for the evil deeds of his people.

Amandil set sail east and later turned west (to hide what he was doing) towards Tol Eressëa, and was never heard from again. Elendil and his sons, having escaped the cataclysmic destruction of Númenor, made their way to Middle-earth to establish the Dúnedain kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor.

Etymology

Amandil means "Devoted to Aman" in Quenya (from -dil = "friend, lover, devoted to").

Genealogy

      Númendil
         |
    _____|_____
   |           |
   |           |
Elentir1    AMANDIL
               |
               |
            Elendil
               |
          _____|_____
         |           |
         |           |
      Isildur    Anárion

Preceded by: Númendil

18th Lord of Andúnië II 3065 – c. 3300

Followed by: none (stripped of Lordship)

Notes

1. Elentir was a character developed but never fully adapted into the formal history of Númenor. In one version of the story of Ar-Pharazôn, his future wife Míriel, the daughter of the current king, was betrothed to Elentir. However, she fell desperately in love with Pharazôn and chose to become his queen when he took up the Sceptre of Númenor. This story is very different than the tale in the published Silmarillion, where Ar-Pharazôn takes Míriel very much against her will in order to claim the Sceptre. In either case, Elentir disappeared before Nùmendil died, leaving Amandil as the Lord of Andúnië.