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{{numenorean
{{numenorean infobox
|image=
| image=[[Image:Matěj Čadil - Meneldil of Gondor.jpg|250px]]
|name=Meneldil
| name=Meneldil
|othernames=
| pronun=
|position=[[King of Gondor]]
| othernames=
|birth= [[Second Age 3299|S.A. 3299]]
| titles=[[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]]
|rule= [[Third Age 2|T.A. 2]] - [[Third Age 158|T.A.158]]
| position=
|death= [[Third Age 158|T.A.158]], aged 300 years
| location=[[Gondor]]
|realms= [[Gondor]]
| affiliation=[[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]]
|race=[[Men]]
| language=[[Sindarin]]
|gender=Male
| birth={{SA|3318}}
|parentage=[[Anárion]]
| birthlocation=[[Rómenna]], [[Númenor]]
|spouse=
| rule={{TA|2}} - {{TA|158}} (156 years)
|children=[[Cemendur of Gondor|Cemendur]]
| death={{TA|158}}
|height=
| deathlocation=[[Gondor]]
|hair=
| age=281
|eyes=
| notablefor=
|}}
| house=[[House of Anárion]]
'''Meneldil''' ([[Second Age 3299|S.A. 3299]] [[Third Age 158|T.A.158]], aged 300 years), the son of [[Anárion son of Elendil|Anárion]] and grandson of [[High King]] [[Elendil]], was the third [[King of Gondor]] and the first to rule in his own name. He reigned 156 years, from [[Third Age 2|T.A. 2]] until his death. He was succeeded by his son [[Cemendur of Gondor|Cemendur]].
| parentage=[[Anárion]]
| siblings=three unnamed siblings
| spouse=
| children=[[Cemendur (King of Gondor)|Cemendur]]
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
'''Meneldil''' ({{SA|3318}}<ref name="Elendil">{{PM|Elendil}}</ref> {{TA|158}},<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> aged 281 years), the son of [[Anárion]] and grandson of [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] [[Elendil]], was the third [[King of Gondor]] and the first to rule in his own name. He reigned 156 years, from {{TA| 2}} until his death. He was succeeded by his son [[Cemendur (King of Gondor)|Cemendur]].


==History==
==History==
===Early Life ===
===Early Life===
Of Meneldil's life before the [[War of the Last Alliance]] we know almost nothing, but it is possible to deduce some of the most important incidents in that time. He was born in the very last years of [[Númenor]], and was at most twenty years old at the time of the [[Downfall of Númenor|Downfall]]. He would have seen the drowning of the island with his own eyes, from the deck of one of his father's ships, and then was propelled by the rushing water to the shores of [[Middle-earth]].
Meneldil was the last man born in [[Númenor]]<ref name="Gladden">{{UT|Gladden}}</ref> and was about one year old at the time of the [[Downfall of Númenor|Downfall]]. He would have been carried to [[Middle-earth]] in his father’s ship where [[Isildur]] and [[Anárion]] established a new realm, [[Gondor]], under their joint leadership.


What part he took in the building of the [[Realms in Exile]] is a mystery. During this time, he would have been considered a relatively minor nobleman. As the fourth child of Elendil's younger son, he was at best seventh in line to the succession, and the prospect of his becoming King was remote. After more than a century, [[Sauron]] rose again in the east, triggering the great events of the War of the Last Alliance. It is to be presumed that Meneldil played his part in that War—a war in which he lost his father Anárion—but we have no specific details of his deeds.
Meneldil was 111 years old when in {{SA|3429}} [[Sauron]] sent his army to attack and capture [[Minas Ithil]].  It is not known what role Meneldil may have played while his father defended [[Osgiliath]] and held the hosts of [[Mordor]] at bay. With the arrival of Elendil and [[Gil-galad]]’s forces the fortunes of the [[War of the Last Alliance]] turned, but in the hard fighting Anárion died (in {{SA|3440}}), as did Elendil (in {{SA|3441}}).<ref name="SA">{{App|SA}}</ref>


=== The Year of Transition ===
===Succession to Kingship===
Before the War, Elendil had sat as the [[High King]] in the northern realm of [[Arnor]], while [[Isildur]] and Anárion had ruled [[Gondor]] jointly in his name. Since both Elendil and Anárion had been lost in the War, these arrangements needed to be changed. Isildur inherited the High Kingship, and he placed the rule of Gondor in the hands of his brother's eldest eligible son, Meneldil.
With the deaths of Elendil and Anárion, [[Arnor]] had no leader and the joint rule in [[Gondor]] was finished.  [[Isildur]] returned to Gondor, assumed the [[Elendilmir]] as Arnor’s king and proclaimed his lordship over all the [[Dúnedain]], [[Dúnedain of the North|North]] and [[Dúnedain of the South|South]]. While most of Arnor’s forces returned to [[Eriador]] the new King remained in the South to restore order and define Gondor’s boundaries. With Meneldil and a company of trusted friends, Isildur rode about the boundaries of Gondor and in Anórien created the [[Tomb of Elendil upon the hill of [[Eilenaer]], thereafter called [[Amon Anwar]].<ref>{{UT|Cirion}}</ref> When he was ready he committed the rule of Gondor to Meneldil and departed for [[Rivendell|Imladris]] with his three oldest sons to consult with [[Elrond]].<ref name="Gladden"/>
Before departing for the North, Isildur spent a year ordering matters in the Gondor, and instructing Meneldil in his new duties. During this year, Isildur and Meneldil journeyed around the borderlands of the [[South-kingdom]], defining its bounds. It was while returning from their travels that they came upon [[Amon Anwar]], the [[Halifirien]], which at that time stood almost at the central point of the country. Isildur chose that hill as the resting place of his father's remains, and the [[Tomb of Elendil]] that he placed there was to last long after Meneldil's line had failed.


It was the beginning of [[Yavannië]], Third Age 2, when Isildur set out from [[Osgiliath]], leaving the South-kingdom in Meneldil's hands. We are told that Meneldil was not disappointed to see the High King and his sons leave for the North, and that he hoped to rule Gondor himself for a long time. Far-sighted as he was, though, even Meneldil couldn't have foreseen the events that were to unfold. A month after setting out, Isildur was set upon by Orcs and killed, together with his three elder sons. The [[Kingship in the North]] fell on Isildur's only surviving son, eleven-year-old [[Valandil]]. This unexpected turn of events transformed Meneldil from a mere caretaker into the true King of Gondor.
It is said that Meneldil was quite pleased to see his uncle and his sons leave for the North, hoping that they would remain there long.<ref>{{UT| Gladden}}, Note 10</ref>  Then, a month after their departure, Isildur and his three sons were slain in the [[Battle of the Gladden Fields]].<ref name="Gladden"/>  Arnor would eventually (in {{TA|10}}<ref name="TA"/>) be ruled by Isildur’s fourth son, [[Valandil (King of Arnor)|Valandil]], but in the South Meneldil assumed full kingship, which was inherited by his descendants. Gondor would not be ruled by an heir of Isildur until the ascension of [[Aragorn]].


=== King of Gondor ===
Not much is known about his reign other than a Gondorian scholar wrote the ''[[Ondonóre Nómesseron Minaþurie]]''.<ref>{{VT|42}}, "[[The Rivers and Beacon-Hills of Gondor]]"</ref>
After the upheavals of Third Age 2, Meneldil was to rule Gondor for many years,but during this period he effectively disappears from history. With Sauron utterly defeated, his reign was a peaceful and quiet one. The only historical events recorded during this time are the wedding of [[Elrond]] to [[Celebrían]], and the birth of their twin sons [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]]. These would have been important events in the North, but we cannot be sure if the Gondorians were even aware of them.


Meneldil ruled in Gondor for one hundred and fifty-six years, and was succeeded by his son [[Cemendur of Gondor|Cemendur]].
== Genealogy ==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | | |ELE| | | | |ELE=[[Elendil]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |}}
{{familytree |ISI| |ANA| | | |ISI=[[Isildur]]|ANA=[[Anárion]]}}
{{familytree | | | |,|-|^|-|.|}}
{{familytree | | |THR| |MEN|THR=3 unnamed<br/>children<ref name="Elendil"/>|MEN='''MENELDIL'''}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | |!| |}}
{{familytree | | | | | | |CEM|CEM=[[Cemendur (King of Gondor)|Cemendur]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | |!| |}}
{{familytree | | | | | | |EAR|EAR=[[Eärendil (King of Gondor)|Eärendil]]}}
{{familytree/end}}


== Genealogy ==
== Other Versions of the Legendarium ==
          [[Elendil]]
In ''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]'', in Section VII "[[The Heirs of Elendil]]", [[Christopher Tolkien]] explained that there were three manuscripts in the textual history of this section.  Manuscript A contained the information about the Southern Line of Gondor, and from its condition it appeared to be the first stage of composition.  Manuscript B added the Northern Line, and began as a fair copy of A for the Southern line but became heavily emended.  Manuscript B led to Manuscript C, a fine copy (but with later emendations), which led to a final typescript D.  In the earlier Manuscripts A and B, Meneldil's date of birth was {{SA|3299}} instead of {{SA|3318}}. It was Isildur's son Kiryandil who was born in 3318 and thus was the last man born in Númenor.<ref name="Elendil"/>
              |
      --------|--------
    |                |
    |                |
  [[Isildur]]           [[Anárion son of Elendil|Anárion]]
                      |
            -----------|-----------
          |                      |
          |                      |
  ''three unnamed daughters''      '''MENELDIL'''
                                  |   
                                  | 
                                [[Cemendur of Gondor|Cemendur]]
                                  |
                                  |
                                [[Eärendil of Gondor|Eärendil]]


{{sequence
{{references}}
|prev=[[Isildur]]
{{seq-start}}
|next=[[Cemendur of Gondor|Cemendur]]
{{seq-head
|list=3rd [[King of Gondor]]<br>[[Third Age 2|T.A. 2]] – [[Third Age 158|158]]
| race=gondorian
| house=[[House of Anárion]]
| born={{SA|3318}}
| died={{TA|158}}
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Isildur]]
| list=3rd [[King of Gondor]]
| dates={{TA|2}} {{TA|158|n}}
| next=[[Cemendur (King of Gondor)|Cemendur]]
}}
}}
 
{{seq-end}}
==Inflection==
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
{{qya-decl-l|num=sg2|Meneldi}}
[[Category:Gondorians]]
 
[[Category:House of Anárion]]
[[Category:House of Anárion]]
[[Category:Númenóreans]]
[[Category:Quenya names]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Quenya names]]
[[de:Meneldil]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/hommes/3a/dunedain/gondoriens/meneldil]]
[[fi:Meneldil]]

Revision as of 16:28, 29 December 2013

Meneldil
Númenórean
Matěj Čadil - Meneldil of Gondor.jpg
Biographical Information
TitlesKing of Gondor
LocationGondor
AffiliationLast Alliance of Elves and Men
LanguageSindarin
BirthS.A. 3318
Rómenna, Númenor
RuleT.A. 2 - T.A. 158 (156 years)
DeathT.A. 158 (aged 281)
Gondor
Family
HouseHouse of Anárion
ParentageAnárion
Siblingsthree unnamed siblings
ChildrenCemendur
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Meneldil

Meneldil (S.A. 3318[1]T.A. 158,[2] aged 281 years), the son of Anárion and grandson of High King Elendil, was the third King of Gondor and the first to rule in his own name. He reigned 156 years, from T.A. 2 until his death. He was succeeded by his son Cemendur.

History

Early Life

Meneldil was the last man born in Númenor[3] and was about one year old at the time of the Downfall. He would have been carried to Middle-earth in his father’s ship where Isildur and Anárion established a new realm, Gondor, under their joint leadership.

Meneldil was 111 years old when in S.A. 3429 Sauron sent his army to attack and capture Minas Ithil. It is not known what role Meneldil may have played while his father defended Osgiliath and held the hosts of Mordor at bay. With the arrival of Elendil and Gil-galad’s forces the fortunes of the War of the Last Alliance turned, but in the hard fighting Anárion died (in S.A. 3440), as did Elendil (in S.A. 3441).[4]

Succession to Kingship

With the deaths of Elendil and Anárion, Arnor had no leader and the joint rule in Gondor was finished. Isildur returned to Gondor, assumed the Elendilmir as Arnor’s king and proclaimed his lordship over all the Dúnedain, North and South. While most of Arnor’s forces returned to Eriador the new King remained in the South to restore order and define Gondor’s boundaries. With Meneldil and a company of trusted friends, Isildur rode about the boundaries of Gondor and in Anórien created the [[Tomb of Elendil upon the hill of Eilenaer, thereafter called Amon Anwar.[5] When he was ready he committed the rule of Gondor to Meneldil and departed for Imladris with his three oldest sons to consult with Elrond.[3]

It is said that Meneldil was quite pleased to see his uncle and his sons leave for the North, hoping that they would remain there long.[6] Then, a month after their departure, Isildur and his three sons were slain in the Battle of the Gladden Fields.[3] Arnor would eventually (in T.A. 10[2]) be ruled by Isildur’s fourth son, Valandil, but in the South Meneldil assumed full kingship, which was inherited by his descendants. Gondor would not be ruled by an heir of Isildur until the ascension of Aragorn.

Not much is known about his reign other than a Gondorian scholar wrote the Ondonóre Nómesseron Minaþurie.[7]

Genealogy

 
 
Elendil
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Isildur
 
Anárion
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3 unnamed
children[1]
 
MENELDIL
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cemendur
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eärendil


Other Versions of the Legendarium

In The Peoples of Middle-earth, in Section VII "The Heirs of Elendil", Christopher Tolkien explained that there were three manuscripts in the textual history of this section. Manuscript A contained the information about the Southern Line of Gondor, and from its condition it appeared to be the first stage of composition. Manuscript B added the Northern Line, and began as a fair copy of A for the Southern line but became heavily emended. Manuscript B led to Manuscript C, a fine copy (but with later emendations), which led to a final typescript D. In the earlier Manuscripts A and B, Meneldil's date of birth was S.A. 3299 instead of S.A. 3318. It was Isildur's son Kiryandil who was born in 3318 and thus was the last man born in Númenor.[1]

References

Meneldil
House of Anárion
Born: S.A. 3318 Died: T.A. 158
Preceded by:
Isildur
3rd King of Gondor
T.A. 2158
Followed by:
Cemendur