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'''Tar-Meneldur''' ([[Second Age]] 543 – 942, aged 399 years) was the fifth King of [[Númenor]], ruling from Second Age 740 to 883. His name means "Servant of Heaven". His two older sisters were [[Silmariën]] and [[Isilmë]].
{{numenorean infobox
| name=Tar-Meneldur
| image=[[File:Šárka Škorpíková - Tar-Meneldur.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Tar-Meneldur" by [[:Category:Images by Šárka Škorpíková|Šárka Škorpíková]]
| pronun=
| othernames=''[[Írimon]]'' ([[Quenya|Q]]), ''[[Elentirmo]]'' ([[Quenya|Q]])
| titles=[[King of Númenor]]
| position=
| location=[[Númenor]]
| affiliation=
| language=[[Adûnaic]], [[Sindarin]] and [[Quenya]]
| birth={{SA|543}}
| birthlocation=
| rule={{SA|740}} - {{SA|883|n}} (143 years)
| death={{SA|942}}
| deathlocation=
| age=399
| notablefor=
| house=[[House of Elros]]
| parentage=[[Tar-Elendil]]
| siblings=[[Silmariën]] and [[Isilmë]]
| spouse=[[Almarian]]
| children=[[Tar-Aldarion|Anardil]], [[Ailinel]] and [[Almiel]]
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
'''Tar-Meneldur''' was the fifth [[King of Númenor]].


He succeeded his father, [[Tar-Elendil]] because the rules of succession did not allow women to rule, promoting the principle of agnatic primogeniture. Had the principle of equal primogeniture been followed instead, control of the throne would pass to Silmariën.
== History ==
Meneldur's birth name was [[Írimon]],<ref name="Kings">{{UT|Kings}}, Tar-Meneldur</ref> and was the son of [[Tar-Elendil]]; he had wo older sisters, [[Silmariën]] and [[Isilmë]]. At this time, [[Númenóreans]] began to sail eastwards and in {{SA|600}} the [[Captain of the King's Ships]], [[Vëantur]], reached the [[Grey Havens]].<ref name="Wife"/>


He married [[Almarian]] and had three children:
His great passion was stargazing and learning all he could about the Heavens from the lore of [[Elves]] and [[Men]]. To study the movements of the stars, he built a tower in the [[Forostar]], the northernmost part of Númenor, since the sky was clearer there than anywhere else on the isle he also received the title [[Elentirmo]].<ref name="Númenor">{{UT|Numenor}}</ref> Although Meneldur had no love for the sea, he did fall in love with Vëantur’s daughter, [[Almarian]], and married her.<ref name="Wife"/> Together they had three children, a son [[Anardil of Númenor|Anardil]] and two daughters, [[Ailinel]] and [[Almiel]], all born before Meneldur became king in {{SA|740}}.<ref>{{UT|earlier}}</ref>
# Anardil, son; later known as [[Tar-Aldarion|Aldarion]]
# Ailinel, daughter -- she would become the mother of [[Soronto]].
# Almiel, daughter


During the rule of Tar-Meneldur contact with the [[Middle Men]] of [[Eriador]] was reestablished, under guidance of the [[Elves]] of [[Lindon]], under [[Gil-galad]]. Tar-Meneldur encouraged the seafarers, and allowed his son Aldarion to establish a guild of seafarers, which became one of the most powerful organisations in Númenor. Many voyages along the coasts were made at this time, and the first settlements were made in [[Middle-earth]] by Númenórean explorers, although none of them permanent yet. These early settlements were however the later cores of [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]], and the reestablished contact of Númenóreans with their distant kin allowed the [[Adûnaic]] tongue to merge with local, far akin languages, eventually leading to the [[Westron]] speech. This would in later years prove to be one of the greatest assets to the power of Númenor in Middle-earth.
As the eldest son, but the youngest child of [[Tar-Elendil]], Tar-Meneldur received the [[Sceptre of Númenor]] due to the old law of royal [[Law of Succession in Númenor|succession]] that existed at that time.<ref name="Wife"/> Meneldur only left the tower when he inherited the Sceptre, but even after becoming King his interest in the stars did not cease.<ref name="Wife">{{UT|Wife}}</ref>


Near the end of Tar-Meneldur's rule reports came in that evil began to stir in the east of Middle-earth (the first awakenings of [[Sauron]], as was later learned), and Gil-galad requested the aid of Tar-Meneldur. Recognizing his son Aldarion was more aware of the troubles, and was a powerful leader of men, Meneldur resigned in favour of his son, far earlier than was expected.
Meneldur's son Anardil grew swiftly and became known as [[Tar-Aldarion|Aldarion]]. Like his grandfather Vëantur, Aldarion became enamoured of the sea: in {{SA|725}} Vëantur invited Aldarion to sail with him to [[Middle-earth]]; to this plan Meneldur gave his reluctant consent. When the voyagers returned in {{SA|727|n}} Meneldur's joy was great, but soon his son begged leave to sail again. Two more long voyages followed in {{SA|730|n}} and {{SA|735|n}}. However, when Tar-Elendil relinquished the Sceptre to Tar-Meneldur in {{SA|740|n}}, Aldarion remained at home for awhile for the comfort of his father.{{fact}}


On the family front Meneldur, together with his wife Almarian, attempted to mediate between his son Aldarion and betrothed Erendis, who had become estranged. For a time they were successful, and Aldarion and Erendis were wed, but Aldarion soon left again for sea. It was during the long absence in Middle-earth, a time during which Aldarion was instructed by Gil-galad, that Erendis left the royal court for her home. By the time Aldarion returned even Meneldur's best attempts could not seal the breach.
After a time the sea-longing came upon Aldarion anew. He formed a [[Guild of Venturers]] and left [[Armenelos]] to reside on his ship [[Eämbar]]. Then Tar-Meneldur looked coldly upon the sea-enterprises of his son, believing that they engendered restlessness and a desire for dominion over other lands. Father and son became estranged but Almarian supported Aldarion and thus Tar-Meneldur let matters proceed unhindered. Tar-Meneldur did try to curb his son's activities by prohibiting the cutting of trees for shipbuilding, but this only resulted in Aldarion's seeking lumber in Middle-earth.


Meneldur died in Second Age 942, at the age of 399 years.
In {{SA|800}} Tar-Meneldur commanded his son to cease voyaging, for Aldarion was of an age (one hundred years old) to be proclaimed the King's Heir. The two were then reconciled, for a time. However, six years later Aldarion sought and obtained Tar-Meneldur's grudging leave to go to sea again. At the same time Almarian and Tar-Meneldur were encouraging Aldarion to marry, and in the Queen's household there was one, [[Erendis]], who attracted the prince’s attention. Although Aldarion did fall in love with Erendis it did not prevent him from sailing again. When he returned from this journey Tar-Meneldur forbade his son from leaving, yet Aldarion did so in defiance of the King. Hard upon his return Aldarion left for a twenty-year voyage which disquieted the King.
{{sequence
 
|prev=[[Tar-Elendil]]
Tar-Meneldur rejoiced when Aldarion and Erendis were finally betrothed in {{SA|858}}, yet they were not married until {{SA|870|n}} after Aldarion had gone on yet another sea venture. Aldarion and Erendis' marriage proved to be unhappy and only produced one child, their daughter [[Tar-Ancalimë|Ancalimë]].
|next=[[Tar-Aldarion]]
 
|list=5th [[King of Númenor]]<br><code>II</code> 740 883
In {{SA|882}} Aldarion brought [[Gil-galad's letter|a letter]] from King [[Gil-galad]] to Tar-Meneldur. In it the King of the Elves warned Tar-Meneldur that a new shadow was arisen in the East and beseeched him for aid. From this letter Tar-Meneldur learned that his son had aided the Elves and knew much of what these matters portended. Recognizing that his son was better equipped to handle this menace, Tar-Meneldur resolved to resign the Sceptre to his son; this he did in the year {{SA|883|n}}.<ref name="Wife"/>
 
Tar-Meneldur passed the Sceptre to his son long before due time. He lived for 59 more years before he died in {{SA|942}}.<ref name="Kings"/>
 
== Etymology ==
All of Tar-Meneldur's names were in [[Quenya]]. Írimon itself means "Beautiful Man" (from ''[[írima]]'' "beautiful" and ''[[-on]]'', a masculine suffix). Meneldur means "Servant of the Heavens" (from Quenya ''[[menel]]'' "the Heavens" and ''[[-ndur]]'' "servant"); he took this name because of his love for stargazing. Elentirmo is another name that referred to his interest in the Heavens; it signifies "Star Watcher" (from ''[[elen]]'' "star", ''[[tir]]'' "watch", and ''[[-mo]]'', a masculine agentive suffix). Like all the rulers of Númenor who took their royal names in Quenya, Meneldur added the prefix ''[[tar-]]'' ("high") to his title when he received the Sceptre.
 
Gil-galad's letter refers to him as a "[[High King]]", whereas no other King of Númenor is mentioned to have this status. It possibly implies an overlordship of the King of Númenor not only on his island, but also the Númenorean colonists of Middle-earth.
== Genealogy ==
<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | AMA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |AMA=[[Tar-Amandil]]<br/><small>''{{SA|192|n}} - {{SA|603|n}}''</small>}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|^|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| |}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | | | ELE | | | | | | VEA | | | | | | | | EAR | | MAI |ELE=[[Tar-Elendil]]<br/><small>''{{SA|350|n}} - {{SA|751|n}}''</small>|VEA=[[Vëantur]]<br/><small>''b. {{SA|451|n}}''</small>|EAR=[[Eärendur (son of Tar-Amandil)|Eärendur]]<br/><small>''b. {{SA|361|n}}''</small>|MAI=[[Mairen]]<br/><small>''b. {{SA|377|n}}''</small>}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | ELA |y| SIL | | ISI | | MEN |y| ALM | | | | | | | | CAL | | | | |ELA=[[Elatan]]<br/><small>''unknown''</small>|SIL=[[Silmariën]]<br/><small>''b. {{SA|521|n}}''</small>|ISI=[[Isilmë]]<br/><small>''b. {{SA|532|n}}''</small>|MEN='''TAR-MENELDUR'''<br/><small>''{{SA|543|n}} - {{SA|942|n}}''</small>|ALM=[[Almarian]]<br/><small>''unknown''</small>|CAL=[[Caliondo]]<br/><small>''{{SA|512|n}} - {{SA|900|n}}''</small>}}
{{familytree | | | |!| | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | VAL | | ERE |y| ALD | | AIL |y| ORC | | ALM | | MAL | | | | |VAL=[[Valandil (Lord of Andúnië)|Valandil]]<br/><small>''b. {{SA|630|n}}''</small>|ERE=[[Erendis]]<br/><small>''{{SA|771|n}} - {{SA|985|n}}''</small>|ALD=[[Tar-Aldarion]]<br/><small>''{{SA|700|n}} - {{SA|1098|n}}''</small>|AIL=[[Ailinel]]<br/><small>''b. {{SA|712|n}}''</small>|ORC=[[Orchaldor]]<br/><small>''unknown''</small>|ALM=[[Almiel]]<br/><small>''b. {{SA|729|n}}''</small>|MAL=[[Malantur]]<br/><small>''b. {{SA|670|n}}''</small>}}
{{familytree | | | |:| | | | | |!| | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | AND | | | | ANC | | | | | | SOR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |AND=[[Lords of Andúnië|''Lords of<br/>Andúnië'']]|ANC=[[Tar-Ancalimë]]<br/><small>''{{SA|873|n}} - {{SA|1285|n}}''</small>|SOR=[[Soronto]]<br/><small>''b. {{SA|799|n}}''</small>}}
{{familytree/end}}
</div>
{{references}}
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=numenorean
| house=[[House of Elros]]
| born={{SA|543}}
| died={{SA|942}}
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Tar-Elendil]]
| list=5th [[King of Númenor]]
| dates={{SA|740}} - {{SA|883|n}}
| next=[[Tar-Aldarion]]
}}
}}
{{seq-end}}
{{numenorkings}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:TarMeneldur}}
[[Category:House of Elros]]
[[Category:Rulers of Númenor]]
[[Category:Second Age characters]]


[[Category:Númenóreans]]
[[de:Tar-Meneldur]]
[[Category:Rulers of Númenor]]
[[fi:Tar-Meneldur]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/2a/numenoreens/tar-meneldur]]

Revision as of 10:43, 26 January 2019

Tar-Meneldur
Númenórean
Šárka Škorpíková - Tar-Meneldur.jpg
"Tar-Meneldur" by Šárka Škorpíková
Biographical Information
Other namesÍrimon (Q), Elentirmo (Q)
TitlesKing of Númenor
LocationNúmenor
LanguageAdûnaic, Sindarin and Quenya
BirthS.A. 543
RuleS.A. 740 - 883 (143 years)
DeathS.A. 942 (aged 399)
Family
HouseHouse of Elros
ParentageTar-Elendil
SiblingsSilmariën and Isilmë
SpouseAlmarian
ChildrenAnardil, Ailinel and Almiel
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Tar-Meneldur

Tar-Meneldur was the fifth King of Númenor.

History

Meneldur's birth name was Írimon,[1] and was the son of Tar-Elendil; he had wo older sisters, Silmariën and Isilmë. At this time, Númenóreans began to sail eastwards and in S.A. 600 the Captain of the King's Ships, Vëantur, reached the Grey Havens.[2]

His great passion was stargazing and learning all he could about the Heavens from the lore of Elves and Men. To study the movements of the stars, he built a tower in the Forostar, the northernmost part of Númenor, since the sky was clearer there than anywhere else on the isle he also received the title Elentirmo.[3] Although Meneldur had no love for the sea, he did fall in love with Vëantur’s daughter, Almarian, and married her.[2] Together they had three children, a son Anardil and two daughters, Ailinel and Almiel, all born before Meneldur became king in S.A. 740.[4]

As the eldest son, but the youngest child of Tar-Elendil, Tar-Meneldur received the Sceptre of Númenor due to the old law of royal succession that existed at that time.[2] Meneldur only left the tower when he inherited the Sceptre, but even after becoming King his interest in the stars did not cease.[2]

Meneldur's son Anardil grew swiftly and became known as Aldarion. Like his grandfather Vëantur, Aldarion became enamoured of the sea: in S.A. 725 Vëantur invited Aldarion to sail with him to Middle-earth; to this plan Meneldur gave his reluctant consent. When the voyagers returned in 727 Meneldur's joy was great, but soon his son begged leave to sail again. Two more long voyages followed in 730 and 735. However, when Tar-Elendil relinquished the Sceptre to Tar-Meneldur in 740, Aldarion remained at home for awhile for the comfort of his father.[source?]

After a time the sea-longing came upon Aldarion anew. He formed a Guild of Venturers and left Armenelos to reside on his ship Eämbar. Then Tar-Meneldur looked coldly upon the sea-enterprises of his son, believing that they engendered restlessness and a desire for dominion over other lands. Father and son became estranged but Almarian supported Aldarion and thus Tar-Meneldur let matters proceed unhindered. Tar-Meneldur did try to curb his son's activities by prohibiting the cutting of trees for shipbuilding, but this only resulted in Aldarion's seeking lumber in Middle-earth.

In S.A. 800 Tar-Meneldur commanded his son to cease voyaging, for Aldarion was of an age (one hundred years old) to be proclaimed the King's Heir. The two were then reconciled, for a time. However, six years later Aldarion sought and obtained Tar-Meneldur's grudging leave to go to sea again. At the same time Almarian and Tar-Meneldur were encouraging Aldarion to marry, and in the Queen's household there was one, Erendis, who attracted the prince’s attention. Although Aldarion did fall in love with Erendis it did not prevent him from sailing again. When he returned from this journey Tar-Meneldur forbade his son from leaving, yet Aldarion did so in defiance of the King. Hard upon his return Aldarion left for a twenty-year voyage which disquieted the King.

Tar-Meneldur rejoiced when Aldarion and Erendis were finally betrothed in S.A. 858, yet they were not married until 870 after Aldarion had gone on yet another sea venture. Aldarion and Erendis' marriage proved to be unhappy and only produced one child, their daughter Ancalimë.

In S.A. 882 Aldarion brought a letter from King Gil-galad to Tar-Meneldur. In it the King of the Elves warned Tar-Meneldur that a new shadow was arisen in the East and beseeched him for aid. From this letter Tar-Meneldur learned that his son had aided the Elves and knew much of what these matters portended. Recognizing that his son was better equipped to handle this menace, Tar-Meneldur resolved to resign the Sceptre to his son; this he did in the year 883.[2]

Tar-Meneldur passed the Sceptre to his son long before due time. He lived for 59 more years before he died in S.A. 942.[1]

Etymology

All of Tar-Meneldur's names were in Quenya. Írimon itself means "Beautiful Man" (from írima "beautiful" and -on, a masculine suffix). Meneldur means "Servant of the Heavens" (from Quenya menel "the Heavens" and -ndur "servant"); he took this name because of his love for stargazing. Elentirmo is another name that referred to his interest in the Heavens; it signifies "Star Watcher" (from elen "star", tir "watch", and -mo, a masculine agentive suffix). Like all the rulers of Númenor who took their royal names in Quenya, Meneldur added the prefix tar- ("high") to his title when he received the Sceptre.

Gil-galad's letter refers to him as a "High King", whereas no other King of Númenor is mentioned to have this status. It possibly implies an overlordship of the King of Númenor not only on his island, but also the Númenorean colonists of Middle-earth.

Genealogy

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tar-Amandil
192 - 603
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tar-Elendil
350 - 751
 
 
 
 
 
Vëantur
b. 451
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eärendur
b. 361
 
Mairen
b. 377
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elatan
unknown
 
Silmariën
b. 521
 
Isilmë
b. 532
 
TAR-MENELDUR
543 - 942
 
Almarian
unknown
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Caliondo
512 - 900
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Valandil
b. 630
 
Erendis
771 - 985
 
Tar-Aldarion
700 - 1098
 
Ailinel
b. 712
 
Orchaldor
unknown
 
Almiel
b. 729
 
Malantur
b. 670
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lords of
Andúnië
 
 
 
Tar-Ancalimë
873 - 1285
 
 
 
 
 
Soronto
b. 799
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

References

Tar-Meneldur
House of Elros
Born: S.A. 543 Died: S.A. 942
Preceded by:
Tar-Elendil
5th King of Númenor
S.A. 740 - 883
Followed by:
Tar-Aldarion


Kings of Númenor
Elros Tar-Minyatur (S.A. 32 - 442) · Tar-Vardamir* (442) · Tar-Amandil (442 - 590) · Tar-Elendil (590 - 740) · Tar-Meneldur (740 - 883) · Tar-Aldarion (883 - 1075) · Tar-AncalimëQ (1075 - 1280) · Tar-Anárion (1280 - 1394) · Tar-Súrion (1394 - 1556) · Tar-TelperiënQ (1556 - 1731) · Tar-Minastir (1731 - 1869) · Tar-Ciryatan (1869 - 2029) · Tar-Atanamir (2029 - 2221) · Tar-Ancalimon (2221 - 2386) · Tar-Telemmaitë (2386 - 2526) · Tar-VanimeldëQ (2526 - 2637) · Tar-Anducal (2637 - 2657) · Tar-Alcarin (2657 - 2737) · Tar-Calmacil (2737 - 2825) · Tar-Ardamin (2825 - 2899) · Ar-Adûnakhôr (2899 - 2962) · Ar-Zimrathôn (2962 - 3033) · Ar-Sakalthôr (3033 - 3102) · Ar-Gimilzôr (3102 - 3177) · Tar-Palantir (3177 - 3255) · Ar-Pharazôn (3255 - 3319)
* Immediately abdicated in favour of his son · Q Ruling Queens · Usurped throne. Later struck off the Line of Kings · Usurped throne from his cousin Tar-Míriel