Tar-Meneldur

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Tar-Meneldur
Númenórean
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. Although he was the youngest child of Tar-Elendil, Tar-Meneldur received the Sceptre due to the old law of royal succession that existed in Númenor at that time. His elder siblings, Silmariën and Isilmë, were both female and thus not eligible to rule the realm.[1] Tar-Meneldur's birth name was Írimon,[2] and he also received the title Elentirmo.[3]

Meneldur's 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.[3] Meneldur only left the tower when he inherited the Sceptre, but even after becoming King his interest in the stars did not cease.[1]

History

During the reign of his father, Tar-Elendil, the Númenóreans began to sail eastwards. In S.A. 600 the Captain of the King's Ships, Vëantur, reached the Grey Havens. Although Meneldur had no love for the sea he did fall in love with Vëantur’s daughter, Almarian, and married her.[1] Together they had three children, a son Anardil and two daughters, Ailinel and Almiel, before Meneldur became king in S.A. 740.[4]

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, in 740 Tar-Elendil relinquished the Sceptre to Tar-Meneldur, and for the comfort of his father Aldarion remained at home for awhile.

But 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 833.[1]

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.[2]

Etymology

All of Tar-Meneldur's names were in Quenya. Meneldur means "Servant of the Heavens" (from Quenya menel "the Heavens" and -ndur "servant"); Írimon took this name because of his love for stargazing. Írimon itself means "Beautiful Man" (from írima "beautiful" and -on, a masculine suffix). 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.

Genealogy

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tar-Elendil
 
 
 
 
 
Vëantur
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elatan
 
Silmariën
 
Isilmë
 
TAR-MENELDUR
 
Almarian
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Valandil
 
Erendis
 
Tar-Aldarion
 
Ailinel
 
Orchaldor
 
Almiel
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tar-Ancalimë
 
 
 
 
 
Soronto
 
 
 
 
 
 


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


References

fa:تار-منلدور