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Tar-Aldarion

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Tar-Aldarion
Númenórean
Biographical Information
Other names and titles Anardil
Date of birth S.A. 700
Years of rule S.A. 883-1075 (192 years)
Date of death S.A. 1098
Age at death 398 years
Favored language Adûnaic
Personal Information
Gender Male
Hair color Golden
Eye color Blue
Parentage Tar-Meneldur and Almarian
Siblings Ailinel, Almiel
Spouse Erendis
Children Ancalimë
Aldarion.mp3
By Ardamir. (Help; more articles)
"Aldarion, for so he is called in all tales, grew swiftly to a man of great stature, strong and vigorous in mind and body, golden-haired as his mother, ready to mirth and generous, but prouder than his father and ever more bent on his own will."
– Unfinished Tales, Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife


Tar-Aldarion was the sixth King of Númenor, succeeding his father, Tar-Meneldur, whose major accomplishments were his Middle-earth explorations. He was married to Erendis, a Númenórean woman of lesser status than Aldarion himself, and therefore had a shorter life-span. Aldarion's love for the sea ultimately caused a rift between the couple. The tale of their marriage and estrangement survived the Downfall of Númenor as "Aldarion and Erendis" or "The Mariner's Wife".

Contents

[edit] The Great Mariner

His first love was the sea, and he was already a great explorer before he became king, leading his crew in long voyages towards Middle-earth, mostly against the wish of his family. Aldarion created the Guild of Venturers, whose quarters were on the ship Eämbar. He made several journeys to Middle-earth and established contact with Gil-galad and his realm in the Grey Havens. A visionary man, he saw the threat coming from Sauron upon the races of Elves and Men alike, so he built a vital Númenórean port in Middle-earth, at the mouth of the river Gwathló. It was named Vinyalondë and parts of it survived into the Third Age as the port of Lond Daer.

At his command, numerous ships were built, among which 3 were mentioned more often:

  • Eämbar , the "Sea-Home", headquarters for the Guild of Venturers
  • Palarran , the "Far Wanderer", which served him in many voyages
  • Hirilondë , the "Haven-finder", largest in Númenor

However, the first ship he had sailed on belonged to Vëantur and was called Númerrámar, the "West-wings".

Tar-Aldarion's royal name signifies "Son of the trees" because he was a noted tree steward and forester — trees were essential to the construction of his fleets, but he took great care to replenish what was being felled. Under his reign the deforesting of Enedwaith and Minhiriath began.

[edit] Aldarion and Erendis

Even before they were wed, Aldarion's love for the sea would prove to be Erendis' rival. In their conversations it is often stated that, for Erendis' part, Lady Uinen was her foe, while Aldarion's was the Vala Oromë, referring to his wife's love for the forests and all growing things on the Island of Númenor. Such opposing characters lead to the breaking of their marriage, one important factor in their separation being Aldarion's voyages, who kept him away from home for long years. Though in the end, as it is revealed in the letter sent by Gil-galad and read by King Meneldur, Aldarion was right to pursue his explorations, Erendis could not be convinced to renounce her pride and reconcile with him.

[edit] Succession

His only child was a daughter, Tar-Ancalimë, so he changed the Law of Succession, replacing the principle of agnatic primogeniture with that of fully equal primogeniture and she became the first ruling Queen of Númenor.

[edit] Inflection

Quenya noun
Aldarion
Case \ # Singular Case \ # Singular
Nominative Aldarion Locative Aldariondessë
Accusative Aldarion Allative Aldario(nde)nna
Genitive Aldariondo Ablative Aldariondello
Possessive Aldariondeva Instrumental Aldarion(de)nen
Dative Aldarionden *Respective Aldariondes
Asterisked forms are speculative. Chart may not be 100% canonical.

[edit] References

[edit] See Also

Preceded by:
Tar-Meneldur		 6th King of Númenor
II 883 – 1075		 Followed by:
Tar-Ancalimë
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