Vardamir

As the eldest of the four children of Elros Tar-Minyatur,^[1] Vardamir was the heir to the Sceptre of Númenor. He was noted as an exceptional scholar whose only desire was to study, not to rule. The Sceptre of Númenor fell to him on his father's death. The extraordinary length of Elros' life, though, meant that Vardamir was 381 years old at this time - old even for a Númenórean of royal blood - and he wisely passed the Sceptre on immediately to the eldest of his own children, who would rule as King Tar-Amandil.^[2] However, Vardamir was still officially counted as the second King of Númenor, having nominally ruled for a single year.^[3][4]

Vardamir had four children: three sons, Amandil, Aulendil, and Nolondil; and one daughter, Vardilmë.^[1]

[edit] Etymology

Vardamir means "Jewel of Varda" in Quenya (from mírë "jewel"). His surname, Nólimon, means "Man of Knowledge" (from nólë "lore, knowledge" and -mon, a masculine suffix) or "most learned". It was given as a surname to Elros' son Vardamir because of his great love of ancient lore and knowledge, which he collected from many sources.^[4] Like all the rulers of Númenor who took royal titles in Quenya, Vardamir added the prefix tar- ("high") to his name when he received the Sceptre.

[edit] Genealogy

References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife", "The earlier generations of the Line of Elros"
2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife" Note 26
3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", Vardamir Nólimon
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, Index