| Númenórean | |
| Tar-Ciryatan | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Other names | Ar-Balkumagân (A)[1] |
| Titles | King of Númenor |
| Location | Númenor |
| Language | Adûnaic, Sindarin and Quenya |
| Birth | S.A. 1634[2] |
| Rule | S.A. 1869[3] - 2029 (160 years)[2] |
| Death | S.A. 2035[2] (aged 401) |
| Family | |
| House | House of Elros |
| Parentage | Tar-Minastir[3] |
| Children | Tar-Atanamir[4] |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
Tar-Ciryatan (S.A. 1634 – 2035, aged 401 years) was the twelfth King of Númenor, ruling for 160 years, from 1869 to 2029.[2]
History
Ciryatan was the son of Minastir,[3] who himself was the nephew of the Ruling Queen Tar-Telperiën.[5] Before taking the Sceptre, Ciryatan scorned the yearnings of his father and eased his restlessness by voyaging east, north, and south.[2]
In 1693 the War of the Elves and Sauron began in Middle-earth and the Three Rings that were forged by Celebrimbor in the elven realm of Eregion were hidden.[6] When Gil-galad, the Elven High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth started to fear that Sauron would invade Eriador with an army, he asked Númenor for help and the Númenóreans started to station a Númenórean force and supplies for a war on the shores of his elven realm of Lindon.[7]
By 1695[8] Sauron moved with a great army through Calenardhon and invaded Eriador where he immediately turned north to attack Eregion. When Gil-galad received the news of the invasion in Lindon, he sent a force under the command of Elrond to Eregion and asked Númenor for help.[7] Sauron could not spare enough forces to assault the Númenórean forts at their Great Haven on the estuary of the Gwathló or along both banks of the river, but his raiders burnt many of the wood-stores of the Númenóreans and started fires in the woods.[7]
In S.A. 1697[9] Sauron's army destroyed the realm of Eregion and tortured and killed Celebrimbor, but Elrond managed to retreat from Eregion with the surviving Noldor and established the refuge of Rivendell. Sauron then advanced to Lindon where Gil-galad and a Númenórean force that had already been stationed on the shores of Lindon in preparation for a possible war with Sauron held the River Lhûn in desperate defence of the Grey Havens. At the same time a strong detachment of Sauron's forces besieged Rivendell.[7] Minastir, who loved the Eldar, but envied them,[3] sent a great navy under the command of Ciryatur to Lindon to aid the Elves in 1700.[10][7][11][12][13][note 1]
The delayed navy of Númenór arrived in Lindon[11] just in time in 1700 and Sauron's army was defeated and pushed back to the south-east. A part of the Númenórean ships was ordered by Ciryatur to land at their Great Haven at the mouth of the Gwathló. Subsequently, Sauron's army was defeated again at Sarn Ford and driven further to the south-east. It was eventually utterly routed in the Battle of the Gwathló after the Númenórean force that had landed at the Great Haven appeared at its rear and Sauron narrowly escaped with a small remaining force that was further attacked in the east of Calenhardhon back to Mordor. The strong detachment of Sauron's forces that had been besieging Rivendell was trapped between the forces of Elrond and Gil-galad and completely destroyed. Although Eriador was cleared of the enemy, it was mostly in ruins.[7]
In 1731 Tar-Telperiën surrendered the Sceptre and Minastir became King.[10] In 1800 Ciryatan's son and heir, Atanamir was born.[4]
The Númenóreans had made permanent havens in Middle-earth since 1200,[14] having now tasted power in Middle-earth,[7] began to establish dominions[15] and permanent settlements on the western coasts of Middle-earth from about 1800 onward[7]. They became too powerful for Sauron to attempt to move west out of Mordor[7] and he extended his power eastwards[15].
In 1869 Tar-Minastir, at the age of 395, surrendered the Sceptre and Ciryatan became King.[3] It was said that Ciryatan constrained his father to surrender the sceptre to him before Tar-Minastir would have done so out of his free will. Tar-Ciryatan was a mighty King, but greedy of wealth; he built a great fleet of royal ships, and his servants brought back great store of metals and gems, and oppressed the men of Middle-earth.[2]
In 2029, at the age of 395, he surrendered the Sceptre[2] to his son, Tar-Atanamir,[4] and died six years later in 2035.[2]
Etymology
Ciryatan is a Quenya name. Its meaning is not glossed, but Paul Strack suggests it means "Shipbuilder" or "Shipwright" as a compound of cirya ("ship") and the suffixal form -tan ("builder", "wright") of tamo ("smith").[16] He is explicitly referred to as "the Shipbuilder"[17][18] or with "(Shipwright)" after his name[1]. Like all the rulers of Númenor who took their royal names in Quenya, Ciryatan added the prefix tar- ("high") to his name when he received the Sceptre.[19]
Balkumagân is an Adûnaic name.[1] Its meaning is not glossed, but Paul Strack suggests it means "Shipbuilder" or "Shipwright" as a compound of the objective form of balak ("ship") and magân ("builder", "wright").[20] The meaning of the Adûnaic prefix Ar- is not glossed, but Paul Strack suggests it means "king" and is a prefixal form of ârû ("king") or derived from the same root.[21]
Genealogy
| Tar-Súrion 1174 - 1574 | |||||||||||||||
| Tar-Telperiën 1320 - 1731 | Isilmo unknown | ||||||||||||||
| Tar-Minastir 1474 - 1873 | |||||||||||||||
| TAR-CIRYATAN 1634 - 2035 | |||||||||||||||
| Tar-Atanamir 1800 - 2221 | |||||||||||||||
| Tar-Ancalimon 1986 - 2386 | |||||||||||||||
Other versions of the legendarium
History of the Akallabêth
The first mentions of Ciryatan (spelled as Kiryatan) are found in The History of the Akallabêth.
Initially he was the eighth King of Númenor to succeed Elros, and was the son (rather than the father) of Atanamir. He was one of only four named kings, along with Elros, Atanamir, and Pharazôn (the thirteenth and final successor).[1]
Kiryatan's time is noted as such:
In his time first began the division of the folk between the King’s folk and the Nimruzîrim (Elendilli) or Elf-friends. The King’s folk and Royal House cease to learn or use Elvish speech and are more usually known by their Númenórean names. This king was Tar-Kiryatan (Shipwright) or in Númenórean Ar-Balkumagān. Settlements of dominion in Middle-earth begin.
It was under the reign of Atanamir that the Shadow first fell on Númenor, and the Númenóreans began to desire for everlasting life. Tar-Kiryatan, in a role which would later be taken by Tar-Ancalimon, was Atanamir's son of like mind who's time led to division among the Númenóreans, building of great tombs for the dead, and, after his days, of neglecting the first fruits to Eru.[1]
Other
The Complete Guide to Middle-earth incorrectly states the year of his death as S.A. 2251. This is because the Tale of Years said that in that year "Tar-Atanamir takes the sceptre". However, Atanamir died in 2221. 2221 is itself an emendation of 2251, and the former (2221) appears in the later tables, while the latter (2251) in the earlier tables: therefore 2251 (properly 2221) should have read "Death of Tar-Atanamir. Tar-Ancalimon takes the sceptre".[22]
See also
Portrayal in adaptations
1982: Middle-earth Role Playing:
- Tar-Ciryatan is the father of Er-Mûrazôr, the Witch-king. Tar-Ciryatan's arrogance and greed shaped Murazor into the monster he would become.
Notes
- ↑ In The Tale of Years it is stated that "Tar-Minastir", his name with the prefix Tar- of the King of Númenor, sent a great navy from Númenor to Lindon in S.A. 1700 (see citation 7). This event and date are restated in The History of Galadriel and Celeborn, mentioning "Tar-Minastir the King" (see citation 6). Yet in The Line of Elros Tar-Telperiën is said to have lived to S.A. 1731 and not have given up the sceptre until that time, which would mean she was the ruler of Númenor when the great navy was sent (see citation 2). Christopher Tolkien could not account for this discrepancy (see citation 8). It is possible to reconcile this discrepancy if Minastir sent the fleet in a capacity, such as Regent or Captain of the Queen's Ships before he ascended the throne and that later chroniclers simply referred to him as "Tar-" or "the King" without taking into account that he had not taken the sceptre and had not formally become the king when he sent the fleet to Lindon. In a Note on the delay of Gil-galad and the Númenóreans it is mentioned that the great host of "Minastir" landed in Middle-earth (see citation 9).
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "V. The History of the Akallabêth", p. 186
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", entry XII Tar-Ciryatan
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", entry XI Tar-Minastir
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", entry XIII Tar-Atanamir the Great
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", entries X Tar-Telperien and IX Tar-Súrion
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age", entry for the year 1693, p. 1083
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", "Concerning Galadriel and Celeborn"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age", entry for the year 1695, p. 1083
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age", entry for the year 1697, p. 1083
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", entry X Tar-Telperien
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age", entry for the year 1700, p. 1083
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", "Notes", Note 9
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part Three. The World, its Lands, and its Inhabitants: XVIII. Note on the Delay of Gil-galad and the Númenóreans", p. 370
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age", entry for the year 1200, p. 1083
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age", entry for the year c. 1800, p. 1083
- ↑ Paul Strack, "Q. Ciryatan m.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon, accessed 22 December 2021
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "V. The History of the Akallabêth"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", first paragraph and entry I to XXV
- ↑ Paul Strack, "Ad. Balkumagân m.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon, accessed 12 January 2022
- ↑ Paul Strack, "Ad. Ar- pref.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon, accessed 12 January 2022
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", "Notes", note 10
Born | Tar-Ciryatan | Died |
Preceded by | 12th King of Númenor | Followed by |
| Kings of Númenor |
|---|
| Elros Tar-Minyatur (S.A. 32 - 442) · Vardamir Nólimon* (442 - 443) · Tar-Amandil (443 - 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, though was recorded as ruling for a year · Q Ruling Queens · † Usurped throne. Later struck off the Line of Kings · ‡ Usurped throne from his cousin Tar-Míriel |