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Ar-Adûnakhôr

From Tolkien Gateway
(Redirected from Herunúmen)
Númenórean
Ar-Adûnakhôr[1]
Biographical Information
Other namesTar-Herunúmen (Q)[1]
TitlesKing of Númenor
LocationNúmenor
AffiliationKing's Men
LanguageAdûnaic
BirthS.A. 2709[1]
RuleS.A. 2899 - 2962 (63 years)[1]
DeathS.A. 2962[1] (aged 253)
Family
HouseHouse of Elros
ParentageTar-Ardamin[2]
ChildrenAr-Zimrathôn[3]
Physical Description
GenderMale

Ar-Adûnakhôr was the son of King Tar-Ardamin and the twentieth King of Númenor.[1]

History

Adûnakhôr was born in a time when most Númenóreans already had stopped using the Elven tongues generations before, although it was still customary for the Kings of Númenor to take their royal names in Quenya.

When Ar-Adûnakhôr succeeded his father, however, he was the first King to break with tradition and took his title in Adûnaic.[1][4] Tar-Herunúmen, a name in Quenya was still recorded in the Scroll of Kings, because the kings feared that a break with this ancient custom could cause evil to befall.[1][5]

His names were perceived as blasphemous and ill-omened[4] by the Faithful Númenóreans, because they mean "Lord of the West", a title that the Faithful only used for one of the Valar, especially Manwë.[1]

During his reign the Elven-tongues were no longer used, nor permitted to be taught, but were maintained in secret by the Faithful. After that elven ships from Tol Eressëa only came seldom and secretly to the west shores of Númenor.[1]

Númenórean settlers in the north of Middle-earth (between the Gulf of Lune and the city of Pelargir) refused to participate in the rebellion against the Valar and were joined by many exiles of the Faithful who fled from persecution by Ar-Adûnakhôr and the later Kings of Númenor. During the reign of Ar-Adûnakhôr the term "Middle Men" originated from these settlers.[6]

He was succeeded to the throne by his son, Ar-Zimrathôn.[3][7]

Etymology and names

Adûnakhôr is an Adûnaic name that means "Lord of the West".[1] It can be analyzed as adûn "West" (S. dûn) and khôr "Lord" (Q. heru). It is said that as a title, it signifies Manwë. Although the name was taken in defiance of Quenya, ironically its elements are said to be of Elvish origin.[8] See also ar-.

Herunúmen is a Quenya name that means "Lord of the West".[1] Ostensibly a compound of heru ("lord") and númen ("west").[9] Like for all the rulers of Númenor whose name was inscribed in the Scroll of Kings, the prefix tar- ("high") was added to his name.[10]

Genealogy

Tar-Calmacil
2516 - 2825
Tar-Ardamin
2618 - 2899
Gimilzagar
b. 2630
AR-ADÛNAKHÔR
2709 - 2962
Ar-Zimrathôn
2798 - 3033
Ar-Sakalthôr
2876 - 3102

References

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", entry XX Ar-Adûnakhôr (Tar-Herunúmen)
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", entry XIX Tar-Ardamin
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", entry XXI Ar-Zimrathôn
  4. 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Númenor", paragraph about king Ar-Adûnakhôr
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Akallabêth: The Downfall of Númenor"
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "X. Of Dwarves and Men", "The Atani and their Languages"
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Númenor", paragraphs with the names of the Kings and Queens of Númenor
  8. Helge Fauskanger, "Adûnaic - the vernacular of Númenor", Ardalambion
  9. Paul Strack, "Q. Herunúmen m.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon, accessed 12 January 2022
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", first paragraph and entry I to XXV
Born
Ar-Adûnakhôr
Died
Preceded by
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