Valacar

From Tolkien Gateway
Valacar
Gondorian
Matěj Čadil - Valacar of Gondor.jpg
"Valacar of Gondor" by Matěj Čadil
Biographical Information
TitlesKing of Gondor
LocationGondor
LanguageWestron, language of the Northmen
BirthT.A. 1194
RuleT.A. 1366 - 1432 (66 years)
DeathT.A. 1432 (aged 238)
Family
HouseHouse of Anárion
ParentageRómendacil II
SpouseVidumavi
ChildrenEldacar
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Valacar

Valacar (T.A. 1194[1]1432,[2] aged 238 years) was the twentieth King of Gondor.[3]

History[edit | edit source]

in T.A. 1250 Valacar's father, Minalcar, the regent of Gondor, who had taken the name Rómendacil after his victory over a large army of Easterlings sent Valacar as an ambassador to Vidugavia, a prince of the Northmen who called himself King of Rhovanion whose realm was between Mirkwood and the River Running and who had helped Gondor in the war against the Easterlings. Minalcar charged Valacar to learn the language, manners and policies of the Northmen. Valacar learned to love the country and the the Northmen and married Vidumavi, the daughter of Vidugavia. During this stay in Rhovanion his son Eldacar was born who also received the name Vinitharya in the language of the Northmen. After some years Valacar returned to Gondor. The high men of Gondor disapproved that the heir to the crown had married a woman of a lesser and alien race. Vidumavi was a beautiful and noble lady, but had a shorter life compared to the longer lifeexpectancy of the Dúnedain. Some Dúnedain feared that his descendants would also have a short life and fall from the majesty of the Kings of Men and did not want to accept Valacar as their lord. When Valacar grew old there was rebellion in the southern provinces.[4]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Valacar is a Quenya name. It is a compound of Vala and the suffixal form -car of carma "helm", also seen in Eldacar "Elf-helm".[5] Paul Strack suggests the name Valacar means "Vala helm".[6]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
 
 
 
 
Calmacil
1058 - 1304
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vidugavia
unknown
 
Rómendacil II
1126 - 1366
 
Calimehtar
unknown
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vidumavi
d. 1332
 
VALACAR
1194 - 1432
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eldacar
1255 - 1490
 
 
 
Castamir
1259 - 1447
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ornendil
d. 1437
 
Aldamir
1330 - 1540
 
sons
unknown

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

A late manuscript of what would later become the entry for Minalcar, Valacar and Eldacar in Appendix A in the second edition of The Lord of the Rings, also mentions that Romendakil gave his approval to the marriage, because he wanted to avoid angering the Northmen and earning the enmity of Vidugavia that a refusal of the marriage would have caused. It also mentions that Minalkcar called back Valakar to Gondor in T.A. 1240 and that a household of noble men and women of the Northmen accompanied Valakar and his wife and children to Gondor. It is further mentioned that Valakar gave the name Eldakar to his son for public use in Gondor. [7]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", The Southern Line of Gondor: the Anarioni, 20. Valakar
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Southern Line: Heirs of Anarion", Kings of Gondor, Valacar
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Southern Line: Heirs of Anarion", Kings of Gondor
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", entry for Minalcar (Rómendacil II)
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 114 entry Q Eldacar; Valacar
  6. Paul Strack, "Q. Valacar m.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon (accessed 5 March 2022)
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "IX. The Making of Appendix A": (i) "The Realms in Exile", Note on the expansion of the tale of the Kin-strife in the Second Edition, typescript D of The Heirs of Elendil, 19. Romendakil II
Valacar
House of Anárion
Cadet branch of House of Elros
Born: T.A. 1194 Died: T.A. 1432
Preceded by:
Rómendacil II
20th King of Gondor
T.A. 1366 - 1432
Followed by:
Eldacar


The Southern Line and the Heirs of Anárion
Kings of Gondor: Elendil (S.A. 3320 - 3441) · Isildur (S.A. 3441 - T.A. 2) and Anárion (S.A. 3320 - 3440) · Meneldil (T.A. 2 - 158) · Cemendur (158 - 238) · Eärendil (238 - 324) · Anardil (324 - 411) · Ostoher (411 - 492) · Rómendacil I (492 - 541) · Turambar (541 - 667) · Atanatar I (667 - 748) · Siriondil (748 - 830) · Tarannon Falastur (830 - 913) · Eärnil I (913 - 936) · Ciryandil (936 - 1015) · Hyarmendacil I (1015 - 1149) · Atanatar II Alcarin (1149 - 1226) · Narmacil I (1226 - 1294) · Calmacil (1294 - 1304) · Rómendacil II (1304 - 1366) · Valacar (1366 - 1432) · Eldacar (1432 - 1437) · Castamir the Usurper (1437 - 1447) · Eldacar restored (1447 - 1490) · Aldamir (1490 - 1540) · Hyarmendacil II (1540 - 1621) · Minardil (1621 - 1634) · Telemnar (1634 - 1636) · Tarondor (1636 - 1798) · Telumehtar Umbardacil (1798 - 1850) · Narmacil II (1850 - 1856) · Calimehtar (1856 - 1936) · Ondoher (1936 - 1944) · Eärnil II (1945 - 2043) · Eärnur (2043 - 2050)
Stewards of Gondor: Húrin of Emyn Arnen (c. T.A. 1630s) · Pelendur (before T.A. 1944 - 1998) · Vorondil (1998 - 2029) · Mardil Voronwë (2029 - 2080) · Eradan (2080 - 2116) · Herion (2116 - 2148) · Belegorn (2148 - 2204) · Húrin I (2204 - 2244) · Túrin I (2244 - 2278) · Hador (2278 - 2395) · Barahir (2395 - 2412) · Dior (2412 - 2435) · Denethor I (2435 - 2477) · Boromir (2477 - 2489) · Cirion (2489 - 2567) · Hallas (2567 - 2605) · Húrin II (2605 - 2628) · Belecthor I (2628 - 2655) · Orodreth (2655 - 2685) · Ecthelion I (2685 - 2698) · Egalmoth (2698 - 2743) · Beren (2743 - 2763) · Beregond (2763 - 2811) · Belecthor II (2811 - 2872) · Thorondir (2872 - 2882) · Túrin II (2882 - 2914) · Turgon (2914 - 2953) · Ecthelion II (2953 - 2984) · Denethor II (2984 - 3019) · Faramir (T.A. 3019 - Fo.A. 82) · Elboron (Fo.A. 82 onwards)
Kings of Gondor: Elessar (T.A. 3019 - Fo.A. 120) · Eldarion (Fo.A. 120 onwards)
Non-ruling stewards are in italics