Eärendur (son of Tar-Amandil): Difference between revisions

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One of the three children of [[Tar-Amandil]], the third King of [[Númenor]]. Thus, Eärendur was a great-grandson of [[Elros Tar-Minyatur]] himself, but he was not heir to the throne: his elder brother inherited the Kingship, and ruled as [[Tar-Elendil]] (these two brothers also had a younger sister, named [[Mairen]]).  
'''Eärendur''' (born [[Second Age]] 361) was the second son of [[Tar-Amandil]], the third [[King of Númenor]]. His brother would take up the [[Sceptre]] as [[Tar-Elendil]].


Eärendur is perhaps most relevant to history for something that might have happened, but ultimately did not. Long after his death, Tar-Elendil's grandson [[Tar-Aldarion]] failed to produce a male heir, and all the other lines of descent from Tar-Elendil were through daughters. Thus, according to the laws of inheritance of that time, the male descendants of Eärendur's line should have taken over the Kingship, with the honour probably falling on his grandson [[Malantur]]. Tar-Aldarion prevented this by changing the law, allowing his daughter to take the Sceptre as Númenor's first Ruling Queen, [[Tar-Ancalimë]].
Eärendur means "Servant of the [[Belegaer|Sea]]" (from ''[[ëar]]'' = sea, ''-[[ndur|dur]]'' = "servant").


[[Category:Characters]]
Eärendur is best known by a historical event that did ''not'' happen. Tar-Elendil's grandson failed to produce a male heir and according to the law of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnatic_primogeniture agnatic primogeniture] the Sceptre should have passed to Eärendur's grandson [[Malantur]]. However, the law was abruptly changed so that the eldest ''child'' would become Ruler of [[Númenor]]. This allowed a female to take the Sceptre, which led to Tar-Ancalimë becoming the nation's first [[Ruling Queen of Númenor|Ruling Queen]]. Thus, had events played out differently, Eärendur's descendants would have become the royal line of Númenor.
 
== Genealogy ==
<code>
            [[Tar-Amandil]]
                  |
      ____________|_________
    |            |        |
    |            |        |
[[Tar-Elendil]]  '''EÄRENDUR'''  [[Mairen]]
                  |
                  |
              [[Caliondo]]
                  |
                  |
              [[Malantur]]
</code>
 
[[Category:Númenóreans]]

Revision as of 23:29, 12 June 2006

Eärendur (born Second Age 361) was the second son of Tar-Amandil, the third King of Númenor. His brother would take up the Sceptre as Tar-Elendil.

Eärendur means "Servant of the Sea" (from ëar = sea, -dur = "servant").

Eärendur is best known by a historical event that did not happen. Tar-Elendil's grandson failed to produce a male heir and according to the law of agnatic primogeniture the Sceptre should have passed to Eärendur's grandson Malantur. However, the law was abruptly changed so that the eldest child would become Ruler of Númenor. This allowed a female to take the Sceptre, which led to Tar-Ancalimë becoming the nation's first Ruling Queen. Thus, had events played out differently, Eärendur's descendants would have become the royal line of Númenor.

Genealogy

            Tar-Amandil
                 |
     ____________|_________
    |            |         |
    |            |         |
Tar-Elendil   EÄRENDUR   Mairen
                 |
                 |
              Caliondo
                 |
                 |
              Malantur

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