Eldacar (King of Gondor)

(See also King Eldacar of Arnor)

Eldacar (Third Age 1255 – 1490) was the twenty-first King of Gondor and the son of Valacar and Vidumavi and born with the name Vinitharya.

His reign saw the already lingering unrest explode, for he was the son of princess Vidumavi, a daughter of the Northmen King Vidugavia, a lesser Man.

After ascending the throne in Third Age 1432 he reigned for five years when he was deposed and driven from Osgiliath into exile to Rhovanion by his far relative Castamir the Usurper in a civil war called the Kin-strife.

While being in exile he slowly gathered support from the Northmen and the Dúnedain from the northern parts of Gondor (who hated Castamir for executing Ornendil, Eldacar's firstborn son).

In 1447 he marched south with his army and slew Castamir personally at the Battle of Erui. But Castamir's sons escaped and Gondor's purest blood was spilt. He besieged Pelargir where Castamir's sons held out the last resistance. Eldacar had no ships at his disposal (for Castamir was the Lord of Ships of Gondor) and Castamir's sons finally fled to Umbar.

Eldacar reigned until 1490 and was succeeded by his second son Aldamir.

Preceded by: Valacar

21th King of Gondor III 1432 – 1490 (challenged by Castamir)

Followed by: Aldamir