Eldacar (King of Gondor)

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The name Eldacar refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Eldacar (disambiguation).
Eldacar
Gondorian
Matěj Čadil - Eldacar of Gondor.jpg
"Eldacar of Gondor" by Matěj Čadil
Biographical Information
Other namesVinitharya
TitlesKing of Gondor
LocationGondor
LanguageWestron
BirthT.A. 1255
Rhovanion
RuleT.A. 1432 - 1437
T.A. 1447 - 1490
DeathT.A. 1490 (aged 235)
Family
HouseHouse of Anárion
ParentageValacar and Vidumavi
ChildrenOrnendil and Aldamir
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Eldacar
"To the lineage of Gondor he added the fearless spirit of the Northmen. He was handsome and valiant, and showed no sign of ageing more swiftly than his father."
Appendix A

Eldacar (T.A. 1255[1]1490,[2] aged 235 years) was the twenty-first King of Gondor. He was the son of Valacar and Vidumavi and born with the name Vinitharya.

History

Eldacar's father Valacar had gone to live among the Northmen of King Vidugavia's realm in T.A. 1250. While there Valacar fell in love with and married the King's daughter, princess Vidumavi. Their son, named Vinitharya, would later be called Eldacar.[3] In 1260 Valacar brought his family and a household of noble Northmen back to Gondor.[4]

The high men of Gondor frowned upon Valacar's marriage to a woman of alien and "lesser" race for they feared that Vidumavi's descendants would prove short-lived. As Valacar grew old rebellion smouldered in the southern fiefs of Gondor since many refused to accept Eldacar as their upcoming lord. When Eldacar succeeded his father in T.A. 1432 full civil war erupted, called the Kin-strife.[3]

Eldacar showed no sign of more rapid aging than any of the Dúnedain and displayed fearlessness in opposing those who sought to depose him. However, the rebels came against him in great strength and lay a siege that laid waste to Osgiliath (and caused the loss of the palantír kept in the Tower of the Stone). As Eldacar fled the city to Rhovanion a distant relative named Castamir claimed his throne and had Eldacar's son Ornendil put to death.

Eldacar gathered together his kinsfold in Rhovanion, those Northmen who had served Gondor, and many of the Dúnedain from the northern parts of Gondor. After ten years of exile Eldacar led a great army to reclaim his Kingship. His forces were augmented by the people of Calenardhon, Anórien, and Ithilien. In this he was aided by the cruelty and lack of generosity of Castamir, and by Castamir's disdain for the land with his plan to remove the seat of the King to Pelargir. The greatest clash during Eldacar's return took place at the Crossings of Erui.

Although Eldacar himself avenged his son Ornendil by slaying Castamir, the sons of the Usurper escaped from the battle and held out at Pelargir. Gathering the remainder of their forces these sons then sailed to Umbar which then became a refuge for all enemies of the King. The independent lordship of Umbar would remain at war with Gondor for generations, a constant threat to its coastlines and sea traffic.

Eldacar lived for 235 years, which showed that his mother's lineage had not diminished his lifespan as feared. Eventually he was succeeded by his younger son Aldamir.[3]

Genealogy

 
 
 
 
 
 
Calmacil
1058 - 1304
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vidugavia
unknown
 
Rómendacil II
1126 - 1366
 
Calimehtar
unknown
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vidumavi
d. 1344
 
Valacar
1194 - 1432
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ELDACAR
1255 - 1490
 
 
 
Castamir
1259 - 1447
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ornendil
d. 1437
 
Aldamir
1330 - 1540
 
sons
unknown
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hyarmendacil II
1391 - 1621
 
 
 
 


Etymology

Eldacar contains the Quenya words Elda + cára, meaning "Elf-head" or "Elf-helmet".

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil"
  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"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "IX. The Making of Appendix A": (i) "The Realms in Exile"
Eldacar
House of Anárion
Born: T.A. 1255 Died: T.A. 1490
Preceded by:
Valacar
21st King of Gondor
T.A. 14321437
Followed by:
Castamir
Preceded by:
Castamir "The Usurper"
21st King of Gondor (restored)
T.A. 1447 - 1490
Followed by:
Aldamir


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