Lord of Andúnië

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The Lords of Andúnië were the Númenórean lords who ruled the shoreland region of Andustar in western Númenor from the great city of Andúnië.[1]

The House of the Lords of Andúnië[2] was the noble cadet branch of the House of Elros descended from Silmariën, the eldest child - a daughter - of Tar-Elendil. Silmariën married Elatan of Andúnië, and their son was Valandil, who became the first of the Lords of Andúnië and the first member of the house.

Description

As rulers of one of the major regions of Númenor, the Lords of Andúnië were members of the Council of the Sceptre. Being the chief councellors of the Kings of Númenor, they were the second most honourable lords in the kingdom.[3][4] From their beginning, these lords revered and were ever-loyal to the Kings of Númenor; in addition to this, they had great love for the Eldar and the Valar.[4]

Their symbol of office was a silver sceptre which was afterwards held by the Kings of Arnor.[5] The house inherited the Ring of Barahir (given by Tar-Elendil to his daughter Silmarien),[2] the original Elendilmir from Silmariën,[6] and the palantíri of Amandil (gifted by the Eldar).[7]

History

Tar-Elendil, the fourth King of Númenor, was the first King whose eldest child was a daughter. Silmariën, as a woman, could not receive the Sceptre of Númenor at the time because of the Númenórean law of agnatic primogeniture that then existed in the realm; she could not succeed her father as Queen of Númenor and instead her younger brother, Tar-Meneldur, took up the Sceptre.[8] Instead, Silmariën married Elatan of Andúnië and their son was Valandil, who became the first of the Lords of Andúnië.[8]

When the Shadow fell on Númenor, the Lords remained Faithful and helped them as they could, but still retained their office during those dark times.[4] They could not declare their true allegiance openly but they instead attempted to dissuade the Kings of Númenor with wiser counsel.[4]

Inzilbêth, a lady of noble descent (descended from Tar-Calmacil and whose mother was Lindórië of the House of the Lords of Andûnië), was wed to Ar-Gimilzôr.[9] Her Faithful ways were passed onto her elder son Tar-Palantir who was the last Faithful King of Númenor.[4]

Amandil, the last Lord of Andúnië and dear friend of Ar-Pharazôn, was stripped of his titles for supporting the Faithful during Sauron's sojourn in Númenor.[4]

Shortly before the Downfall, a family of Faithful akin to Elendil (and thus akin to the Lords of Andúnië) colonized Belfalas.[10] From that ancient family arose the House of Dol Amroth and its hereditary Princes who could claim descent from the House of the Lords of Andúnië.[10]

The last of this line and house was Elendil, son of Amandil, who led his sons away from Númenor in time to escape its Downfall, and founded the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor in Middle-earth.[2]

List of Lords

References