Tar-Aldarion

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This article is about King of Númenor. For the King of Gondor, see Anardil (King of Gondor).
Tar-Aldarion
Númenórean
Peter Xavier Price - He Knew Her For Erendis.jpg
"He Knew Her For Erendis" by Peter Xavier Price
Biographical Information
PronunciationQ, [ˌtaralˈdari.on]
Other namesAnardil (Q)[1], Anardilya[2]
TitlesKing of Númenor
"Great Captain"
Lord of the Ships and Havens of Númenor
Master of the Forests
PositionMariner
LocationNúmenor
AffiliationGuild of Venturers
LanguageAdûnaic, Quenya and Sindarin
BirthApril, S.A. 700[1]
Forostar
RuleS.A. 883 - 1075 (192 years)[1]
DeathS.A. 1098[1] (aged 398)
Family
HouseHouse of Elros
ParentageTar-Meneldur and Almarian[3]
SiblingsAilinel and Almiel[3]
SpouseErendis
ChildrenAncalimë[1]
Physical Description
GenderMale
Hair colorGolden
Eye colorBlue
SteedEämbar (ship)
Palarran (ship)
Hirilondë (ship)
GalleryImages of Tar-Aldarion
"Aldarion, for so he is called in all tales, grew swiftly to a man of great stature, strong and vigorous in mind and body, golden-haired as his mother, ready to mirth and generous, but prouder than his father and ever more bent on his own will."
Unfinished Tales, Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife

Tar-Aldarion was the sixth King of Númenor,[1] whose major accomplishments were his expansion of Númenor's maritime traditions and his Middle-earth explorations. He was married to Erendis, a Númenórean woman of lesser status than Aldarion himself, and therefore she had a shorter life-span. Aldarion's love for the sea ultimately caused a rift between the couple. The tale of their marriage and estrangement survived the Downfall of Númenor as "Aldarion and Erendis" or "The Mariner's Wife".[4]

History[edit | edit source]

Early Life[edit | edit source]

Aldarion was born during the month of April in SA 700 in Forostar, Númenor. He was the son of Tar-Meneldur and his wife Almarian.

In his youth, Aldarion had a love for the the sea that became a subject of disagreement with his father. However, despite this altercation with his father, Aldarion had a better relationship with the rest of his family, particularly his grandfather, Vëantur. For it was Vëantur who took him out in the year S.A. 725 on his first voyage on the ship Númerrámar, or the "West-wings", [4] towards Middle-earth. It was in this journey that the bonds of friendship with Círdan and Ereinion Gil-galad were established.

Before long, Aldarion became an accomplished mariner, leading his crew in long voyages to Middle-earth, mostly against the wishes of his family. Eventually, Aldarion even founded the Guild of Venturers, whose quarters were on the ship Eämbar, or "Sea-Home". In the 100th year of his life Aldarion was proclaimed heir to the throne and at the celebration of this event he met Erendis, daughter of Beregar. Though she seemed beautiful to him, Aldarion did not pursue her until later on, as he continued to follow the mariner life he much loved.

The Great Mariner[edit | edit source]

He made several journeys to Middle-earth and established a friendship with Gil-galad in Lindon.[4] A visionary man, he saw the threat coming from Sauron upon the races of Elves and Men alike, so he built a vital Númenórean port in Middle-earth, at the mouth of the river Gwathló. It was named Vinyalondë and parts of it survived into the Third Age as the port of Lond Daer.[5] Aldarion was a prudent man who was concerned about the future. He always had trees planted where trees had been felled in Númenor and had new trees planted where there was suitable space in Númenor.[4]

At his command, numerous ships were built, among which three were mentioned more often:

  • Eämbar, the "Sea-Home", headquarters for the Guild of Venturers
  • Palarran, the "Far Wanderer", which served him in many voyages
  • Hirilondë, the "Haven-finder", largest in Númenor

However, the first ship he had sailed on belonged to Vëantur and was called Númerrámar, the "West-wings".

Around that time, the Drúedain who were living in Númenor became uneasy when Tar-Aldarion started his great travels and urged him not to go, foreseeing the mischief to come. They did not succeed and one after another they took ships towards Middle-earth.[6] Indeed under his reign the deforesting of Enedwaith and Minhiriath began.[5]

Aldarion made several voyages to Middle-earth:

  • his first voyage from S.A. 725 to S.A. 727[7] with his grandfather Vëantur on the Númerrámar to the Grey Havens, Lindon and the west of Eriador during which he established a friendship with Círdan and King Gil-galad of Lindon.[4]
  • his three year voyage from S.A. 730 to S.A. 733 on the Númerrámar to Lindon[4]
  • his four year voyage from S.A. 735 to S.A. 739 during which he explored the coasts southwards of the Grey Havens, past the mouths of the rivers Baranduin, Gwathló and isen, round the cape of Ras Morthil to the Bay of Belfalas and the mountains of the country of Amroth[4]
  • his voyages down the coasts of Middle-earth during which he wanted to obtain timber for the building of ships and he established the haven of Vinyalondë at the mouth of the river Gwathló[4] after he had founded the Guild of Venturers in S.A. 750 and after his father had restricted the number of trees that were allowed to be felled for the building of ships and before S.A. 800[4]
  • his seven year voyage from S.A. 806 to S.A. 813[7] when he brought back silver and gold ore[4]
  • his first voyage with the Palarran from S.A. 816 to S.A. 820[7] when he brought back gifts for his mother and the ladies of her house and a diamond for Erendis[4]
  • his voyage with seven ships from S.A. 824 to S.A. 829[7] after which he returned to Númenor with nine ships with a cargo of timber from the forests of the coasts of Middle-earth after having built two ships in Vinyalondë[4]
  • his fourteen year voyage from S.A. 829 to S.A. 843[7] with three ships after his father had closed the shipyards of Rómenna and had forbidden the felling of trees for shipbuilding in Númenor when he sailed first to Vinyalondë to repair his ships and then southwards along the coasts and scarcely escaped shipwreck in the Harad on his return northwards and found Vinyalondë overthrown by storm floods and plundered by hostile men[4]
  • his voyage after his betrothal from S.A. 863 to S.A. 869[7] with three ships when he discovered that the haven of Vinyalondë had been totally ruined by storm floods, that Men near the coasts were growing afraid of the Númenóreans or had become openly hostile and he heard rumours that a lord in Middle-earth hated the Númenóreans and during which he stayed a while at the Grey Havens[4]
  • his voyage with the Hirilondë from S.A. 877 to S.A. 882[7] when he brought back a letter from King Gil-galad for his father, King Tar-Meneldur, that a servant of Morgoth was rising in the East and asked for troops from Númenor to help defend Eridador against an expected assault[4]
  • his often voyages to Middle-earth during the eightteen years after he received the sceptre in S.A. 883 where he travelled much on land and sea and went up the river Gwathló and met Galadriel at Tharbad, with his first departure in the year S.A. 883 or in the next year and his last voyage about the year S.A. 985[8]

Aldarion and Erendis[edit | edit source]

Even before they were wed, Aldarion's love for the sea would prove to be Erendis' rival. In their conversations it is often stated that, for Erendis' part, Lady Uinen was her foe, while Aldarion's was the Vala Oromë, referring to his wife's love for the forests and all growing things on the Island of Númenor. Such opposing characters led to the breaking of their marriage, one important factor in their separation being Aldarion's voyages, which kept him away from home for long years. Though in the end, as it is revealed in the letter sent by Gil-galad and read by King Meneldur, Aldarion was right to pursue his explorations, Erendis could not be convinced to renounce her pride and reconcile with him.[4]

Succession[edit | edit source]

His only child was a daughter, Tar-Ancalimë, so he changed the Law of Succession, replacing the principle of agnatic primogeniture with that of absolute cognatic primogeniture and she became the first ruling Queen of Númenor in S.A. 1075, when Tar-Aldarion abdicated.[4] He died in S.A. 1098 at the age of 398.[1]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Aldarion is a Quenya name. Its meaning is not glossed, but Paul Strack suggests it means "Son of Trees" and is a compound of aldar ("trees") and the patronymic suffix -ion ("-son").[9] Although his right name was Anardil, he was early known by the name Aldarion, because he was interested in trees and planted great woods as a source of timber for the shipyards.[1] Like all the rulers of Númenor who took their royal names in Quenya, Aldarion added the prefix tar- ("high") to his name when he received the Sceptre.[10]

His right name Anardil is a Quenya name. Its meaning is not glossed, but Paul Strack suggests it means "Lover of the Sun" and is a compound of anar ("sun") and -(n)dil ("-lover", "-friend").[11]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tar-Elendil
350 - 751
 
 
 
 
 
Vëantur
b. 451
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elatan
unknown
 
Silmariën
b. 521
 
Isilmë
b. 532
 
Tar-Meneldur
543 - 942
 
Almarian
unknown
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Valandil
b. 630
 
Erendis
771 - 985
 
TAR-ALDARION
700 - 1098
 
Ailinel
b. 712
 
Orchaldor
unknown
 
Almiel
b. 729
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lords of
Andúnië
 
 
 
Tar-Ancalimë
873 - 1285
 
Hallacar
852 - 1211
 
Soronto
b. 799
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tar-Anárion
1003 - 1404
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

References

See also[edit | edit source]

Tar-Aldarion
House of Elros
Born: S.A. 700 Died: S.A. 1098
Preceded by:
Tar-Meneldur
6th King of Númenor
S.A. 883 - 1075
Followed by:
Tar-Ancalimë


Kings of Númenor
Elros Tar-Minyatur (S.A. 32 - 442) · Tar-Vardamir* (442) · Tar-Amandil (442 - 590) · Tar-Elendil (590 - 740) · Tar-Meneldur (740 - 883) · Tar-Aldarion (883 - 1075) · Tar-AncalimëQ (1075 - 1280) · Tar-Anárion (1280 - 1394) · Tar-Súrion (1394 - 1556) · Tar-TelperiënQ (1556 - 1731) · Tar-Minastir (1731 - 1869) · Tar-Ciryatan (1869 - 2029) · Tar-Atanamir (2029 - 2221) · Tar-Ancalimon (2221 - 2386) · Tar-Telemmaitë (2386 - 2526) · Tar-VanimeldëQ (2526 - 2637) · Tar-Anducal (2637 - 2657) · Tar-Alcarin (2657 - 2737) · Tar-Calmacil (2737 - 2825) · Tar-Ardamin (2825 - 2899) · Ar-Adûnakhôr (2899 - 2962) · Ar-Zimrathôn (2962 - 3033) · Ar-Sakalthôr (3033 - 3102) · Ar-Gimilzôr (3102 - 3177) · Tar-Palantir (3177 - 3255) · Ar-Pharazôn (3255 - 3319)
* Immediately abdicated in favour of his son · Q Ruling Queens · Usurped throne. Later struck off the Line of Kings · Usurped throne from his cousin Tar-Míriel
Númenor
Andor · Atalantë · Elenna · Mar-nu-Falmar · Númenórë · Westernesse
Regions Andustar · Arandor · Emerië · Forostar · Hyarastorni · Hyarnustar · Hyarrostar · Mittalmar · Nísimaldar · Orrostar
Towns and cities Almaida · Andúnië · Armenelos · Eldalondë · Moriondë · Nindamos · Ondosto · Rómenna
Buildings Calmindon · Eämbar · King's Court · Temple · White House of Erendis
Natural features Bay of Eldanna · Bay of Rómenna · Firth of Rómenna · Hallow of Eru · Meneltarma (mountain) · Nísinen (lake) · North Cape · Nunduinë (river) · Oromet (mountain) · Siril (river) · Sorontil (mountain) · Tarmasundar (ridges) · Tompollë
Plants and trees Fragrant Trees · Lairelossë · Laurinquë · Lavaralda · Nessamelda · Nimloth · Oiolairë · Taniquelassë · Vardarianna · Yavannamírë
Heirlooms Aranrúth · Bow of Bregor · Dramborleg · Elendilmir · Narsil · Palantíri · Ring of Barahir · Sceptre of Annúminas · Sceptre of Númenor · Tile and Textiles · Helmet
Concepts Adûnaic · Ban of the Valar · Council of the Sceptre · Downfall of Númenor · Great Bear-dance · Heirship · Númenórean Sindarin · Three Prayers (Eruhantalë · Erukyermë · Erulaitalë)
Key people Aldarion · Amandil · Anárion · Captain of the King's Ships · Elendil · Elros (House of Elros) · Erendis · Faithful · Great Armament · Guild of Venturers · Guild of Weaponsmiths · Isildur · Kings and Queens of Númenor · King's Archers · King's Men · Lords of Andúnië · Meneldur · Miriel · Palantir · Pharazôn · Sauron · Silmariën
Main texts The Silmarillion ("Akallabêth") · Unfinished Tales ("A Description of the Island of Númenor" · "Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife" · "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor") · The Lord of the Rings ("Appendix A" · "Appendix B") · The Nature of Middle-earth ("Lives of the Númenóreans" · "Of the land and beasts of Númenor")