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Amandil

Meaning: Lover of Aman

Location(s): Númenor

Race/Species: Man

Type/Kind: 2nd age Numenoreans

Title(s): 18th (Last) Lord of Andúnië

Parents: Númendil

Siblings: Elentir (HoME 12 only)

Children: Elendil

Description:
[Tar-Elendil's] ... eldest child was a daughter, Silmarien..., whose son was Valandil. Of Valandil came the Lords of Andúnië, of whom the last was Amandil father of Elendil the Tall, who came to Middle-earth after the Downfall.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 3, The Line of Elros, Kings of Númenor

These stones were gifts of the Eldar to Amandil, father of Elendil, for the comfort of the Faithful of Númenor in their dark days, when the Elves might come no longer to that land under the shadow of Sauron.

The Silmarillion, Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age

Yet such was the cunning of [Sauron's] mind and mouth, and the strength of his hidden will, that ere three years had passed he had become closest to the secret counsels of the King; for flattery sweet as honey was ever on his tongue, and knowledge he had of many things yet unrevealed to Men. And seeing the favour that he had of their lord all the councillors began to fawn upon him, save one alone, Amandil lord of Andúnië. Then slowly a change came over the land, and the hearts of the Elf-friends were sorely troubled, and many fell away out of fear; and although those that remained still called themselves the Faithful, their enemies named them rebels.

The Silmarillion, Akallabêth

Then Ar-Pharazôn the King turned back to the worship of the Dark, ... ere long openly and in the face of his people; and they for the most part followed him. Yet there dwelt still a remnant of the Faithful..., at Rómenna and in the country near.... The chief among them, to whom they looked for leading and courage in evil days, was Amandil, councillor of the King, and his son Elendil, whose sons were Isildur and Anárion.... Amandil and Elendil were great ship-captains; and they were of the line of Elros Tar-Minyatur.... In the days of their youth together Amandil had been dear to Pharazôn, and though he was of the Elf-friends he remained in his council until the coming of Sauron. Now he was dismissed, for Sauron hated him above all others in Númenor. But he was so noble, and had been so mighty a captain of the sea, that he was still held in honour by many of the people, and neither the King nor Sauron dared to lay hands on him as yet.

Therefore Amandil withdrew to Rómenna, and all that he trusted still to be faithful he summoned to come thither in secret; for he feared that evil would now grow apace, and all the Elf-friends were in peril. And so it soon came to pass.

The Silmarillion, Akallabêth

And Sauron urged the King to cut down the White Tree ...

But when Amandil heard rumour of the evil purpose of Sauron he was grieved to the heart.... Then he spoke to Elendil and the sons of Elendil, recalling the tale of the Trees of Valinor; and Isildur said no word, but went out by night and ... took from the Tree a fruit that hung upon it.... But the guard was aroused, and he was assailed..., receiving many wounds; and he escaped.... But Isildur came at last hardly back to Rómenna and delivered the fruit to the hands of Amandil, ere his strength failed him. Then the fruit was planted in secret, and it was blessed by Amandil; and a shoot arose from it and sprouted in the spring. But when its first leaf opened then Isildur ... arose and was troubled no more by his wounds.

The Silmarillion, Akallabêth

Then Ar-Pharazôn, being besotted, ... began to ponder in his heart how he might make war upon the Valar. ... And Amandil, ... was dismayed and filled with a great dread, for he knew that Men could not vanquish the Valar in war, and that ruin must come upon the world, if this war were not stayed. Therefore he called his son, Elendil, and he said to him:

'The days are dark, and there is no hope for Men, for the Faithful are few. Therefore I am minded to try that counsel which our forefather Eärendil took of old, to sail into the West..., and to speak to the Valar, even to Manwë himself, if may be, and beseech his aid ere all is lost.'

'Would you then betray the King?' said Elendil. 'For you know well the charge that they make against us, that we are traitors and spies, and that until this day it has been false.'

'If I thought that Manwë needed such a messenger,' said Amandil, 'I would betray the King. For there is but one loyalty from which no man can be absolved in heart for any cause. But it is for mercy upon Men and their deliverance from Sauron the Deceiver that I would plead, since some at least have remained faithful. And as for the Ban, I will suffer in myself the penalty, lest all my people should become guilty.'

The Silmarillion, Akallabêth

It is said that Amandil set sail in a small ship at night, and steered first eastward, and then went about and passed into the west. And he took with him three servants, dear to his heart, and never again were they heard of by word or sign in this world, nor is there any tale or guess of their fate. Men could not a second time be saved by any such embassy, and for the treason of Númenor there was no easy absolving.

The Silmarillion, Akallabêth

[Númendil is shown as being Amandil's father in the family tree of The Peoples of Middle-Earth, HoME Vol 12, Part 1, Ch 5, The History of the Akallabêth; further, this quote reinforces it, since Tar-Palantir is the immediate predecessor of Ar-Pharazôn:]
[Tar-Palantir] also would spend much of his days in Andúnië, since Lindórië his mother's mother was of the kin of the Lords, being sister indeed of Eärendur, the fifteenth Lord and grandfather of Númendil, who was Lord of Andúnië in the days of Tar-Palantir his cousin....

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 3, The Line of Elros, Kings of Númenor

Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 28Oct05

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