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Character Bios

Tar-Aldarion

Meaning: son of the trees

Other Names:
Anardil 'devoted to the sun'
Anardilya (with the suffix of endearment)
The Mariner King
The Great Captain

Location(s):
Númenor
Middle-earth: his voyages took him to Lindon, the west of Eriador; and along the coast as far south as the Bay of Belfalas

Race/Species: Man

Type/Kind: 2nd age Numenoreans

Title(s):
King's Heir (SA 800-873)
Sixth King of Númenor (SA 873-1075)
Lord of Ships and Havens (800-824, 843-?)
Master of Forests (843-?)

Dates: II 700 - 1098

Parents:
father: Tar-Meneldur
mother: Almarian (daughter of Vëantur)

Siblings: two younger sisters: Ailinel and Almiel

Spouse: Erendis

Children: Ancalimë (aka Tar-Ancalimë, Númenor's first ruling queen)

Description:

Table of Contents:

Description
Family Relationships
Relationships With Others
Skills
History
Language
Etymology

Description

Anardil, afterwards renowned among the Kings of Númenor as Tar-Aldarion. [...]

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

He was the eldest child and only son of Tar-Meneldur, and he was born in the year 700. He ruled for 192 years, and surrendered the sceptre to his daughter in 1075; he died in 1098. His "right name" was Anardil; but he was early known by the name Aldarion, because he was much concerned with trees, and planted great woods to furnish timber for the shipyards. He was a great mariner and ship-builder; and himself sailed often to Middle-earth, where he became the friend and counsellor of Gil-galad. Owing to his absences abroad his wife Erendis became angered, and they separated in the year 882. His only child was a daughter, very beautiful, Ancalimë. In her favour Aldarion altered the law of succession, so that the (eldest) daughter of a King should succeed, if he had no sons.

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

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. From the first he loved the Sea, and his mind was turned to the craft of ship-building. He had little liking for the north country, and spent all the time that his father would grant by the shores of the sea, especially near Rómenna, where was the chief haven of Númenor, the greatest shipyards, and the most skilled shipwrights.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

He [...] spent all the time that his father would grant by the shores of the sea [...] His father did little to hinder him for many years, being well-pleased that Aldarion should have exercise for his hardihood and work for thought and hand.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

[Though Aldarion's mother] herself loved ships and the sea no more than most women of the land her son followed after Vëantur her father, rather than after Meneldur.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

[After his first voyage to Middle-earth] Aldarion had become enamoured of the Great Sea, and of a ship riding there alone without sight of land, borne by the winds with foam at its throat to coasts and havens unguessed; and that love and desire never left him until his life's end.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

[He] was ever and in every course the more opposed as those about him urged it.....

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

Ancalimë, like her father, was resolute in pursuing her polices; and like him she was obstinate, taking the opposite course to any that was counselled.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis: The Further Course of the Narrative

Life on land was irksome to him, for aboard his ship he was subject to no other will, and the Venturers who accompanied him knew only love and admiration for the Great Captain.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

Aldarion wooed Erendis in earnest, and wherever she went he would go; he neglected the havens and the shipyards and all the concerns of the Guild of Venturers, felling no trees but setting himself to their planting only, and he found more contentment in those days than in any others of his life, though he did not know it until he looked back long after when old age was upon him.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

Family Relationships

Almarian [Aldarion's mother] was the daughter of Vëantur, Captain of the King's Ships under Tar-Elendil; and though she herself loved ships and the sea no more than most women of the land her son followed after Vëantur her father, rather than after Meneldur [Aldarion's father].

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

[Aldarion] had two sisters, younger than he: Ailinel and Almiel, of whom the elder married Orchaldor, a descendant of the House of Hador, son of Hatholdir, who was close in friendship with Meneldur; and the son of Orchaldor and Ailinel was Soronto....

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

Aldarion was much loved by Vëantur his mother's father, and he dwelt often in Vëantur's house on the southern side of the firth of Rómenna.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

Tar-Meneldur looked coldly on the enterprises of his son, and cared not to hear the tale of his journeys, believing that he sowed the seeds of restlessness and the desire of other lands to hold.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

Erendis Wife of Tar-Aldarion ('the Mariner's Wife'), between whom there was great love that turned to hatred....

Unfinished Tales, Index

[Deep] in [Ancalimë's] heart, almost but not quite forgotten, was the firmness with which Aldarion had unclasped her hand and set her down when he was in haste to be gone.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis: The Further Course of the Narrative

Relationships With Others

[He] made the friendship of Círdan and Gil-galad, and journeyed far in Lindon and the west of Eriador, and marvelled at all that he saw.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

[Aboard] his ship he was subject to no other will, and the Venturers who accompanied him knew only love and admiration for the Great Captain.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

"Do I not study men all my days?" said Aldarion. "I can lead and govern them as I will."

"Say rather, some men, of like mind with yourself," answered the King. "There are also women in Númenor, scarce fewer than men; and save your mother, whom indeed you can lead as you will, what do you know of them? Yet one day you must take a wife."

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

Skills

[In] Vëantur's house [...] as a child Aldarion learned to row, and later to manage sail. Before he was full grown he could captain a ship of many men, sailing from haven to haven.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

[He learnt] all that he could of Círdan, both in the making and management of ships, and in the building of walls to withstand the hunger of the sea.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

It is said that Aldarion himself wrote records of all his journeys to Middle-earth, and they were long preserved in Rómenna, though all were afterwards lost.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

History

700
Tar-Aldarion of Númenor born

725-7
Aldarion's first voyage to Middle-earth
Vëantur gives the Númerrámar to Aldarion

[On] a morning of fair sun and white wind, in the bright spring of the seven hundred and twenty-fifth year of the Second Age, the son of the King's Heir of Númenor sailed from the land...

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

730-3
Aldarion's second voyage to Middle-earth
736-9
Aldarion's third voyage to Middle-earth

Within three years Aldarion begged leave to go again, and he set sail for Lindon. He was three years abroad; and not long after another voyage he made, that lasted for four years....

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

740
Tar-Meneldur becomes King of Númenor

In the thirty-ninth year of his age Aldarion returned to Númenor, bringing gifts from Gil-galad to his father; for in the following year, as he had long proclaimed, Tar-Elendil relinquished the Sceptre to his son, and Tar-Meneldur became the King. Then Aldarion restrained his desire, and remained at home for a while for the comfort of his father....

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

750 Guild of Venturers founded in Númenor
Aldarion builds Eämbar
Aldarion builds Vinyalondë

[In] those days he put to use the knowledge he had gained of Círdan [...] he formed the Guild of Venturers [...] Aldarion they called the Great Captain. At that time he, having no mind to live upon land in Armenelos, had a ship built that should serve as his dwelling-place [...] Tar-Meneldur looked coldly on the enterprises of his son [...] In that time Aldarion became estranged from his father [...] but Almarian the Queen supported her son in all that he did....

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

800
Aldarion proclaimed King's Heir
Erendis enters the service of Almarian

[When] nigh on eight hundred years had passed since the beginning of the Second Age, Tar-Meneldur commanded his son to remain now in Númenor [...] for he desired to proclaim Aldarion the King's Heir [...]. Then Meneldur and his son were reconciled....

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

800-6
Aldarion oversees management of forests in Númenor

806-13
Aldarion's first voyage as King's Heir
Erendis falls in love with Aldarion

Ere long the mariners of the Guild of Venturers became restless [...] and when six years had passed since the proclamation of the King's Heir Aldarion determined to sail again to Middle-earth. Of the King he got but grudging leave [...] coming to bid farewell to his mother he saw Erendis amid the Queen's company [...] from that time forth her heart was turned wholly to Aldarion, though not in hope.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

813
Aldarion quarrels with Tar-Meneldur after his first voyage as King's Heir

813-6
Aldarion builds the Palarran
Almarian arranges meetings between Aldarion and Erendis

816-20
Aldarion's first voyage in the Palarran
Aldarion falls in love with Erendis

824-9
Aldarion's second voyage in the Palarran
Tar-Meneldur closes the Guildhouse of the Venturers

829-43
Aldarion's third voyage in the Palarran

843
Aldarion receives the titles Lord of Ships and Havens, and Master of Forests

In the Hyarrostar grew an abundance of trees of many kinds [...] From the days of Tar-Aldarion there were great plantations in the Hyarrostar to furnish timber for shipbuilding.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 1, Description of the Island of Númenor

843-858
Aldarion woos Erendis
Aldarion and Erendis are betrothed
Guild of Venturers become disaffected

Aldarion wooed Erendis in earnest, and wherever she went he would go [...]

[For] a while doubt again assailed Erendis [....]

[She] was reconciled to Aldarion; and in the spring of the year, when the time of the Erukyermë was come, they ascended in the retinue of the King to the summit of the Meneltarma [...]

[Aldarion] kissed her on the eyes, and in that moment she put aside fear, and accepted him; and their troth was plighted upon the steep path of the Meneltarma.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

861-3
Aldarion delays his wedding with Erendis

April 863-9
Aldarion's voyage after his betrothal to Erendis

870
Aldarion weds Erendis
873
Tar-Ancalimë of Númenor born

In the eight hundred and seventieth year of the Second Age Aldarion and Erendis were wedded in Armenelos, and in every house there was music, and in all the streets men and women sang. [...]

Two years later Erendis conceived, and in the spring of the year after she bore to Aldarion a daughter. Even from birth the child was fair, and grew ever in beauty: the woman most beautiful, as old tales tell, that ever was born in the line of Elros, save Ar-Zimraphel, the last. When her first naming was due they called her Ancalimë.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

874-7
Aldarion builds Hirilondë
Spring 877-882
Aldarion's voyage in Hirilondë
Aldarion and Erendis quarrel
— — Erendis withdraws to Emerië
Erendis prepares for Aldarion's return

When Aldarion had been five years ashore he began to busy again with his Mastership of Forests, and was often many days away from his house. [...]

So it was that ere long he turned again from forestry to the building of ships, and a vision came to him of a mighty vessel like a castle with tall masts and great sails like clouds, bearing men and stores enough for a town. [...]

When Ancalimë was close on four years old Aldarion at last declared openly to Erendis his desire to sail again from Númenor.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

Autumn 882
Aldarion presents Gil-Galad's letter to Meneldur
Aldarion visits Erendis and Ancalimë in Emerië
— — Aldarion razes his house in Armenelos
Aldarion quarrels with Tar-Meneldur about Erendis
Tar-Meneldur decides to resign the Sceptre to Aldarion
Erendis refuses Tar-Meneldur's summons to Armenelos

[In] that [year] Ancalimë was nine years old [...] Autumn turned to rain. Then out of the East upon a cloudy wind Hirilondë came back over the grey seas, bearing Aldarion to Rómenna [...]

Meneldur looked at the letter that his son had given him [...]

"I am in too great doubt to rule. To prepare or to let be? [...]

"When either way may lead to evil, of what worth is choice? Let the Valar rule under Eru! I will resign the Sceptre to Aldarion. [...]"

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

883
Tar-Aldarion becomes King of Númenor

From [this] point [...] the story can only be traced in glimpses and snatches, from notes and jottings: and even those do not constitute the fragments of a wholly consistent story, being composed at different times and often at odds with themselves.

It seems that when Aldarion became King of Númenor in the year 883 he determined to revisit Middle-earth at once, and departed for Mithlond either in the same year or the next. It is recorded that on the prow of Hirilondë he set no bough of oiolairë, but the image of an eagle with golden beak and jewelled eyes, which was the gift of Círdan.

It perched there, by the craft of its maker, as if poised for flight unerring to some far mark that it espied. "This sign shall lead us to our aim," he said. "For our return let the Valar care - if our deeds do not displease them."

It is also related that "no records are now left of the later voyages that Aldarion made," but that "it is known that he went much on land as well as sea, and went up the River Gwathló as far as Tharbad, and there met Galadriel." There is no mention elsewhere of this meeting; but at that time Galadriel and Celeborn were dwelling in Eregion, at no great distance from Tharbad.

But all Aldarion's labours were swept away. The works that he began again at Vinyalondë were never completed, and the sea gnawed them. Nevertheless he laid the foundation for the achievement of Tar-Minastir long years after, in the first war with Sauron, and but for his works the fleets of Númenor could not have brought their power in time to the right place - as he foresaw. Already the hostility was growing and dark men out of the mountains were thrusting into Enedwaith. But in Aldarion's day the Númenóreans did not yet desire more room, and his Venturers remained a small people, admired but little emulated.

There is no mention of any further development of the alliance with Gil-galad, or of the sending of the aid that he requested in his letter to Tar-Meneldur; it is said indeed that:

Aldarion was too late, or too early. Too late: for the power that hated Númenor had already waked. Too early: for the time was not yet ripe for Númenor to show its power or to come back into the battle for the world.

There was a stir in Númenor when Tar-Aldarion determined to return to Middle-earth in 883 or 884, for no King had ever before left the Isle, and the Council had no precedent. It seems that Meneldur was offered but refused the regency, and that Hallatan of Hyarastorni became regent, either appointed by the Council or by Tar-Aldarion himself.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis: The Further Course of the Narrative

892
Tar-Aldarion changes the laws of succession and royal marriage

Tar-Aldarion caused the law of succession in Númenor to be changed. It is said specifically that Tar-Aldarion did this "for reasons of private concern, rather than policy"...

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis: The Further Course of the Narrative

1075
Tar-Ancalimë becomes Queen of Númenor
1098
Tar-Aldarion, King of Númenor, dies

Of the later years of Tar-Aldarion nothing can now be said, save that he seems to have continued his voyages to Middle-earth, and more than once left Ancalimë as his regent. His last voyage took place about the end of the first millennium of the Second Age; and in the year 1075 Ancalimë became the first Ruling Queen of Númenor. It is told that after the death of Tar-Aldarion in 1098 Tar-Ancalimë neglected all her father's policies and gave no further aid to Gil-galad in Lindon.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis: The Further Course of the Narrative

Language

In the Westlands and in Andúnië the Elven-tongue [Sindarin] was spoken by high and low. In that tongue Erendis was nurtured; but Aldarion spoke the Númenórean speech, although as all high men of Númenor he knew also the tongue of Beleriand. [Author's note.]

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis: Notes, Note 19

[The] Elven-tongue [...] after the manner in which high men of Númenor used it [...] was a daily speech in such houses as Beregar's, and Erendis seldom used the Númenórean tongue, which Aldarion loved the better.

Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 2, Aldarion and Erendis

Etymology

Anardil The given name of Tar-Aldarion. with suffix of endearment, Anardilya

Unfinished Tales, Index

ANÁR- sun; derivative of nar1 . *anar-: Q Anar sun; EN Anor.

The Lost Road and Other Writings, HoME Vol 5, Part 3, The Etymologies

NAR1- flame, fire. Q nár and náre flame, cf. Anar Sun; narwa fiery red. N naur flame; Anar Sun; narw, naru red.

The Lost Road and Other Writings, HoME Vol 5, Part 3, The Etymologies

NIL-, NDIL- friend. Q nilda friendly, loving; nildo (and nilmo), f. nilde, friend; nilme friendship. In names -nil, -dil = Old English wine, as Elendil (*Eled-nil) = Ælfwine

The Lost Road and Other Writings, HoME Vol 5, Part 3, The Etymologies

GÁLAD- tree. Q alda; N galadh. Cf. names Galadhor, Galdor, etc. Q Aldaron name of Oromë.

The Lost Road and Other Writings, HoME Vol 5, Part 3, The Etymologies

YO, YON- son. Q yondo, -ion; N ionn, -ion.

The Lost Road and Other Writings, HoME Vol 5, Part 3, The Etymologies

Contributors:
Moriel 4.20.03
Loquacious 04.22.03
~Nessime 4.12.04
added quotes: Tanaqui 10Dec05

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