Lord of Andúnië was a title of the Númenórean lords of the shoreland region of Andustar in western Númenor who ruled the city Andúnië.[1]
As rulers of one of the divisions of Númenor the Lords of Andúnië were members of the Council of the Sceptre, and also were the highest lords of the Island and chief councellors of the Kings of Númenor.[2][3]
Their symbol of office was a silver sceptre which was afterwards held by the Kings of Arnor. The Lords also had inherited the Ring of Barahir from the royal house[4], the Elendilmir from Silmariën, and were given the Palantiri by the Elves.
History
The fourth King of Númenor, Tar-Elendil, was the first King whose eldest child was a daughter. Silmariën, as a woman, could not receive the Sceptre of Númenor and the King created the title of the Lords of Andúnië in favor of her son, Valandil.
In later times some of the Kings of Númenor would marry women from the royal line of the Lords of Andúnië. From these marriages came the Kings Ar-Sakalthôr and the wise King Tar-Palantir.[5]
When the Shadow fell on the Kingdom, the Lords remained Faithful and became the leaders of the Elf-friends, but still retained their office during those dark times until Ar-Pharazôn stripped Amandil from his offices for supporting the Faithful.[3] Amandil's descendants would go on to found the Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor.
A family of Faithful from Númenor had ruled over the land of Belfalas since the Second Age. This family of Númenóreans were akin to the Lords of Andúnië, and thus related to Elendil.[6] After the Downfall of Númenor they had been given the title Prince of Belfalas by Elendil[7] and their land, now a fief of Gondor, was called Dor-en-Ernil. He granted this family a noble title, making them the hereditary Princes of Belfalas which was succeeded by the Princes of Dol Amroth.
Lords of Andúnië
- 1. Valandil (S.A. 630 – c. 870)
- 2-14. Unknown (dates unknown)
- 15. Eärendur (dates unknown)
- 16. Unknown (dates unknown)
- 17. Númendil (dates unknown)
- 18. Amandil (sailed West 3316)
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Introduction", "The Map of Middle-earth"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife", Note 23
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Akallabêth: The Downfall of Númenor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "A Description of the Island of Númenor", Note 2
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", Note 39