Tar-Minastir

Tar-Minastir (S.A. 1474 – 1873, aged 399 years) was the 11th King of Númenor, ruling for 138 years, from S.A. 1731 to 1869.

[edit] History

Tar-Minastir was the grandson of King Tar-Súrion. Before becoming King he used the name Minastir. He succeeded his aunt, Queen Tar-Telperiën. His name meant "Tower Watcher", which he acquired after building a tall tower upon the hill of Oromet, near Andúnië, in order to gaze westwards.^[1]

During his time, in Middle-earth, Sauron invaded Eriador from Calenardhon in S.A. 1695 and the realms of Eregion fell. He then advanced to Lindon and besieged Rivendell. In 1700 Minastir (who envied the Eldar, but nonetheless loved them^[2]) sent a navy under the command of Ciryatur to save Lindon. Ciryatur's forces stopped Sauron's army in the clash known as Battle of the Gwathló and reinforcements from Lindon and Tharbad helped defeat the enemy. Sauron retreated back to Mordor.^[3][2]

Starting around the 1800s, the Númenóreans began establishing permanent settlements in Middle-earth.^[4]

Tar-Minastir abdicated in 1869 and was succeeded by his son, Tar-Ciryatan.^[1] Tar-Minastir was one of the last "good" Kings of the realm, as his successors started becoming greedy.^[2]

[edit] Genealogy

[edit] Other versions of the legendarium

In The Tale of Years it is stated that Tar-Minastir sent a great navy from Númenor to Lindon in S.A. 1700.^[4] This event and date are restated in The History of Galadriel and Celeborn, mentioning Tar-Minastir again.^[3] Yet in The Line of Elros Tar-Telperiën is said to have lived to S.A. 1731 and not have given up the Sceptre until that time, which would mean she was the ruler of Númenor when the great navy was sent. Christopher Tolkien could not account for this discrepancy.^[5]

References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", Tar-Minastir
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Númenor"
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn"
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age"
5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", Note 9