#hallacar

[anghraine]

One of the funnier things from the Quora Tolkien digests is that, for whatever reasons, I get a lot of answers that are very fixated on Aragorn's descent from Lúthien and will reference Legolas's quote about the line of Lúthien never failing as if Aragorn's accomplishments were entirely attributable to his ancestry and nobody in the houses of Elros or Isildur or Anárion ever failed at anything or were just kind of shitty.

It feels almost unsporting to point out Pharazôn failing so hard he got his kingdom eternally sunk into the sea, so I'll settle for Arvedui of Arthedain, who definitely failed at several things that contributed to his death. There's Eärnur of Gondor, who rode into Minas Morgul to demand single combat with a being prophesied to never be killed by a man and was never seen again. There's the super racist Castamir who kickstarted (and ultimately lost) the Gondorian civil war that devastated Osgiliath.

Oh, and for the "just kind of shitty" contingent, there's Ar-Gimilzôr, an oppressor who forced his wife to marry him despite her unwillingness, along with Herucalmo, who ruled through the authority of his wife Tar-Vanimeldë and upon her death, seized the throne from his own son. Tar-Ancalimë's husband Hallacar (who tried to outmaneuver her with dubious success at best) sucked too, along with her cousin Soronto (who tried to either supplant her as heir or succeed her and achieved neither).

Descent from Elros grants stature and abilities of varying kinds to his descendants. It does not grant success or virtue, though.

[sesamenom-sideblog]

Congratulations @southfarthing!!

As promised, here are your internet points if you undertook the recent "list a bunch of Tolkien characters" challenge. Congratulations! 🎉🎊

I dearly wanted to properly tag everyone who reported giving the challenge a try, but (stop me if you've heard this before) I got as far as about 200 names before I had to throw in the towel. Since I don't want to leave anyone out, I'll hold off tagging anyone for now, but I hope to get back to it sometime in the future so everyone receives their proper due.

[outofangband]

Elven word of the day, 156/?

arandil from Quenya

Meaning “king’s friend, royalist”

See also: arandur meaning minister or steward, king’s servant

Notes: I’m really fascinated by the suffix ndil or dil in this word which in a letter Tolkien translates to friend, -lover; devotion, disinterested love”. It appears in some fantastic words including meneldil, a word for an astronomer meaning lover of the stars, and Mámandil, a proper name meaning sheep lover, used by Hallacar

[edennill]

ruling queens of númenor - headcanons and opinions:

tar-ancalimë: I think she made it very hard for any future ruling queens by being, well, an immeasurably difficult person. and people understood it was because of her shitty upbringing! - but it didn't make her easier to deal with and many felt she didn't even try to move past it... from a governing point of view, it was assumed by some that she'd begin prioritising women in political circles, but oddly enough she didn't? she made it pretty obvious what she thought of men, but she expected the women she interacted with to have the same opinions as her on the subject, and when that wasn't feasible she showed them even greater contempt than their counterparts of the other sex. and as queen... she wasn't a very bad ruler but made it way too obvious that many of her decisions were fuelled by spite, usually towards her late father and husband. in her life however, she was pitied as much as hated, though that pity didn't last for future generations.

tar-telperien: I feel like there would have been considerable mistrust towards her initially because of how tar-ancalimë was remembered, but she ended up being one of númenor's best loved rulers. she was a very fortunate mixture of majestic and warm, her one major fault being that she could be terribly stubborn at times, but somehow people were willing to forgive that. and yes, she never had a romantic liaison in her life, aside maybe from an infatuation or two when she was very young... also I think she had several younger brothers and very good relationships with them. there would have been a lot of space for conflict there because there was no precedence in númenor's history for a daughter with male siblings inheriting the sceptre, but ultimately relationships in her family were surprisingly healthy given what the former generations were like. there may have been some slight jealousy on the part of one or more of them, but they knew the law was fair and didn't let it show... also in a weird flashback to her sindarin ancestors, she had silver hair, hence her name

tar-vanimeldë: I don't really have too much to say about her... I feel she's been given something of a short shrift by the narrative, though otoh it's still more than we have for some other kings... much ink has been spilled about how odd the ratio of kings to queens is in númenor if we consider that the law was absolute primogeniture from ancalimë on. I believe jrrt just didn't think it through well enough, however it certainly encourages one to conclude that there was a bunch of eldest princesses that something happened to; my personal theory being that the fact a woman could turn down the sceptre without even a nominal coronation meant that it was very easy for someone to force her to decline... that said - I don't think vanimeldë was ever interested in ruling and I believe it was her more ambitious husband who helped her through that initial precariousness. she can't have been too glad once she realised he had basically usurped her (because people don't just steal the rule from under their sons without any iffy behaviour before that - or did hallacar invent some weird justification for the latter?), but I don't think she felt she could do anything about it.

tar-miriel: first of all, i kind of like that one version in which she marries pharazon of her own will. I'm not sure what that version goes on to say, but as I imagine it - first she agreed that they be co-rulers; her position was precarious enough, she believed it would be good for politics and she liked and trusted him. but he went on to steal the throne from under her and she never learned if that was what he had been planning to do from the beginning. the rest is history and her personal tragedy. what happened with sauron was not her fault, but she would lie awake at night and blame herself... interestingly enough, the faithful never did and around half of them believed she was forced into the marriage anyway... I have a lot more to say about her, in fact, enough that I think I'll make a separate post, but for now I'll only add that I personally headcanon that while tar-palantir stayed faithful to the end, despite the failure of all his plans, miriel chafed. her father understood that no one could force the númenoreans to change against their will (I mean I guess Eru presumably could? but obviously he wouldn't, because free will), but she didn't and felt betrayed... I think that she had to regain faith before the end, because otherwise it's too bitter a tale, to live through terror without knowing there is good one can rely on. the tale is bitter anyhow, but she did not die in despair.

[warrioreowynofrohan]

Favourite Female Tolkien Character Poll - Round 2, Match 10

Both of these are from the tale of Aldarion and Erendis in Unfinished Tales.

Tar-Ancalimë

The daughter of Erendis and Tar-Aldarion, and first Ruling Queen of Númenor. Strong-minded and determined, she had no desire for marriage, and after a time her father rescinded the rule that by a certain age a female Heir must either marry or refuse the sceptre, due to her determination to do neither.

When she went into hiding as a shepherdess to avoid her suitors, she was courted by a supposed shepherd, and enjoyed his company; when revealed himself to in fact be a Númenorean noble suitor, Hallacar, she was angered at his deception.

“[If I wanted to marry a non-noble], I could lay down my royalty, and be free. But if I were to do so, I should be free to wed whom I will; and that would be Úner (which is “Noman”), whom I prefer above all others.

She did in fact marry him in time, though for political reasons not for love, and their marriage was unhappy. Their son was Tar-Anárion.

She ruled for 205 years, longer than any Númenorean ruler since Elros. After her father’s death she neglected his policies and gave no further aid to Gil-galad.

Zamîn

An old woman who worked for Erendis; had an unruly son named Îbal, and a husband named Ulbar who sailed with Aldarion.

After Ancalimë, as a child, meets her son, the first boy Ancalimë has met:

Zâmin was an old country-woman, free-tongued, and not easily daunted, even by [Erendis].

“What noisy thing was that?” said Ancalimë.

“A boy,” said Zamîn, “if you know what that is. But how should you? They’re breakers and eaters, mostly. That one is ever eating - but to no purpose. a fine lad his father will find when he comes back…he heard of those Venturers, and took up with them, and went away with your father, the Lord Aldarion: but the Valar know whither, or why.”

When Ancalimë, as a young woman proclaimed the King’s Heir, sought to escape from the importunity of her many suitors, Zamîn aided her in going into hiding as a shepherdess on a farm.

[buffyfan145]

I found another weird similarity with how Haladriel’s been shown in the show so far and with another of Tolkien’s stories as I’ve been reading “The Fall of  Númenor” book that has everything he and his son Christopher wrote about the 2nd Age in chronological order.  I’m at the part about Aldarion and Erendis’ daughter Ancalimë and her being urged to find a husband and have an heir. (She actually reminds me if you mixed Queen Elizabeth I, her sister Queen Mary I, and Queen Victoria’s histories.) Well she does end up falling at first for who she thought was a shepherd but turned out to be a nobleman Hallacar. Of course I noticed that about his name and his father’s name being similar so I’m new to reading the 1st & 2nd Age books as I’m working my way through them but now it makes more sense why Sauron using the name Halbrand doesn’t seem weird to anyone else as there name been men with similar names. Back to the couple Ancalimë never forgives Hallacar for lying to her but still marries him mostly again so that way she can become the first ruling Queen and have the heir (which she does with their son) but she still hates her husband. LOL So there’s another example when those saying Tolkien wouldn’t write a ship like Haladriel as he has. :)

[aadmelioraa]

Hello, my friend! How are you?

I'm reading the Aldarion & Erendis chapter of The Fall of Númenor and I have so. Many. Feels. GOD

I feel this in my soul? Erendis longing omg... Aldarion being so ughhhh he made me think of Isil a little, though Isil isn't in love with the sea but with, maybe, the idea of far away lands and the true Númenor etc, Idk...

Do you have comments on them?

Have a nice day!

Hi hello!! Thank you for the ask!!

The Mariner's Wife is my favorite, I genuinely find it so compelling even (maybe especially) in its unfinished state. However most of my thoughts boil down to FUCK ALDARION ALL MY HOMIES HATE ALDARION. Tbh I think half the reason I love the story so much is the rush of pure rage it gives me.

I do also find him interesting but at the end of the day he's the worst lol. He wore Erendis down, when she was rightly wary, and then he did exactly what she feared he would, wasting her significantly shorter lifespan :(( He was never around!! Too busy off sailing and colonizing!! Even when they had a kid!! After the birth of Ancalimë in her heart Erendis was glad, for she thought: "Surely now Aldarion will desire a son, to be his heir; and he will abide with me long yet." NAME A SADDER LINE!!!

I won't even get too deep into the narrative bias of it all (like…let's NOT blame Erendis for being "bitter" or pit her and Ancalimë against each other, etc) but every time I see a take from the fandom like "Aldarion was a better ruler than his wife would have been" (irrelevant?? and what's your metric there?? HMMM??) or "Aldarion is Eärendil 2.0" (just...no) I want to S C R E A M lol.

Anyway Ancalimë is fascinating too and the one good thing Aldarion did was change the laws to allow his daughter to be the first ruling queen. I stan a lesbian icon who neglects all her father's policies out of spite, it's extremely sexy of her. Side note: Fuck Hallacar.

Re: Isildur I definitely think there is an aspect of longing there like you said, not for the sea but for the "real Númenor," so kind of an inverse Aldarion situation. I have also wondered if the tree which Aldarion is given as a wedding gift is meant to be the White Tree of Númenor aka Nimloth? I haven't seen anything conclusive on that but that is a HUGE connection between him and Isildur if so. 

Also! in one of the first interviews of Ema Horvath's that I listened to she mentioned reading The Mariner's Wife to help inform her idea of Eärien as she was preparing to bring an original character to life, and how she related to both Erendis and Ancalimë, which is fascinating. There's definitely an element of women at odds with their families and a certain conception of Númenor as well! 

Do you have more thoughts? 

[arofili]

the line of elros ♚ royalty of númenor ♚ headcanon disclaimer

          Tar-Ancalimë was the seventh ruler and first Ruling Queen of Númenor. She was the only child of Tar-Aldarion, though she was raised by his estranged wife Erendis in the hills of Emerië. Ancalimë inherited her mother’s resentment of men, and as she came of age she retreated to the countryside, rejecting any suitors who sought her royal hand. Here she became known as Emerwen Aranel, or the Princess Shepherdess.           Ancalimë befriended the shepherd Mámandil, but in time he revealed himself to be not a simple shepherd, but another noble suitor: Hallacar, a descendant of Nolondil. This angered her greatly, and she rejected him also.           As he had no male heirs, Tar-Aldarion changed the laws of Númenor to allow for inheritance through the maternal line and for women to inherit, thus putting Ancalimë next in line for the throne. However, in order to block her scheming cousin Soronto from taking her place, Ancalimë chose to wed Hallacar despite his betrayal, though there was little love between them. Together they had one child: a son, Anárion. After his birth, Ancalimë and Hallacar lived apart.           Tar-Ancalimë was the first woman to be crowned the ruler of Númenor, taking as her mother had the royal prefix Tar rather than Tári. She was strong-willed, choosing to neglect her father’s policy of aid to the elves of Middle-earth, and to forbid her serving-women to marry, though her husband arranged their weddings in secret, much to her chagrin. Tar-Ancalimë reigned for 205 years, longer than any other monarch save Elros Tar-Minyatur.

[celegormworm]

Some shepherd dude: hey my name is uhhhhhhhh sheep friend

Ancalimë: seems legit

[gurguliare]

crocordile replied to your post “Sorry, I'm completely blank on whether I already sent you this. I hear...”

The fact that both erendis took the first step towards opening the talks with him again and found him gone and just gave up makes me super sad.... :'(

y u p

crocordile replied to your post “Sorry, I'm completely blank on whether I already sent you this. I hear...”

Do u have thoughts about his relationship with Ancalime?

Sorta... I mean it’s like, my favoriteish relationship in the story but I haven’t articulated a lot of thoughts about it because projection. >_> But

She stood erect and stiff as her mother, and made him no courtesy as he dismounted and came up the steps towards her. "Who are you?" she said. "And why do you bid me to rise so early, before the house is stirring?"

Aldarion looked at her keenly, and though his face was stern he smiled within: for he saw there a child of his own, rather than of Erendis, for all her schooling.

"You knew me once, Lady Ancalimë," he said, "but no mat­ter. Today I am but a messenger from Armenelos, to remind you that you are the daughter of the King's Heir; and (so far as I can now see) you shall be his Heir in your turn. You will not always dwell here. But go back to your bed now, my lady, until your maidservant wakes, if you will. I am in haste to see the King. Farewell!" He kissed the hand of Ancalimë and went down the steps; then he mounted and rode away with a wave of his hand.

vs

It recalled to him his daughter, and he said: "I will call you also Ancalimë. May you and she stand so in long life, unbent by wind or will, and unclipped!"

vs

She had something of her mother's coldness and sense of personal injury; and deep in her 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. 

...lmao. idk. I think it’s really funny how Aldarion is delighted with Ancalime as an unexpected advantage and as something I’m not sure it had occurred to him to want: like, given time and without Ancalime I’m sure he would have realized that no wife meant no children, no heirs, and no hope of like... seeing himself continued in the world in a meaningful way jsldkgjsldg---no, you know what, actually, I guess what’s comical is like, Aldarion shreds his personal relationships in pursuit of futile goals, or anyway, goals that can’t be accomplished in his lifetime; what he needs to make his sad life at all meaningful is an heir who shares his political vision and priorities. What he gets is Ancalime. And I’m not sure he knows that his policies and his temperament are two separate things, or like, he’s aware he has a temper but his stubbornness and perverseness and pride are to him sort of part and parcel of his Secret Quest and this vision that no one else understands, so when he sees how like him Ancalime is personally, I wonder if he assumes it follows that she’ll continue his work. But then, nope, despite his conclusions about what matters, all that survives of him is the personal: his marriage is Ancalime’s education, not his venturing.

To get back to their actual relationship, I also don’t know if the delusion that she might be a political successor lasted long---he seems to view her with this distanced admiration, like, the fact that she’s so like him just means that they’re both going to be isolated forever, and the best they can hope for is to never have to deal with other people’s impositions, haha, weird. Surely one’s individual character reaches its fullest stature by just being left alone to stiffen, right. Though she might also have paid more lip service to his ideas while he was alive/when she served as regent, I can see that. it specifies that after his death she neglected all his policies, so maybe not before? Not necessarily “lip service” even, her desire for his approval must have been sincere. I feel like Aldarion thought his deep estrangement from his parents was... normal and the default, on some level, so when he turns around and ends up as a dad he expects that pattern to continue. And maybe it doesn’t completely? But he probably doesn’t notice.

Also hey how much do you want to bet he vaguely hates Hallacar

[child-of-hurin]

Personal HC babbling:

HC for Rían’s sexuality: a hopeless flirt but not a tease, sex enjoyer, probably panromantic? 

HC for Ancalimë’s sexuality: a hopeless flirt and a total tease, NOT a sex enjoyer, intensely aro

[anghraine]

tbh Arvedui would annoy me vastly less if he’d accepted that Fíriel was the rightful ruler of Gondor, not him

[sandoakato]

Ancalime and Hallacar

from <Unfinished tales>

[thegirlwhohid]

She was the only child of Tar-Aldarion, and the first Ruling Queen of Númenor. She was born in the year 873, and she reigned for 205 years, longer than any ruler after Elros; she surrendered the sceptre in 1280, and died in 1285. She long remained unwed; but when pressed by Soronto to resign, despite she married in the year 1000 Hallacar son of Hallatan, a descendant of Vardamir. After the birth of her son Anárion there was strife between Ancalimë and Hallacar. She was proud and wilful. After Aldarion's death she neglected all his policies and gave no further aid to Gil-galad.

@oneringnet january event: kings and queens

Tar-Ancalimë moodboard

The Silmarillion characters: (109/?)

Characters’ moodboards: (396/?)

[warrioreowynofrohan]

Favourite Female Tolkien Character Poll - Round 3, Match 6

This is the section final for Númenorean women!

Tar-Ancalimë

The daughter of Erendis and Tar-Aldarion, and first Ruling Queen of Númenor. Strong-minded and determined, she had no desire for marriage, and after a time her father rescinded the rule that by a certain age a female Heir must either marry or refuse the sceptre, due to her determination to do neither.

When she went into hiding as a shepherdess to avoid her suitors, she was courted by a supposed shepherd, and enjoyed his company; when revealed himself to in fact be a Númenorean noble suitor, Hallacar, she was angered at his deception.

“[If I wanted to marry a non-noble], I could lay down my royalty, and be free. But if I were to do so, I should be free to wed whom I will; and that would be Úner (which is “Noman”), whom I prefer above all others.

She did in fact marry him in time, though for political reasons not for love, and their marriage was unhappy. Their son was Tar-Anárion.

She ruled for 205 years, longer than any Númenorean ruler since Elros. After her father’s death she neglected his policies and gave no further aid to Gil-galad.

Tar-Míriel

The fourth and last ruling Queen of Númenor. One of the Faithful, like her father Tar-Palantír, she was usurped and taken in forced marriage by her cousin Ar-Pharazôn. She died in the Downfall of Númenor.