#vidugavia

[from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras]

Hot take—I was looking back at Appendix A again, and Gondor really hit the ally lottery with the Northmen/Rohirrim because I’m not sure I would have put up with Gondor early on if I was a Northman myself. The whole relationship between the two kingdoms only started because Gondor was looking for a buffer between themselves and the Easterlings (“hey, let’s use these blonde guys as a human shield for our own protection!”). Then when individual Northmen distinguished themselves and got a foothold in Gondorian society, the “high men” (ugh) of Gondor “looked askance” at them as a “lesser and alien race” (double ugh). And when King Valacar of Gondor married the daughter of the Northman King Vidugavia, the Gondorians FOUGHT A CIVIL WAR rather than willingly accept Valacar’s totally legitimate half-Northman son and heir as their leader. Just exhausting.

Relationships between countries are never uncomplicated, and some people in Gondor were always accepting and respectful of the Northmen. And over time, Gondor as a whole proved itself as useful and loyal to the Northmen/Rohan as the reverse. The alliance between the two is so incredible in its fully developed form, and Gondor and Rohan as little best buddy nations are so sweet. But how lucky that Vidugavia’s people didn’t watch that civil war way back in the Second Age and just think to themselves, “to hell with this.”*

* I say this as a citizen of a country that is frequently an overbearing bully to its own best buddy nations (Sorry, Canada! Every American loves you!), and I’m constantly grateful that they haven’t all just decided to write us off for good!

[thelordofgifs]

hmm ok it’s come to my attention that I should probably give you all a crash course in who Eldacar actually WAS. buckle up! this is my favourite story from the LoTR appendices.

So! The year is Third Age 1250. Rómendacil of Gondor is the regent for his uncle (and later also for his father) the king, who is an indolent and altogether useless guy. Rómendacil’s main concern is the land of Rhovanion, to the North of Gondor, where he has recently fought off an invasion of Easterlings with the help of this guy Vidugavia who now calls himself the King of Rhovanion and rules the people known as the Northmen. Cool cool cool, thinks Rómendacil, who obviously has a lot on his plate with his useless uncle whose country he’s running. So he sends his son Valacar north as an ambassador to Rhovanion, to serve in their army, learn their culture and all-around strengthen the alliance.

Valacar misunderstands the assignment and falls in love with Vidugavia’s daughter, Vidumavi.

Now the Northmen are all very good as allies, but this simply won’t do! After all, Valacar is a high-blooded Númenorean, with a long long lifespan and all the other gifts that come with being one of the Men of the West, and Vidumavi, although fair and noble, is just of lesser race. The people of Gondor are not impressed. (The people of Gondor are racist.) And Valacar has even had a son with Vidumavi! His name is Vinitharya in the language of the Northmen, but when Valacar brings his little family back to Osgiliath (then Gondor’s capital city) five years later, he gives his son the Quenya name Eldacar instead. If he was hoping that would quell the mutterings, it doesn’t. The racists of Gondor are not pleased that the heir to the throne is of “lesser race” and complain a lot that he won’t live as long as his father.

A lot of time passes. Rómendacil becomes King and dies, Vidumavi dies (at a very advanced age), Valacar becomes King and eventually dies. Eldacar becomes King aged 177 and the unrest almost immediately breaks out into full-scale rebellion and the civil war called the Kin-strife – especially in the coastal south of Gondor, and the harbour cities of Umbar and Pelargir.

Eventually Eldacar’s second cousin Castamir, who is the Captain of Ships of Gondor and also The Worst, decides to seize the throne from Eldacar, an event known as the Usurpation of Castamir. He besieges Eldacar in Osgiliath and sacks the city, leading to (among other things) the destruction of the great hall called the Dome of Stars and the loss in the River Anduin of the palantír of Osgiliath, which was the greatest of the seven seeing-stones brought by Elendil from Númenor. Thanks, Castamir! Anyway Eldacar fights valiantly (Eldacar is very valiant. the texts says so explicitly I’m not just saying this because he’s my blorbo) but Castamir manages to force him out of Osgiliath and claim the throne for himself. Eldacar flees north to Rhovanion, but Castamir has captured Eldacar’s eldest son Ornendil and cruelly puts him to death which is :( really sad :(

Anyway turns out that backfires on Castamir because the people of Gondor quickly realise what we already know, i.e. that Castamir is The Worst. They aren’t fans of the unnecessarily brutal sack of Osgiliath and the execution of poor Ornendil. Castamir is obsessed with ships and fleets and whatnot and does a generally poor job of ruling. Also he wants to move the seat of the King from Osgiliath to Pelargir, a proposal nobody in the north of Gondor likes.

Ten years later! Our bestest boy Eldacar has not been idle. He puts together an alliance with his mother’s kinsfolk in Rhovanion and also the people in the north of Gondor who hate Castamir, marches back to Gondor with a huge army, has a giant battle, and personally kills Castamir to avenge his son which is so fucking cool.

Anyway the tone of the narrative in the appendices then takes a slightly weird turn by noting that much of the “best blood” of Gondor was lost in that battle and had to be “replenished” with “lesser Men” from Rhovanion to which I say: good. They sound like they had their heads screwed on more tightly than the idiots always mooning over Númenor and Númenor’s gifts and Númenor’s glory like. your place DROWNED over a THOUSAND YEARS AGO. get over yourselves. Anyway.

The Kin-strife has huge consequences for the history of Gondor as a whole – Castamir’s sons survived and established a lordship of their own at Umbar, which remained at intermittent war with Gondor literally until the time of Aragorn 1500 years later. But Eldacar’s story has a happy-ish ending! He lived to be 235, proving that all the racists did not in fact have any idea what they were talking about. As you’d expect, for racists. Eventually he was succeeded as King by his younger son, Aldamir.

The end! Go and have a read of the LoTR appendices seriously. They’re imo a lot more accessible than the silm in writing style, and really really interesting! And for the love of everything holy vote Eldacar on June 1st please and thank you :)

[warrioreowynofrohan]

Favourite Female Tolkien Character Poll - Round 1, Match 28

There are three polls today, all featuring women of Gondor and Arnor!

Berúthiel

A queen of Gondor remembered for her cats. From a note in Unfinished Tales:

She was the nefarious, solitary, and loveless wife of Tarannon, twelfth King of Gondor and first of the ‘ship-kings,’ who took the crown in the name of Falastur (‘Lord of the Coasts’), and was the first childless king. Berúthiel lived in the King’s House in Osgiliath, hating the sounds and smells of the sea and the house that Tarannon built below Pelargir ‘upon arches whose feet stood deep in the wide waters of Ethir Anduin’; she hated all making, all colours and elaborate adornment, wearing only black and silver and living in bare chambers, and the gardens of the house in Osgiliath were filled with tormented sculptures beneath cypresses and yews.

She had nine black cats and one white [my note: sonehow this feels like a metaphor/imagery for Sauron and the Ringwraiths], her slaves, with whom she conversed, or read their memories, setting them to discover all the dark secrets of Gondor, so that she knew those things ‘that men wish most to keep hidden’, setting the white cat to spy on the black, and tormenting them. No man in Gondor dared to touch them; all were afraid of them, and cursed when they saw them pass.

…her name was erased from the Book of the Kings…and King Tarannon had her set on a ship alone with her cats and set adrift on the sea before a north wind. The ship was last seen flying past Umbar under a sickle moon, with a cat at the masthead and another as a figure-head on the prow.

Vidumavi

She married Valacar prince of Gondor and their son was Eldacar (if you followed the Obscure Tolkien Blorbo poll tournament, you may have heard of him).

Gondor had sought good relations with the Northmen, who lived the plains surrounding the south of Greenwood the Great. King Rómendacil II of Gondor sent his son Valacar to live for a while with Vidugavia, the king or chieftain of lands east of southern Greenwood. Valacar went further than he expected in marrying Vidugavia’s daughter Vidumavi. People in Gondor did not like this, regarding the Northmen as lesser than them, and fearing that intermarriage would make their descendents shorter-lived. After Vidumavi’s death, when Eldacar became king, there was a rebellion and civil war called the Kin-strife, in which Eldacar was ultimately victorious.

[knifknight]

My OC Eloise Vidugavia Gilimaitë (Ellie) (she/her), she is an elf and is 70 y/o (18~ in human years)

[sesamenom]

Tolkien only mentions people's absent mothers or wives if they're dead

...so about that:

dead, named

miriel

elenwe

luthien

nimloth (of doriath)

morwen

rian

nienor

aerin

finduilas [girlfriend]

eilinel [girlfriend]

arwen

theodwyn

tar-miriel

beruthiel

finduilas (of gondor)

primula

gilraen

elfhild

assumed eventually dead (mortal), named

adanel

andreth [girlfriend]

arachon

beldis

emeldir

zimrahin

gildis

gloredhel

hareth

hiril

meleth

elros' wife

tar-vanimelde

tar-ancalime

silmarien

almarian

erendis

ailinel

lindorie

inzilbeth

firiel

rian (of gondor)

morwen (of gondor)

morwen (of the dunedain)

ivorwen

not dead (as of last mention), named

tatie

nerdanel

indis

anaire

earwen

aredhel

idril

iminye

ilwen

meril [existence uncertain]

amarie [fiancee]

eldalote

enelye

galadriel

ungoliant

fluithin [existence uncertain]

varda

yavanna

vana

nessa

vaire

este

uinen

goldberry

melian

celebrian

elwing

lothiriel

eowyn

nimrodel (of lorien) [fiancee]

adamanta

lalia

eglantine

esmeralda

rosamunda

diamond

belladonna

donnamira

mirabella

belba

camellia

laura

pansy

linda

lobelia

chica

rosa

gilly

mimosa

prisca

dora

peony

tanta

lily

estella

alfrida

dina

cora

adaldrida

lavender

amethyst

ruby

sapphire

jessamine

gerda

druda

primrose

hilda

ivy

berylla

malva

hanna

salvia

menelgida

asphodel

nina

bell

marigold

rose (other one)

rose

lily (other one)

elanor

cwen

naimi

vaire (of tol eressea)

unnamed

nerdanel's mom

maglor's spouse [gender uncertain]

caranthir's spouse [gender uncertain]

celebrimbor's mom

ilion's wife

indis' mom

fingon's possible wife [existence disputed]

finduilas' mom

earwen's mom

denethor (of the laiquendi)'s mom

celeborn's first wife/amroth's mom [existence uncertain]

saeros' mom

cirdan's mom [existence disputed]

celeborn's mom

galadhon's mom

thranduil's mom

legolas' mom

nimloth (of doriath)'s mom

wives of beor, baran, belen, boron, baranor, beldir, boromir (of the beorians), bregor, beren (other one), bregolas, baragund, belegund

anduir's mom

amdir's wife/amroth's mom [existence uncertain]

wives of marach, imlach, magor, hathol, haldan, halmir, hundar, hunthor, haldad, haldar

bor's wife

ulfang's wife

gorlim's mom

dorlas' wife

aerin's mom

wives of vardamir, tar-amandil, nolondil, veantur, tar-elendil, earendur, axantur, hatholdir, caliondo, cemendur, hallatan, tar-anarion, tar-surion, isilmo, tar-minastir, tar-ciryatan, tar-atanamir, tar-ancalimon, tar-telemmaite, tar-alcarin, tar-calmacil, tar-ardamin, ar-adunakhor, ar-zimrathon, ar-sakalthor, tar-palantir, tar-gimilkhad

wives of valandil, earendur (second one), numendil, amandil, elendil, isildur, anarion, valandil, meneldil, eldacar, arantar, tarcil, tarondor, valandur, elendur, earendur (third one), amlaith, beleg, mallor, celepharn, celebrindor, malvegil, argeleb I, arveleg I, araphor, argeleb II, araval, araphant, aranarth, arahel, aranuir, aravir, aragorn I, araglas, arahad I, aragost, aravorn, arahad II, arassuil, arathorn I, argonui, arador,

wives of cemendur, earendil (of gondor), anardil, ostoher, tarostar, turambar (of gondor), atanatar I, siriondil, tarciryan, earnil I, ciryandil, ciryaher, calmacil, romendacil II, calimehtar, vidugavia, castamir, aldamir, hyarmendacil II, telemnar, minastan, tarondor, telumehtar, narmacil II, arciryas, calimehtar (other one), calimmacil, ondoher, siriondil (other one), earnil II

wives of marhari, marhwini, forthwini, frumgar, fram, leod, eorl, brego (of rohan), aldor, frea, freawine, freca, goldwine, deor, helm, hild, frealaf, brytta, walda, folcwine, fengel

wives of pelendur, vorondil, mardil, eradan, herion, belegorn, hurin I (of gondor), turin I (of gondor), hador (of gondor), barahir (of gondor), boromir (other one of gondor), cirion, hallas, hurin II, belecthor I, orodreth (of gondor), egalmoth (of gondor), beren (of gondor), beregond (other one), belecthor II, thorondir, turin II, turgon (of gondor), ecthelion II (of gondor)

wives of adrahil I, galador, agalahad, angelimir, adrahil II, elphir, imrahil

smeagol's grandmother

ibal's mom

beorn's wife [mortality uncertain]

ghan's wife

wives of girion, bard, bain, brand, bard II

wives of baranor (of gondor), beregond, borlas, berelach II

grima's mother

dunhere's mother

aghan's mother

mim's wife

wives of durin I, durin II, durin III, durin IV, durin V, durin VI, nain I, thrain I, thorin I, gloin (other one), oin (other one), nain II, dain I, borin, thror, thrain, gror, nain, farin, fundin, groin, dain II, gloin, thorin III

isengrim II's wife [mortality uncertain]

wives of isumbras III, ferumbras II, fortinbras I, isumbras IV, isumbold, isembard, adalgrim, flambard, sisigmond, adelard, ferdinand

wives of odo, olo, polo, ponto, dudo, adalgar, jago, gundahad, vigo, bosco

wives of gorhendad, sadoc, saradas, orgulas, marmadas, hamfast, wiseman, holman, cottar, hobson, holman, andwise, halfred, frodo (gardner), holfast

wives of woden, heden, eoh, tulkastor

if we include implied mortality (orange), we have our totals of:

total named: 129

dead, named: 43 not dead, named: 86

total unnamed: 273

probably dead, unnamed: 230 not dead, unnamed: 43

obviously the eventual mortality of the gazillion numenoreans does impact these numbers quite a bit, but it still does stand that more of the unnamed mothers/wives are dead than the named ones (84% vs 33%)

---

other notes:

orange = implied eventual death due to mortality at some point up to the end of the TA

[gender uncertain], [girlfriend], and [fiancee] characters were counted as wives

[existence uncertain] and [existence disputed] characters were included

[mortality uncertain] characters were counted as not dead

actually not only is Legolas’s mother still alive, post-quest she was like ‘Aragorn I’m your mum now’ and Aragorn was like ‘that’s kind of you but no need’ and she was like ‘NO. I AM YOUR MUM NOW.’

& Legolas was solemnly like ‘this means we are brothers now. I take my brotherly responsibilities very seriously. Family game night is on Tuesdays.’

that’s what happened.

[vidumavi]

Prompt: Rhovanion & shadows of things that were yet to be

Hiii thank you <3 I understood rhovanion to imply my favourite niche family

(Names: Vinitharya = Eldacar, Minalcar = Romendacil II, Meligavi = Eldacar's canonical but unnamed sibling)

The messenger had been formally received with the same ceremonials as all of his kind who had made the journey from the far south over the last decade. He had come with greetings from one king to another and a stack of letters: for Vidugavia, for his son-in-law and his daughter. There had even been a small, cloth-wrapped package for his grandchildren that revealed finely made toys and a bag of dried figs and peaches.

Nothing had seemed out of the ordinary, but Vidugavia had taken note of a line of tension in Valacar’s face and a guarded look in his eyes as he watched the messenger approach. He had searched for a similar reaction in his daughter, but Vidumavi had been preoccupied with the bored and restless toddler on her hip, her face turned away and half-obscured by her hair.

Minalcar’s letter had offered nothing save for the usual diplomatic pleasantries and goings-on when Vidugavia had opened it that evening, but over the following weeks, he watched a strain grow in the bearing of his daughter and his law-son. They tried to keep their whispered arguments away from their children, he knew, but little Vinitharya, five years old now, was precocious and disposed to listening at doors. He soon lost interest in the beautiful, detailed model of a ship that had been gifted to him and began to look sullen and hide when he was called for.

Vidugavia had known this day would come, but foolish, soft old man that he had become, he had hoped he would not live to see it, that he might die surrounded by all his children and grandchildren. But it seemed Minalcar, who had after Vinitharya’s birth tentatively begun hinting that Valacar might best serve the realm in Gondor now, had finally lost his patience for good.

Vidugavia had some inkling of the stern conventions that ruled over an empire like Gondor, over its ancient, sprawling stone cities and harbours, over the far older families at its helm: the news of their prince marrying in foreign lands, not even deigning to bring his bride home for the wedding, must have been received with bitterness indeed. Had he been only a politician, he would have advised against it, told Valacar to be wed according to all standards of tradition to take the sting off his choice in spouse- but he was a sentimental old man as well, and he had wanted to see his daughter married where he had raised her.

Mist clung to the earth that morning when he walked toward her home. He had let her avoid him for too long already. But when he stepped into her entrance hall, he nearly stumbled over his grandson, who was carrying his sister in his arms with some difficulty. On his back was a large pack and he swayed slightly on his feet.

“Careful, there,” Vidugavia said and put a hand on his shoulder to steady him, “And where are you going, young man?”

Vinitharya’s expression was half guilt and half stubbornness.

“I’m running away,” he replied, jutting his chin out imperiously.

“I see. How come?”

Before Vinitharya could answer, the voice of his mother echoed from another room, closely followed by that of his father.

“ - sooner or later - “

“ - before my children – “

They caught only snatches of their words, but Vinitharya’s face scrunched up in distress, his eyes watering. Little Meligavi began squirming in his arms and Vidugavia bowed to take her in his own before she could drop to the floor.

“Alright,” he said, “Let’s go.”

He told a guard to inform his daughter that he was taking the children out for the day and led them out of the keep, through the town and its gates and into the forest. They went west, where the hills grew higher and the trees taller, stopping to pick berries and some of the year’s first apples. What luxury, to walk with children and no guard so far from any fortification- but Vinitharya and Meligavi knew nothing else, children of peacetime that they were.

May it stay that way, he thought as they climbed the tallest hill for miles, its top bare of trees and its western slopes steep and rocky. From its highest point, a dark smudge was visible far to the north: the mountains of Mirkwood and, past them, the Lonely Mountain. Fainter even, only a grey speck on the horizon, was the mountain to the south that rose over the darkened parts of the forest where shadows walked and poison stained the rivers and the air.

Vinitharya did not complain about having every landmark explained to him despite knowing them all already, hanging on his grandfather’s every word. Vidugavia even told him of the cave that reached deep beneath the hill, that had been used as a shelter during the war. It was no story for children, but he was overcome with the sudden urge to tell his grandson all he knew ere he was taken to be raised in a strange land. Vinitharya at least was old enough to remember: Meligavi, who had only just learned to walk a few wavering steps, would likely not even remember his face.

He looked at his granddaughter, who was sitting in the grass, grabbing at wildflowers with her chubby hands and babbling, oblivious to her family’s sorrow.

“Watch out for your sister,” he told Vinitharya, “She will not remember her home. See to it that she knows where she hails from.”

Vinitharya looked close to tears.

“I don’t want to go.”

“I know. But I must ask you to be brave.”

He bent his weary knees to heave Vinitharya upon his shoulders and let him gaze far and wide across Rhovanion. Summer was drawing to its close, the nights growing colder by the day, but the woods were yet green.  

“For six months, the cave below sheltered my company,” Vidugavia said, “Cradled us, protected us against enemy and elements alike. You, too, are children of this land. It will not forsake you when the time comes.”

Vinitharya sniffed.

“Are we not forsaking it first?”

“Earth and people both will remember you. You will always have a home here, I give you my word.”

Vinitharya appeared to reluctantly accept his words. Then, he insisted on looking at the cave himself. They climbed through the concealed entrance and into the narrow tunnels, where he touched the cold, granite walls with reverence. Vidugavia saw him collect two smooth, black rocks from the ground and put them in his pocket.

The sun was beginning to set by the time they returned. Vidugavia let himself into their private lodgings, Meligavi fast asleep in his arms. Vidumavi and Valacar turned to him as one when he entered. Valacar’s hand had been resting on her arm, but now he strode toward his son and embraced him.

“We’re sorry, darling,” Vidugavia heard him murmur, “We did not mean to scare you.”

Vidumavi looked at her father intently, perfect understanding passing between them.

“Thank you,” she said, “for watching them.”

He nodded and moved to return her daughter to her, but she shook her head.

“Keep her just a moment longer,” she said, “I would not wish to wake her.”

[arofili]

men of middle-earth ♞ house of éorl ♞ headcanon disclaimer

          Vidugavia was a leader of the Northmen who styled himself the King of Rhovanion. He ruled the lands between Mirkwood and the River Running, and renewed his people’s historic alliance with the kingdom of Gondor. He aided Prince Minalcar Rómendacil II in his campaign against the Easterlings and welcomed him and his young son Valacar into his court as ambassadors after the war.           Valacar grew to manhood among the Woodsmen, raised alongside Vidugavia’s children. Vidugavia’s queen, Adosinda, doted on the young man and encouraged his close friendship with her son Viduwulfila. In time Valacar grew to love Adosinda’s daughter Vidumavi, and they were wed in a union that solidified the alliance between Gondor and Rhovanion through marriage.           Vidumavi bore Valacar a son, Vinitharya, in Rhovanion. When it came time for Rómendacil to ascend to the throne of Gondor, Valacar took his family to Osgiliath, where his wife took the name Galadwen and his son became known as Eldacar. The people of Gondor appreciated Galadwen’s fairness and nobleness, but feared that she would pass her short lifespan to her son. This distrust of the blood of outsiders led to the Kin-strife when Eldacar was poised to become King, but Galadwen Vidumavi died before even her husband’s reign.           In Rhovanion, Viduwulfila eventually inherited his father’s rule, though in future generations his descendants would lose their power and influence in the Northlands. Nonetheless, Viduwulfila was counted as a forefather of the Rohirrim, as he was an ancestor of Marhari who would father Marhwini, the first Lord of the Éothéod.

[morwensteelsheen]

Also - I’m really obsessed with Harad lately and I’m trying to sketch out some internal politics to use across my writing. Just some thoughts for anyone who might be interested:

Sometime after the year 1250 of the Third Age, Rómendacil, nineteenth King of Gondor, sent his son Valacar north to act as an emissary to the King of Rhovanion. The King of Rhovanion was what could generously be called a tenuous title - the Northmen had rarely had permanent settlements, and tended to smaller nomadic groups rather than singular kingdoms. Nevertheless, one prince, Vidugavia, had taken to calling himself the King of Rhovanion, and after the substantial aid he supplied to Gondor in her fight against the Easterlings, his claim could not be casually dismissed. Valacar was therefore sent north, and there met and wed Vidugavia’s daughter Vidumavi, who bore him a son, named Eldacar.

Theoretically, no problem, except that the Northmen had never travelled to Númenor, did not participate in the war against Morgoth, and were therefore not availed of a longer lifespan. Upon Valacar’s return to Gondor and his ascension to the throne, there was much worry about the lesser blood status of his wife and son, and fear that the lengthened lifespan of the Kings of Gondor would be lessened by this blood mixing (yup).

When Valacar died and Eldacar prepared to take the throne, full blown civil war broke out. This is known as the Kin-strife. Eldacar, who dwelt in Osgiliath, was chased out of the city and kingdom (fleeing to Rhovanion), and a man named Castamir took the throne, executing Eldacar’s son.

Eventually Eldacar retook control of Gondor and had Castamir put to death, but Castamir’s sons successfully fled to Umbar, making that city a safe haven for all enemies of the King of Gondor.

By 2885 of the Third Age, Umbar - though ostensibly an independent city-state - supported Harad’s claim over the Gondorian realm of Harondor, which had at least once been named a land under dual claim between Gondor and Umbar. This, combined with other military allegiances between the Corsairs and the Haradrim, suggests an especially close relationship, and any extant divisions would have certainly been even more blurred by the time Sauron claimed dominion over them both.

So - we know that Castamir’s sons were instrumental in setting up Umbar as an antagonist to Gondor, but we don’t know how many sons Castamir had or if they all remained in Umbar.

We also know a few other things:

Castamir’s great-grandsons named themselves using Quenya (Sangahyando and Angamaitë) - this doesn’t imply a popular Umbarian usage of Quenya, but does suggest that Quenya itself was not a shunned language in Umbar, at least in TA 1630.

Gandalf’s name in Near Harad was Incánus, which was, despite several changes in gloss, almost always marked out by Tolkien as a Quenya term. So the Haradrim were also using variants of Quenya in the Third Age - which makes sense, because the Haradrim were actually colonised and oppressed by the Númenóreans in and after the reign of Tar-Ciryatan.

Given all that, I suggest the following recent history for Harad:

After the fall of the last descendants of Castamir in TA 1810, the tribes of Harad were dispersed, largely leaderless and prone to violent conflict with one another. Although there were myriad groups with myriad political allegiances and traditions, most could be grouped into one of two meta-traditions.

The first, comprising those tribes who were dominated by descendants of the Black Númenóreans and the Castamirionath, situated their opposition to Gondor in terms of the illegitimacy of its rulership. They hold that Eldacar’s return was illegitimate (as Castamir was the rightful king), and therefore all of Eldacar’s descendants, and the Ruling Stewards as empowered by Pelendur (through heritability), were false kings. Their interest lays in reunifying and strengthening Harad to reclaim Gondor and instal the rightful line of Kings.

The second, comprising those tribes of the “original” Haradrim - those who came direct from Hildórien and never continued to Númenor - who were suppressed during the rule of the Black Númenóreans and later during the rule of Castamir’s sons, have historically had no interest in the unification of Harad, and no interest in paying fealty to those who seek to invade and “reclaim” Gondor. Their hatred of Gondor is situated in their profound distaste of the Númenórean descendants as, essentially, imperialists and colonisers.

In TA 2036, they were all forcibly unified under one ruler, who invoked the name of Castamir and violently suppressed those tribes who opposed him. For eight hundred years the various tributes of Harad existed in something approaching peace, though it was a peace enforced with whips and chains. After the Battle of the Crossings of Poros in TA2885, the Castamiric rulers lost control of several substantial parts of Far Harad, and tightened their grip on the rest of Near Harad.

Ten years before the Ring War, a prince of the tribes of Far Harad began to declare that all the ills of the Haradrim were the ills of Númenor, that Gondor, as its heir, was a craven den of immorality, cruelty, and tyranny. He began to siphon off the tribes of Near Harad, turning those who supported the memory of Castamir against those who did not. In attempt to bring the Far Haradi tribesmen in line, the chieftain of the Near Haradi tribes (the Castamirite) sent his youngest child, a daughter away to marry the Far Haradi firebrand.

During the Ring War, they were effectively unified under Sauron’s banner - the Near Haradrim having been promised dominion over Gondor, and the Far Haradrim having been promised liberation from Near Harad. They were each handily defeated during the War, leaving Harad in ruination.

The sole son and heir of the Near Haradi leader died at the Pelennor Fields, leaving the Near Haradi Castarmirites without a future ruler. His daughter’s son would, therefore, be heir to both tribes, effectively forcing reunification. But her husband laid siege to her father’s lands, leaving Far Harad open to attack by the even more easterly Variags, who were pushed west by devastating droughts in the east.

And that, I think, basically gets me to the years that I’m interested in writing about.

[searchingforserendipity25]

"But Valacar far exceeded his father’s designs.He grew to love the Northern lands and people, andhemarried Vidumavi, daughter of Vidugavia. It was some years before he returned. From this marriage came later the war of the Kin-strife."

ELDACAR!

i haven't read the lotr appendixes since i was tiny 12 year old and remember nothing except how arwen and aragorn's bit made me cry while hiding in my room when out on holidays with my cousins, but @thelordofgifs's obscure tolkien blorbo propaganda is working. about to read the realms in exile and be sad about eldacar probably. the power of a tumblr mutual cannot be overstated. cheers!

[thegirlwhohid]

But Valacar far exceeded his father's designs. He grew to love the Northern lands and people, and he married Vidumavi, daughter of Vidugavia.

Vidumavi moodboard

Legendarium Ladies April: (29/30)

‘The Lord of the Rings’ characters: (37/?)

Characters’ moodboards: (346/?)

[austerlitzborodinoleipzig]

Today is one of those “let’s think about Tolkien’s weird obsession with Second-of-his-name trope” days.

Because really, I still don’t know why but nearly half of Tolkien’s heroes, or characters of particular relevance to the plot/history of Middle-Earth are the second guys to wear that name. 

I mean,the most glaring exemple is Aragorn who is actually Aragorn II, son of Arathorn, you guessed it, II. And in Gondor you have Denethor II, son of Ecthelion II. Also fun fact, had Boromir been a Ruling Steward, he would have been called Boromir II. (Unrelated, but Boromir the first was a bit of a badass, and one of my favorite obscure characters). Thorin Oakenshield? Thorin the fucking second. And so is his cousin, Dain II Ironfoot. 

So I decided to sit down, reread LOTR’s appendices and see where that trend goes. 

So hereby is the (maybe not exhaustive list) of all the characters that wear the number II behind their names. 

Kings of Arnor and Chieftain of the Dunedain

Argeleg II and Arveleg II, no, they’re not father and son. Kings of the Arthedain. There’s nothing else about them, except that during Argeleb’s reign, there was the great plague of the Third Age, so that puts him above most of the other kings for relevance. 

Arahad II: chieftain of the Dunedain

Arathorn II: aka Gilraen’s husband

Aragorn II, son of Arathorn, Heir of Isildur

Interestingly, Arvedui, while an important figure, is the first and last of his name, but then again, I guess you can’t have two kings called “The Last One”. 

Kings of Gondor

Atanatar Alcarin, “The Glorious”, whose reign represents the summit of Gondor’s power. Guess what? He was Atanatar II

Romendacil II: okay this one is an interesting one, and one of my obscure faves. (Seriously, Gondor’s history is fascinating). Seemingly one the great kings Gondor had. Per ROTK, Appendix A he “was a man of great vigour, and in 1240 Narmacil, to rid himself of all cares, made him Regent of the realm.” Interesting because he’s the first and last Regent, Gondor apparently had. A sort of proto-Stewardship? Why was the title not used after that? But anyway, guy ruled Gondor, in his uncle’s, then father’s and finally in his own name. Also first one to reach out toward the Northmen, to conclude alliances with them. Invited some Northmen to serve in Gondor’s armed forces. Send his son and heir to Vidugavia’s court. So generally open-minded. Good captain, crushed the Easterlings. Also built the pillars of the Argonath. On the downside, his policy concerning the Northmen led to the Kin-Strife. 

Hyarmendacil II and Narmacil II : unremarkable

Eärnil II : penultimate King of Gondor. Also one the greats. See the pattern, yet?

Stewards

Belecthor II : under his office, the White Tree died. 

Turin II : built Henneth Annun

Ecthelion II, Denethor II, and Boromir would-have-been-II 

Durin’s Line

Technically there has been a Durin II, however, nothing is said about him. We know Durin III was given one of the Seven Rings, by Celebrimbor, and Durin VI awoke the Balrog in the Moria. 

Nain II : only thing we know is that his son, Dain I, was killed by a dragon.

And then come-on Tolkien, it’s getting ridiculous

Thrain II : died in Dol Guldur, 

his son Thorin II Oakenshield

Dain II Ironfoot, who ends up King under the Mountain.

Interestingly enough, all Kings of Rohan have a unique name. 

Same goes for the Kings of Numenor, except that there are two Amandil and Elendil, who bookend the Numenor era. 

Tar Amandil, second ruling King of Numenor and his son Tar Elendil.

And then we have the Lords of Andunië, Amandil and his son Elendil, who then becomes the first High King of the Numenoreans in exile. Both are descendants of Tar Amandil and Tar Elendil, through Elendil’s daughter, Silmariën. 

Also there’s King Bard II of Dale, succeeds his father during the War of the Ring.

[from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras]

Today in questions people weren’t exactly asking but I am thinking about nonetheless…

I am deeeep in the weeds of the lead-up to the kinstrife in Gondor because I had an idea for LOTR Week’s ancestors and history prompt (lol on the timing, maybe I’ll have it done before the *next* LOTR Week rolls around!) and in the process, I think I might have found a (personally) satisfying answer to the question of why Rohan has a tradition of “Elf-” names (Elfhelm, Elfhild, Elfwine, etc.) when they are not a culture that has substantive ties to the elves and, in fact, were even kind of hostile to them at times.

The kinstrife happened because Valacar, son and heir of the king of Gondor, went to live as an ambassador of sorts with the Northmen (the proto-Rohirrim), fell in love with and married a Northman princess, and had a half-Northman son who became Valacar’s own heir. A substantial number of Gondorians wouldn’t accept this half-Northman son as their king after Valacar’s death, and so there was a coup and a civil war before the son eventually retook and held the throne. That son was named Vinitharya, which means “victor of the east” in the language of the Northmen, but Valacar had also given him a Gondorian name to help ensure the Gondorians would accept him and see him as one of them (a good thought, even if it didn’t entirely work!). The name he chose was Eldacar, which is Quenya for “elf helm”!*

So MAYBE the Northmen honored and esteemed Eldacar, who is a son of their royal house just as much as a son of Gondor’s. They were proud of him and what he accomplished as one of them. He came from THEIR community, ascended to the highest levels of power in the biggest empire in all of Middle Earth, withstood a coup and a civil war against him to hold onto that power, greatly expanded rights and opportunities for other Northmen living in Gondor, and had his own son (Aldamir) who eventually succeeded him and kept those Northmen genes in the Gondorian royal family. OF COURSE they’d be proud, and maybe they were so proud that they started naming their kids after him. Maybe they took the name Eldacar, translated it back into their language, and kept using it consistently over the years. The name followed along with the changes in the language as the Northmen became first the Éothéod and then the Rohirrim, and eventually we see it being used as “Elfhelm” in late Third Age Rohan, where it has also spun off a whole bunch of other, related “Elf-” prefix names in the process. Maybe? I don’t know, but I like it!

*All the dynamics on the naming here are FASCINATING to me. The name of Valacar’s father, King Romendacil, ALSO happens to translate as “east victor,” which he started using as his regnal name after defeating a bunch of Easterlings together with Northmen allies led by Valacar’s father in law, Vidugavia. So it seems that when Valacar chose to name his kid Vinitharya, he was both naming his son after his own father, Romendacil, and referencing a historical event that brought the Gondorians/his family and the Northmen/his wife’s family together, just as Vinitharya himself was a union of Gondorian and Northman identities and families. So sweet! Then when they changed his name to Eldacar, they went 100% in the opposite direction, abandoning any ties to the Northmen and even the little tribute to Romendacil and choosing instead a name that was as Gondorian as could be. The first man to bear the name Eldacar was a grandson of Isildur himself, who was of course the last High King of both Gondor and Arnor and one of the founders of the whole realm. That makes sense as a strategy when the goal is to legitimize Eldacar in Gondorian eyes, but the loss of the name Vinitharya is so much sadder when you think about what it all means! (Please excuse my ridiculous enthusiasm for all of this minutiae, I love it though I recognize it’s probably a bunch of silly Name Salad to a lot of people!)

[thelordofgifs]

Surely, you might say, she has run out of possible propaganda posts to make about Eldacar now? Friend you are so so wrong. Today I am thinking about Eldacar's childhood in Gondor and all the fascinating and messy politics surrounding it. When Eldacar was born in TA 1255, his grandfather Romendacil wasn't actually the King of Gondor yet - he was the regent for his useless incompetent uncle (so Eldacar's great-great uncle), Narmacil. Narmacil was childless, so his heir was his (equally useless and incompetent) younger brother Calmacil, Romendacil's father. This means that the marriage of Eldacar's parents, and the birth of a mixed-race heir, might have been politically very damaging to Romendacil the regent! In fact, there's an intriguing note in HoME about Romendacil's reaction to his son's marriage:

Romendakil gave his consent to the marriage. He could not forbid it or refuse to recognize it without earning the enmity of Vidugavia. Indeed all the Northmen would have been angered, and those in his service would have been no longer to be trusted. He therefore waited in patience until 1260, and then he recalled Valakar, saying that it was now time that he took part in the councils of the realm and the command of its armies. Valakar returned to Gondor with his wife and children; and with them came a household of noble men and women of the North. They were welcomed, and at that time all seemed well.

the ominosity! It was at this time that Vidumavi and Eldacar (and presumably the other unnamed children too) took names in Quenya and Sindarin - a cultural assimilation detail that always kills me. But anyway! Romendacil's kind of lukewarm reaction to Valacar's marriage ("he gave his consent because it would be awkward if he forbade the marriage") is so fascinating. How did he receive his mixed-race grandchildren? Did he start to believe the murmurs that his heirs were not fit to ascend the throne of Gondor? What also intrigues me that Calimehtar, the grandfather of Castamir the Beloathed, is Romendacil's younger brother (making Castamir Eldacar's second cousin). I BET this guy was constantly working against Romendacil during his regency and angling for his own heirs to inherit the crown instead. Castamir had to get the ridiculous sense of entitlement from somewhere.

Anyway that was a long digression about political speculation, but my point is: picture the poor little five-year-old at the centre of all this intrigue and the focus of all this racism!! He needs so many hugs, please vote for him <3

Obscure Tolkien Blorbo: Semifinal

Eldacar of Gondor vs One (1) Rivendell elf who sings tra-la-la-lally

Eldacar of Gondor:

The twenty-first King of Gondor, also known as Vinitharya. During his reign the conflict known as the Kin-strife occurred and he was forced from his throne for ten years.

The blorbo of all time actually. He’s the protagonist of one of the most interesting stories in the LoTR appendices, the Kin-strife, and everything about his life story is so fascinating! His father was the crown prince of Gondor and his mother was the princess of Rhovanion so not a Númenorean. As a result all the racist nobles of Gondor made noises about how Eldacar was of “lesser race” and wouldn’t live as long as a “true Dúnadan”. One of the most fascinating examples of fantasy racism in Tolkien’s works imo – the bigotry is awful but the bigots have a shield to hide behind! Obviously their concerns are actually valid because they just don’t want their king to die young! (Their concerns aren’t valid. But I think the worldbuilding here is great.) Anyway Eldacar was born in Rhovanion and given the birth-name Vinitharya, but when he returned to Gondor aged five he was obliged to take up the Quenya name Eldacar, presumably to pacify all the racists in Gondor. He’s the EMBODIMENT of mixed-race/immigrant child trauma my beloved. Eventually his father died and he ascended to the throne of Gondor, but then his shitty second cousin Castamir (all my homies hate Castamir he’s the worst) started the civil war known as the Kin-strife and usurped Eldacar’s throne. Eldacar was forced to flee north to Rhovanion but Castamir captured his eldest son Ornendil and had him cruelly put to death which is SO SAD. But Eldacar, being brave and resourceful and clever and extremely cool, put together an alliance with his mother’s kinsfolk in Rhovanion and after ten years reclaimed his throne, which turned out to be slightly easier than expected because Castamir was The Worst and all his subjects hated him. And Eldacar PERSONALLY fought and killed Castamir HIMSELF and AVENGED HIS SON which is extremely important when you consider all the cringefail elves in the legendarium whose quests for revenge didn’t really go anywhere at all. Then he lived to be 235 proving that all the idiot racists who were worried about his lifespan didn’t have any idea what they were talking about, as is par for the course with racists. Also the Kin-strife itself has such far-reaching consequences for the history of Gondor! The Corsairs of Umbar, Gondor’s long-standing enemies, are actually followers of the descendants of Castamir. And during the Usurpation of Castamir Osgiliath was sacked and burned, leading to the beginning of its decline as Gondor’s greatest city. Even though Eldacar’s story is, to me, ultimately hopeful, it’s also such a fascinating turning point in the history of Gondor. Also ALSO he’s explicitly surrounded by textual ghosts which is really fascinating. His father Valacar has “children” plural – so Eldacar had siblings!! What were they like? How did they react to it all? And his son Aldamir is described as Eldacar’s second son and third child, meaning that he had a daughter too. Who was she?? What happened to her? He’s such a blorbo and there’s so much interesting stuff to dig into around him and he has to win this entire tournament please please please❤️

One (1) Rivendell elf who sings tra-la-la-lally:

One of the Elves of Rivendell who sing tra-la-la-lally in The Hobbit.

This one specific elf sings tra la la lally with the rest but he is slightly off key and the other elves bully him for it

they’re SILLY!!! We need NEED more silly elves!! Like who are these weirdos just hanging out in the trees of Rivendell? Did they know the dwarves were coming and gather their friends to specifically climb those trees to sing nonsense at them? Do they just normally sit there and sing about every little thing they see? Is this a traditional Rivendell thing or are those elves just really strange? I’m obsessed with them they’re everything to me. Elves are oft portrayed as being Too Serious in this fandom and silly elves need rights too! Silly elf rights!!!!

Semifinals masterpost

[enanoakd]

RHÛN REGIONS MOODBOARDS - [II] Sagathavuld

Sagathavuld in southwestern Rhûn was the tribal realm of the Sagath-Easterlings.

The Sagath were an Easterling Tribe on the eastern Borders of Rhovanion. Sometimes also the Brygath of southern Rhûn were called "the Southern Sagath".

In the Ulgathic tongues, the word Sagath means "Raiding People". The actual collection of tribes which call themselves Sagath is limited to those in Rhovanion and southern Rhûn who still trace their ancestry back to the Szreldorn survivors of the Battle of Dagorlad. These tribes exist mostly in central and northern Rhovanion, though there are still scattered bands who prowl the plains west of Buhr Armenrik. These Sagath lead a life of mayhem, stealing what they need or desire from their neighbors and the caravans that still cross the open plains. Theirs is the most mobile culture in Rhûn, for they lay no legitimate claim to any of the lands they traverse. Instead, the bands are always on the move, keeping all of their posessions in the great wagons for which they are known. The Sagath are a male dominated society. Women hold no social standing except between themselves, and have no sayin the movements or actions of the band. A Sagath band normally consists of several dominant male warriors who vie constantly for prestige among their peers. Power within the band is a constant test of strength, which has sometimes led a Sagath band to destroy itself. This greatly inhibits their ability to organize themselves into a fighting force to challenge the sedentary peoples of Rhûn, though there are a few notable exceptions to this rule. The Hûz (formerly Hos) clan is an example of a succession of Sagath warlords who have consistently been able to dominate their peers and vie for real power in Rhovanion. The Hos clan was founded in the opening days of the Third Age by a member of the Szreldorn family who once owned the lands upon which Ilanin sits. Subsequent warlords in the tribe's history have used this extra evidence of legitimacy to maximum advantage. Beyond those who consider themselves Sagath, there are many other tribes in all corners of Rhûn who are called Sagath by others. Particularly warlike bands of Logath, Urgath, and especially Brygath are all named Sagath by their neighbors. In most areas of Rhûn, the term simply connotes an aggressive band who is prone to take from their neighbors what they cannot make of buy for themselves. This has led to a great deal of confusion for visitors to Rhûn. Vidugavia and Minalcar made the mistake of asking the question, "Where are the Sagath?" Any tribe, when posed this question, is libel to point out the biggest rival. This led the western army, in their ignorance, to commit grievous mistakes in southern Rhûn and to alienate most of its residents.

The remaining Sagath allied themselves -or were subjugated by - the Kings of Mistrand and became part of the Igath or Wainriders.

After the fall of the Wainrider empire the term Sagath appeared on and off as a denomination for plundering or renegade easterling tribes as a dialect term in the local Westron dialects of Rhûn, however these later "Sagath" had mostly little to do with the original tribal confederation of Urgathic and Szreldorn descent.

[swfift]

my name may not be neville but I can put something long in your bottom

pick-up line: 1000/10 BEST ONE SO FAR BAHAHAURL: idgi sorry :( /10icon: 7/10theme: 8/10overall: 7.5/10

BLOGRATES  (blacklist “blograte” if you don’t want these on your dash)

[from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras]

Not-Yet-Written Fics Game

Thank you to the people who have tagged me for this: @niennawept and @emmanuellececchi and maybe @erathene (my notifications say I’m tagged there but the post itself doesn’t seem to say that so perhaps my app is just being weird again ����)! Either way, I really enjoyed getting to see what ideas people have sitting around in their brains or on their devices.

My process (such as it is) usually starts with a character I want to spend more time with and then I figure out the concept/plot later. So most of my to-dos are just people I want to write for — (mostly obscure) Rohirrim like Elfhelm, Grimbold, Erkenbrand, Théodwyn, Éothain or Elfhild — and when I have time, I pick one from the list and work something up.

In terms of plots, there is only one in my mind right now with real specificity and it’s about Baldor and the Paths of the Dead. We know from LOTR that Baldor, an early Prince of Rohan, died a horrific death in the Paths of the Dead (where his body is found by Aragorn hundreds of years later) but we don’t know what the hell he was doing there. I have some ideas about what would drive him to do such a wild thing, but I’d have to figure out how not to make that story just unrelentingly bleak given how it ends canonically.

Otherwise, I know I’d like to write some stuff further back in Rohan’s national history. Maybe something about what it was like to follow Eorl and leave behind life in Rhovanion to help settle what became Rohan. Definitely something about the old Northman King Vidugavia, whose daughter Vidumavi married a king of Gondor and then the Gondorians fought a civil war rather than accept Vidumavi’s half-Northman son as a valid heir to the throne. I imagine Vidugavia and Vidumavi had some FEELINGS about all of that even as they ultimately decided to continue their alliance with Gondor.

Anywho. I do legitimately love to hear what other people are up to. No pressure tags (and ignore me if you’ve already done this or been tagged elsewhere): @meluiloth @hobbitwrangler @sluttyseacadet