Rómendacil II
Nineteenth king of Gondor, Romendacil II was born in year 1126 of the Third Age. His birth name was Minalcar. His father was King Calmacil and his grandfather was King Atanatar II Alcarin. He also had a brother named Calimehtar. Minalcar's great-grandfather, Hyarmendacil I, expanded Gondor into an empire. Minalcar's father, uncle, and grandfather were all more concerned with their own personal comfort. However, Minalcar followed in the footsteps of Hyarmendacil I.
Atanatar II appointed his grandson as a leader of the councils. Minalcar was strong and quick and he took a great interest in Gondor's affairs.
When his uncle Narmacil I was crowned king in year 1226, he wanted to do nothing for the benefit of his country. He appointed Minalcar as his Regent in 1240, officially known as Karma-kundo, or "Helm Guardian." Minalcar strengthened Gondor's defenses and secured its borders. It came to a point where Minalcar governed Gondor, and Narmacil did nothing but continue his luxurious lifestyle. Minalcar was king in all matters except the title.
Gondor had settlements near the Sea of Rhun that were increasingly threatened by the Easterlings. Northmen lived on the border of Gondor and Rhun. Minalcar decided that it was vital for him to ensure a good relationship with the Northmen so that none would ally with the Easterlings. To show the Nothmen that Gondor was strong, Minalcar attacked the Easterlings in 1248. He destroyed a great army of Rhun and it was then that he took up the name Romendacil, or "east victor." His ancestor Tarostar had also done just that.
Romendacil II constructed forts on the western shores of the Anduin River between the Emyn Muil and Limlight. He also constructed the Argonath, which marked a southern border. No strangers could pass here without permission. To enforce a good relationship with the Northmen, Romendacil II gave many of them high positions in the army of Gondor's defenses.
In 1250, Romendacil II's son Valacar journeyed to Rhovanion as an ambassador to the court of King Vidugavia of the Northmen. Valacar loved Vidugavia's daughter Vidumavi and Romendacil II granted them permission to marry. This was because he wanted to secure Gondor's alliance with the Northmen. Despite this, he knew that the people of Gondor would judge his grandchildren because they were only half Gondorian. The Northmen had a shorter lifespan, which greatly troubled some people of Gondor.
Narmacil I died in 1294. Calmacil was crowned king but, like his brother, he left all of his duties to Romendacil II. Calmacil died in 1304, passing the throne down to a much experienced Romendacil II.
In 1332 or 1344, Vidumavi died. The people of Gondor who had opposed the marriage of Valacar and Vidumavi feared that their son Eldacar would live a short life and the line of kings would end shortly.
Romendacil II feared that the angry people of Gondor would refuse to accept Eldacar as their king when the time came. Romendacil II died in 1366. By 1432, civil war had begun in Gondor.
Atanatar II appointed his grandson as a leader of the councils. Minalcar was strong and quick and he took a great interest in Gondor's affairs.
When his uncle Narmacil I was crowned king in year 1226, he wanted to do nothing for the benefit of his country. He appointed Minalcar as his Regent in 1240, officially known as Karma-kundo, or "Helm Guardian." Minalcar strengthened Gondor's defenses and secured its borders. It came to a point where Minalcar governed Gondor, and Narmacil did nothing but continue his luxurious lifestyle. Minalcar was king in all matters except the title.
Gondor had settlements near the Sea of Rhun that were increasingly threatened by the Easterlings. Northmen lived on the border of Gondor and Rhun. Minalcar decided that it was vital for him to ensure a good relationship with the Northmen so that none would ally with the Easterlings. To show the Nothmen that Gondor was strong, Minalcar attacked the Easterlings in 1248. He destroyed a great army of Rhun and it was then that he took up the name Romendacil, or "east victor." His ancestor Tarostar had also done just that.
Romendacil II constructed forts on the western shores of the Anduin River between the Emyn Muil and Limlight. He also constructed the Argonath, which marked a southern border. No strangers could pass here without permission. To enforce a good relationship with the Northmen, Romendacil II gave many of them high positions in the army of Gondor's defenses.
In 1250, Romendacil II's son Valacar journeyed to Rhovanion as an ambassador to the court of King Vidugavia of the Northmen. Valacar loved Vidugavia's daughter Vidumavi and Romendacil II granted them permission to marry. This was because he wanted to secure Gondor's alliance with the Northmen. Despite this, he knew that the people of Gondor would judge his grandchildren because they were only half Gondorian. The Northmen had a shorter lifespan, which greatly troubled some people of Gondor.
Narmacil I died in 1294. Calmacil was crowned king but, like his brother, he left all of his duties to Romendacil II. Calmacil died in 1304, passing the throne down to a much experienced Romendacil II.
In 1332 or 1344, Vidumavi died. The people of Gondor who had opposed the marriage of Valacar and Vidumavi feared that their son Eldacar would live a short life and the line of kings would end shortly.
Romendacil II feared that the angry people of Gondor would refuse to accept Eldacar as their king when the time came. Romendacil II died in 1366. By 1432, civil war had begun in Gondor.
Names & Meanings
It is debatable what the name Minalcar, also spelled Minalkar, means. It could translate as "first glory" from minya meaning "first" in Quenya and alcar meaning "glory."
Rómendacil means "east victor" from Rómen meanig "east" in Quenya and dacil meaning "victor." He was the second king of Gondor to take this name due to his victory over the Easterlings.
Rómendacil means "east victor" from Rómen meanig "east" in Quenya and dacil meaning "victor." He was the second king of Gondor to take this name due to his victory over the Easterlings.
References
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A: "The Realms in Exile," page 318; "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion," pages 325-327
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies"
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil,"pages 198-199; "The Making of Appendix A," pages 259-261
The Silmarillion - Appendix: definitions and translations of aglar and romen
Quenya Corpus Wordlist
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies"
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil,"pages 198-199; "The Making of Appendix A," pages 259-261
The Silmarillion - Appendix: definitions and translations of aglar and romen
Quenya Corpus Wordlist
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