Tarannon Falastur
The twelfth king of Gondor, Tarannon was born in the year 654 of the Third Age. His father was King Siriondil. He had a younger brother named Tarciryan. As prince of Gondor, Tarannon served as Captain of the Hosts. He led his armies to many victories and led Gondor in a westward expansion in which he colonized the Bay of Belfalas.
Tarannon was crowned king in year 830 after Siriondil's death. Tarannon called himself Tarannon Falastur, Falastur meaning "Lord of the Coasts." King Tarannon had a house by the Sea near Pelargir that stood on arches in the Anduin. Tarannon became the first of four ship-kings, or kings of Gondor who were concerned with strengthening the nation's naval forces. King Tarannon built numerous fleets of strong ships.
After becoming king, Tarannon married Beruthiel. Beruthiel was quite possibly of Black Numenorean descent. The Black Numenoreans were originally Numenoreans but were corrupted by Sauron and turned evil. The marriage of a king of Gondor and a Black Numenorean woman was highly unusual. It is possible that their marriage was arranged to keep peace between Gondor and the South. If this was the case, it did not work.
Tarannon and Beruthiel were unhappy together. They had no children, and Beruthiel hated the Sea. She lived apart from her husband in Osgiliath. As it turned out, she was using her cats to spy on the people of Gondor. Tarannon therefore banished her from the kingdom and he sent her with her cats in a ship passed Umbar.
Since Tarannon and Beruthiel had no children, Tarannon's nephew Earnil I, son of Tarciryan, was crowned king after Tarannon's death in 913.
Tarannon was crowned king in year 830 after Siriondil's death. Tarannon called himself Tarannon Falastur, Falastur meaning "Lord of the Coasts." King Tarannon had a house by the Sea near Pelargir that stood on arches in the Anduin. Tarannon became the first of four ship-kings, or kings of Gondor who were concerned with strengthening the nation's naval forces. King Tarannon built numerous fleets of strong ships.
After becoming king, Tarannon married Beruthiel. Beruthiel was quite possibly of Black Numenorean descent. The Black Numenoreans were originally Numenoreans but were corrupted by Sauron and turned evil. The marriage of a king of Gondor and a Black Numenorean woman was highly unusual. It is possible that their marriage was arranged to keep peace between Gondor and the South. If this was the case, it did not work.
Tarannon and Beruthiel were unhappy together. They had no children, and Beruthiel hated the Sea. She lived apart from her husband in Osgiliath. As it turned out, she was using her cats to spy on the people of Gondor. Tarannon therefore banished her from the kingdom and he sent her with her cats in a ship passed Umbar.
Since Tarannon and Beruthiel had no children, Tarannon's nephew Earnil I, son of Tarciryan, was crowned king after Tarannon's death in 913.
Names & Meaning
Tarannon means "king's gift" in Quenya. It is derived from tar meaning "king's gift" and annon, or anna, meaning "gift."
Falastur is the Quenya word for "Lord of the Coasts." This referenced the king's love of the Sea. It is derived from falassë meaning "coasts" and tur meaning "lord" or "master."
Falastur is the Quenya word for "Lord of the Coasts." This referenced the king's love of the Sea. It is derived from falassë meaning "coasts" and tur meaning "lord" or "master."
References
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A: "The Realms in Exile," page 318; "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion," pages 324-325
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil," page 197
The Unfinished Tales: "The Istari," pages 401-402
The Silmarillion - Appendix: definitions and translations of anna, falas, tar, tur
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil," page 197
The Unfinished Tales: "The Istari," pages 401-402
The Silmarillion - Appendix: definitions and translations of anna, falas, tar, tur
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