King Vidugavia
King of Rhovanion and the Northmen; grandfather of King Eldacar of Gondor. Vidugavia ruled his people during the 1200s of the Third Age. He ruled a section of Rhovanion that lay between Mirkwood and the River Running. Vidugavia's people bread horses in the plains of Rhovanion and they had housing in the East Bight.
The Northmen lived on the western border of Rhun, a land inhabited by men known as the Eaterlings. The Easterlings were enemies of Gondor and they frequently attacked the Northmen on their way to invade Gondor. Many leaders of the Northmen allied themselves with the Easterlings, but Vidugavia remained loyal to the people of Gondor and in 1248 he helped Gondor's regent Romendacil II defeat an army of Easterlings. Romendacil II soon became King of Gondor.
In 1250, Romendacil sent his son Valacar to the court of King Vidugavia. Valacar married Vidugavia's daughter Vidumavi and in 1255 they had a son named Eldacar. The marriage of Vidumavi and Valacar was a source of great controversy in Gondor because some people believed that their King should not be of mixed blood.
Vidugavia's daughter Vidumavi died in either 1332 or 1344. Vidugavia himself probably died before then because the Northmen had short lifespans compared to the people of Gondor.
The Northmen lived on the western border of Rhun, a land inhabited by men known as the Eaterlings. The Easterlings were enemies of Gondor and they frequently attacked the Northmen on their way to invade Gondor. Many leaders of the Northmen allied themselves with the Easterlings, but Vidugavia remained loyal to the people of Gondor and in 1248 he helped Gondor's regent Romendacil II defeat an army of Easterlings. Romendacil II soon became King of Gondor.
In 1250, Romendacil sent his son Valacar to the court of King Vidugavia. Valacar married Vidugavia's daughter Vidumavi and in 1255 they had a son named Eldacar. The marriage of Vidumavi and Valacar was a source of great controversy in Gondor because some people believed that their King should not be of mixed blood.
Vidugavia's daughter Vidumavi died in either 1332 or 1344. Vidugavia himself probably died before then because the Northmen had short lifespans compared to the people of Gondor.
Names & Meanings
The name Vidugavia comes from the Gothic word Widugauja meaning "wood man." As king, Vidugavia was called King of Rhovanion or King of the Northmen.
References
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A: "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion," pages 326-327
The Unfinished Tales: "Cirion and Eorl," pages 288, 311
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Making of Appendix A," pages 259-260
The Unfinished Tales: "Cirion and Eorl," pages 288, 311
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Making of Appendix A," pages 259-260
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