Ar-Adûnakhôr

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Ar-Adûnakhôr[1]
Númenórean
Biographical Information
Other namesTar-Herunúmen (Q)[1]
TitlesKing of Númenor
LocationNúmenor
AffiliationKing's Men
LanguageAdûnaic
BirthS.A. 2709[1]
RuleS.A. 2899 - 2962 (63 years)[1]
DeathS.A. 2962[1] (aged 253)
Family
HouseHouse of Elros
ParentageTar-Ardamin[2]
ChildrenAr-Zimrathôn[3]
Physical Description
GenderMale

Ar-Adûnakhôr was the son of King Tar-Ardamin and the twentieth King of Númenor.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

Adûnakhôr was born in a time when most Númenóreans already had stopped using the Elven tongues generations before, although it was still customary for the Kings of Númenor to take their royal names in Quenya.

When Ar-Adûnakhôr succeeded his father, however, he was the first King to break with tradition and took his title in Adûnaic.[4][1] Tar-Herunúmen, a name in Quenya was still recorded in the Scroll of Kings, because the kings feared that a break with this ancient custom could cause evil to befall.[5][1]

His names were perceived as blasphemous and ill-omened[4] by the Faithful Númenóreans, because they mean "Lord of the West", a title that the Faithful only used for one of the Valar, especially Manwë.[1]

During his reign the Elven-tongues were no longer used, nor permitted to be taught, but were maintained in secret by the Faithful. After that elven ships from Tol Eressëa only came seldom and secretly to the west shores of Númenor.[1]

He was succeeded to the throne by his son, Ar-Zimrathôn.[3][6]

Etymology and names[edit | edit source]

Adûnakhôr is an Adûnaic name that means "Lord of the West".[1] It can be analyzed as adûn "West" (S. dûn) and khôr "Lord" (Q. heru). It is said that as a title, it signifies Manwë. Although the name was taken in defiance of Quenya, ironically its elements are said to be of Elvish origin.[7] The meaning of the Adûnaic prefix Ar- is not glossed, but Paul Strack suggests it means "king" and is a prefixal form of ârû ("king") or derived from the same root.[8]

Herunúmen is a Quenya name that means "Lord of the West".[1] According to Paul Strack it is a compound of heru ("lord") and númen ("west").[9] Like for all the rulers of Númenor whose name was inscribed in the Scroll of Kings, the prefix tar- ("high") was added to his name.[10]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
Tar-Calmacil
2516 - 2825
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tar-Ardamin
2618 - 2899
 
Gimilzagar
b. 2630
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AR-ADÛNAKHÔR
2709 - 2962
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ar-Zimrathôn
2798 - 3033
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ar-Sakalthôr
2876 - 3102
 
 
 
 


References

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", entry XX Ar-Adûnakhôr (Tar-Herunúmen)
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", entry XIX Tar-Ardamin
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", entry XXI Ar-Zimrathôn
  4. 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Númenor", paragraph about king Ar-Adûnakhôr
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Akallabêth: The Downfall of Númenor"
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Númenor", pargraphs with the names of the Kings and Queens of Númenor
  7. Helge Fauskanger, "Adûnaic - the vernacular of Númenor", Ardalambion (accessed 19 March 2024)
  8. Paul Strack, "Ad. Ar- pref.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon (accessed 12 January 2022)
  9. Paul Strack, "Q. Herunúmen m.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon (accessed 12 January 2022)
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", first paragraph and entry I to XXV
Ar-Adûnakhôr
House of Elros
Born: S.A. 2709 Died: S.A. 2962
Preceded by:
Tar-Ardamin
20th King of Númenor
S.A. 2899 - 2962
Followed by:
Ar-Zimrathôn


Kings of Númenor
Elros Tar-Minyatur (S.A. 32 - 442) · Tar-Vardamir* (442) · Tar-Amandil (442 - 590) · Tar-Elendil (590 - 740) · Tar-Meneldur (740 - 883) · Tar-Aldarion (883 - 1075) · Tar-AncalimëQ (1075 - 1280) · Tar-Anárion (1280 - 1394) · Tar-Súrion (1394 - 1556) · Tar-TelperiënQ (1556 - 1731) · Tar-Minastir (1731 - 1869) · Tar-Ciryatan (1869 - 2029) · Tar-Atanamir (2029 - 2221) · Tar-Ancalimon (2221 - 2386) · Tar-Telemmaitë (2386 - 2526) · Tar-VanimeldëQ (2526 - 2637) · Tar-Anducal (2637 - 2657) · Tar-Alcarin (2657 - 2737) · Tar-Calmacil (2737 - 2825) · Tar-Ardamin (2825 - 2899) · Ar-Adûnakhôr (2899 - 2962) · Ar-Zimrathôn (2962 - 3033) · Ar-Sakalthôr (3033 - 3102) · Ar-Gimilzôr (3102 - 3177) · Tar-Palantir (3177 - 3255) · Ar-Pharazôn (3255 - 3319)
* Immediately abdicated in favour of his son · Q Ruling Queens · Usurped throne. Later struck off the Line of Kings · Usurped throne from his cousin Tar-Míriel