Vidumavi

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Vidumavi
Northman
Matěj Čadil - Valacar of Gondor.jpg
"Valacar of Gondor" by Matěj Čadil
Biographical Information
Other namesGaladwen (S)
LocationRhovanion
Gondor
Birthbefore T.A. 1255[note 1][1]
DeathT.A. 1332 (aged 77+)[note 2]
Gondor
Family
ParentageVidugavia
SpouseValacar
ChildrenEldacar, at least one other child[2]
Physical Description
GenderFemale
GalleryImages of Vidumavi

Vidumavi, also known as Galadwen,[3] was the daughter of Vidugavia, the King of Rhovanion.[4]

History[edit | edit source]

In T.A. 1248 Vidugavia, who was the most powerful of the Northern princes and called himself King of Rhovanion, helped Minalcar, the prince and Regent of Gondor in a war against the Easterlings.[4]

Two years later, in T.A. 1250, Minalcar sent his son, prince Valacar, to live for a while with Vidugavia as an ambassador to learn the language, manners and policies of the Northmen. Valacar loved the Northern lands and people and married Vidumavi, the daugther of Vidugavia, during his stay in Rhovanion.[4] In T.A. 1255[1] Vidumavi gave birth to a son, who was named Vinitharya in the language of his mother.[4]

In T.A. 1260 Minalcar recalled Valacar back to Gondor to take part in the councils of the realm and the command of its armies. Vidumavi was brought by her husband to Gondor with her children and a household of noble men and women from Rhovanion. They were welcomed in Gondor and Vinitharya was given the name Eldacar for public use in Gondor and Vidumavi agreed to be called Galadwen, a translation of her name into Sindarin.[3]

Vidumavi learned the language and manners of Gondor well. Vidumavi was fair, noble and of high courage, which she passed on to her children.[3] Although Vidumavi was short-lived compared to the longer lifespan of the Dúnedain,[4] she died in T.A. 1332 at a great age compared to the lifespan of her own people[3] before Valacar became king.[5]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Christopher Tolkien suggests that Vidumavi is a Latinized spelling of the Gothic name Widumawi, which means "wood-maiden".[6] Arden R. Smith proposes that the name is a combination of the Gothic elements *widus ("wood", "forest") and mawi ("maiden").[7]

Galadwen is a Sindarin name with the same meaning.[3] Paul Strack suggests that it is a compound of galadh ("tree") and the suffixal form of gwend ("maiden").[8]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

Vidugavia
unknown
 
Rómendacil II
1126 - 1366
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
VIDUMAVI
d. 1332
 
Valacar
1194 - 1432
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eldacar
1255 - 1490
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ornendil
d. 1437
 
Aldamir
1330 - 1540

Notes

  1. The year of birth of Vidumavi is not known. Based on the year of birth of her son Eldacar in T.A. 1255, Vidumavi must have been born before T.A. 1255 and must have been at an age where she was able to conceive children that year.
  2. According to typescript D of the Heirs of Elendil "she lived to a great age, as such was reckoned among her people". In one copy of the typescript the year of her death was T.A. 1332 and in another copy T.A. 1344. Based on the year of birth of her son Eldacar in T.A. 1255, Vidumavi died either 77 or 89 years after that. Considering the known age of death of other women of the Edain or the Rohirrim, and the possible earliest age when she could be fertile, this article chooses the earlier year as more realistic, as the other would make her more than 100 years old.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", manuscript C with corrections and expansions, The Southern Line of Gondor: the Anarioni, 21(a). Eldakar. born 1255
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "IX. The Making of Appendix A": (i) "The Realms in Exile", typescript D of The Heirs of Elendil written in 1965 "Valakar returned to Gondor with his wife and children" and "which she imparted to her children", pp. 259.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "IX. The Making of Appendix A": (i) "The Realms in Exile", typescript D of The Heirs of Elendil, pp. 259
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", entry for king Minalcar who took the name Rómendacil (II), p. 1046
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Southern Line: Heirs of Anarion", Kings of Gondor, Rómendacil II died 1366, p. 1038
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", "Notes", Note 6, p. 311
  7. Arden R. Smith, Tolkienian Gothic, in Wayne G. Hammond & Christina Scull, The Lord of the Rings 1954-2004: Scholarship in Honor of Richard E. Blackwelder, pp. 268-269
  8. Paul Strack, "S. Galadwen f.", eldamo.org (accessed 22 February 2022)