Eldacar (King of Gondor)

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The name Eldacar refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Eldacar (disambiguation).
Eldacar
Gondorian
Biographical Information
Other namesVinitharya
PositionKing of Gondor
BirthT.A. 1255
RuleT.A. 1432 - T.A. 1490
DeathT.A. 1490, aged 235 years
Family
ParentageValacar, Vidumavi
ChildrenOrnendil, Aldamir
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Eldacar

Eldacar (Third Age 1255 – 1490, aged 235 years) was the twenty-first King of Gondor and the son of Valacar and Vidumavi and born with the name Vinitharya.

History

His reign saw the already lingering unrest explode, for he was the son of princess Vidumavi, a daughter of the Northmen King Vidugavia, a lesser Man.

After ascending the throne in Third Age 1432 he reigned for five years when he was deposed and driven from Osgiliath into exile to Rhovanion by his far relative Castamir "The Usurper" in a civil war called the Kin-strife.

While being in exile he slowly gathered support from the Northmen and the Dúnedain from the northern parts of Gondor (who hated Castamir for executing Ornendil, Eldacar's firstborn son).

In 1447 he marched south with his army and slew Castamir personally at the Battle of the Crossings of Erui. But Castamir's sons escaped and Gondor's purest blood was spilt. He besieged Pelargir where Castamir's sons held out the last resistance. Eldacar had no ships at his disposal (for Castamir was the Lord of Ships of Gondor) and Castamir's sons finally fled to the Haven of Umbar.

Eldacar reigned until 1490 and was succeeded by his second son Aldamir.

Though the short lifespan of Eldacar's mother was one of the provocations of the Kin-strife, Eldacar himself lived a long life anyway, dying only three years younger than his father Valacar.

Etymology

Eldacar contains the Quenya words Elda + cára, meaning "Elf-head" or "Elf-helmet".

References

Preceded by:
Valacar
21st King of Gondor
T.A. 1432T.A. 1437
Followed by:
Castamir "The Usurper"
Preceded by:
Castamir "The Usurper"
21st King of Gondor (restored)
T.A. 1447 - T.A. 1490
Followed by:
Aldamir