Meneldil

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Heirs of Anárion
Part of The Lord of the Rings
Kings of Gondor
Meneldil · Cemendur · Eärendil
Anardil · Ostoher · Rómendacil I
Turambar · Eärendur
Atanatar I · Siriondil
Ship-Kings of Gondor
Tarannon Falastur · Eärnil I
Ciryandil · Hyarmendacil I
Kings of Gondor
Atanatar II · Narmacil I · Calmacil
Rómendacil II · Valacar · Eldacar
Aldamir · Hyarmendacil II · Minardil
Telemnar · Tarondor · Telumehtar
Narmacil II · Calimehtar · Ondoher
Eärnil II · Eärnur
Kings of the Reunited Kingdom
Aragorn II · Eldarion
Other areas of The Lord of the Rings
The House of Isildur · [[]]
[[]] and [[]]
[[]] · [[]]

Meneldil (S.A. 3318 - T.A. 158) is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's universe of Middle-earth. His name means "devoted to heaven".

He was the son and fourth child of Anárion, and was recorded as being the last man born in Númenor before the downfall. He had three older siblings, all apparently sisters.

After the War of the Last Alliance where Anárion was slain, Isildur entrusted Gondor's rule to his nephew Meneldil. He became the third King of Gondor in T.A. 2. It was said that in the Disaster on the Gladden Fields that Meneldil was well pleased by Isildur's departure and hoped that affairs in the North would keep them well occupied. He was the first King of Gondor who ruled independent from the High Kingdom of the Dúnedain, Arnor.

It is doubtful whether he was King by right, as his father was only the regent for Gondor, under the High King Isildur. His young cousin Valandil, by right King of both Arnor and Gondor, would have legally been his overlord, but no claim by Valandil was ever made. It was in any case unlikely Meneldil would easily give up his right to rule to a much younger cousin he had never seen. In any case the people of Gondor did not resist Meneldil's claim on the throne, and King Valandil and heirs made no serious attempts to regain control over Gondor until after Anárion's line had failed. In effect Meneldil now had severed Gondor from Arnor, although the formal title of High King remained with the northern line. This was reinforced by the Stewards Pelendur and Denethor who felt it was their right as the House of Anárion to not to bow down to the legitimate and unbroken line Isildur which had lost its power and dignity.

He died in T.A. 158 and was succeeded by his son Cemendur.