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Old 07-26-2016, 08:38 AM   #13
Zigûr
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
 
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Castamir is a good example of a ruler who rises and then falls in the people's favour (and is a terrific example of Professor Tolkien's under-appreciated knack for conveying a great deal with impressive brevity):

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But Eldacar eluded his enemies, and came to the North, to his kinsfolk in Rhovanion. Many gathered to him there, both of the Northmen in the service of Gondor, and of the Dúnedain of the northern parts of the realm. For many of the latter had learned to esteem him, and many more came to hate his usurper.

This was Castamir, grandson of Calimehtar, younger brother of Rómendacil II. He was not only one of those nearest by blood to the crown, but be had the greatest following of all the rebels; for he was the Captain of Ships, and was supported by the people of the coasts and of the great havens of Pelargir and Umbar.

Castamir had not long sat upon the throne before he proved himself haughty and ungenerous. He was a cruel man, as be had first shown in the taking of Osgiliath. He caused Ornendil son of Eldacar, who was captured, to be put to death; and the slaughter and destruction done in the city at his bidding far exceeded the needs of war. This was remembered in Minas Anor and in Ithilien; and there love for Castamir was further lessened when it became seen that he cared little for the land, and thought only of the fleets, and purposed to remove the king's seat to Pelargir.

Thus he had been king only ten years, when Eldacar, seeing his time, came with a great army out of the north, and folk flocked to him from Calenardhon and Anórien and Ithilien. (Appendix A)
Unlike Ar-Pharazôn, Castamir loses his popular support. It might be worth considering, then, that Professor Tolkien's argument is particularly against illegitimate monarchs, those who achieved monarchy through violence and usurpation. Similarly, while Sauron certainly evokes a modern-day tyrant, dictator or despot, he describes himself as a king with titles like "King of Men" and "Tar-Mairon" (Admirable King). Morgoth also refers to himself (mendaciously) in monarchical terms as Elder King and King of the World. It seems that Professor Tolkien distinguishes between legitimate and illegitimate monarchs, suggesting that a tyrant is usually an illegitimate monarch or usurper, while he tends to give legitimate rulers fewer negative characteristics.

That being said, there are sufficient examples of legitimate monarchs who are incompetent or lacking in spiritual fortitude, like Atanatar II Alcarin who "lived in great splendour, so that men said precious stones are pebbles in Gondor for children to play with. But Atanatar loved ease and did nothing to maintain the power that he had inherited, and his two sons were of like temper. The waning of Gondor had already begun before he died, and was doubtless observed by its enemies. The watch upon Mordor was neglected." (Appendix A) Ar-Adûnakhôr of Númenor also seems to have been a nasty character despite being a legitimate monarch, who was not only a blasphemer (as seen in his name, "Lord of the West", which should have been used for Manwë only) but who also "began to persecute the Faithful and punished those who used the Elven-tongues openly."

As a point of interest, in regards to what Faramir has brought up, it's worth noting that in earlier versions of the Númenor story found in the "Lost Road" era, the Temple to Melkor built by Sauron was actually on Meneltarma itself! "Tar-kalion raised a great temple to Morgoth upon the Mountain of Iluvatar in the midst of the land; and Sauron dwelt there and all Numenor was under his vigilance."
Furthermore, in "The Lost Road" itself, the nature of the Temple is quite different:
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"But now the Mountain is despoiled. Its trees are felled, and it stands naked; and upon its summit there is a Temple. It is of marble, and of gold, and of glass and steel, and is wonderful, but terrible. No man prayeth there. It waiteth. For long Sauron did not name his master by the name that from old is accursed here. He spoke at first of the Strong One, of the Eldest Power, of the Master. But now he speaketh openly of Alkar, of Morgoth. He hath prophesied his return. The Temple is to be his house. Numenor is to be the seat of the world's dominion. Meanwhile Sauron dwelleth there."
So in one early version of the narrative the use of the temple itself is mysterious ("evil rites" are associated with "chambers underground", although "smoke riseth from the temple") and it is a kind of strange, disturbing, empty mansion in which Sauron lives, claiming it to be the future house of Morgoth; "'Yet Morgoth cometh not. But his shadow hath come."

This was later changed such that Sauron never dared to defile the Mountain (it was abandoned instead) and the temple was at Armenelos.
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