Prince Imrahil and his mortality

[The Mouth of Sauron]

When Legolas first set eyes on Prince Imrahil he recognised that despite being a mortal man he "had elven blood in his veins".

At what stage was Elven immortality removed from Imrahil's line? Did it depend on the percentage of elven blood, so that when it was diluted to a certain level death ensued?

[Zigûr]

Given that Galador, son of Imrazôr the Númenórean and the Elf-maid Mithrellas, was mortal (and lived to the age of 125) I'd say that the Princes of Dol Amroth were never immortal. That was the one and only time when Elvish "blood" was introduced into the line of Dol Amroth. This information is found in Part VII of The Peoples of Middle-earth, volume 12 of the History of Middle-earth series (pages 220 to 222 in my edition).

As far as I can tell it would be no different to other intermarriages of Men and Elves in which they had to choose one fate or the other; the immortality didn't simply wear off over the course of generations. You're either immortal or you aren't (although people like Arwen rather exploited the system, I feel, by living for thousands of years before choosing to be mortal but we know it had its drawbacks for her).

I wonder if Galador was ever presented with the choice somehow or if he just assumed that he was mortal and therefore was. Perhaps, because Mithrellas was of "lesser silvan race" (to quote the text) no choice was possible, although I have no hard reason to back up such an assertion.

[Belegorn]

Originally Posted by The Mouth of Sauron

At what stage was Elven immortality removed from Imrahil's line? Did it depend on the percentage of elven blood, so that when it was diluted to a certain level death ensued?

I doubt his line ever was immortal. The Dúnedain did not appreciate their Doom and feared death. It was more noticeable in the King's house on Númenor, but it touched even the band of the Faithful. It continued after the Fall. I would think, that based on these inclinations (regretting Elros' choice), that a Dúnadan like Galador would choose immortality if he were actually given the choice.

Originally Posted by The Window on the West

Death was ever present, because the Númenóreans still, as they had in their old kingdom, and so lost it, hungered after endless life unchanging.

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by The Mouth of Sauron

When Legolas first set eyes on Prince Imrahil he recognised that despite being a mortal man he "had elven blood in his veins".

At what stage was Elven immortality removed from Imrahil's line? Did it depend on the percentage of elven blood, so that when it was diluted to a certain level death ensued?

It's a bit of a flippant response, but I can argue from the Legendarium that Imrahil was the last generation this Elven blood was apparent to Elven eyes (the issue of mortality or lack thereof is dealt with by the posters above).

To wit: Imrahil's sister (the same generation as him) was Finduilas, who married Denethor, mother of Boromir and Faramir. As there is no remark regarding Boromir from any of the Elves in Rivendell or Lórien--or from Legolas himself, we must remark that the visibility of Elven blood in the line of Dol Amroth ended with Imrahil's generation.

[cellurdur]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

It's a bit of a flippant response, but I can argue from the Legendarium that Imrahil was the last generation this Elven blood was apparent to Elven eyes (the issue of mortality or lack thereof is dealt with by the posters above).

To wit: Imrahil's sister (the same generation as him) was Finduilas, who married Denethor, mother of Boromir and Faramir. As there is no remark regarding Boromir from any of the Elves in Rivendell or Lórien--or from Legolas himself, we must remark that the visibility of Elven blood in the line of Dol Amroth ended with Imrahil's generation.

I personally don't buy the Galdor and Mithrellas story. It doesn't make sense that Prince's of Dol Amroth would be the second greatest nobles in Gondor just based on having an elvish ancestor either.

Further elves and men have almost married several times like Turin and Finduilas, but it has never happened unless for some great purpose.


I think more likely than the Princes were close relatives to Elendil and descendants of Silmarien. The Elvish blood would come from Elros and their particularly Elvish lifestyle would explain why they kept the Elvish vigour and appearance longer than close relatives that moved away like Faramir/Boromir.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by cellurdur

I think more likely than the Princes were close relatives to Elendil and descendants of Silmarien. The Elvish blood would come from Elros and their particularly Elvish lifestyle would explain why they kept the Elvish vigour and appearance longer than close relatives that moved away like Faramir/Boromir.

I've always had trouble with the notion of Imrahil having Elvish blood.

As you say, the Elf/Man unions are presented as being incredibly rare events in Middle-earth, only "allowed" when they are to play a major role in the Maker's designs. It seems that introducing another Peredhel situation would be overly complicated. For instance, was a choice of life-potential involved? How would the choice be explained to those concerned?

I think the thing was more likely a tradition that, unlike some others, had no factual basis.

[Zigûr]

Yes it's noteworthy that, in the tradition of some ancient historians, no definitive story is given: "In the tradition of this house Angelimir was the twentieth in unbroken descent from Galador first Lord of Dol Amroth (c. T.A. 2004-2129). According to the same traditions Galador was the son of Imrazôr the Númenórean who dwelt in Belfalas, and the Elven-lady Mithrellas."
Even Galador's dates are uncertain and Angelimir is only held to be his twentieth successor according to tradition, and this is in the Third Age, in which some record keeping is quite accurate, albeit mostly concerning very culturally significant dates like the lives of the Kings of Gondor.

Again, I don't have a solid reason for it, but perhaps Mithrellas' leaving of Imrazôr and the children had some unexplained impact? Did Eldarion and his sisters ever have the choice put to them?

Imrahil himself only lived for 99 years, which suggests that if any Elvish longevity was imbued into the line it must have diminished rather quickly, although of course that could possibly be attributed to Mithrellas' silvan origins.

Perhaps the tale of Mithrellas tells us more about the nature of legends and traditions than it teaches us any hard facts.

[Faramir Jones]

I agree with you here, Zigûr, that 'Perhaps the tale of Mithrellas tells us more about the nature of legends and traditions than it teaches us any hard facts'; but it appears that there was a fact behind it. Legolas was clear, when he met Imrahil, that the latter had some elvish blood in him. This was all people who read LotR knew before the publication of Unfinished Tales and Volume 12 of The History of Middle-earth.

In UT it was mentioned that, as cellurdur said, Galador's ancestors were related to Elendil, so were presumably descended from a cousin of his who also escaped the Downfall, and who therefore had Elros as a common ancestor. Perhaps this, plus the later marriage of Galador with Mithrellas, reinforced the existing elvish strain in that particular family.