Eowyn and feminism and Tolkien

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by skip spence

I'm aware that Numenor had reigning queens but that wasn't that an alteration in the laws Aldarion made to avoid having to snuggle with Erendis again while still keeping the sceptre in the family? And wasn't this practice discontinued in Gondor later on? It's hard to believe that there were no kings or stewards who died with only daughters left behind anyway. Yes, this should be checked up, but not by me as I don't have time at present. Shouldn't even be writing this...

I've looked up Numenor, and the rule was one of primogeniture until Aldarion changed it so that daughters could inherit, even if they had younger brothers - of course he only had a daughter, Ancalime. Telperien was a Queen with a younger brother, and his child succeeded the childless Queen.

As for Gondor, I can find no instance of a Queen inheriting, as there were always sons. However when it comes to Firiel, she ought to have inherited had women been allowed to do so, as there were no other siblings.

Of course her husband Arvedui made the claim on Gondor but was denied. Maybe his claim was the cause of Firiel being rejected too, we don't know, but it was odd to seek out a fairly distant royal cousin in Gondor to inherit (though it has real world precedent in the choice of George I to succeed Anne, just to avoid having a Catholic inherit!).

He had a blood right to the kingship, though it was rather a late claim! It might be rather like that Aussie bloke who is the bloodline descendant of the Plantagenets via George, Duke of Clarence making a claim on the UK throne - he would have a bloodline right to it but imagine the mayhem it might create!