Unfinished Tales - Part Two - II - Aldarion and Erendis

[Belegorn]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

I suppose Aldarion isn't in a better position, as Ancalime does not continue his work, and all that he had accomplished at the Sea was thrown away, until generations later when Numenorians begun redeveloping their seamanship.

I suppose this is true, but he did seem to value her [Ancalimë's] independence and not want to take that away from her. Although it seems that while his father [Meneldur] thought he was the right man for the moment to be dealing with the issues Gil-galad had wrote to him about, apparently he was too early or late. I guess that they were at that time probably not strong enough to deal with Sauron? I'm not so sure.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Belegorn

I suppose this is true, but he did seem to value her [Ancalimë's] independence and not want to take that away from her.

I wonder if Aldarion's permissiveness toward Ancalimë wasn't due more to a desire to vex his ex-wife, than wanting to please his daughter.

Originally Posted by Belegorn

Although it seems that while his father [Meneldur] thought he was the right man for the moment to be dealing with the issues Gil-galad had wrote to him about, apparently he was too early or late. I guess that they were at that time probably not strong enough to deal with Sauron? I'm not so sure.

I think Meneldur's decision to cede rule to Aldarion was borne of a reluctance to make such momentous choices himself. He was afraid both of "warriorizing" his people on the one hand, and taking the xenophobic, head-in-the-sand stance on the other. Therefore, he passed the buck, knowing he'd be dead before any fruits of his son's kingly acts were likely to be evident.

[Belegorn]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

I wonder if Aldarion's permissiveness toward Ancalimë wasn't due more to a desire to vex his ex-wife, than wanting to please his daughter.

Perhaps, but there is a piece of text which I'd like to quote. After having his men basically tear down the house and trees in Armenelos except the white Elven-tree which "recalled to him his daughter" he said, "I will call you also Ancalimë. May you and she stand so in long life, unbent by wind or will, and unclipped!" [UT, p. 213] I think his blow at Erendis was his change in the law of succession so that Ancalimë could be the ruling Queen.

It was this new law which Arvedui invoked when he tried to reclaim the high kingship. "Moreover, in Númenor of old the sceptre descended to the eldest child of the king, whether man or woman." [RotK, p. 371] So that instead of looking for the closest man of male descent, someone like Valandil [Meneldur's nephew from his sister] rather than Malantur [Meneldur's cousin who was Elendil's brother's grandson] could be Meneldur's successor. Just as Soronto had a case to be King even though he came from the female line, as his mom was Aldarion's sister.

[Belegorn]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

I think Meneldur's decision to cede rule to Aldarion was borne of a reluctance to make such momentous choices himself. He was afraid both of "warriorizing" his people on the one hand, and taking the xenophobic, head-in-the-sand stance on the other. Therefore, he passed the buck, knowing he'd be dead before any fruits of his son's kingly acts were likely to be evident.

Good point and I agree. He seemed to be pretty unsettled when he received the news from Gil-galad. It seems he and Erendis were of the same mind on this point too. She taught Ancalimë that:

"Númenor was to be a rest after war. But if they are weary of rest and the plays of peace, soon they will go back to their great play, manslaying and war." [UT, p. 217]