The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
II 2286 - II 2657 (lived 371 years); claimed the Kingship of Númenor from II 2637 (ruled 20 years)
Race
Division
Culture
Family
Settlements
Armenelos, the royal city of Númenor
Pronunciation
ta'rr-a'ndookal ('rr' indicates that the final r sound of 'Tar' should be distinctly pronounced)
Meaning
Tar signifies 'King'; Anducal is uncertain, but seems to mean 'light of the West'1
Other names
Titles
Claimed the title of King of Númenor

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About this entry:

  • Updated 1 July 2019
  • This entry is complete

Tar-Anducal

The royal name taken by Herucalmo

Rulers of Númenor

The Númenórean king-name taken by Herucalmo, the consort of the third Ruling Queen Tar-Vanimeldë. During his wife's reign, Herucalmo was the real power in the land of Númenor. After the Queen's death, he took the Kingship illegally in the name Tar-Anducal, and ruled the island kingdom for twenty years until his own death. He was succeeded by his son, the legal heir to Tar-Vanimeldë who took the throne as Tar-Alcarin.


Notes

1

The name Anducal is almost certainly composed from two elements andu, 'west', and cal, 'light', but the significance of this combination is less than clear. The idea of the Light in the West was usually connected with the Two Trees of Valinor, but as the name of a Man - even a King of Númenor - that association would seem preposterously prideful. Perhaps a more likely reference would be to the Star of Eärendil. That star could be seen shining in the West, and it was borne by Eärendil, a distant ancestor of Tar-Anducal, so it fits a name meaning 'light of the West'.

Whatever its precise meaning, the choice of the name Tar-Anducal was doubtless influenced by this King's previous name of Herucalmo, apparently meaning 'lord of light'.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 1 July 2019
  • This entry is complete

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