#tar ancalimë

[anghraine]

I'm feeling like supporting some women's wrongs! (And rights, but definitely also wrongs.)

[warrioreowynofrohan]

Favourite Female Tolkien Character Poll - Round 2, Match 10

Both of these are from the tale of Aldarion and Erendis in Unfinished Tales.

Tar-Ancalimë

The daughter of Erendis and Tar-Aldarion, and first Ruling Queen of Númenor. Strong-minded and determined, she had no desire for marriage, and after a time her father rescinded the rule that by a certain age a female Heir must either marry or refuse the sceptre, due to her determination to do neither.

When she went into hiding as a shepherdess to avoid her suitors, she was courted by a supposed shepherd, and enjoyed his company; when revealed himself to in fact be a Númenorean noble suitor, Hallacar, she was angered at his deception.

“[If I wanted to marry a non-noble], I could lay down my royalty, and be free. But if I were to do so, I should be free to wed whom I will; and that would be Úner (which is “Noman”), whom I prefer above all others.

She did in fact marry him in time, though for political reasons not for love, and their marriage was unhappy. Their son was Tar-Anárion.

She ruled for 205 years, longer than any Númenorean ruler since Elros. After her father’s death she neglected his policies and gave no further aid to Gil-galad.

Zamîn

An old woman who worked for Erendis; had an unruly son named Îbal, and a husband named Ulbar who sailed with Aldarion.

After Ancalimë, as a child, meets her son, the first boy Ancalimë has met:

Zâmin was an old country-woman, free-tongued, and not easily daunted, even by [Erendis].

“What noisy thing was that?” said Ancalimë.

“A boy,” said Zamîn, “if you know what that is. But how should you? They’re breakers and eaters, mostly. That one is ever eating - but to no purpose. a fine lad his father will find when he comes back…he heard of those Venturers, and took up with them, and went away with your father, the Lord Aldarion: but the Valar know whither, or why.”

When Ancalimë, as a young woman proclaimed the King’s Heir, sought to escape from the importunity of her many suitors, Zamîn aided her in going into hiding as a shepherdess on a farm.

[riding-with-the-wild-hunt]

@aspecardaweek​ day two ✦ tar-ancalimë + aromanticism 

“They met thus in the pastures often and often, and he altered the songs of the lovers of old and brought into them the names of Emerwen and Mámandil; and Ancalimë feigned not to understand the drift of the words. But at length he declared his love for her openly, and she drew back, and refused him, saying that her fate lay between them, for she was the Heir of the King.”

-JRR Tolkien, Unfinished Tales, “The Mariner’s Wife”

[ID: A picspam headcanoning Tar-Ancalimë as aromantic, consisting of 16 images in green, grey, black, and white (the colors of the aromantic flag).

1: Malika El Maslouhi, a moroccan-italian model with brown skin, dark and wavy hair, and dark eyes. She is looking up at the viewer with a serious expression and is wearing a black shirt. Green leaves fill the background / 2: A carved stone niche / 3: Lightning in a dark sky / 4: Sheep grazing on a hillside / 5: Marbled green, white, and brown / 6: Black text on a light grey background reading “may god have mercy on my enemies ��cause i won’t” / 7: Black columns with ornate drawings or carvings in a traditional egyptian style / 8: Malika El Maslouhi looking through a sheer green cloth / 9: Malika El Maslouhi standing in front of translucent sheeting and looking at a stem of red flowers. She is wearing a brown coat with a high collar and her hair is tucked into it / 10: A multi-exposure shot of a crescent moon which appears doubled several times / 11: Foaming waves / 12: A river running through a green valley / 13: Green fabric with sequins / 14: Many candlesticks, some with candles and some without, standing in front of a silvery curtain / 15: Black text on a grey background reading “don’t play games with a girl who can play better” / 16: Malika El Maslouhi, looking intently at some strands of grass in her hands. She is wearing black and white gloves and a black shirt, and is backed by green leaves /End ID]

[isabelpsaroslunnen]

You know the posts that periodically make the rounds that say something like "I don't support monarchy as a system except when it comes to Aragorn"?

I don't actually feel that way about Aragorn, in either the book or films (though I much prefer the book character). But I have some sympathy because I very much feel that way about Attolia Irene.

When I read The King of Attolia last December, I was impressed by a lot of things, but the overriding one was that I was deeply invested in the political success of a pair of monarchs. I didn't love it quite as deeply as The Queen of Attolia, mostly because I do not love Eugenides (or anyone) quite as much as Irene, but he's still a fun and deeply engaging character and I was actively rooting for his triumph for the duration of the book.

It's also handled deftly enough that it doesn't feel like I'm being expected to idealize monarchy itself, though—it's more the system that these characters are operating within and around. Costis as the dominant narrative voice helps carry it off, to be sure, but nevertheless, it felt like it was very smoothly done.

[ettelenethelien]

ruling queens of númenor - headcanons and opinions:

tar-ancalimë: I think she made it very hard for any future ruling queens by being, well, an immeasurably difficult person. and people understood it was because of her shitty upbringing! - but it didn't make her easier to deal with and many felt she didn't even try to move past it... from a governing point of view, it was assumed by some that she'd begin prioritising women in political circles, but oddly enough she didn't? she made it pretty obvious what she thought of men, but she expected the women she interacted with to have the same opinions as her on the subject, and when that wasn't feasible she showed them even greater contempt than their counterparts of the other sex. and as queen... she wasn't a very bad ruler but made it way too obvious that many of her decisions were fuelled by spite, usually towards her late father and husband. in her life however, she was pitied as much as hated, though that pity didn't last for future generations.

tar-telperien: I feel like there would have been considerable mistrust towards her initially because of how tar-ancalimë was remembered, but she ended up being one of númenor's best loved rulers. she was a very fortunate mixture of majestic and warm, her one major fault being that she could be terribly stubborn at times, but somehow people were willing to forgive that. and yes, she never had a romantic liaison in her life, aside maybe from an infatuation or two when she was very young... also I think she had several younger brothers and very good relationships with them. there would have been a lot of space for conflict there because there was no precedence in númenor's history for a daughter with male siblings inheriting the sceptre, but ultimately relationships in her family were surprisingly healthy given what the former generations were like. there may have been some slight jealousy on the part of one or more of them, but they knew the law was fair and didn't let it show... also in a weird flashback to her sindarin ancestors, she had silver hair, hence her name

tar-vanimeldë: I don't really have too much to say about her... I feel she's been given something of a short shrift by the narrative, though otoh it's still more than we have for some other kings... much ink has been spilled about how odd the ratio of kings to queens is in númenor if we consider that the law was absolute primogeniture from ancalimë on. I believe jrrt just didn't think it through well enough, however it certainly encourages one to conclude that there was a bunch of eldest princesses that something happened to; my personal theory being that the fact a woman could turn down the sceptre without even a nominal coronation meant that it was very easy for someone to force her to decline... that said - I don't think vanimeldë was ever interested in ruling and I believe it was her more ambitious husband who helped her through that initial precariousness. she can't have been too glad once she realised he had basically usurped her (because people don't just steal the rule from under their sons without any iffy behaviour before that - or did hallacar invent some weird justification for the latter?), but I don't think she felt she could do anything about it.

tar-miriel: first of all, i kind of like that one version in which she marries pharazon of her own will. I'm not sure what that version goes on to say, but as I imagine it - first she agreed that they be co-rulers; her position was precarious enough, she believed it would be good for politics and she liked and trusted him. but he went on to steal the throne from under her and she never learned if that was what he had been planning to do from the beginning. the rest is history and her personal tragedy. what happened with sauron was not her fault, but she would lie awake at night and blame herself... interestingly enough, the faithful never did and around half of them believed she was forced into the marriage anyway... I have a lot more to say about her, in fact, enough that I think I'll make a separate post, but for now I'll only add that I personally headcanon that while tar-palantir stayed faithful to the end, despite the failure of all his plans, miriel chafed. her father understood that no one could force the númenoreans to change against their will (I mean I guess Eru presumably could? but obviously he wouldn't, because free will), but she didn't and felt betrayed... I think that she had to regain faith before the end, because otherwise it's too bitter a tale, to live through terror without knowing there is good one can rely on. the tale is bitter anyhow, but she did not die in despair.

[spruceneedles]

Ancalimë

[child-of-hurin]

It is kinda funny, though, to observe the result of Ancalimë's parenting, who ends up having a very similar attitude to mandatory marriage and child-having as Aldarion -- largely motivated, apparently, by her mother's teachings on how much subjection to the male sex suuuuuucks

[vviths]

tar ancalimë sketch

[sajirah]

Ruling Queens of Númenór WIPs (yes, I am still working on these, I swear).

Tar-Ancalimë

Tar-Telperiën

Tar-Vanimeldë

Ar-Zimraphel (aka Miriel)

(poor Mirel doesn’t get the crown of her forefather’s because Pharazon stole it 😒)

[thelordofgifs]

Obscure Tolkien Blorbo: Round 1 Bracket!

here we gooo! Hopefully the image quality isn't too awful - I can read it alright if I zoom in, at any rate. For round 1 there will be 4 polls a day for 16 days, posted at 4pm UTC starting tomorrow, 18th May. Poll durations will all be one day. I'll post links to all the round 1 polls on this masterpost as they go live below the cut; each day there'll be 1 poll from each "corner" of the bracket.

Feel free to drop any propaganda in my ask box, either before or during the polls! I hope everyone has fun campaigning for their little-known blorbos :)

Frequently Asked Questions

POLLS

18/05:

Bofur vs Tauriel

Barliman Butterbur vs Ancalagon

Berúthiel vs. Mithrellas

The chief dancing bear of Númenor vs. Erutáro

19/05:

Dís vs Beorn

Gamling vs Bill the pony

Pearl Took vs Faniel

Ulbandi vs Miaulë

20/05:

Nerdanel vs Círdan

Nessa vs Caranthir’s wife

Urwen vs Elmo

Random orc of Morgoth vs Narthseg

21/05:

Elros vs Oropher

Erendis vs Tilion

Eärnur vs Mahtan's wife

Bëor's wife vs Múta

22/05:

Lobelia Sackville-Baggins vs Finarfin

Tevildo vs Amlach

Gelmir Guilinion vs Legolas of Gondolin

One (1) Rivendell elf who sings tra-la-la-lally vs Bingo Baggins

23/05:

Amrod vs Idril

Ilmarë vs Tar-Ancalimë

Andróg vs Fíriel of Gondor

Hiril (daughter of Barahir) vs Youngest of Finrod’s Ten

24/05:

Ecthelion vs Huan

Ingwë vs Salgant

Silmariën vs Tata

Viznak vs Ælfwine

25/05:

Olwë vs Edrahil

Eorl vs Meássë

Larnach’s daughter vs Jajax

26/05:

Lightning Disqualification (1)

Pengolodh vs Ioreth

Lothrandir vs Nob

Golfimbul vs Ainairos

27/05:

Lightning Disqualification (2)

Arien vs Egalmoth

Golodir vs Vidumavi

Ornendil vs Meril

28/05:

Haleth vs Beleg

Tom Bombadil vs Beregond

Inzilbêth vs A fox passing through the woods on business of his own

Makar vs Andvír

29/05:

Mablung vs Tuor

Nellas vs Curufin’s wife

Imin vs Tinfang Warble

Beleth vs Findegil

30/05:

Nimloth vs Anairë

Elurín vs Rog

Corunir vs Elulindo

Nuin vs Faramir (son of Ondoher)

31/05:

Rían vs Míriel

Argon vs Eluréd

Hareth vs Belen

Narmeleth vs Horn

01/06:

Daeron vs Andreth

Finduilas of Dol Amroth vs Findis

Eldacar of Gondor vs Gwindeth

Gelmir (messenger of Círdan) vs Bór

02/06:

Tar-Míriel vs Eöl

Thuringwethil vs Mahtan

Ilwen vs Eilinel

Enel vs Hirgon

03/06:

Belladonna Took vs Bain

Finduilas Faelivrin vs Halbarad

Azaghâl vs Lalwen

[anghraine]

I was just thinking about how I tend to really engage with characters who have great capacities for good combined with significant personal flaws. Sometimes the flaws are disastrous—I've loved many a tortured villain (but generally not unconcerned, pure-evil-with-panache villains). Sometimes I like anti-heroic characters who are charismatically edgy, but not only edgy—there's got to be something more going on with them, moments when you can hope for better things (like with Mary Crawford).

Sometimes the significant flaws almost lead to disaster, but after much struggle are overcome before the disaster happens (like Luke Skywalker in the OT). Sometimes the flaws do lead to disaster, or at least significantly contribute to it, but that capacity for something better—either in the future or in the sense of possibility—is essential (like with Anakin). Sometimes the external effects are minimal but the flaw is still significant to the character, at least as far as I'm concerned, especially if it's surprising (like with book Faramir).

But sometimes a character is presented as so overwhelmingly good and right-thinking, with such minimal development or flaws I find so ephemeral or unconvincing, that I'm like ... they're fine, I guess? But I don't really love them. I need some sharp edges, at least in my own perception of the character.

Faramir probably has the least of this of my faves, but his mixture of menace and graciousness in TTT and his lashing out in ROTK sells the virtue for me, you know? It's like when people in Austen fandom go on about why would you choose Darcy as the favorite JA hero when you could choose heroes who don't screw up nearly as much and are therefore more deserving, and I'm just, uh, Darcy's powerful virtuousness (which is very real) works for me because he screws up so badly, and does so in large part because of his personal flaws, and has a whole arc involving them.

Of course, it's not just any personal flaw that makes characters like these appealing. There are definitely characters who mix admirable qualities with significant flaws that I find deeply annoying or even repellent. Generally, there has to be a reason for the development of the flaw/flaws that makes intuitive sense to me and which I find more or less sympathetic (Attolia Irene), or an external pressure that winds up the flaw/flaws dramatically and drives the character on (Denethor). Also, some characteristics are just personally irritating or unappealing to me (or alternately, ones I just like—hard, intense, and determined female characters, to the point of of occasional ruthlessness But There's A Reason, are probably my favorite type of female character).

But yeah, "What about X? They don't screw up in any meaningful way, they're just soft and good" is always going to be a tough sell for me.

[warrioreowynofrohan]

Favourite Female Tolkien Character Poll - Round 3, Match 6

This is the section final for Númenorean women!

Tar-Ancalimë

The daughter of Erendis and Tar-Aldarion, and first Ruling Queen of Númenor. Strong-minded and determined, she had no desire for marriage, and after a time her father rescinded the rule that by a certain age a female Heir must either marry or refuse the sceptre, due to her determination to do neither.

When she went into hiding as a shepherdess to avoid her suitors, she was courted by a supposed shepherd, and enjoyed his company; when revealed himself to in fact be a Númenorean noble suitor, Hallacar, she was angered at his deception.

“[If I wanted to marry a non-noble], I could lay down my royalty, and be free. But if I were to do so, I should be free to wed whom I will; and that would be Úner (which is “Noman”), whom I prefer above all others.

She did in fact marry him in time, though for political reasons not for love, and their marriage was unhappy. Their son was Tar-Anárion.

She ruled for 205 years, longer than any Númenorean ruler since Elros. After her father’s death she neglected his policies and gave no further aid to Gil-galad.

Tar-Míriel

The fourth and last ruling Queen of Númenor. One of the Faithful, like her father Tar-Palantír, she was usurped and taken in forced marriage by her cousin Ar-Pharazôn. She died in the Downfall of Númenor.

[pansen1802]

Women characters in Tolkien novels. From right to left: Luthien, Andreth, Haleth, Nienor, Morwen, Éowyn, Tar-Ancalimë, Gilraen, Arwen. At the bottom here is Varda, the queen of stars.

[middle-earth-mythopoeia]

What are your thoughts and theories about Dunedain women? They're not really named or talked about, but they must exist

You’re so right! And thank you for this ask! :)

The Dúnedain women are fascinating, and I wish Tolkien had written more about them. I’m assuming you’re asking about Dúnedain women in Middle-earth, but I want to go back earlier and talk about the Númenoreans first.

There were three Ruling Queens of Númenor—Tar-Ancalimë, Tar-Telperiën and Tar-Vanimeldë—but there would have been four, if Tar-Míriel had not been forced to marry Ar-Pharazôn against her will. I find Míriel’s fate really tragic. Not only did her cousin force her to marry him and usurp the throne from her, then she had to watch as he became more and more corrupt and authoritarian (under Sauron’s influence) and ultimately brought about the downfall of her kingdom.

But I find it really interesting that (until Ar-Pharazôn ruined everything) Númenor had such egalitarian rules of succession. This was because Tar-Aldarion changed the laws so that Tar-Ancalimë, his daughter, could inherit the crown from him. Although Númenor had male-only primogeniture before that, I think it’s important to note that this law change happened quite early in its history—Númenor had twenty-five rulers, and Tar-Aldarion was the sixth. It’s also interesting to me that a power-hungry man illegitimately taking away the political authority of a woman is such an essential part of the downfall of Númenor.

And speaking of a man usurping the rightful Queen, I’m still mad that Fíriel didn’t become the Ruling Queen of Gondor after her father, King Ondoher, and her two elder brothers, were killed. She was the rightful heir to the throne according to the ancient laws of Númenor! She should have become Queen of Gondor! (I’ve been upset about this ever since I was 13 years old and reading the ROTK appendices for the first time.) But Eärnil II claimed the crown, and then his son Eärnur received it, and he was killed, and the rule of Gondor passed to the Stewards; and Eärnur was the last King of Gondor until Aragorn took the throne more than 900 years later, so once again, a man usurping a woman’s political power led to extremely dire consequences for the Dúnedain. If Eärnil hadn’t wrongfully taken the crown from Fíriel, the line of Kings and Queens wouldn’t have been broken and Gondor and Arnor wouldn’t have fallen into disarray.

(I think the narrative agrees with me, too, because Eärnur was described as valiant but not wise, a man who took pleasure chiefly in fighting, and he ultimately died because he was too proud to refuse a challenge from the Lord of Minas Morgul. Is this who should have been ruling Gondor? No. It explicitly says in the appendices, ‘It may be that if the crown and the sceptre had been united, then the kingship would have been maintained and much evil averted.’ Fíriel should have been given the crown! Another point in my favor is that Aragorn was descended from Fíriel, the rightful line. It says, ‘Arvedui did not press his claim; for he had neither the power nor the will to oppose the choice of the Dúnedain of Gondor; yet the claim was never forgotten by his descendants even when their kingship had passed away.’ That’s right! I fully believe that Aragorn reinstated the Númenorean law of succession when he became King, allowing for there to be Ruling Queens after his reign.)

But if there is not enough written about the Queens of Númenor and Gondor, there is even less about Dúnedain women who weren’t of royal blood. I love the idea that in later years, after the Númenoreans founded Gondor and Arnor, some of them would have become rangers alongside the male Dúnedain. Because why not? The fact that Númenor had Ruling Queens suggests that women could have had many of the same rights as men, so I see no reason why they couldn’t have done all the same things men did. I’d love to see more stories about them.