Elros

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Character from J. R. R. Tolkien's Legendarium
Name	Elros
Other names	Tar-Minyatur
Titles	King of Númenor, High king of Men of Arda
Race	Half-elven, later chose to become part of Mankind
Culture	Númenórean
Date of birth	Y.S. 525
Date of death	S.A. 442
Realm	Númenor
Book(s)	The Silmarillion

Elros Tar-Minyatur (Y.S. 525–S.A. 442, r. S.A. 32–442) is a fictional character of Middle-earth, created by J. R. R. Tolkien. He was born in year 525 of the First Age to Eärendil and Elwing. Elros was one of the Half-elven of Middle-earth who chose to become a mortal man, and was later crowned the first High King of Númenor.

Elros's name may mean "Elf of the Spray" based on a tale from his early childhood. Maedhros and Maglor abducted Elros and his twin brother, Elrond, as retribution for Elwing's refusal to relinquish a Silmaril. Maedhros and Maglor later repented, and took care of them. On a quest to regain the Silmarils from Eönwë, they left the children near a forest waterfall, where they were found. Thus he was named "Elf of the Spray". In The Silmarillion, Christopher Tolkien interprets Elros as meaning "Star-foam".

As Half-Elven, he and his brother were given the choice to be Elves or Men. Elros chose to become one of the Edain. (Elrond elected to remain an Elf.) As a reward for the sufferings of the Edain against the dark forces of Morgoth, the Valar raised an island for them to dwell in, protected from the dangers of Middle-earth. Elros and the surviving Edain set sail over Sea, and guided by the Star of Eärendil came to the great Isle of Elenna, westernmost of all Mortal lands. There they founded the realm of Númenor, or Westernesse. The Valar also granted Elros and his heirs substantially longer life-spans.

In year 32 of the Second Age Elros became the first King of Númenor, taking the Quenya name Tar-Minyatur, meaning "High First-ruler". This was the convention by which most succeeding kings of Númenor took their royal title. He ruled for 410 years until his death in S.A. 442 at age 500.

Elros had four children:

Vardamir Nólimon, his eldest son who surrendered Sceptre immediately in favour of his own son (though he was deemed to have reigned for a year).
Tindómiel, daughter
Manwendil, son
Atanalcar, son