Tar-Minastir

Isilmo

Tar-Minastir

Tar-Ciryatan

The son of Isilmo, Tar-Minastir inherited the Sceptre of Númenor on the death of his childless aunt, Queen Tar-Telperiën. His name Minastir means 'watchtower', and comes from the great westward-facing tower he built on the hill of Oromet near Andúnië, from which he would often look out towards the West. In Tar-Minastir's time the Elves were still beloved by the Númenóreans and welcomed by them, and Tar-Minastir had a close alliance with King Gil-galad of Lindon. However, it is also said that he envied their freedom from death, and from that envy a shadow of evil slowly grew over Númenor in the centuries following his rule.

Tar-Minastir was most famous for his actions during the War of the Elves and Sauron. After the destruction of Eregion, Sauron's forces roamed throughout Eriador, and came close to conquering all of Middle-earth for the Dark Lord. Gil-galad summoned help from Númenor, and Tar-Minastir sent a huge fleet to the aid of the Elves under admiral Ciryatur.¹ The Númenóreans saved Eriador, and drove Sauron back into the east. With the threat of Sauron contained, it was during Tar-Minastir's later rule that the Númenóreans began to make serious attempts to establish colonies in Middle-earth.

It was rumoured that Tar-Minastir was coerced by his son into giving up the Sceptre of Númenor before he wished to do so, allowing that son to inherit the Kingship as Tar-Ciryatan. Indeed, by comparison with other Rulers in this period, Tar-Minastir's reign appears to be some twenty years shorter than average (though it is difficult to state this categorically due to significant variations between Rulers). If these rumours were true, Tar-Ciryatan's actions in seizing the Sceptre marked the beginnings of the many evils that would descend on Númenor over the following centuries.

Tar-Minastir was King of Númenor for one hundred and thirty-eight years, and passed the Sceptre to his son Tar-Ciryatan in II 1869. He died four years later.