Tar-Minastir
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First Age
Tar-Minastir
Tar-Minastir was the eleventh ruler of Numenor, the
King succeeding Queen Tar-Telperien.
By this time, the Numenoreans had become great
mariners. They explored all the seas eastward and wished for the
forbidden waters of the west. They were allowed to go as far west as
they could still see Numenor, but no further towards Aman.
He sent a great force to the aid of the elves under
Gil-galad.
Although Tar-Minastir loved and aided the
elves, he envied their immortality instead of seeing death as a gift
of escape. The more prosperous and joyful the lives of the Numenoreans,
the more they yearned for immortality. This was an early crack in the
morality of the Kings and of
the people they led.
After Tar-Minastir, the kings also became greedy for
wealth and power. He was the last king under which the Numenoreans were
still kindly towards the Men of Middle-earth, being friends and
teachers, setting up havens in the lands. The attitude became worse,
until the time of Atanamir when the havens became fortresses for
holding sway over the people and levying heavy tribute. As the desire
for yet more wealth took over, the idea of death causing the loss of
what they had collected became ever more depressing.
Tar-Minastir was succeeded by Tar-Ciryatan.
Reference: Return of the King
App. A