Tar-Minastir

Man > Kings of Numenor > Tar-Telperien > Tar-Minastir > Tar-Ciryatan
First Age

Tar-Minastir

by Varda-(Valar)
August 21, 2006

    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