Character Bios
Gimilkhâd
Location(s): Númenor
Race/Species: Man
Type/Kind: 2nd age Numenoreans
Dates: 3044 - 3243 II
Parents:
father: Ar-Gimilzôr
mother: Inzilbêth
Siblings: Tar-Palantir/Ar-Inziladûn
Children: Ar-Pharazôn
Description:
Ar-Gimilzôr [his father] ... was the greatest enemy of the Faithful that had yet arisen.... He was wedded to Inzilbêth, a lady descended from Tar-Calmacil; but she was secretly of the Faithful..., and there was small love between them, and strife between their sons. For Inziladûn the elder was beloved of his mother and of like mind with her; but Gimilkhâd the younger was his father's son, and him Ar-Gimilzôr would fain have appointed his Heir, had the laws allowed. Gimilkhâd was born in the year 3044, and he died in 3243.
Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 3, The Line of Elros, Kings of Númenor
No love was there ... between their sons. Inziladûn, the elder, was like his mother in mind as in body; but Gimilkhâd, the younger, went with his father, unless he were yet prouder and more wilful. To him Ar-Gimilzôr would have yielded the sceptre rather than to the elder son, if the laws had allowed.
But when Inziladûn acceded to the sceptre, he took again a title in the Elven-tongue as of old, calling himself Tar-Palantir ... But his repentance was too late to appease the anger of the Valar with the insolence of his fathers, of which the greater part of his people did not repent. And Gimilkhâd was strong and ungentle, and he took the leadership of those that had been called the King's Men and opposed the will of his brother as openly as he dared, and yet more in secret. ...
Now Gimilkhâd died two years before his two hundredth year (which was accounted an early death for one of Elros' line even in its waning), but this brought no peace to the King. For Pharazôn son of Gimilkhâd had become a man yet more restless and eager for wealth and power than his father. He had fared often abroad...; and thus he had won great renown as a captain both by land and by sea. Therefore when he came back to Númenor, hearing of his father's death, the hearts of the people were turned to him; for he brought with him great wealth, and was for the time free in his giving.
The Silmarillion, Akallabêth
Tar-Palantir married late and had no son, and his daughter he named Míriel in the Elven-tongue. But when the King died she was taken to wife by Pharazôn son of Gimilkhâd... against her will.... And he then seized the sceptre into his own hand, taking the title of Ar-Pharazôn (Tar-Calion); and Míriel was named Ar-Zimraphel.
Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 3, The Line of Elros, Kings of Númenor
Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 3Nov05
