Valacar

(Q. 'power-?')

(III 1194 – III 1432; ruled since III 1366)

Dúnadan, son of Minalcar RómendacilII?. To further the close friendship between Gondor and these Northmen, RómendacilII? sent Valacar in his youth as an ambassador to the court of their leader Vidugavia, who styled himself King of Rhovanion. RómendacilII? had intended that his son should learn something of the language and culture of the Men of Rhovanion.

Valacar went so far as to wed Vidumavi, daughter of Vidugavia, but the Northmen did not share the long lives of the Gondorians, and Vidumavi died even before Valacar had succeeded his father as the 20th King of Gondor. His son was raised with the northern name Vinitharya and returned to Gondor with his father with the elvish name Eldacar.

By the last years of Valacar's reign, certain southern provinces of Gondor saw unrest break out into full rebellion. In the year Valacar died, this rebellion became a civil war, known as the Kin-strife. He was succeeded by his son Eldacar.