Rómendacil II

Rómendacil II, born Minalcar, was the 19th king of Gondor, ruling in Third Age as King from 1304 to his death in 1366. Before taking the throne in his own right, he served as Regent to his uncle, Narmacil I and his father, Calmacil for a total of 64 years.

Prince Minalcar led a great force against the Easterlings in TA 1248, clearing the entire area of Rhovanion and east to the Sea of Rhûn of any Easterling settlement. Minalcar then took the name "Rómendacil", or "East-victor" for himself, like his ancestor Rómendacil I.

After his victory, he built forts along the west bank of the river up the Limlight River, and erected the giant Argonath above Nen Hithoel as a warning to the Easterlings. Some of these forts remain until the late Third Age, such as Ost Celebrant, Amon Hen and Cair Andros.

To strengthen the bond between Gondor and the Northmen (Later to become the Rohirrim), Rómendacil II brought many of those people into his service, and showed especial favour to King Vidugavia of Rhovanion. Rómendacil II sent his son Valacar to live with Vidugavia as the ambassador of Gondor, to learn the language and culture of the Northmen.

Valacar fell in love with Vidugavia's daughter Vidumavi. They married and had a son named Vinitharya by the Northmen. The family returned to Gondor in 1260, but their marriage and heir were not well received by many of the lords of Gondor, who thought ill of the mixing of blood in the royal line. Prince Vinitharya changed his name to Eldacar in the Dúnedain fashion of naming.

Eldacar himself had two sons, Ornendil and Aldamir, who grew to be Men in their own right during Rómendacil's rule.

As a Northman, Vidumadi had a much shorter life span than the former Númenórean were used to, and she died in TA 1332 while Rómendacil II was still the king. This sowed the seeds of the Kin-strife in Gondor, as some of the Lords worried the life span of the line of Kings would diminish similarly.

Despite these mutterings, the rule of Rómendacil remained a peaceful one in later years, as his stature as a respected war-general and slayer of Easterlings was not disputed by any. He died in Third Age 1366, leaving his crown to his son Valacar. He was honored with a statue and plaque on the Pier of Minas Tirith.