Reassessing the Queens of Numenor

In the vast tapestry of Tolkien’s legendarium, Numenor stands as a poignant chapter—a realm of power and ambition, ultimately succumbing to its own hubris. Among its rulers, three queens—the so-called 'evil queens'—are often remembered with a shadowed legacy. But does this label truly fit?

Tar-Ancalimë: A Ruler of Refocus
Tar-Ancalimë, the first ruling queen, marks a significant departure from her predecessors. The shift of her focus from Middle Earth to Numenor itself during her reign—a time when Sauron's shadow began to loom—has been critiqued as strategic negligence. Yet, as Robert from In Deep Geek notes, "Numenor flourished during Ancalimë's reign," suggesting that her domestic policies might have been her silent triumphs, often overshadowed by the external threats she seemingly ignored.

Her reign poses a question of historical context: was her inward focus an act of preservation or neglect? This complexity invites us to consider how leadership is judged not only by action but also by the choice of which battles to fight.

Tar-Telperiën: The Detached Sovereign
Tar-Telperiën's reign is shrouded in ambiguity—marked by her notable absence from significant geopolitical engagements, like Sauron's encroaching menace. While her heir, Minastir, eventually dispatched aid that turned the tide against Sauron, her personal involvement—or lack thereof—raises questions about leadership by delegation.

The video suggests that Tolkien may have viewed her long reign and reluctance to pass power as "a rather concerning desire to cling on to power." Here lies a tension between effective governance and the pitfalls of stagnation, a reminder of how prolonged rule can both stabilize and stifle.

Tar-Vanimeldë: A Queen in Name
Perhaps the most criticized of the trio, Tar-Vanimeldë, preferred music and dance to governance. Her husband wielded power in her stead, an arrangement that leaves her reign as a cautionary tale of abdicated responsibility. Yet, as In Deep Geek points out, she was likely "a weak queen undoubtedly, but again probably not an evil one." Her detachment reflects not malice but a disinterest in power, contrasting sharply with the active transgressions of her male counterparts.

Beyond the Queens: A Broader Context
The narrative of Numenor’s downfall is often dominated by male rulers who led the island to ruin through ambition and hubris. The video emphasizes that "the greatest villains in Numenor's fall were overwhelmingly male," shifting the focus from the queens to a broader critique of leadership.

These queens, with their distinct styles and limitations, invite a reexamination of leadership through a gendered lens within Tolkien's world. They challenge us to consider how power is wielded and remembered, and how history often simplifies the complex roles of those who lead.

As we ponder the legacies of these queens, we’re left with a question: in the annals of fantasy and reality, how often do we mistake silence for consent, and inactivity for ineptitude? These queens of Numenor, far from the caricatures of evil, serve as nuanced figures in a history still echoing with lessons of power and its many forms.

—Amara Osei