Amazon Studios The Rings of Power is here. We want all Spoilerites to have the best viewing experience possible and have the widest knowledge base about the Second Age of Middle-Earth. This is a weekly Let’s Get Nerdy article series highlighting a different piece of Tolkien I think you need to know about!
Fair warning, faithful Spoilerite, this week’s Let’s Get Nerdy! trucks with nothing by rumour this week!
The Fellowship of Fans, who I’ve referenced here before, particularly with the Jamie Bisping/Viran casting news Tweeted in late January that actor William Chubb (The Sandman, Vampire Academy), will play the role of Lord Belzagar in the second season of The Rings of Power:
Fellowship of Fans on Twitter: “EXCL: Actor William Chubb will play the ‘HIGH PRIEST OF NUMENOR’ in season 2 of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ pic.twitter.com/CuWwJAJQjR / Twitter”
EXCL: Actor William Chubb will play the ‘HIGH PRIEST OF NUMENOR’ in season 2 of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ pic.twitter.com/CuWwJAJQjR
I know! I know! I can already hear you in the distance:
“Ashley! Who is Lord Belzagar!?”
Thank-you so much for asking!
TL;DR he is a King of Númenor.
As with Tar-Míriel and Ar-Pharazôn his actual name, per J.R.R. Tolkien’s booklore, known more commonly as Ar-Belzagar. So, if you’re visiting The Silmarillion or Unfinished Tales and doing some peremptory research and reading “Ar-Belzagar” is the name you are going to want to look for.
He also has a bunch of other names, in the proud tradition of a denizen of Middle-Earth including: Tar-Calmacil. Calmacil was his given name from the Elvish Quenya language meaning “Sword of Light” or “Shining Sword” – although the meaning has been extrapolated by Tolkien scholars and was never confirmed in the written canon.
It was not until he was crowned King of Númenor that he took the name “Belzagar”.
“But isn’t Queen Regent Míriel the leader of Númenor? And Elendil is right there!”
All worthy queries, Spoilerite.
Ar-Belzagar was the eighteenth King of Númenor and rose to esteem as a young man by serving bravely as
a Captain of Númenorean soldiers. He is characterized by some readers as a conqueror, having a reputation for claiming coastal lands of Middle-Earth for Númenor’s – and his own – glory. When he was awarded the title of King his soldiers named him “Ar-Belzagar” which was a pretty big deal. This is the first king in the history of Númenor to be called by a name not in Elvish Quenya. Ar-Belzagar is Adûnaic and was not considered as noble a tongue as Elvish.
He reigned for 88 years. You’ll remember from past Let’s Get Nerdy! installments (and probably from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Extended Edition), that Númenoreans are longed lived. It’s a goodly long reign.
What I find strange about Lord Belzagar and his potential inclusion in The Rings of Power is he lived from 2516 – 2825 during The Second Age of Middle-Earth, whereas Queen Regent Míriel (thus, the rough timeline for at least the beginning of The Rings of Power streaming show), lived from 3117 – 3319 during The Second Age of Middle-Earth.
The only real way I can parse this is when I reflect on the second season of The Rings of Power Adding 15 New Actors maybe there’s a chance we’re getting a flashback to Númenor at the height of its power? I’ll take my tinfoil conspiracy theory hat off now.
In past articles I have answered the question:
- What Are the Rings of Power?
- What is Númenor?
- What is the Second Age?
- Who are the Harfoots?
- Who is Prince Durin IV?
- What is Khazad-dûm?
- Who is Celebrimbor?
- What is the Last Alliance of Men and Elves?
- Who is Elendil?
- New Pics! Who are Bronwyn and Theo?
- What is Rivendell?
- The Rings of Power First Reactions Are In!
- What is Lindon?
- What are the Nine Human Rings?
- Empire Magazine’s The Rings of Power Covers
- New Character Pictures
- Will Wizards Appear in The Rings of Power?
- New Promo for The Rings of Power
- What is Eregion?
- Leaked! Rings of Power Trailer Breakdown
- The Rings of Power Teaser Breakdown
- New EW Rings of Power Pictures
- SDCC Rings of Power Trailer Breakdown
- Who is Isildur?
- The Rings of Power is Here! Read the Reactions
- Who is the Stranger?
- Who is Queen Míriel?
- Who is Ar-Pharazôn?
- What is the broken black blade?
- What is Mordor?
- What is Mithril?
- What are the Silmarils?
- What is Narsil?
- Who founded Númenor?
- Who is Galadriel’s Brother Finrod?
- Rings of Power Adds 15 New Cast Members for Season 2
- Who is Círdan?
- Will Celeborn Appear in The Rings of Power?
- Are Galadriel and Sauron Enemies in Book Canon?
- Who is Narvi?
- Jamie Bisping Cast as Viran
- Will the Harfoots Settle The Shire?
- What to Watch Before The Rings of Power Season 2
- Will We See More Rings in The Rings of Power Season 2?
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She/her. Canadian actress. Bi Queen. Canadian co-host of Geek History Lesson. Canadian comic book writer: Witchblade, Apollo IX, Jupiter Jet series, Science! The Elements of Dark Energy, Aurora and The Eagle. Award-losing: actor, writer, podcaster. https://linktr.ee/AshleyVRobinson