Dates

Dior lived from I 470 - I 506; Ancalimë lived from II 873 - II 1285

Races

Dior was a Half-elf; Ancalimë belonged to the race of Men

Divisions

Dior descended from the Edain and Sindar; Ancalimë was one of the Dúnedain

Cultures

Dior ruled the Elves of Doriath; Ancalimë was a Númenórean

Settlements

Dior dwelt latterly in Menegroth; Ancalimë was known as Emerwen Aranel during her time dwelling in Emerië

Pronunciation

a'ranel

Meaning

Translated 'royal Elf' (Dior) and 'princess' (Ancalimë)¹

Titles of

Dior son of Beren and Lúthien, and Ancalimë daughter of Aldarion and Erendis

Indexes:

About this entry:

Updated 20 January 2026
Updates planned: 1

Aranel

A title of Dior, and of Ancalimë

Years of the TreesFirst AgeISecond AgeIIThird AgeIIIFourth AgeIV

Beren

Lúthien

Dior
Aranel

Nimloth

Erendis

Emerwen
Aranel
(Tar-Ancalimë)

Hallacar

Tar-Anárion

An Elvish surname or title given used of two different individuals, with a meaning representing royalty and nobility. In both cases it was conferred on those who were heir to a royal title, and thus might be loosely translated 'prince' or 'princess'.

Though the title is the same for both its holders, Dior and Ancalimë, in fact the source languages and meanings are subtly different. Dior was a prince of the Sindar, and his title came from the Sindarin language, while Ancalimë took her title from Quenya. The two languages were related, and aran- meant 'king' or 'royal' in both, but the meanings behind the two uses of the title are subtly different.

Dior

Dior was the son of Beren and Lúthien, and thus grandson and heir to King Thingol of Doriath. He was therefore the rightful Lord of Beleriand and truly a 'noble Elf' in the most literal sense. After the death of Thingol and departure of Melian, Dior took up the Kingship of Doriath, but his rule was short-lived. After just a few years the Sons of Fëanor attacked Doriath in an attempt to recover the Silmaril held there. They failed - the Silmaril was carried away by Dior's daughter Elwing - but Dior Aranel himself was slain in the fighting.

Ancalimë

The second recorded usage of the title Aranel came centuries after Dior's time, and had a quite different implication. It was given to Ancalimë, the daughter of Aldarion the King's Heir of Númenor. Aldarion and his wife Erendis became estranged, and Erendis took their daughter to dwell in the sheep-country of Emerië. Growing up there in isolation, Ancalimë acquired the unofficial title of Emerwen Aranel, 'Princess Shepherdess'. The -el here is a feminine ending signifying 'lady' rather than 'Elf', so Ancalimë's title Aranel translates as 'noble lady' or 'princess' rather than Dior's 'noble Elf'.

Notes

The derivation of this title was slightly different for each of its two holders, though in both cases aran- meant 'noble' or 'royal'. For Dior, the ending -el signified 'Elf', as he was the grandson and royal heir of King Thingol, so Aranel here could be translated 'Elf-prince'. For Ancalimë, the same ending comes from a different source, making her the 'noble lady', 'royal daughter', or simply 'princess'.

Indexes:

About this entry:

Updated 20 January 2026
Updates planned: 1

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Aranel

A title of Dior, and of Ancalimë

Notes

Website services kindly sponsored by Axiom Discovery aptitude and skill testing.

Personality is one part of understanding a candidate's suitability for a role, but aptitude can also be crucial.