NUMENOR QUICKFACTS
Founded:
32, First Age
Destroyed:
3319, Second Age
(endured 3287 years)
Location:
In the Great Sea, between Middle-Earth and Aman
Race: Men
Division: Edain
Meaning:
Land in the West
Other Names:
Akallabêth, Anadûnê, Andor, Atalantë, The Downfallen, Elenna, The Land of Gift, Mar-nu-Falmar, Númenórë, Starwards, Westernesse
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Numenor
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The first king of Númenor was Elros, the brother of Elrond, current ruler of Imladris. Being half-elven, the brothers were given the choice to go with the Eldar or stay with the second-born. Elros chose to stay with his beloved humans which he moved from ME to the island of Númenor. There he took the name
Tar-Minyatur and ruled long. After a time, the Númenóreans, who had become great sailors with the aid of the elves, sailed back to ME in search of trade and other men. These they found, and the sailors began to build permanent harbours for their ships, one of the first of these being the now-ruined city of Tharbad.
When Tar-Aldarion, the sixth king, died, he left only a daughter who succeeded to the throne, the first of three Númenorean queens in their own right, taking the name Tar-Ancalimë. It was Tar-Minastir, the eleventh king, who started the descent of Númenor, for he did long for the West which the Valar had
forbidden to men, and in his day men began sailing even further from the shores of Númenor.
Tar-Ciryaten and his son Tar-Atanamir furthered the decline, being greedy and ambitious men. They turned the havens of ME into fortresses and levied heavy tribute on the men surrounding them. Tar-Atanamir it was who first spoke openly against the elves, and it was during his reign that those faithful to him and those faithful to the Eldar (led by Elendil and called the Faithful) split, with those following Elendil being forced to the west of the isle where they could be watched. Indeed, during the reign of Atanamir's son. Tar-Ancalimon, did the thoughts of the Númenóreans turn from living and joy to death and decay. It was in these days that Sauron did ensnare those dark Númenóreans who were to become the Ringwraiths. Ar-Adûnakhôr, twentieth king, chased the Eldar from Númenor and forbade the speaking of the Elven tongues. Yet it was the 23rd king, Ar-Gimilzôr, who drove many of the Faithful back to ME. His son, Tar-Palantir, sought to repair the damage wrought by his ancestors, yet it was too late, and when he died his nephew Ar-Pharazôn (the Golden) usurped the throne, forcibly marrying Tar-Míriel who was to be queen.
Ar-Pharazôn it was who made Sauron to bow before him, but foolishly did allow the Dark One his freedom and indeed did give ear to all that he said. And Sauron, crafty and deceitful, did turn the king to the Dark Worship and persuaded him to challenge even the Valar themselves, and Ar-Pharazôn, proud and ambitious, set sail to Aman. Yet no sooner did he land, when the Valar destroyed him and the isle of Númenor. Yet Elendil and his sons and those remaining of the Faithful did escape on nine ships bearing 'seven stars, seven stones, and one white tree.' They fled to Pelargir, long before built as their haven, and set about building a new realm.
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