Summary
The Lord of the Ringsis a timeless epic filled with a rich history and a multitude of characters, both famous and obscure. Among the lesser-known groups in J.R.R. Tolkien’s expansive world are the Black Númenoreans.
To understand the Black Númenoreans, it is essential to first delve into the history of Númenor itself. Númenor was an island nation gifted to the Men of Middle-earth by the Valar for their assistance in the fight against Morgoth, one of the greatest antagonists inLord of the Ring’s history. It was a realm of great wealth and power, and its inhabitants were known as the Númenoreans.
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What is Númenor?
Númenor, a vast island in the midst of the Western Sea, held a distinctive five-pointed star shape. Each of these points boasted its own unique natural characteristics. At its heart, the island housed the sacred mountain Meneltarma, revered by the Dúnedain as atemple dedicated to Ilúvatar. The grand capital city was Armenelos. Only two rivers graced the land: Siril, originating from Meneltarma and flowing into a small delta near the town of Nindamos, and the Nunduinë, which met the sea in the Bay of Eldanna near the human haven Eldalondë.
Following their hardships in the great war against the Dark Lord Morgoth, the Valar took pity on the Three Houses of the Edain and granted them the island of Elenna, known as “Númenor” or “Andor.” Elros, the son of Eärendil, ascended as the first King of Númenor, adopting the name Tar-Minyatur, meaning “High-First King.” Under his rule and the reign of his descendants, the Númenóreans thrived, blessed with significantly longer lifespans compared to the Men of Middle-earth.
Númenor’s populace predominantly consisted of the Men from the surviving Edain houses, known as the Númenóreans or Kings of Men. They excelled in arts, craftsmanship, weapon forging, and armor making. However, prior tothe rise of Sauron, they were not warlike; instead, their primary focus was shipbuilding and maritime skills. The Númenóreans became renowned mariners, venturing to all corners of the world except the West, where the Valar’s prohibition held. They often journeyed to Middle-earth’s shores, sharing their knowledge and introducing farming to improve the lives of the local people. Yet, when the Shadow emerged, the Númenóreans became less friendly, imposing heavy tribute and returning to their homeland laden with plunder.
The Númenóreans also mastered husbandry, breeding magnificent horses that roamed the open plains of Mittalmar. While they began as a peaceful people, their expertise in weaponry, armor, and horsemanship remained unrivaled in all of Arda,save for the Valar.
Who were the Black Númenoreans?
During the Second Age, as the Númenóreans grew in power and wisdom, they found themselves increasingly consumed by the limitations imposed on their happiness and authority by mortality. They began to question the purpose of their own mortality and, over time, developed a growing fear of death. This fear led them to envy the immortal Elves, the Eldar, with whom they had come to share physical resemblances as a reward from Ilúvatar for theiralliance with the Elves. The Eldar, however, continually reminded the Númenóreans that death was a gift bestowed upon all Men by Ilúvatar and that losing faith in Ilúvatar’s wisdom would be heretical.
Nonetheless, things took a darker when Tar-Ancalimon assumed the throne of Númenor. Under his rule, the majority of Númenóreans began to forsake the traditions of their forefathers, abandoning their reverence for Eru (Ilúvatar) and the Valar. These individuals, known as the “King’s Men,” were thus already inclined toward the corruption of Sauron when he arrived in Númenor.
In the final years of Númenor, its mighty yet aging King Ar-Pharazôn, who had become consumed by “the fear of old age,” was convinced by Sauron that Ilúvatar was a mereinvention by the Valar. He was seduced into worshiping Morgoth, a dangerous act that quickly swayed the majority of Númenor’s population. This cult-like worship soon spread to Númenor’s colonies in Middle-earth.
In Middle-earth, this group, particularly thriving in places like Umbar, continued to oppose the Faithful, the followers of Elendil who would become the Kings of Arnor and Gondor. The King’s Party remained loyal to Sauron, and their lifespans began to diminish even before the eventual Downfall of Númenor. After this cataclysmic event, they became known as the Black Númenóreans.
The Black Númenóreans became obsessed with dark knowledge and fervently worshipped Sauron. They harbored deep animosity towardsthe followers of Elendiland their realm, Gondor.
What happened to the Black Númenoreans?
The ultimate fate of the Black Númenoreans was intertwined with the decline and downfall of Númenor itself. As the majority of Númenoreans grew increasingly restless and sought to defy the Ban of the Valar, which prohibited them fromsailing to the Undying Lands, the Black Númenoreans fully embraced the rebellious spirit. Their leaders, notably Ar-Pharazôn, sought to challenge the might of the Valar and sailed to Aman, a disastrous action that led to the destruction of Númenor.
However, not all Black Númenoreans perished in the cataclysm that swallowed Númenor. Some survived andsettled in Middle-earth, most notably in Umbar, which became their stronghold. They continued to serve Sauron and other dark lords, becoming significant adversaries to the Free Peoples of Middle-earth.
Throughout theLord of the Ringsseries, the Black Númenoreans' presence is felt, though they remain largely in the background. Their dark influence can be seen through various characters and factions who serve Sauron, such as the Corsairs of Umbar, who are explicitly linked to this fallen group.
In the end, the Black Númenoreans became a symbol of the consequences of falling from grace. They serve as a reminder that even in a world filled with magic and wonder such as inLord of the Rings, the struggle between light and darkness is ever-present, shapingthe destinies of nationsand individuals alike.
