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Oct 05th 2007

History of Númenor

Many of you wrote me asking for the history of Númenor, write all the history is a hard job! So let me try with this summary.
Númenor is an island-kingdom found in the fictional writings of the late Prof. J.R.R. Tolkien.
It came into being at the beginning of the Second Age of Middle-earth as a reward given to the 3 Houses of Men who had fought against Melkor, the Dark Lord in the First Age.
The history of the First Age is the story of the long defeat of the Elves and the Men by Melkor and his armies. A defeat eventually reversed when Eärendil the Mariner (accompanied by his wife Elwing) won through to the Ancient West, to Valinor, to plead for assistance from the Valar (angelic entities). In the ensuing War of Wrath Melkor was defeated, captured, and cast from the world. However Sauron the Maia, Melkor’s chief lieutenant, avoided capture and remained active in Middle-earth.
As recompense for the aid given to the Elves the Valar raised the island of Númenor, half-way between Valinor and Middle-earth, and this should be a new home for Men.
To the Dúnedain, as the Númenóreans were called, the Valar granted a lifespan three times that of lesser men; but centuries later, and with the subtle treaties of Sauron, the kings of Númenor began to become afraid of death and long for immortality. The lies of Sauron led the great King of Númenor Ar-Pharazon to declare war to the Valar and fled to Valinor with a great army.

If you want to learn more about Númenor read "The Silmarillion" of J.R.R. Tolkien.