The Fantasy Review’s brief history of why Númenor was destroyed.
Origins of Númenor
The island of Númenor was gifted to the Edain by the Valar as a reward for their alliance with the Elves during the War of the Great Jewels. Located between Middle-earth and the Undying Lands, it quickly became a beacon of human civilization where the inhabitants were blessed with long life and physical superiority over the other kingdoms of Men in Middle-earth.
Check out: A Brief History of Númenor
Tensions Between the Númenóreans and the Valar
The Númenóreans may well have been given great gifts, but the gift that would see their downfall was the gift of Men: mortality. They were forbidden from becoming immortal or traveling to the Undying Lands, and this led to the inhabitants resenting their mortality and envying the Elves.
In about 1800 during the Second Age, the Númenóreans began exerting control over areas of Middle-earth, coveting power. By the 2200s, during the reign of Tar-Atanamir, they started to speak openly against the Valar, with the inhabitants essentially splitting into two camps of allegiance:
- The Faithful: These were the Númenóreans who still trusted in the Valar and understood their gift of mortality.
- The King’s Men: This was a majority group on Númenor that started in the reign of Tar-Ancalimon.
It was the King’s Men who established dominions in the south of Middle-earth (places like Umbar). Sauron easily corrupted these people and they turned to tyranny. Their descendants are known as the Black Númenóreans.
The Faithful, also known as Elf-friends or Elendili, were in the minority. Despite their fear of the Doom of Men, they remained obedient to the Valar. They founded Pelargir in Middle-earth in 2350 and continued to fight against Sauron with Gil-galad, using their ships to sail to the north coasts.
The King’s Men sought the persecution of the Faithful, punishing individuals for speaking Eldarin. This forced the Faithful to move; many emigrated to Lindon or to the east of Númenor.
The Fall of Númenor
During Sauron’s captivity in Númenor (3262-3319 SA), the Faithful were brutally persecuted, with some even being burned as sacrificed to Melkor (in a Temple Sauron himself built).
Ar-Pharazôn, the last King of Númenor (and the King to capture Sauron in 3262), sailed to the Undying Lands to claim immortality by force. When the Ar-Pharazôn landed on Aman in 3319, the Valar called upon Eru. Númenor was then destroyed in the Change of the World.
Members of the Faithful survived the fall of Númenor, including Elendil, Isildur, and Anárion. These three men would go onto found the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor.
