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{{people infobox
{{race
| name=Black Númenóreans
|image=[[File:Brian Durfee - Black Númenóreans.jpg|250px]]
| image=[[File:Brian Durfee - Black Númenóreans.jpg|250px]]
|name=Black Númenóreans
| caption="[[:File:Brian Durfee - Black Númenóreans.jpg|Black Númenóreans]]" by Brian Durfee
|dominions=[[Umbar]], other southern lands
| pronun=
|languages=[[Adûnaic]]
| othernames=Sauronians<ref name=letter>{{L|156}}</ref>
|height=
| origin=[[Númenóreans]] seduced and corrupted by [[Sauron]]
|length=
| location=The southern lands of [[Middle-earth]], and especially [[Umbar]]
|skincolor=
| affiliation=[[King's Men]], [[Sauron]]
|haircolor=
| rivalry=[[Exiles of Númenor]], [[Gondorians]]
|feathers=
| language=[[Adûnaic]], [[Westron]]
|distinctions=Survivors of the [[Downfall of Númenor]], loyal to [[Sauron]]
| members=[[Herumor]], [[Fuinur]], [[Berúthiel]], [[The Mouth of Sauron]]
|lifespan=
| lifespan=
|members=[[Herumor]], [[Fuinur]], [[Berúthiel]], [[The Mouth of Sauron]]
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=
}}
}}
The '''Black Númenóreans''' were originally among the survivors from a [[Men|mannish]] kingdom that had yet been, [[Númenor]], which was destroyed by [[Ilúvatar|Eru]] in the late [[Second Age]].  
The '''Black Númenóreans''' emerged from the [[King's Men]] party;<ref name=Gondor>{{App|Gondor}}</ref> they were cruel oppressors and overlords over the primitive [[Men]] of [[Middle-earth]]. Since they were colonising the continent, they survived the [[Downfall of Númenor]] but swiftly diminished.


As their power and knowledge had grown throughout the course of the Second Age, the Númenóreans had become increasingly preoccupied with the limits placed on their happiness—and eventually their power—by mortality, the purpose of which they began to question;
==Background==
{{quote|But the fear of death grew ever darker upon them, and they delayed it by all means that they could; and they began to build great houses for their dead, while their wise men laboured unceasingly to discover if they might the secret of recalling life...|"[[Akallabêth]]", ''[[The Silmarillion]]''}}
{{main|King's Men}}
The [[Númenóreans]]' power and knowledge had grown throughout the course of the [[Second Age]], and became increasingly preoccupied with the limits placed on their happiness—and eventually their power—by mortality, the purpose of which they began to question. They started fearing the [[Gift of Men]] and attempted to delay it or recall life. This growing wish to escape death made most of the Númenóreans envious of the immortal [[Eldar]], who they had come to physically resemble. The Eldar sought ever to remind the [[Men of Númenor]] however, that death was a gift of the One God, [[Ilúvatar]], to all men, and the will of Ilúvatar could not be gainsaid.<ref name=akallabeth>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref>


This growing wish to escape death, known as "the doom of Men", made most of the Númenoreans envious of the immortal [[Eldar]], who they had come to physically resemble. The Eldar sought ever to remind the men of Númenor however, that death was a gift of the One God, [[Ilúvatar]], to all men, and the will of Ilúvatar could not be gainsaid.  
Nevertheless, after {{SA|2221}}, when [[Tar-Ancalimon]] became [[King of Númenor]], the Númenóreans became divided. The [[King's Men]] turned away from the [[Valar]] and the Eldar and eventually became vulnerable to the corruption of [[Sauron]].<ref>{{L|211}}</ref><ref name=akallabeth/>


Nevertheless, after Second Age 2221, when Tar-Ancalimon became King of Númenor:
Three of the [[Nazgûl|Ringwraiths]] were powerful Númenórean lords corrupted by [[Sauron]].<ref>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref> 1000 years before the [[Downfall of Númenor|Downfall]], they served [[Sauron]], being enslaved to his will, having become so because of their lust for power or knowledge.
{{quote|...the people of Númenor became divided. On the one hand was the greater party, and they were called the [[King's Men]], and they grew proud and were estranged from the [[Valar]] and the Eldar.|"[[Akallabêth]]", ''[[The Silmarillion]]''}}


The King's Men ultimately became vulnerable to the corruption of [[Sauron]], who, having arrived in Númenór:
==History==
{{quote|...naturally had the One Ring, and so very soon dominated the minds and wills of most of the Númenóreans.|''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'', No. 211}}
===Second Age===
====Origin====
Many of the [[King's Men]] sailed to the shores and seaward regions of the [[Westlands]] during [[Sauron]]'s sojourn in [[Númenor]]. These became the Black Númenóreans who submitted to Sauron and served him gladly in [[Middle-earth]]. These evil lords made their fortresses and dwellings in the [[South]], because of the power of [[Gil-galad]].<ref name=rings>{{S|Rings}}</ref><ref name=window>{{TT|Window}}</ref>


Eventually, in Númenor's last years, its powerful and elderly King [[Ar-Pharazôn]], who had become "frightened of old age" (Letters ~ No.156), was persuaded by Sauron that Ilúvatar was a lie invented by the Valar, and seduced him;
Before the [[Downfall of Númenor|Downfall]], their settlements beyond [[Umbar]] had been absorbed or had been made by the King's Men and had become hostile and parts of Sauron's dominions.<ref>{{UT|Istari}}</ref>
{{quote|...back to the worship of the Dark, and of Melkor the Lord thereof, at first in secret, but ere long openly and in the face of his people.|"[[Akallabêth]]", ''[[The Silmarillion]]''}}


Within Númenor, the majority quickly followed suit, and this worship quickly passed across the ocean to most of Númenor's colonies in Middle-earth:
====After the Downfall====
{{quote|The Men of Númenor were settled far and wide on the shores and seaward regions of the Great Lands, but for the most part they fell into evils and follies. Many became enamoured of the Darkness and the black arts...|"[[The Window on the West]]", ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''}}
Even after the Downfall, the Black Númenóreans held control of the [[Haven of Umbar]], initially a stronghold of the King's Men.<ref name=Gondor/> They hated, above all, the [[Exiles of Númenor]].<ref name=Gondor/>


These "black arts" and "follies" were presumably the earliest culture traits of those who became known afterward as Black Númenóreans,
Two early Black Númenórean lords, both mighty and evil, from the late [[Second Age]] were [[Herumor]] and [[Fuinur]] who "rose to power amongst the [[Haradrim]]".<ref name=rings/>
{{quote|...for in the days of the sojourn of Sauron in that land the hearts of well nigh all its people had been turned towards darkness. Therefore many of those who sailed east in that time and made fortresses and dwellings upon the coasts were already bent to his will...|"[[Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age]]", ''[[The Silmarillion]]''}}


This worship of Melkor and the Dark marked the final, irrevocable division between its adherents and the "[[Faithful]]" Númenóreans, the ''[[Elendili]]'', who kept to their old faith in Ilúvatar, but these were a small minority;
As [[Sauron]] was preparing to go to [[War of the Last Alliance|war]] against the [[Elves]] and [[Exiles of Númenor|Exiles]], he gathered great strength of his servants, including many Black Númenóreans.<ref name=rings/>


For many centuries after the Downfall, some descendants of the "[[King's Men]]" held onto what became the most northerly and famous of their realms-in-exile, the [[Umbar|Haven of Umbar]], although
The triumph of the [[Last Alliance]] marked the decline of the Black Númenórean race.<ref name=Gondor/> They dwindled swiftly or became merged with the [[Men]] of [[Middle-earth]].<ref name=Gondor/> Although their race declined, they inherited, without lessening, their hatred of [[Gondor]].<ref name=Gondor/>
{{quote|...because of the power of [[Gil-galad]] these renegades, lords both mighty and evil, for the most part took up their abodes in the southlands far away.|"[[Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age]]", ''[[The Silmarillion]]''}}


Most of those few Númenóreans who had never envied the Eldar, and had always remained true to their belief in Ilúvatar, also survived the destruction of their homeland, and they established their own realms-in-exile north of Umbar, where previously had come
===Decline===
{{quote|...only the Faithful of Númenor, and many therefore of the folk of the coastlands in that region were in whole or in part akin to the Elf-friends and the people of [[Elendil]]...|"[[Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age]]", ''[[The Silmarillion]]''}}
Although they had dwindled, few notable figures still claimed to be of the Black Númenórean race in later times. One of these was [[Berúthiel|Queen Berúthiel]], the "nefarious, solitary, and loveless" wife of [[Gondor|Gondor's]] King [[Tarannon Falastur]].<ref name=Interview>{{webcite|author=[[Daphne Castell]]|articleurl=http://www.festivalintheshire.com/journal1bdx/inttolkien.html|articlename=The Realms of Tolkien|dated=|website=[http://www.festivalintheshire.com/journal1bdx/index.html ''Festival in the Shire Journal'', Issue 1]|accessed=7 May 2012}}</ref><ref>[[Humphrey Carpenter]], ''[[The Inklings (book)|The Inklings]]'', "Thursday evenings", pp. 137-8</ref><ref>{{UT|Istari}}, note 7</ref>


After founding [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]] these self-styled "Faithful" Númenóreans saw their southern counterparts as renegades, calling them:
In {{TA|933}}, [[Kings of Gondor|King]] [[Eärnil I]] captured [[Umbar]], driving the lords of Umbar into exile.<ref name=Gondor/> 82 years later, in {{TA|1015}}, these lords lead the [[Haradrim]] to re-take the fortress and slew King [[Ciryandil]], son of Eärnil I.<ref group=note>Whether or not these lords were indeed Black Númenóreans is not known but due to their somewhat longevity (they ruled Umbar for some time before their 82 year long exile), it seems plausible.</ref><ref name=Gondor/>
{{quote|...the Black Númenóreans; for they established their dwellings in Middle-earth during the years of Sauron's domination, and they worshipped him, being enamoured of evil knowledge.|"[[The Black Gate Opens]]", ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''}}
 
The Black Númenóreans held a similiarly low opinion of 'The Faithful' and their descendants, as
{{quote|..they inherited without lessening their hatred of Gondor.|"Appendix A" of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''}}
 
Two early Black Númenórean lords are named from the time of the late  [[Second Age]]: [[Herumor]] and [[Fuinur]].  Like all Black Númenóreans and 'King's Men' before them, Herumor and Fuinur desired power over men of other, lesser races, and they "rose to (great) power amongst the [[Haradrim]]", the peoples neighbouring Umbar. Their fate is unknown, but they likely shared Sauron's defeat at the hands of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]].  
 
The Black Númenórean style of governing was no doubt tyrannical, but may also have involved a tradition of duumviracy, at least in Umbar, whose lords are usually paired when mentioned; Herumor/Fuinur for example, were probably rulers of Umbar, as much later Angamaite/Sangahyando were. Whatever political system was in place, however, the Black Númenóreans did not govern effectively;
{{quote|...some were given over wholly to idleness and ease, and some fought amongst themselves, until they became conquered in their weakness by the wild men.|"[[The Window on the West]]", ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''}}
 
The triumph of the Last Alliance marked the decline of the Black Númenórean race and the end of their racial superiority;
{{quote|After the fall of Sauron their race swiftly dwindled or became merged with the Men of Middle-earth...|"Appendix A" of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''}}
   
   
Nevertheless, a Black Númenórean elite survived at least in Umbar for over a thousand years after Númenor's fall, maintaining much influence in [[Haradwaith]]. As late as Third Age 1015, for example, even after being exiled from their homeland for nearly a century
Another more notable "renegade" of great stature was the [[Mouth of Sauron]]; "he entered the service of the [[Barad-dûr|Dark Tower]] when it first rose again".<ref name="Gate">{{RK|V10}}</ref><ref group=note>It has been noted that this reference is difficult to interpret; according to [[Appendix B]] the Dark Tower arose first some time after {{SA|3320}} and again in {{TA|2951}}. If the Mouth lived in the [[Second Age]], he would be one of the King's Men of Númenor, and probably prolonged his life with sorcery (cf. {{HM|Guide}}, p. 274); in the second interpretation he would serve [[Sauron]] only for 68 years, and this would make him a Black Númenórean of Umbar or [[Harad]]. The second interpretation is more feasible (and supported by [[Michael Martinez]]) but both have been considered.</ref> He mocked the army of [[Aragorn|King Elessar]] in front of the [[Morannon]].<ref name="Gate"/>
{{quote|...the Men of Harad, led by the lords that had been driven from Umbar, came up with great power against that stronghold...|"Appendix A" of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''}}


The Black Númenóreans did not use [[Westron]], but probably retained their old tongue [[Adûnaic]], speaking a dialect of it. (In [[The Notion Club Papers]], part of ''[[Sauron Defeated]]'', Arundel Lowdham cited two descendants of classical Adûnaic. One of these must have been Westron, the other the tongue of the Black Númenóreans).  
==Culture==
In [[Middle-earth]] where they worshipped [[Sauron]], the Black Númenóreans became "enamoured of evil knowledge"<ref name="Gate"/> and some "learned great sorcery" under Sauron's tutelage.<ref name="Gate"/> Some, like the [[Mouth of Sauron]], had the potential to be more cruel than any [[Orc]].<ref name="Gate"/>


The Black Númenóreans are absent from recorded history after their defeat by [[Ciryaher]] in 1050, but a population of sorts must have survived somewhere at least until the end of the [[Third Age]], as [[The Mouth of Sauron]], who mocked the army of [[Aragorn|King Elessar]] in front of the [[Morannon]] was described both as a Black Númenórean and "Renegade", which is presumably the term used by the Free Peoples of that time to describe all folk of similiar ancestry.  
Some of these lords were idle and lazy; they used to fight amongst themselves, until they became conquered by the wild men whom they ruled over.<ref name=window/>


In an interview Tolkien described [[Berúthiel|Queen Berúthiel]], wife of Gondor's King [[Tarannon Falastur]], as "a black Númenórean". This was a loveless union, and was presumably a political accommodation: that such arrangements were possible implies the existence at that time of more Gondor-friendly Black Númenóreans than the much later Mouth of Sauron.  
In [[The Notion Club Papers]], part of ''[[Sauron Defeated]]'', Arundel Lowdham cited two descendants of classical Adûnaic. One of these must have been [[Westron]], the other the tongue of the Black Númenóreans.


Three of the [[Nazgûl|Ringwraiths]] can be considered among the first and most powerful Black Númenóreans, even though their origin predates Númenor's fall by about 1,000 years: they served Sauron, being enslaved to his will, having become so because of their lust for power or knowledge.
==Portrayal in adaptations==
 
[[File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Black Númenórean.jpg|thumb|A typical Black Númenórean in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'']]
==Portrayal in Adaptations==
[[File:Black Númenórean.jpg|thumb|A typical Black Númenórean within the city of [[Annuminas]] (''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'').]]
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:The Black Númenóreans are portrayed in service of the different Lieutenants of the Enemy. The ''Angmarim'' inhabit the lands surrounding [[Carn Dum]] in [[Angmar]] and serve [[Mordirith]] and later [[Amarthiel]]. Much later, Umbarrim Númenóreans make appearance in [[Dol Guldur]] of [[Mirkwood]].
:The Black Númenóreans are portrayed in service of the different Lieutenants of the Enemy. The ''Angmarim'' inhabit the lands surrounding [[Carn Dum]] in [[Angmar]] and serve [[Mordirith]] and later [[Amarthiel]]. Much later, ''Umbarrim'' Black Númenóreans make appearance in [[Dol Guldur]] of [[Mirkwood]]. When the lands of [[Mordor]] are explored following the downfall of [[Sauron]], Black Númenórean cultists known as ''Mordorrim'' are shown to be among its inhabitants.


'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:[[Agandaûr]], the game's main antagonist, is a Black Númenórean.<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/index.php/the-game/enemies|articlename=Enemies|dated=|website=www.warinthenorth.com|accessed=15 February 2012}}</ref>
:[[Agandaûr]], the game's main antagonist, is a Black Númenórean<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.warinthenorth.com/index.php/the-game/enemies|articlename=Enemies|dated=|website=www.warinthenorth.com|accessed=15 February 2012}}</ref> as is the minor character [[Wulfrun]], lieutenant of [[Carn Dûm]].


{{notes}}
{{references}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Black Númenóreans| ]]
[[Category:Black Númenóreans| ]]
[[Category:Servants of Sauron]]
[[de:Schwarze Númenorer]]
[[de:Schwarze Númenorer]]
[[fi:Mustat númenorilaiset]]
[[fi:Mustat númenorilaiset]]

Revision as of 13:08, 9 October 2021

Black Númenóreans
People
Brian Durfee - Black Númenóreans.jpg
"Black Númenóreans" by Brian Durfee
General Information
Other namesSauronians[1]
OriginsNúmenóreans seduced and corrupted by Sauron
LocationsThe southern lands of Middle-earth, and especially Umbar
AffiliationKing's Men, Sauron
RivalriesExiles of Númenor, Gondorians
LanguagesAdûnaic, Westron
MembersHerumor, Fuinur, Berúthiel, The Mouth of Sauron
GalleryImages of Black Númenóreans

The Black Númenóreans emerged from the King's Men party;[2] they were cruel oppressors and overlords over the primitive Men of Middle-earth. Since they were colonising the continent, they survived the Downfall of Númenor but swiftly diminished.

Background

Main article: King's Men

The Númenóreans' power and knowledge had grown throughout the course of the Second Age, and became increasingly preoccupied with the limits placed on their happiness—and eventually their power—by mortality, the purpose of which they began to question. They started fearing the Gift of Men and attempted to delay it or recall life. This growing wish to escape death made most of the Númenóreans envious of the immortal Eldar, who they had come to physically resemble. The Eldar sought ever to remind the Men of Númenor however, that death was a gift of the One God, Ilúvatar, to all men, and the will of Ilúvatar could not be gainsaid.[3]

Nevertheless, after S.A. 2221, when Tar-Ancalimon became King of Númenor, the Númenóreans became divided. The King's Men turned away from the Valar and the Eldar and eventually became vulnerable to the corruption of Sauron.[4][3]

Three of the Ringwraiths were powerful Númenórean lords corrupted by Sauron.[5] 1000 years before the Downfall, they served Sauron, being enslaved to his will, having become so because of their lust for power or knowledge.

History

Second Age

Origin

Many of the King's Men sailed to the shores and seaward regions of the Westlands during Sauron's sojourn in Númenor. These became the Black Númenóreans who submitted to Sauron and served him gladly in Middle-earth. These evil lords made their fortresses and dwellings in the South, because of the power of Gil-galad.[6][7]

Before the Downfall, their settlements beyond Umbar had been absorbed or had been made by the King's Men and had become hostile and parts of Sauron's dominions.[8]

After the Downfall

Even after the Downfall, the Black Númenóreans held control of the Haven of Umbar, initially a stronghold of the King's Men.[2] They hated, above all, the Exiles of Númenor.[2]

Two early Black Númenórean lords, both mighty and evil, from the late Second Age were Herumor and Fuinur who "rose to power amongst the Haradrim".[6]

As Sauron was preparing to go to war against the Elves and Exiles, he gathered great strength of his servants, including many Black Númenóreans.[6]

The triumph of the Last Alliance marked the decline of the Black Númenórean race.[2] They dwindled swiftly or became merged with the Men of Middle-earth.[2] Although their race declined, they inherited, without lessening, their hatred of Gondor.[2]

Decline

Although they had dwindled, few notable figures still claimed to be of the Black Númenórean race in later times. One of these was Queen Berúthiel, the "nefarious, solitary, and loveless" wife of Gondor's King Tarannon Falastur.[9][10][11]

In T.A. 933, King Eärnil I captured Umbar, driving the lords of Umbar into exile.[2] 82 years later, in T.A. 1015, these lords lead the Haradrim to re-take the fortress and slew King Ciryandil, son of Eärnil I.[note 1][2]

Another more notable "renegade" of great stature was the Mouth of Sauron; "he entered the service of the Dark Tower when it first rose again".[12][note 2] He mocked the army of King Elessar in front of the Morannon.[12]

Culture

In Middle-earth where they worshipped Sauron, the Black Númenóreans became "enamoured of evil knowledge"[12] and some "learned great sorcery" under Sauron's tutelage.[12] Some, like the Mouth of Sauron, had the potential to be more cruel than any Orc.[12]

Some of these lords were idle and lazy; they used to fight amongst themselves, until they became conquered by the wild men whom they ruled over.[7]

In The Notion Club Papers, part of Sauron Defeated, Arundel Lowdham cited two descendants of classical Adûnaic. One of these must have been Westron, the other the tongue of the Black Númenóreans.

Portrayal in adaptations

A typical Black Númenórean in The Lord of the Rings Online

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

The Black Númenóreans are portrayed in service of the different Lieutenants of the Enemy. The Angmarim inhabit the lands surrounding Carn Dum in Angmar and serve Mordirith and later Amarthiel. Much later, Umbarrim Black Númenóreans make appearance in Dol Guldur of Mirkwood. When the lands of Mordor are explored following the downfall of Sauron, Black Númenórean cultists known as Mordorrim are shown to be among its inhabitants.

2011: The Lord of the Rings: War in the North:

Agandaûr, the game's main antagonist, is a Black Númenórean[13] as is the minor character Wulfrun, lieutenant of Carn Dûm.

Notes

  1. Whether or not these lords were indeed Black Númenóreans is not known but due to their somewhat longevity (they ruled Umbar for some time before their 82 year long exile), it seems plausible.
  2. It has been noted that this reference is difficult to interpret; according to Appendix B the Dark Tower arose first some time after S.A. 3320 and again in T.A. 2951. If the Mouth lived in the Second Age, he would be one of the King's Men of Númenor, and probably prolonged his life with sorcery (cf. Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, p. 274); in the second interpretation he would serve Sauron only for 68 years, and this would make him a Black Númenórean of Umbar or Harad. The second interpretation is more feasible (and supported by Michael Martinez) but both have been considered.

References