Numenor

Númenor was a large maritime realm of Men during the first part of the Second Age. It was founded on the island of Elenna in the Sea, south-west of the Westlands of Middle-earth, by those Men who survived the Wars of the First Age. 
== Geography ==
The island itself, called Elenna, had a shape of a 5-point star, each point having its own unique geological and physical features: Forostar, Andustar, Hyarnustar, Hyarrostar and Orrostar. The central region was named Mittalmar and in its center stood the holy mountain Meneltarma. Númenor had only two rivers: Siril and Nunduinë.
The island was set in the sundering sea, between Middle Earth and Aman to the West, at a latitude south of Umbar.
== Flora ==
Númenor contained many species of plants that could be found nowhere else in Middle-earth, for many of them were given to the Númenóreans from the Valar in Aman. Most important of these was the White Tree that dwelt in the King's Palace at Armenelos; it was the symbol of Men thereafter, in Númenor, Arnor, and Gondor. The other parts of Númenor contained many types of plants, many unique to each of the promontories of the island. Andustar contained great forests of beech and birch at higher altitudes, and oak and elm forests on the lower.
The greatest delight of the Númenóreans, however, were the flowers given to them by the Eldar. They grew mostly in the Western portion (Andustar). They are oft remembered in poems and lore, and few have flowered east of Númenor. Because of the diversity of evergreen and sweet-smelling plants in Andustar, it was soon called Nisimaldar, meaning 'Fragrant Trees'. Also, only in Andustar could the Golden Trees known as 'Mallorn' grow, their groves surpassing in height and majesty all save those in Valinor. In Hyarrostar grew the Laurinquë tree, which the Númenóreans loved because of their flowers. They believed that it came from the Great Tree of Valinor, Laurelin.
== Fauna ==
Númenor contained one bird that lived nowhere else: the Kirinki. They were the size of wrens, scarlet coloured, and had little piping voices.
== Of the Númenóreans ==
The population of Númenor chiefly consisted of Men of the surviving houses of the Edain, and they were known as the Númenóreans, or rather, Kings among Men. They had been increased in body and mind by Eönwë at the end of the War of Wrath, and granted a lifespan of an average 200 years, much increased from their ancestors' lifespan of 90 years. Those of the royal house descended from the first Half-elven king, Elros Tar-Minyatur, however, were given a lifespan of more than 300 years. These included the Lords of Andúnië and the Kings and Queens of Númenor.
Before the Shadow fell on the island, the westernmost cities such as Andúnië contained a small population of Elves because of their frequent visits from the isle of Tol Eressëa.
The Númenóreans were extremely skilled in arts and craft, and in the forging of weapons and armour; but before the fall of the Shadow, they were not warmongers, hence the chief art on the island became that of shipbuilding and sea-craft. The Númenóreans became great mariners, exploring the world in all directions save for the westward, where the Ban of the Valar was in force. They often travelled to the shores of Middle-earth, teaching the men their art and craft, and introduced farming so as to improve their everyday lives. When the Shadow fell, however, the Númenóreans became more unneighbourly with the Men of Middle-earth. They levied heavy tribute from them and returned to Númenór with ships filled with spoil. The Númenóreans became skilled in the art of husbandry also, breeding great horses that roamed across the open plains in Mittalmar. Although the Númenóreans were originally a peaceful people, their weapons, armor, and horse-riding skills could not be contested by anyone in Arda save for the Valar.
== Culture ==
=== Politics ===
Númenor was a monarchy. The King held the power of decision over the affairs of the state. It started out as an inherited custom, which gave exclusive rights to the male descendants of Elros.
During the time of princess Silmariën, she could therefore not succeed her father as his eldest child, and her brother took up the Sceptre. In her honour was created the title "Lord of Andúnië", which was set upon her first son Valandil and upon his 18 descendants; the last one was Amandil, father of Elendil
Tar-Aldarion, the sixth ruler of Númenor, only had one daughter and replaced the principle of exclusive male heir with that of eldest progeny, of any gender; in S.A. 1075 Tar-Ancalimë became the first ruling queen in the history of Númenor.
Advising to the King was the Council of the Sceptre, which consisted of the Heir of the King, the Lord of Andúnië and of the other five regions of Númenor.
=== Economy ===
Many of the inhabitants of Númenor were fishermen. Along with the grains cultivated in Orrostar, fish was the main food source for the Númenóreans.
The Dúnedain were skilled in riding and loved horses. They could even call them in their thoughts if bound by friendship. Númenor had no paved roads so that the carriages could move on them more easily.
The greatest love of the Númenóreans was the sea and the building of the largest ships. Most were built at the command of Tar-Aldarion, who also established the Guild of Venturers. The ship Eämbar was their headquarters.
=== Society ===
The Numenoreans were a prosperous and refined society, fluent in Elvish tongues (although their native language was Aduanic). They were extremely skilled in arts and craft, with the forging of weapons and armour; although they were a peaceful people, their weapons, armour, and horse-riding skills could not be contested.
However, gradually decadence began to seep into the Numenorean society and the court of its kings. This manifested itself in the abandonment (and eventual ban) on Elvish tongues, the inhospitability towards the Elvish seafarers who came to the island; the heavy tribute taken from the peoples of Middle Earth, conquered by the Númenóreans; the building of "tombs more splendid than the houses of the living" and relishing of material pleasures and wealth. Most importantly, the Númenórean kings began to seek eternal life, which was the cause of their downfall.
=== Religion ===
Towards the middle of Mittalmar stood the Mountain Meneltarma, the sacred place on which Eru was worshiped. Its flattened top was wide enough to contain a great crowd during the three yearly ceremonies (Erukyermë, Erulaitalë and Eruhantalë). These took place in absolute silence while climbing its slopes. Soon after S.A. 3262 these religious beliefs were abandoned and the worshiping of Melkor began. It was done in a cylindrical temple near the city of Armenelos built especially for this, and it involved sacrificing men and women over a great fire, whose first flames were lit from the White Tree of Tol Eressëa.
Whenever ships sailed from Númenor, the custom of the Green Bough of Return took place. A branch from the Fragrant Tree Oiolairë was set at the prow as a symbol of good fortune by a Númenórean woman, close relative to the captain of the ship. Erendis, wife of Tar-Aldarion, refused to do so in disagreement with her husband's frequent voyages towards Middle-earth, breaking this tradition for the first time.
=== Relics ===
Several items were kept in Numenor from generation to generation, some from before the realm was founded. A few of these were rescued from the deluge by the faithful and became heirlooms of Arnor, Gondor and Rivendell.
The Kings (and later, Queens) of Numenor held a sceptre and several weapons as heirlooms. These included the Bow of Bregor; Aranruth, sword of Thingol; Dramborleg, Tour's ax - all of which were lost in the deluge, while the sceptre was lost with Ar Pharazon.
Narsil, a sword forged in the First Age by Telchar, a Dwarf of Nogrod, survived with Elendil but was broken by Sauron in the Battle of the Last Alliance. Its shards were kept in Rivendell before being reforged as Anduril.
Other relics included:
* The Sceptre of Annúminas, which belonged to the Lords of Andunie and later became the symbol of the kings of Arnor. After the fall of the kingdom it was kept in Rivendell.
* The Ring of Barahir, which was also kept with the Lords of Andunie and brought to Middle Earth.
* Seven Palantiri, brought to Middle Earth by the faithful.
* The Elendilmir, a star-shaped medallion belonging to the King.
* The White Tree: The court featured the white tree Nimloth which grew from a seedling imported from Tol Eressea. Sauron had Ar Pharazon chop it to feed the fires of the temple, but Isildur rescued a seedling which was brought to Middle Earth. The White of Tree of Gondor descended from this seedling.
== History ==
=== Establishment ===
Led by Elros, descendant of Beren and Lúthien (and therefore part-Elf), they became a prosperous kingdom, and enjoyed extended longevity. They were great seafarers, but were forbidden from sailing to Valinor. They established an alliance with the seaside Elvish realm of Lindon, ruled by Gil-Galad. 
=== First voyages back to Middle Earth ===
Under the rule of their sixth king, Tar-Aldarion, the Numenoreans started colonizing lands along the shores of Middle Earth in SA 600. By the year 750, they established a port, Lond Daer, down the Gwathlo on the shores of Eriador, and made contact with the primitive Men who lived in Eriador, Minhiriath and Harad.
However, within a few centuries, the deforestation of the outlying regions to construct ships became cataclysmic, angering the natives who began attacking the haven. 
By about SA 1200 they established permanent settlements like Pelargir and Umbar, and Numenorean lords ruled these havens, which soon became prosperous cities. 
In 1700 Tar-Minastir, the eleventh king, sent a fleet to help Gil-galad and together they drove back Sauron, who had dominated almost all Eriador during the height of the Dark Days.
=== Onset of decadence ===
Around this time, however, the Numenorean society and court began to show the first signs of decadence. They became domineering overlords to the people of Middle Earth, demanding heavy tributes, and continued the deforestation of Middle Earth, as well as setting-up forts such as Tharbad. While they maintained an alliance with the Elves, helping to keep Sauron at bay, they also grew envious of their immortality. Tar Atanamir, the thirteenth king, started to speak openly against the Valar.
A few of the Numenoreans, the Faithful, remained loyal to the Valar and friendly to the Elves. The Valar displayed warnings to the Men of Westernesse in the form of huge eagles, but they paid no heed to these manifestations. The Faithful were persecuted by the majority of the population, which they called King's Men, who decided to abandon the Elven customs and languages. The twentieth king, Ar-Adûnakhôr, took his regal name in his native Adûnaic and not in Quenya.
The Faithful remained in the western region of Andúnië and the Faithful Lords of Andúnië, because of their noble heritage still had some gravity in the meetings of nobles. However, in the 32nd century Ar-Gimilzôr forced them to remove to Rómenna and the haven was closed to the Elven visitors. Tar-Palantir briefly attempted to cast the Shadow back and reunite the people with the Elves, before he was usurped by his cousin Ar Pharazon.
=== Fall of Numenor ===
While the realm reached the zenith of its power and wealth, its denizens' longevity dwindled, and they cut off their allegiances to the Elves and renounced the Valar. Ar Pharazon oppressed the Faithful (led by Elendil) and took his own cousin, Miriel, as queen by force.
Ar Pharazon captured Sauron, but brought him to Numenor as a prisoner. This allowed the Dark Lord to convince the king that immortality could be achieved through human sacrifice to Morgoth, and finally by assailing Valinor itself. This deed resulted in the deluge of Numenor. 
The faithful sailed out of the island in time to escape the deluge, and established the realms of Arnor and Gondor in Middle Earth.
By the late Third Age, the men of Gondor, mostly Faramir, still clung to their Numenorean heritage. Elrond, however, lamented that "The race of Men is failing. The blood of Númenor is all but spent." Their line was renewed when Aragorn took the crown of the Reunited Kingdom.
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