Union Of Númenor

## Overview

The Union of Númenor is a political union that has been formed twice in server history, the first time in 2015 and the second time in 2022. At its height, the first Union comprised Gondor, the Rangers of the North (pre-Arnor), the Hobbits, and Umbar. The second Union of Númenor was larger and was composed of Greater Gondor (Gondor + Dol Amroth), Arnor, Rohan, and Dorwinion. The second Union of Númenor is also sometimes referred to as the Reunited Kingdom.

## History

### The 1st Union of Númenor (2015-2016)

The Union of Númenor was established on July 27th of 2015 by the Rangers of the North (under **Skelesam**) and the Kingdom of Gondor following the coronation of **Atanvarno** as King of Gondor. Soon afterwards, the Hobbits led by Thain\_Vibiras would join the Union.

Ruling through the "Númenórean Council", the Union soon decided to target Umbar, led by **Kvesir**. The Union announced their intention to claim Umbar on August 22nd, and following **Kvesir**'s refusal to submit, the Council of Númenor declared war on August 25th 2015. Following two forfeited sieges, **Kvesir** submitted to the Union on September 12th 2015 and agreed to accept **Thain\_Vibiras** as co-ruler. This led to the incorporation of Umbar into the Union of Númenor.

thereafter **Kvesir** refuted Numenor’s claim to Umbar on November 17th 2015. The majority of the Umbar faction soon declared support for **Kvesir** and he laid siege to **Thain\_Vibiras**’s fortress on July 9th 2016. Gondorian reinforcements were able to drive off **Kvesir**’s forces, but they lacked the manpower needed to reconquer all of Umbar. When Dorwinion was added to the mod on April 14th 2016 Viceroy\_Vibiras tried to conquer Dorwinion but was rebuffed by the existing Dorwinion players. As Numenor faced these defeats **Liodir** rose to power in Gondor while **Elendil\_The\_Tall** rose to power in Arnor. Neither of these leaders were founding members of Numenor and after infighting between the two Arnor withdrew in the spring of 2016.

With the Númenórean holdings in Umbar now reduced to a single fortress Númenórean Umbar was annexed into Gondor. This left the Union of Númenor as merely a personal alliance between the Hobbits and Gondor.

### The 2nd Union of Númenor (2022-)

Prior to the establishment of the 2nd Union of Númenor, Rohan, Bree, Arnor and Greater Gondor (Gondor+Dol Amroth) founded the Council of the White Tree on February 2nd 2021. Although seemingly irrelevant for several months, the alliance would begin to bear fruit with the collapse of the Council of Calion in October. With Calion's demise, the Council of the White Tree was quickly thrust into the spotlight as the foremost alliance of the Free Peoples in Middle Earth.

Among the four principal leaders, **scarykiwi**, **aartpaard**, **jointgread**, and **R2\_77**, there was a mutual interest in escalating the level of cooperation within the alliance between its member factions. Sensing an opportunity for another great alliance, the leaders agreed to harmonise their diplomatic relations and from that point forward, conduct their foreign policy as if they were one faction. For example, an NAP offered to one faction became an NAP with every member faction within the Alliance.

Citing an interest in some form of a Reunited Kingdom between the alliance's members, **scarykiwi**, **aartpaard**, **jointgread**, and **R2\_77** worked together to revive the union of old. Renaming the Council of the White Tree, clarifying the voting system, and centering pvp around their factions, ensured a smooth transition from a traditional Alliance block to a decentralised faction.

On the second anniversary of the Gondor-Dol Amroth reunification, Gondor and Númenor's 1st High King, **scarykiwi**, announced the Union to the world. It reunified the greater part of the original Númenórean domains and although largely decentralised, it still composed an effective and successful government in Middle Earth.

The 2nd Union of Númenor, if counted as one faction, has by far the greatest number of players of any server faction. Also making up the majority of Free People's PvP, it has found itself in the firm position of defending the Free Peoples of Middle Earth against the Shadow of Mordor.

On February 14th, the Kingdom of Dorwinion elected to join Númenor as a Vassal, or secondary state also recognising **scarykiwi** as High King. Númenor also considers the Hobbits and Bree to be its unofficial protectorates and will come to their aid in the face of conflict. To the present day, this marks the greatest territorial extent Númenor has held including the largest faction population on the server.

High King **scarykiwi** abdicated on March 5th after enjoying a prosperous founding reign. Rather than choose a new High King to take his place, it was decided to rotate the position among the Kings of Númenor.

## Governmental Structure

### The 1st Union of Númenor

The Union was ruled by the Númenórean Council which passed its decisions through majority voting. The Númenórean Council comprised the leaders of each of the Union's factions, Gondor, Arnor, Hobbits, and Umbar. The founding members of the Union of Númenor consists of the following players:

* King of Gondor - *Atanvarno*
* Chieftain of the Dúnedain - *Skelesam*
* Thane of the Shire - *Thain\_Vibiras*

With the acquisition of Umbar through **Kvesir**'s submission in 2015, **Kvesir** and **Thain\_Vibiras** became coleaders of Númenórean Umbar.

### The 2nd Union of Númenor

Acting similarly to a confederation, the 2nd Union of Númenor began as largely decentralised, allowing leaders of Númenórean factions to retain self-governance and authority in their realms. On the world stage however, Númenor acts as one faction. Diplomatic agreements are adopted amongst every faction in the Union with no exceptions. This guarantees any diplomatic action undertaken by Númenor is multiplied and carried out by all Númenórean factions to ensure its maximum effect on the world stage.

Although possessing a High King of Númenor, the Union is ruled primarily through a council composed of the 'Big Three' factions: Arnor, Rohan, and Greater Gondor. The High King serves as a ceremonial position which represents a figurehead of the Union. In the case of a voting tie within the Council, the High King receives the tiebreaker vote although it is encouraged that the High King always vote for the status quo option.

Often as the most senior leader in the council, the High King is expected to provide a modicum of leadership and direction to the alliance as they represent all factions involved and their interests. Traditionally, as the figurehead of the Union, the responsibility of High King will be passed to the most senior of the remaining Kings in Númenor. This is to ensure a sense of equality amongst involved factions and their leaders and to encourage factions to remain in the alliance. If a faction leader has been High King for more than a year, it is recommended they relinquish the position and pass it on.

The founding members of the Union of Númenor consists of the following players:

* **scarykiwi** - 1st High King of Númenor, King of Gondor
* **jointgread** - Prince of Dol Amroth
* **R2\_77** - King of Rohan
* **aartpaard** - King of Arnor

#### Types of factions within Númenor.

There are two types of factions engaged in the Union of Númenor:

* **Big Three Factions** - The founding members of Númenor and widely accepted as among the largest of the factions on the server (In Greater Gondor's case, the largest). Their leaders have full access to the Númenórean Council where the big issues and events of the Union are voted upon. These factions and their members have complete membership. They are currently: *Rohan, Arnor, and Greater Gondor (Gondor + Dol Amroth)*.
* **Subject Factions** - The factions of Middle Earth who were added to Númenor later and seek protection or closer relations with their more powerful allies. Their leaders have access to a lower council with the Big Three faction leaders where matters relative to the whole alliance are discussed. These factions have limited membership; their members have complete citizenship in Númenor but their leaders do not start off with access to the Númenórean Council. They are currently: *Dorwinion (Secondary/Vassal State)*.

#### Ranks within Númenor

Númenor's ranks and their brief descriptions go as follows:

* **High King of Númenor** - Often the most senior King of Númenor. Expected to provide direction and meaning to the alliance.
* **King of Númenor** - A faction leader from the Big Three factions with a spot on the Council and voting permissions.
* **Heir of Númenor** - An heir of the Big Three factions with a spot on the Council.
* **Lord of Númenor** - A faction leader not of the Big Three factions. Often a protectorate or subject state, they have access to a lower council.
* **Noble** - A handpicked group of core members from each faction. These members are chosen for their insight and value in discussions, especially when consulted for diplomatic agreement or potential wars.
* **Faction Member** - The average faction member from each of the factions engaged in Númenor.

#### Diplomacy

Please direct all inquiries about Númenor's foreign policy and diplomatic relations to the High King of Númenor or the Kings/Heirs of Númenor. Thank you!