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#REDIRECT ] |
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In ] universe of ], '''Umbar''' was a great haven to the far south of ]. |
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{{Rcat shell| |
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''Umbar'' was a name given to the area by the original inhabitants, and its meaning was unknown. The Númenóreans adopted the name, probably aware of the fact that ''Umbar'' was the ] word for ''fate''. |
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{{R ME to section}} |
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{{R with history}} |
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Umbar formed a natural harbour of enclosing rock, but the fortification of Umbar by the ] occurred in 2280 S.A. Like the earlier haven of ] in ], and later ] on the ], it became a base from which Númenórean influence spread over Middle-earth. |
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{{R to related topic}} |
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{{R from fictional location|Middle-earth}} |
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It was at Umbar that the last king of Númenor, ] the Golden, landed in 3261 S.A, marching forth to take ] captive: |
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}} |
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''The fleet came at last to that place that was called Umbar, where was a mighty haven that no hand had wrought. Empty and silent under a sickle moon was the land when the King of the Sea set foot upon the shore. For seven days he journeyed with banner and trumpet. (…) Then he sent forth heralds, and he commanded Sauron to come before him and swear to him fealty.'' — ], '']'' |
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Despite the Downfall of Númenor 58 years later, Umbar remained as a Númenórean realm, in essence the third Realm in Exile alongside ] and ]. But unlike the coasts further north, Umbar had been mainly used by the ], who had turned to the worship of Melkor in the last days of Númenor. These exiles were not friendly to the ], and became known as ]. |
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Two Black Numenorean lords, ] and ''Fuinur'', were probably from Umbar, as at the end of ] they became very powerful amongst the ], a people neighbouring it. Their fate is unknown, but they likely shared Sauron's defeat at the hands of the ]. |
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Umbar retained much influence over the ] into ]. It's system of government was no doubt tyrannical, but it may also have been a ]: it's lords are paired when mentioned; Herumor/Fuinur for example, and later Angamaite/Sangahyando. They did not speak ], but probably retained their old tongue ], speaking a dialect of it. (In ], part of ], Arundel Lowdham cited two descendants of classical Adûnaic. One of these must have been Westron, the other the tongue of Umbar. |
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It became a powerful enemy of Gondor, and the province of ] or ''South Gondor'' was long contested between the two realms. Gondors power eclipsed that of Umbar as the Third Age progressed, however, and in 933 T.A. the first Gondorean Ship-king ] took Umbar in a surprise attack. The Black Númenóreans fled to their subjects in Near Harad, but returned 82 years later, and retook their city from Gondor after a 15 year seige, in 1030 T.A. |
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''the Men of the Harad, led by the lords that had been driven from Umbar, came up with great power against that stronghold, and ] fell in battle in Haradwaith'' — "Annals of the Kings and Rulers", part of Appendix A to '']''. |
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The Black Numenorean victory was short-lived, however, and Umbar was again seized by Gondor in 1050 T.A., under ]. |
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For the next 400 years Umbar was an important Gondorian city: not only a major sea-port, but the site of the defeat of Sauron by Ar-Pharazôn, and it served as a proud reminder of the might of the Dúnedain: |
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''on the highest hill of the headland above the Haven they (…) set a great white pillar as a monument. It was crowned with a globe of crystal that took the rays of the Sun and of the Moon and shone like a bright star that could be seen in clear weather even on the coasts of Gondor or far out upon the western sea.'' — "The Heirs of Elendil", part of ]. |
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Gondorian possession came to an abrupt end In 1448 T.A., following the disastrous ], with the sons of ] fleeing there with many men and most of the fleet of Gondor. They turned Umbar into a new realm and became known as the ]. Some of the Black Númenóreans perhaps returned to their old city after four centuries of exile, mingling with the new Númenórean blood of the Gondorian exiles. |
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Within two centuries, Umbar was once again a major threat to Gondor, and in 1634 T.A. Castamir's great-grandsons ] and ] attacked and killed King ] at ], and raided the city. Gondor could not retaliate as it was hit hard by the ]. Vengeance, if not swift, was certainly devastating: 78 years later, Minardils son and heir succeeded in destroying Umbar, and even renamed himself ]. |
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Umbar was not settled by the Gondorians, but a modest garrison was left there. The Haradrim ignored the garrison for a time, fighting among themselves and against the ] of ], who had invaded Harad. In 1944 T.A the Haradrim had forged an alliance with the Wainriders and the Variags of ], and they took Umbar. |
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Throughout the rest of The Third Age, Umbar was home to new ''Corsairs of Umbar'', ruled by the ''Captain of the Haven''. It was no longer inhabited by any descendants of Númenór, but was still hostile to Gondor. These new Corsairs were cruel slavers, who raided the coasts of ] and ]. In 2746 Amrothos, the 15th Prince of ] fell defending Dol-en-Ernil against the Corsairs, and in 2758 the Corsairs once again attacked Gondor and the new realm of ]: |
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:''Three great fleets, long prepared, came up from Umbar and the Harad, and assailed the coasts of Gondor in great force; and the enemy made many landings, even as far north as the mouth of the Isen.'' — "Annals of the Kings and Rulers", part of Appendix A to ] |
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In 2885, the Corsairs supported the Haradrim when they once again claimed Harondor. When Sauron declared himself openly in 2951, the great monument commemorating Ar-Pharazôn's victory over Sauron at Umbar was destroyed, and the Corsairs officially allied themselves with ]. |
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Umbars fleet was largely destroyed in 2980, when ''Thorongil'' (] Elessar, as it later turned out) in the service of the ] ] led a taskforce south and burned them, killing the Captain of the Haven. |
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During the ], Umbar had not fully recovered, and could send only 50 great ships north. Still, they sent many smaller ships "beyond count", and raided the coastlands of Gondor. They were defeaten by Aragorn and the ]. With the Fall of ], Umbar, weakened and defeated, finally lost its sovereignty and submitted to the crown of King Elessar. |
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] |
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