Revision as of 16:21, 7 February 2006 editThu (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers8,102 edits Fixed SA and TA refs.← Previous edit | Revision as of 15:27, 12 February 2006 edit undoGlob~enwiki (talk | contribs)3 editsNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
place_alias = | | place_alias = | | ||
place_description= Haven and Great Fortress of Númenor| | place_description= Haven and Great Fortress of Númenor| | ||
place_built= |
place_built= globland| | ||
place_type = Harbour| | place_type = Harbour| | ||
place_realm = Númenor, | | place_realm = Númenor, | | ||
place_sub_realm =later ]| | place_sub_realm =later ]| | ||
place_time= | | place_time= | | ||
place_lord = ]<br/>later ]<br/>later ]<br/>later ]| | place_lord = ]<br/>later ]<br/>later ]<br/>later ]| | ||
}} | }} | ||
In ] fictional pre-history of the world (]), a great haven to the far south of ] in ]. | In ] fictional pre-history of the world (]), a great haven to the far south of ] in ]. | ||
Line 30: | Line 30: | ||
After the Downfall of Númenor 58 years later, Umbar remained in the hands of the Númenóreans, in essence a Realm in Exile alongside ] and ]. But unlike these others, Umbar had been used by the ']', who had turned to the worship of Melkor in the last days of Númenor. These 'King's Men' were not friendly to the ] or to their fellow Númenórean survivors who were allied to the elves, and became known as ]. | After the Downfall of Númenor 58 years later, Umbar remained in the hands of the Númenóreans, in essence a Realm in Exile alongside ] and ]. But unlike these others, Umbar had been used by the ']', who had turned to the worship of Melkor in the last days of Númenor. These 'King's Men' were not friendly to the ] or to their fellow Númenórean survivors who were allied to the elves, and became known as ]. | ||
Two Black Númenórean lords, ], were probably from Umbar, as at the end of the ] they became very powerful amongst the ], a neighbouring people. Their fate is unknown, but they likely shared Sauron's defeat at the hands of the ]. | Two Black Númenórean lords, ], were probably from Umbar, as at the end of the ] they became very powerful amongst the ], a neighbouring people. Their fate is unknown, but they likely shared Sauron's defeat at the hands of the ]. | ||
The rulers of Umbar retained much influence over the ] well into the ]. When not part of Gondor, its system of government was no doubt tyrannical, but it may also have been a ]: Black Númenórean and Corsair Lords are paired when mentioned; Herumor/Fuinur for example, and later Angamaitë/Sangahyando. | The rulers of Umbar retained much influence over the ] well into the ]. When not part of Gondor, its system of government was no doubt tyrannical, but it may also have been a ]: Black Númenórean and Corsair Lords are paired when mentioned; Herumor/Fuinur for example, and later Angamaitë/Sangahyando. |
Revision as of 15:27, 12 February 2006
Template:Infobox LOTR place
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional pre-history of the world (Arda), a great haven to the far south of Gondor in Middle-earth. 'Umbar' was a name - of unknown meaning - given to the area by its original inhabitants. The Númenóreans adopted the name, probably aware of the fact that 'Umbar' was the Quenya word for 'fate'. The great cape and land-locked firth of Umbar south of the Bay of Belfalas formed a natural harbour of enclosing rock, but the "great fortress of Númenor"(LR) that was located within it was not built until 2280 S.A. It was only by this time that Sauron had dared to threaten Númenor;
Like the earlier New Haven in Enedwaith, and the later Pelargir on the Anduin, Umbar became a base from which Númenórean influence spread over Middle-earth. It was at Umbar that the last king of Númenor, Ar-Pharazôn the Golden, landed in 3261 S.A, to challenge Sauron:
After the Downfall of Númenor 58 years later, Umbar remained in the hands of the Númenóreans, in essence a Realm in Exile alongside Arnor and Gondor. But unlike these others, Umbar had been used by the 'King's Men', who had turned to the worship of Melkor in the last days of Númenor. These 'King's Men' were not friendly to the Elves or to their fellow Númenórean survivors who were allied to the elves, and became known as Black Númenóreans. Two Black Númenórean lords, Herumor and Fuinur, were probably from Umbar, as at the end of the Second Age they became very powerful amongst the Haradrim, a neighbouring people. Their fate is unknown, but they likely shared Sauron's defeat at the hands of the Last Alliance of Elves and pen. The rulers of Umbar retained much influence over the Haradwaith well into the Third Age. When not part of Gondor, its system of government was no doubt tyrannical, but it may also have been a duumvirate: Black Númenórean and Corsair Lords are paired when mentioned; Herumor/Fuinur for example, and later Angamaitë/Sangahyando. Gondors power, however, eclipsed that of Umbar as the Third Age progressed, and in 933 T.A. Gondor's King Eärnil I captured Umbar in a surprise attack, although this was "at great cost." For the following 500 years, Umbar was an important Gondorian city: not only a major sea-port, but as the site of the submission of Sauron to Ar-Pharazôn, and so served as a proud reminder of the might of the Dúnedain of old:
Many Black Númenóreans had fled Umbar from the assault of 933 T.A., to their subjects in Near Harad, but 82 years later, in a vain attempt to recapture it,
This 'great power' availed the Men Of Harad little, however, for despite investing and besieging the fortress of Umbar for 35 years, they failed to take it, as its supply was easily maintained, "because of the sea-power of Gondor".In 1050 T.A., the late King Earnil's son Ciryandil,
Gondorian possession of Umbar came to an abrupt end In 1448 T.A., but not at the hands of an external foe. Following the disastrous Kin-strife, the sons of Castamir the Usurper arrived there with many men and most of the fleet of Gondor.
These men became known as the 'Corsairs of Umbar', and within two centuries became a major threat to Gondor. In 1634 T.A. Castamir's great-grandsons Angamaitë and Sangahyando raided Pelargir, from Umbar, killing King Minardil, but Gondor could not retaliate as it was ravaged by the Great Plague. Vengeance, if not swift, was certainly devastating: 78 years after Minardil's death, his great-grand nephew succeeded in briefly recapturing Umbar, and even renamed himself Umbardacil. However,
Throughout the rest of The Third Age, Umbar was home a new generation of 'Corsairs of Umbar', who must have been closely related to the Haradrim, if not even merely Haradrim themselves. These new Corsairs were cruel slavers who often raided the coasts of Belfalas and Anfalas in Gondor: in T.A 2746 for example, Amrothos, the 15th Prince of Dol Amroth fell defending Dol-en-Ernil against them. In 2758 T.A. Umbar joined a massive co-ordinated attack with Men of the Harad and even of Dunland, against Gondor and the new realm of Rohan:
In 2885 T.A, Umbar supported the Haradrim who claimed Harondor, although this had long "been a debatable land between the Corsairs and the Kings(LR)", and when Sauron declared himself openly in 2951, Umbar declared its alliegance to him, and the great monument commemorating Ar-Pharazôn's triumph at Umbar was thrown down. Umbar's fleet was largely destroyed 29 years later, when Thorongil (Aragorn Elessar, as it later turned out) in the service of the Steward of Gondor Ecthelion II led a taskforce south and burned them, killing the Captain of the Haven in the process. During the War of the Ring, Umbar had not fully recovered from this, but could still send 50 'great ships' and smaller vessels "beyond count", to raid the coastlands of Gondor and draw off major forces from the defence of Minas Tirith. They were once again defeated by Aragorn, and the Army of the Dead. With the Fall of Barad-dûr, Umbar, weakened and defeated, finally lost its sovereignty and submitted to the crown of King Elessar. Umbar appeared on the bottom edge of the maps found in earlier editions of Lord of the Rings, but it is absent from modern editions, which regrettably map a slightly smaller area of Middle-earth. |