They were the sea-raiders and pirates of Middle-earth. They were descended
from the island realm of Numenor, like the Gondorians they would battle for centuries.
Today, on Nerd of the Rings, we cover the Corsairs of Umbar.
As we know from my video on the Black Numenoreans,
one of their greatest strongholds was the Haven of Umbar. Being of the race of the mighty ship-kings,
it should come as no surprise that both the Numenoreans who fled to establish Gondor,
and those living in Umbar were accomplished sea-farers. Throughout the early centuries
of the Third Age, these Black Numenoreans would pillage along the coasts of Gondor. There would
be an ongoing struggle, as the haven of Umbar is fought over between the Kings of Gondor
and the Black Numenoreans. As we are told in the appendices of The Lord of the Rings:
The great cape and land-locked firth of Umbar had been Númenórean land since days of old;
but it was a stronghold of the King's Men, who were afterwards called the Black Númenoreans,
corrupted by Sauron, and who hated above all the followers of Elendil. After the fall of Sauron
their race swiftly dwindled or became merged with the Men of Middle-earth,
but they inherited without lessening their hatred of Gondor.
A crucial moment in the history of both Gondor and Umbar comes in 1432 - the Kin-strife. This civil
war in Gondor will certainly get its own video so we may go into greater detail, but it comes when
Eldacar becomes the 21st King of Gondor. Because his mother was from the northmen of Rhovanion,
many of the Numenorean-descended Gondorians viewed him as a half-breed with no right to rule.
Foremost of these peoples was Castamir,
Eldacar’s second cousin, who was also Captain of the Ships - the leader of Gondor’s navy.
Castamir stages a successful rebellion in 1437, seizing control of the capital of Osgiliath,
forcing Eldacar into hiding, and publicly executing the king’s son, Ornendil.
Ten years into Castamir’s cruel and disastrous rule,
Eldacar returns, killing Castamir in the Battle of the Crossings of Erui. The following year,
the sons of Castamir are driven from Pelargir by the king, and they are forced to retreat to Umbar.
By this time, Umbar was solidified as a bitter enemy of Gondor
and a safe haven for all those who opposed it. These sons of Castamir the Usurper,
the former leader of Gondor's fleet, form a new military power - the Corsairs
of Umbar. The Corsairs would often ally with those among the Haradrim who were loyal to Sauron.
In 1540, Harad and the Corsairs launch brief war upon Gondor, in which they
kill King Aldamir. Nearly 100 years later (1634), two descendants of Castamir himself
lead the corsairs in raiding Pelargir, once again killing a reigning king of Gondor.
As Gondor falls victim to the Great Plague immediately
afterward (1635-1637), the Corsairs raid up and down the Gondorian coast, as far north as Anfalas.
Finally, in 1810, King Telumehtar leads the Gondorians in a massive attack on Umbar itself.
He drives away the Corsairs and kills the last descendants of Castamir in the battle.
In honor of his defeat of the pirates, he takes the name Umbardacil - meaning “Conqueror
of Umbar”. For a time, Umbar would be held by Gondor. However, as new evils fall upon Gondor,
the Men of Harad take the haven for their own. Over the years, the Haradrim mix with
the Corsairs, and the Numenorean race would mostly die out from this area.
By the time of Ruling Steward Cirion (2489), the corsairs would once again
plague the coasts of Gondor - adding to his threats from the Balcoth of
the east. Gondor would be aided during this time by the Eotheod of the north,
resulting in the founding of their great ally - the kingdom of Rohan.
In yet another case of successful attacks on Gondorian leadership,
the corsairs are involved in a conflict with Dol Amroth in 2746, killing the prince of Dol Amroth.
Over 300 years later (2758), the corsairs would launch three great fleets. They would raid and
invade the lands of Gondor along the coast - traveling as far north as the mouth of Isen. One
of these groups formed an alliance with Wulf the Dunlending, who held a short occupation of Rohan.
By spring 2759, Beregond, the son of the Steward of Gondor, had driven out the invaders.
The next conflict between these great powers of the southern lands
comes during the reign of Steward Ecthelion II.
As always, the corsairs were a constant threat to Gondor’s coasts, trading ships, fishing vessels,
and even the Gondorian Navy. In 2980, Ecthelion’s most trusted advisor is a man named Thorongil,
who voices concern that the corsairs posed a great risk for invasion of the Southern fiefs of Gondor.
With the steward’s permission, Thorongil, the man we know as Aragorn - leads a small fleet
in a surprise attack within the Gulf and Havens of Umbar itself. Caught unprepared, the corsairs
are devastated - many of their ships are burned and destroyed, and Aragorn kills the Captain of
the Haven on the quays. The men of Gondor leave the haven, sustaining little loss themselves.
Thanks to Aragorn, the threat of the corsairs would be diminished in the days to come. Though
still a force to be reckoned with, they were nowhere near their previous might.
The Corsairs would next hoist their black sails during the War of the Ring, in alliance
with Sauron. Their fleet, comprising of 50 great ships and smaller vessels beyond count,
is raiding the lands of Lebennin, attacking the southern lands of Gondor as the army of
the Witch King makes war upon Minas Tirith. However, on March 13, 3019,
Aragorn summons the Oathbreakers - the Dead Men of Dunharrow - to fulfill their oath. The
Heir of Isildur leads the Dead Men and the Grey Company to Pelargir, where no sword was needed…
To every ship they came that was drawn up, and then they passed over the water to those that
were anchored; and all the mariners were filled with a madness of terror and leaped overboard,
save the slaves chained to the oars.
Reckless we rode among our fleeing foes, driving them like leaves, until we came to the shore.
And then to each of the great ships that remained Aragorn sent one of the Dúnedain,
and they comforted the captives that were aboard, and bade them put aside fear and be free.
Whatever threat the surviving Corsairs may have posed in the days after the King’s Return was
put to rest during Aragorn’s reign. We are told that he would finally subdue the threat of Umbar.
Under King Elessar, these lands of Middle-earth would have unprecedented peace - the slaves of
Mordor are freed, the infuence of Sauron is gone, and Aragorn would receive embassies from the East,
the South, and Dunland. Finally, the old hatreds that stemmed from both Sauron and
the days of Numenor, would be washed away - and the seas would be made safe once again.
If you’d like some LEGO fun, check out our Nerd of the Bricks channel,
where we just built a LEGO Corsair ship in honor of Tolkien Reading Day!
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