In the First Age of Arda, when the race of men left the eastern lands of Hildorian, they
spread throughout middle earth, with some of those migrating into the south, later known
as the Haradrim.
Said to be tall and dark-skinned, with black hair and black eyes, their tribes settled
the lands of near harad, adapting to life in these harsh desert climates.
Further south, the people of far harad were described as half-trolls with black skin,
though, with so little known about this far away realm, it is uncertain whether they were
actually men who shared blood with trolls or were simply large and similar to half trolls
in their ferocity, In the second age, when the Kingdom of Numenor
began expanding east, colonizing the lands of Middle earth and beyond, they established
settlements along the southern coast, the greatest of which became known as the city
of Umbar.
At first, relations were cordial with the natives of harad, learning from each other
and engaging in trade.
But as the years went on, the Numenorians grew possessive, creating Lordships and demanding
tribute and subjugation from the Haradrim.
As the corruption spread from their island to the colonies, the Numenorians became cruel
and arrogant, with some coming to worship the dark lord Morgoth, offering human sacrifices
for his glory.
However when their ruler Ar-Pharazon, sailed his armada west to wage war against the valar,
the creator of the world, Eru intervened, causing the island of numenor to collapse
into the sea.
While most died in this great tragedy, some of their people remained faithful to Eru and
were sparred, sailing ships to middle earth where they founded the kingdoms of Gondor
and Arnor.
However in the south, many Numenorian colonies continued on with the same corrupt, cruel
leaders that existed before the doom of their homeland.
These men became known as the Black Numenorians, and were largely hostile towards their northern
kinsmen throughout the centuries.
Now ruling as independent Lords, the Black Numenorian sought to establish a new powerbase,
with two of their nobles, known as Herumor and Fuinur rising to prominence among the
Haradrim.
But they suffered a major setback in the year 933 of the Third Age, when King Earnil I of
Gondor launched a surprise attack against Umbar, capturing the city and extending the
territory of his kingdom.
In the year 1015, the Black Numenorians tried to win back their city by rallying the Haradrim,
and laying siege.
But the men of Gondor had the power of their mighty navy, having no problems continuing
to supply the city.
The ineffective siege went on for 35 years, until at last Gondor sent an army south to
defeat and disperse their enemy.
Yet they were not be able to hold the city forever, as Gondor eventually declined in
power, largely due to a devastating civil war, which erupted in the year 1432.
The war went on for several years but in 1437 King Eldacar was driven from the capital and
his throne taken by Castamere the Usurper.
The realm then suffered under his creul leadership for a decade until 1447, when Eldacar returned
with an army, slaying his enemy.
Yet the sons of Castamir would not submit, and so retreated first to Pelargir and then
to Umbar where they established their own independent lordship.
The descendants of Castamir never abandoned their hatred for Gondor, and supported pirates
raids against them, becoming known as the Corsairs of Umbar.
In the year 1540, the Haradrim, supported by their allies in Umbar invaded Gondor, and
were able to kill their King Aldamir, but they were eventually defeated, when the fallen
ruler’s son and heir Vinyarion led an army against them in 1551.
In 1944, the Haradrim once again went to war with Gondor, allying with the Wainriders of
Rhun and the Variags of Khand, to attack from both the North and South.
And while the Wainriders won a great victory in the north, killing King Ondoher and his
sons, the Haradrim were defeated in the south, allowing the men of Gondor to finish off the
remaining Easterlings.
As the dark lord Sauron regained his power and spread his influence throughout the third
age, his emissaries convinced the Haradrim to continue their efforts against Gondor,
marching north in the year 2885.
Unfortunately, for the southrons, the horse lords of Rohan were allies of Gondor and came
to their defense, defeating the invaders.
Although they suffered a number of defeats throughout the years, by the end of the Third
Age, the Haradrim were once again rallied together in great numbers, wielding weapons
of iron and scimitars that glittered like stars as well as spiked shields of yellow
and black.
Having tamed and trained the mighty Mumakil for war, they often rode atop the great beast,
firing arrows and throwing spears towards their enemies.
Yet they also rode horses into battle, and had many infantry soldiers as well.
The men of Harad were then sent along with orc forces to take the city of Osgiliath in
3018, then joined the main force of the dark lord at the battle of the pelennor fields.
During this great battle, a fearsome chieftain of the Haradrim with a black serpent as his
standard, was slain in single combat by King Theoden of Rohan.
Though the armies of the dark lord were vast and powerful, they ultimately could not stand
against Gondor and its allies.
When the One Ring of power was destroyed and Sauron finally defeated.
His armies surrendered or fled.
Many of the men of Harad who remained in the North chose to submit to King Elessar of the
Reunited kingdom, while others further south remained hostile to Gondor.