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They were cruel oppressors over the men of Middle-earth. While their numbers would eventually dwindle,
their people continued making an impact on Middle-earth well into
the Third Age - including three ringwraiths, a Queen of Gondor, and the Mouth of Sauron.
Today, on Nerd of the Rings, we cover the Black Numenoreans.
The foundation of the Black Numenoreans begins around 2221SA. It was that year when Tar-Ancalimon
became the 14th Ruler of Numenor, and the realm would become divided. There were the Faithful
Numenoreans and the King’s Men. The larger of the two factions, the King’s Men, turned their backs
upon the Valar and the Eldar, growing more and more bitter at their perceived curse of mortality.
The King’s Men begin setting themselves above the men of Middle-earth. They make the haven of
Umbar into a great fortress, and place a heavy tribute on the men of places like
Harad. Of the King’s Men settlements, we are told that Umbar is the northernmost.
Because the Shadow lies heavily upon their hearts, the King’s men greatly fear Death
and seek to delay it by all possible means. These attempts to escape the fate of men actually brings
death upon them sooner, as the lifespans of the Kings of Numenor become more brief.
They fill the lands of Numenor with great tombs
to preserve the memory of their dead. Meanwhile, the living ease their fears by living more and
more decadent lives - drinking and feasting and cladding themselves in silver and gold.
It is likely during or shortly before these years,
that three of these Numenorean lords who lived in settlements of Middle-earth
would be approached by Sauron. They are corrupted by the dark lord and each given a ring of power.
As with the other 6 ring bearers, they would become mighty in their day - kings, sorcerers,
or warriors. They would indeed avoid the doom of man and their lives would be prolonged.
However, their bodily forms would begin to fade, until they are made entirely into wraiths - slaves
under the dominion of Sauron’s One Ring. Around 2251, these men reappear as the Nazgul.
For nearly 1000 years, the King’s Men enjoy the favor of the Kings of Numenor. However,
in 3177, one of the Faithful finally takes the Sceptre once again. This man is Tar-Palantir,
the 24th King of Numenor. He wishes to return Numenor to a state of Friendship with the Valar,
but the majority of Numenoreans still hold to the policies of the King’s Men.
Tar-Palantir’s younger brother Gimilkhad,
is among the King’s Men, and takes leadership of the group in opposition to his brother.
After Tar-Palantir’s death, his daughter Miriel is usurped by her cousin
Pharazon - who forces her into marriage in an attempt to legitimize his taking the throne.
During Ar-Pharazon’s rule, Sauron and his servants attack the realms of the
King’s Men in Middle-earth. Sauron also declares himself King of Men,
Lord of the Earth, and many similar titles, offending the proud and arrogant Numenoreans.
Finally, in 3261, Ar-Pharazon launches a great fleet which he had spent 5 years
preparing. The land at the Haven of Umbar, and march north toward Mordor. It is said
that their might and splendour was so great that Sauron’s own servants deserted him.
Knowing he could not defeat the Numenoreans by mere strength, Sauron changes to his fair
form and humbles himself before the King, who takes him back to Numenor as his hostage.(3262)
Sauron’s knowledge and cunning allows him to begin corrupting the Numenoreans from within.
Sauron becomes Ar-Pharazon’s chief counsellor and the King’s Men, who were already turning toward
darkness, were plunged into it. Sauron converts many Numenoreans to the worship of Melkor.
He convinces Ar-Pharazon to cut down the White Tree and in its place, they build a great temple.
There they would burn the White Tree and perform human sacrifice of the Faithful Numenoreans.
Sauron corrupts the hearts and minds of the King’s Men so deeply that they brutally oppress the Men
of Middle-earth during this period. Despite Sauron’s promises, the King’s Men do not
escape death - in fact they are plagued by all sorts of illnesses and mental afflictions, to the
point that they curse themselves in their agony. The Valar eventually send a warning to Numenor,
and many Numenoreans fall on their faces in great fear, and some even repent of their actions.
However, it is said that Sauron’s mastery over them was so complete
that he could walk about the land “setting man against man” and cause them to slay one another.
When Ar-Pharazon finally attempts his doomed quest to claim immortality by force,
the island of Numenor is destroyed by Iluvatar. Pharazon and his fleet are
destroyed while nine ships of the Faithful escape the destruction of their home.
However, there still remained those of the King’s Men who dwelt in Middle-earth.
It is they who would ever after be known as the Black Numenoreans.
These men maintain control of Umbar and harbor a deep hatred for the Faithful
who would come to be known as the Gondorians and Arnorians. While
they are mostly mysterious figures, we do know a few Black Numeoreans by name.
Two of the earliest Black Numenorean lords
are Herumor and Fuinur. They are described as both mighty and evil and rise to great power
amongst the Haradrim. It’s possible that these lords are among the many Black Numenoreans who
enter into the service of Sauron and fight for him during the War of the Last Alliance.
However, as we know, Sauron would be defeated in this War, losing his ring
and his bodily form. This marks a decline in the Black Numenoreans as a people.
Their numbers dwindle and they mostly merge with the Men of Middle-earth
with whom they shared lands. Though their line would decrease, their hatred of Gondor would not.
One of the most famous among the Black Numenoreans lived in the early Third
Age. The 12th King of Gondor, Tarannon Falastur marries Beruthiel - who was a Black Numenorean.
We are not told what brings about this union, and Beruthiel is described as being “nefarious,
solitary, and loveless.” It’s possible this was a move made in an attempt to maintain
a peaceful relationship with the men of the South.
Tarannon would bring her to his house he had placed near where the Anduin meets the Sea, south
of Pelargir. However, Beruthiel hated everything about the sea and refused to dwell there.
Instead, she lives in the King’s House in the capital of Osgiliath. It is said she decorated the
courtyard with strange and disturbing sculptures, while the inside of the house was mostly bare.
Tolkien tells us that Beruthiel loathed cats, but that they became attracted to
her for that exact reason. After they begin to follow the Queen, she begins enslaving
and torturing them. She would end up commanding a total of ten cats - nine black,
and one white. She would send the black cats to spy on the Men of Gondor and from them she would
learn many dark secrets about the realm and its people. As for the white cat - she would send it
to spy on the black cats. We are told she could converse with her cats and read their memories.
Eventually, Tarannon would exile his Queen, placing her on a boat cast adrift at sea. Her ship
is “last seen flying past Umbar with a cat at the masthead and another as a figurehead on the prow.”
Tarannon also has Beruthiel’s name erased from the Book of the Kings, however, her legend would
live on. The people of Gondor would not soon forget Beruthiel and her cats and even more
than 2000 years later, Aragorn makes reference to her as the Fellowship is on their Journey.
Tarannon’s successor, his nephew Earnil I,
would later capture the havens of Umbar (933 TA) and drive their Black Numenorean lords into exile.
However, 82 years later (1015 TA), these lords would lead the Haradrim
in retaking the fortress of Umbar and killing King Ciryandil - the son of Earnil I.
Finally, we arrive at perhaps the most notable Black Numenorean - the Mouth of Sauron. We are
told he is a man of great stature who enters into Sauron’s service when the Dark Tower first
rose again. The use of the word “again” points to this occurring sometime between 2942-2953 TA. In
Sauron’s service, he learns sorcery and comes into the confidence of the Dark Lord. He is described
as the Lieutenant of Barad-dur. It’s hard to say how old the Mouth of Sauron was when we meet him
in the Return of the King, but we are told that by this time he had forgotten his original name.
There’s some debate that it could very well have been the Mouth of Sauron who comes to Erebor,
seeking news of Baggins of the Shire. However, I and many others, believe this more likely to
have been a ringwraith, as we are told Sauron would trust no others with seeking the One Ring.
The Mouth of Sauron emerges from the lands of Mordor
to negotiate with the army led by Aragorn to the Black Gate.
there rode a tall and evil shape, mounted upon a black horse, if horse it was;
for it was huge and hideous, and its face was a frightful mask, more like a skull
than a living head, and in the sockets of its eyes and in its nostrils there burned a flame.
The rider was robed all in black, and black was his lofty helm; yet this was no Ringwraith
but a living man. The Lieutenant of the Tower of Barad-dûr he was, and his name is remembered in
no tale; for he himself had forgotten it, and he said: 'I am the Mouth of Sauron.'
Then, he shows Gandalf, Aragorn and the others the mithril coat, among other items, belonging
to Frodo, implying the hobbit had been captured by Sauron. Then, he presents Sauron’s terms:
said the Messenger, and smiled as he eyed them one by one.
In this moment, they realize that the Mouth of Sauron envisions himself lording over Isengard,
setting himself as a tyrant, with the Men of the West as his slaves..
As Gandalf utterly rejects Sauron’s terms, the Mouth of Sauron retreats back through
the Black Gate, and unleashes the armies of Barad-dur upon the free peoples. We don’t know
for certain the ultimate fate of the Mouth of Sauron. It’s very likely that he, along with a
great many of Sauron’s most dedicated servants perished in the assault of the Morannon. Some
theorize that if he had survived, he would have likely become a leader among Sauron’s retreating
forces, perhaps even making his way back to the old Black Numenorean stronghold of Umbar.
From this point on, we hear nothing more of the Black Numenoreans. It is possible that their
race died out completely and was no longer able to corrupt men of Harad or plague the realm of
Gondor. Though they would be quite few in number compared to their earlier days at the King’s Men,
there would at times be those among the Black Numenoreans who would make their mark
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