Corsair wars
This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name. |
Previous war: Wainrider/Balchoth War | |
Next war: War of the Ring | |
Corsair Wars | |
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Beginning: T.A. 1447 | End: T.A. 3019 |
Place: Umbar, Pelargir, South Gondor, coastal waters | |
Outcome: Victory for Gondor, destruction of the Corsair state | |
Major battles: Siege of Pelargir, Harad/Umbar Battles, Battle of Pelargir, Surprise Attack on Umbar, First Fall of Umbar, Second Fall of Umbar | |
Combatants | |
Gondorian land and naval forces |
Naval and land forces of Umbar |
Commanders | |
Eldacar
Ecthelion I
Aragorn II
|
The Corsair Wars were a long, predominately naval struggle between Kings and Stewards of Gondor and a series of renegade rebel forces based at Umbar and Pelargir.
Historical Background
The fortress haven of Umbar was founded by Númenórean colonists during the Second Age, during the peak of Númenorean power. When Ar-Pharazôn the Golden landed in Middle Earth to challenge the power of Sauron, he landed at this heavily fortified port city. After the Downfall of Númenor, these colonists continued to be influenced by Sauron, and showed great antipathy to the exile Kingdoms founded by the Faithful of Númenor, Arnor and Gondor. They became known forever afterward as the Black Númenoreans, battling Gondor by land and sea. It is likely that Umbar was conquered for Gondor under one of the Ship-Kings, possibly by Tarannon Falastur. During the reign of Earnil Iand his son, Ciryandil, the Haradrim constantly laid siege to Umbar and in 1015 T.A., Ciryandil himself was slain defending it. This caused his son to conquer Harad and eventually take the name, [[Hyarmendacil I].
Early Years
In the aftermath of the Kin-strife, the great civil conflict between Eldacar and the usurper Castamir, Castamir's sons fled to to Umbar. There they established a breakaway government in opposition to Gondor, and continued to clash with Gondor for centuries to come.