Umbar: Difference between revisions

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==History==
==History==
===Foundation and Numenorian Rule===
===Foundation and Numenorian Rule===
Like the earlier [[Lond Daer Ened|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, to challenge Sauron.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "[[Akallabêth]]"</ref>
It was located south of the outflow of [[Anduin]] in a convenient, useful natural haven. The natives called it "Umbar" and the Númenóreans who discovered it, adopted its name.
 
Like the earlier [[Lond Daer Ened|New Haven]] in [[Enedwaith]], and the later [[Pelargir]] on the [[Anduin]], Umbar was one of the trading ports at the southern coast of [[Middle-earth]], which became a base from which Númenórean influence spread over Middle-earth. In {{SA|2280}} it was made into a great fortress<ref>{{App|TY}}</ref> and became the strongest and most important.
 
During the dissension arising when the Shadow fell on [[Númenor]], Umbar was the northernmost settlement of the [[King's Men]]; [[Sauron]], after trying to break the waxing Númenórean grip by instigation, attempted to attack the Númenórean havens and forts, invaded their coastlands, but Umbar resisted<ref>{{PM|Second}}</ref><ref>{{PM|Akallabeth}}</ref>
 
It was at Umbar that [[Ar-Pharazôn]] the Golden, landed in {{SA|3261}}, to challenge Sauron and journeyed 7 days with banner and trumpet<ref>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref>. Umbar remained a symbol of Númenórean pride ever after.


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]].
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]].

Revision as of 01:55, 3 November 2010

Haven of Umbar
City/Port
File:Umbar.jpg
General Information
LocationSouthern Middle-earth, west of Harad
TypeCity/Port
Descriptionnatural harbour of enclosing rock, with a stronghold and a port located within it
RegionsUmbar
Gondor
Reunited Kingdom
InhabitantsMen (Black Númenóreans, Corsairs, Haradrim)
GalleryImages of Haven of Umbar

The Haven of Umbar was a great haven to the far south of Gondor in Middle-earth.

History

Foundation and Numenorian Rule

It was located south of the outflow of Anduin in a convenient, useful natural haven. The natives called it "Umbar" and the Númenóreans who discovered it, adopted its name.

Like the earlier New Haven in Enedwaith, and the later Pelargir on the Anduin, Umbar was one of the trading ports at the southern coast of Middle-earth, which became a base from which Númenórean influence spread over Middle-earth. In S.A. 2280 it was made into a great fortress[1] and became the strongest and most important.

During the dissension arising when the Shadow fell on Númenor, Umbar was the northernmost settlement of the King's Men; Sauron, after trying to break the waxing Númenórean grip by instigation, attempted to attack the Númenórean havens and forts, invaded their coastlands, but Umbar resisted[2][3]

It was at Umbar that Ar-Pharazôn the Golden, landed in S.A. 3261, to challenge Sauron and journeyed 7 days with banner and trumpet[4]. Umbar remained a symbol of Númenórean pride ever after.

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 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 Men.

The rulers of Umbar retained much influence over the Haradwaith well into 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 Angamaite/Sangahyando.

Gondor's power, however, eclipsed that of Umbar as the Third Age progressed, and in 933 Gondor's King Eärnil I captured Umbar in a Surprise Attack, although this was "at great cost."

Umbar as part of Gondor

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. [5]

Many Black Númenóreans had fled Umbar from the assault of Third Age 933, to their subjects in Near Harad, but 82 years later, in a vain attempt to recapture it, came up with great power against the stronghold.[6] 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, the late King Earnil's son Ciryandil defeated the Haradrim force by sending troops by land, crossing the River Harnen and by sea.[7]

Corsairs of Umbar

Corsair Ship by John Howe

Gondorian possession of Umbar came to an abrupt end. In 1448, 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. There they made a "refuge for all the enemies of the King, and a lordship independent of his crown".[8]

These men became known as the '"Corsairs of Umbar"', and within two centuries became a major threat to Gondor. In 1634 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 Minardils death, his great-grand nephew succeeded in briefly recapturing Umbar, and even renamed himself Umbardacil. However,

"...in the new evils that soon befell Gondor Umbar was again lost, and fell into the hands of the Men Of Harad."
― "Annals of the Kings and Rulers" from The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A

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 2746 for example, Amrothos, the 15th Prince of Dol Amroth fell defending Dol-en-Ernil against them.

In 2758 Umbar joined a massive co-ordinated attack with Men of the Harad and even of Dunland, against Gondor and the new realm of Rohan.[9]. In 2885, Umbar supported the Haradrim who claimed Harondor, although this had long "been a debatable land between the Corsairs and the Kings", 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.

War of the Ring

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.

Overview

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" that was located within it was not built until Second Age 2280, when Sauron dared to threaten Númenor.[10]

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.

Etymology

"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'.

See Also

References