Akallabêth

In the aftermath of the War of Wrath and the defeat of Morgoth, the Valar rewarded the loyal Edain by raising a magnificent island from the depths of the Great Sea. This gift acknowledged their steadfast alliance with the Elves and their valiant sacrifices in the battles against the first Dark Lord during the First Age.

The island was shaped like a five-pointed star, earning it the name Elenna, which means 'Starwards' in Quenya. Its strategic location in the Great Sea between Middle-earth and the Blessed Realm of Valinor made it a bridge between the mortal lands and the Undying Lands, though closer to the latter by design of the Valar.

Under the leadership of Elros Tar-Minyatur, who chose a mortal life unlike his twin brother Elrond, the Edain established their realm in the year 32 of the Second Age. Elros became the first King of Númenor, and under his guidance, the foundation was laid for what would become the greatest kingdom of Men in all of Arda.

The Valar blessed the Númenóreans with extraordinary gifts that set them apart from other Men. They were granted lifespans three or more times longer than other mortals, with their first king Elros living to the age of 500 years. Their physical stature was equally impressive, with most Númenóreans standing well over six feet tall, while their wisdom and learning surpassed all other mortal peoples.

The people of Númenor developed unparalleled expertise in shipbuilding and navigation. Their vessels were the finest ever crafted by mortal hands, capable of withstanding the fiercest storms and traveling vast distances. They explored the eastern waters of Arda extensively, mapping unknown coastlines and establishing havens along the shores of Middle-earth.

Númenórean civilization reached heights of achievement that would never again be matched by the race of Men. Their craftsmen created tools and weapons of extraordinary quality, their architects built cities of stone that seemed to rival the works of the Elves, and their scholars developed systems of learning and record-keeping that preserved knowledge across generations.

The kingdom maintained a special relationship with the Elves of Tol Eressëa, who frequently visited the island bringing gifts of knowledge, artifacts, and precious materials. These exchanges enriched Númenórean culture immensely, as the Elves taught them many arts and sciences, while sharing stories and songs from the Elder Days.

The Valar established one significant restriction upon the Númenóreans known as the Ban of the Valar. They were forbidden to sail westward out of sight of their island's shores toward Valinor, marking this boundary with the term 'Ban of the Valar' or 'The Ban.'

This prohibition was established not out of malice but as a protection for the mortal inhabitants of Númenor. The Valar understood that exposure to the immortal lands would only increase the natural desire of mortals to escape death, leading to greater suffering rather than blessing.

Despite the prosperity and long life they enjoyed, many Númenóreans became increasingly preoccupied with the western horizon. The visible shores of Tol Eressëa in the far distance served as a constant reminder of the immortality they could not possess, gradually transforming from a source of wonder into one of festering resentment.

As the Second Age progressed, successive generations of Númenóreans developed a growing obsession with mortality and death. Despite their extended lifespans, they began to look upon the immortality of the Elves with increasing jealousy, viewing their own mortality as an unjust punishment rather than the natural gift Ilúvatar intended it to be.

A significant political division emerged within Númenórean society as the King's Men, the majority faction, grew increasingly hostile toward the Valar and the Ban. They began to question why mortals should be denied access to the Undying Lands and the immortality they believed existed there, leading to a gradual abandonment of the Elvish traditions and languages.

The Faithful, a minority group centered in the western regions of Númenor, particularly in Andúnië, maintained their allegiance to the old ways. They preserved their friendship with the Elves, kept the ancient traditions alive, and continued to respect the wisdom of the Valar, even as they faced growing persecution from the King's Men.

In the year 3255 of the Second Age, Ar-Pharazôn, the most ambitious of all Númenórean nobles, forcibly took the sceptre of Númenor by compelling marriage to Queen Tar-Míriel, the rightful heir. This act violated Númenórean law and tradition, as she was his first cousin and should have ruled in her own right as Tar-Míriel.

Ar-Pharazôn, who took the title of Golden King, became the most powerful monarch in Númenórean history. His pride and ambition exceeded all his predecessors, and he sought to establish his dominion not only over Númenor but over all the lands of Middle-earth.

Under Ar-Pharazôn's reign, Númenor transformed into an imperial power that dominated the mortal world. The kingdom established colonies and fortresses along the coasts of Middle-earth, demanding tribute from other nations and peoples, while its armies and navies became instruments of conquest rather than protection and exploration.

When Ar-Pharazôn learned that Sauron had declared himself King of Men and was extending his dominion in Middle-earth, his pride would not permit a rival to his power. In the year 3261 of the Second Age, he led a vast host to Middle-earth, displaying such might that all servants of Sauron deserted their master.

Sauron, recognizing that he could not overcome Númenórean military power through force, chose a subtle path to victory. He surrendered without battle and humbled himself before Ar-Pharazôn, employing his powers of persuasion and deception to implement a more insidious plan.

The Dark Lord was brought to Númenor in chains, but this apparent submission masked his true intent. Within three years, Sauron had risen from prisoner to become the king's most trusted counselor, using his cunning and supernatural charisma to manipulate the king's fear of death and desire for immortality.

Under Sauron's influence, the worship of Melkor, whom he called Morgoth the Giver of Freedom, was established in Númenor. The Dark Lord convinced the Númenóreans that through devotion to Morgoth, they could escape the Doom of Men and achieve immortality. This corruption represented a complete abandonment of the teaching of the Valar and the traditions of their forefathers.

A great temple was constructed in Armenelos, the capital city, with a dome of silver that turned black from the smoke of countless sacrifices. Sauron instituted the practice of human sacrifice, claiming that the death of victims would extend the lives of other Númenóreans. Those who opposed the new religion or remained faithful to the Valar were often offered as sacrifices in these bloody rituals.

The ultimate symbol of Númenor's fall into darkness was the destruction of the White Tree, Nimloth, a gift from the Elves that represented the link between Númenor and the Valar. Sauron convinced Ar-Pharazôn to cut down and burn the tree as an offering to Morgoth, though not before Isildur managed to steal a fruit from which a seedling would later grow.

In his final act of hubris, Ar-Pharazôn commissioned the construction of the Great Armament, the largest fleet ever built in Arda. The harbors of Númenor were filled with ships of war, and weapons were forged in unprecedented quantities as the king prepared to challenge the Valar themselves.

The Faithful, led by Amandil and his son Elendil, recognized the approaching doom of their homeland. They secretly prepared nine ships with their families, followers, and precious heirlooms of their civilization, including the seedling of Nimloth and the ancient artifacts of their people.

Despite warnings from the Faithful and signs of impending disaster, Ar-Pharazôn set sail with his vast armada in the year 3319 of the Second Age. His goal was to make war upon the Valar and seize the Undying Lands by force, believing this would grant him the immortality he desperately sought.

When Ar-Pharazôn's forces set foot upon the shores of Aman in defiance of the Ban, the Valar laid down their guardianship of Arda and called upon Eru Ilúvatar himself. The One intervened directly in the affairs of his creation for the first and only time since the making of the world.

The punishment for this transgression was catastrophic beyond imagination. Eru caused a great chasm to open in the sea, into which the entire island of Númenor and its armies were pulled. A massive wave, tall as a mountain, swept over the land, drowning the island and its inhabitants beneath the waters of the Great Sea.

The catastrophe reshaped the entire world. The flat world was made round, and the Undying Lands were removed from the physical realm altogether. From that time forward, no mortal ship could sail the Straight Road to Valinor except by special grace of the Valar.

Elendil, along with his sons Isildur and Anárion, led the nine ships of the Faithful through the greatest storm in history. These survivors of Númenor's destruction were guided by divine providence to the shores of Middle-earth, where they would establish new realms in exile.

The Faithful brought with them the seeds of Númenórean culture and civilization. They preserved the scrolls, artifacts, and knowledge of their homeland, including the Seven Seeing-stones, the White Tree, and the ancient weapons and treasures of their people.

In Middle-earth, the survivors founded the Realms in Exile. Elendil established the northern kingdom of Arnor, while his sons jointly ruled the southern realm of Gondor. These kingdoms, though lesser than Númenor at its height, would preserve the legacy of Westernesse through the Third Age and beyond.