Middle-earth

Culture

Númenóreans

Also known as Men of Númenor, Kings of Men, Dúnedain of Númenor

The great sea-going people of the island kingdom of Númenor, blessed with long life and great power, whose pride brought about the Downfall.

Tolkien’s textsSupported by the narratives published in Tolkien’s lifetime.
Category
Culture
Language
Adûnaic, the native tongue, alongside Sindarin and Quenya among the learned.
Númenóreans

What this is

In brief

A culture of Men, not the island realm itself. Númenor is the kingdom; the Númenóreans are its people, whose descendants in Middle-earth became the Dúnedain.

Origins

The Númenóreans descended from the Edain who fought against Morgoth, rewarded by the Valar with the island of Elenna and a lifespan far beyond that of other Men. Elros, son of Eärendil and Elwing, chose mortality and became their first king.

Culture

A maritime civilisation of navigators, builders and loremasters, sitting between the wisdom of the Elves and the pride of Men. At its height Númenor explored the coasts of Middle-earth and taught and commanded its peoples; at its fall it turned to Sauron’s counsel and the worship of the Darkness.

Language

Adûnaic, the native tongue, alongside Sindarin and Quenya among the learned.

History

For an age the Númenóreans were the mightiest of Men. Tar-Minastir helped defeat Sauron, and later kings grew arrogant and forbade the Elvish tongues. Ar-Pharazôn humbled Sauron but was corrupted by him, and in S.A. 3319 he assailed Valinor; Númenor was drowned and the world made round. The Faithful under Elendil survived to build Arnor and Gondor.

Leaders

  • Elros

  • Tar Minastir

  • Ar Pharazon

  • Elendil

Settlements

  • numenor
  • armenenelos
  • romenna

Alliances

  • elves
  • gil-galad

Conflicts

  • war-of-sauron
  • downfall-of-numenor
  • battle-of-the-last-alliance

Notable members

Sources

  • The Silmarillion · 1977

    Posthumously edited. Contains the Ainulindalë, Valaquenta, Quenta Silmarillion, Akallabêth and Of the Rings of Power.

  • Unfinished Tales · 1980

    Expanded and alternative accounts of the First, Second and Third Ages.

  • The History of Middle-earth · 1983–96

    Twelve volumes documenting the evolution of the legendarium.

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