Corsairs of Umbar
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The Corsairs of Umbar were a fleet of the fictional Men of Umbar in the fantasy universe of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, allied to Sauron in his war against Gondor.
Umbar was an old Númenórean haven settled by the King's Men — a proud faction loyal to the King and opposed to the divine authority of the Valar. (See also: Elendili). After the Downfall of Númenor, the Umbar settlers further descended into evil, and were called the Black Númenóreans. They took to pillaging and piracy along the coasts of Gondor. During the Kinstrife, the defeated rebels of Gondor fled to Umbar — by this time Umbar became the hated enemy of Gondor.
The Castamiri took with them a large part of Gondor's fleet, thus weakening Gondor and strengthening the naval traditions of Umbar. Gondor later conquered Umbar, but had lost it again soon after. The term "Corsair" originally referred to the privateers hired by the Confederate City State of Umbar to raid Gondor's coasts, but later was applied by the men of the north to Umbar in general.
By the time of The War of the Ring, the Corsairs had mixed with the Haradrim, becoming a mixed people where Númenórean blood was mostly gone. During the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, a combined fleet amounting to "fifty great ships [of Umbar] and smaller vessels beyond count" was raiding the Port City of Pelargir in Lebennin, but these were captured by Aragorn and the Army of the Dead, and were sailed to Minas Tirith to relieve the siege of the city.
| Realms from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium during the Third Age | |
|---|---|
| Realms of Men: | Arnor | Arthedain | Breeland | Cardolan | Corsairs of Umbar | Dale | Dol Amroth | Dunland | Éothéod | Esgaroth | Gondor | Harad | Khand | Rhovanion | Rhudaur | Rhûn | Rohan | Umbar |
| Realms of the Elves: | Lindon | Lothlórien | Northern Mirkwood | Rivendell |
| Realms of the Dwarves: | Belegost | Erebor | Grey Mountains | Iron Hills | Khazad-dûm |
| Realms of the Hobbits: | Breeland | Gladden Fields | The Shire |
| Realms of the Ents: | Fangorn forest |
| Uncertain population: | Dorwinion |
| Realms of the enemy: | Angmar | Barad-dûr | Dol Guldur | Isengard | Mordor |
