In author J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional world of Arda, the Black Númenóreans are mentioned briefly at several points in both his published and unpublished writings, as one of many peoples and races inhabiting his Middle-Earth setting. They were described as men of Númenórean descent that had founded and dwelt in Umbar as well as several other unnamed coastal locations further south and east. Although for a millenia following the sinking of Númenór the Black Númenóreans posed a threat to Gondor, their power continually diminished whilst that of their antagonists grew. Despite this, descendants of the Black Númenóreans lingered on in Middle-Earth even as late as the end of the Third Age.
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The Númenóreans, as their power and knowledge grew throughout the course of the Second Age, became increasingly preoccupied with their mortality, the purpose of which they began to question.[1] Their growing wish to escape death, "the doom of Men" (formerly called "the Gift of Men"), made most of the Númenóreans envious of the immortal Elves, or Eldar. The Eldar sought ever to remind the men of Númenor that death was a gift from Ilúvatar to all Men, and that to lose faith in Ilúvatar would be heretical.
Nevertheless, after S.A. 2221 when Tar-Ancalimon became King of Númenor, the people became divided. The "King's Men", the larger party, "grew proud and were estranged from the Valar and the Eldar."[1] They became increasingly predisposed to the corruption of Sauron, who, once arrived in Númenor, was able to dominate the will of most of the Númenóreans with the One Ring.[2] In Númenor's last years, the powerful but elderly King Ar-Pharazôn, who had become "frightened of old age",[3] was persuaded by Sauron that Ilúvatar was a lie invented by the Valar, and seduced him to the worship of Melkor, first in secret and then openly.[4] Within Númenor, the majority followed suit, and this worship was carried across the ocean to Númenor's colonies in Middle-earth.[5]
The remnant of the King's Men who survived in Middle-earth after the destruction of Númenor were called the Black Númenóreans since they worshipped Sauron and were "enamoured of evil knowledge".[6] They worshipped Darkness, and believed that Melkor and Sauron were its most powerful servants. At the end of the Second Age two of their number, Herumor and Fuinur became lords among the Haradrim,[5] though what became of them is unknown.
A small fleet of Númenóreans who had refused to disavow Ilúvatar also escaped the destruction of their homeland, and Elendil, their leader, subsequently established the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor in Middle-earth, areas largely populated by Númenóreans or people partly akin to them. Against these the Black Númenóreans remained antagonistic.
For many centuries after the Downfall of Númenor, Black Númenóreans held on to the southernmost colonies of Númenor. The nearest to Gondor was Umbar, where a Black Númenórean aristocracy survived for a thousand years, exerting strong influence over Haradwaith. Tolkien writes that their race became mixed with lesser men, and "quickly dwindled".[7]
Gondor fought frequently against Umbar and their allies. King Tarannon Falastur of Gondor (9th century of the Third Age) evidently attempted a diplomatic alliance by marrying the Black Númenórean Berúthiel. She, however, dabbled in the black arts, and theirs was a loveless match; so Tarannon sent her on a ship back to the south.[8][9]
Gondor finally captured Umbar in T.A. 933. Although Gondor held Umbar for about 500 years, the Black Númenóreans continued for a while to stir up the Southrons against Umbar and Gondor.[7][10] After Gondor's significant victory against the Haradrim in T.A. 1050, the Black Númenóreans faded from history. As time went on, "some were given over wholly to idleness and ease, and some fought amongst themselves, until they became conquered in their weakness by the wild men."[11]
Gondor lost control of Umbar at the end of the Kin-strife in T.A. 1448, when rebels from Gondor, led by descendants of the usurper Castamir, seized the port.[10] The rebels became known as the Corsairs of Umbar, and while not themselves Black Númenóreans, they inherited their hatred, and later allied themselves with the Haradrim, and later still with Sauron, against Gondor.
The influence of the Black Númenóreans persisted for centuries. The proud monument at Umbar commemorating Ar-Pharazôn's defeat of Sauron stood until some unspecified date late in the Third Age, when it was finally torn down;[7] and the Mouth of Sauron, as late as the War of the Ring, was of their race.[12]
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