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At the beginning of the Second Age the island was given to the Edain, the human peoples who had helped the [[Quendi|Elves]] in the wars against [[Morgoth]] during the [[First Age (Middle-earth)|First Age]]. The first Númenórean King was Elros Tar-Minyatur, brother of [[Elrond]]. Númenor prospered into a wealthy and sophisticated nation, especially known for their seafaring. Númenor established colonies on the shores of Middle-earth, from [[Eriador]] to [[Harad]] in the far south. They also assisted the Elves in their wars against [[Sauron]].  

At the beginning of the Second Age the island was given to the Edain, the human peoples who had helped the [[Quendi|Elves]] in the wars against [[Morgoth]] during the [[First Age (Middle-earth)|First Age]]. The first Númenórean King was Elros Tar-Minyatur, brother of [[Elrond]]. Númenor prospered into a wealthy and sophisticated nation, especially known for their seafaring. Númenor established colonies on the shores of Middle-earth, from [[Eriador]] to [[Harad]] in the far south. They also assisted the Elves in their wars against [[Sauron]].  

In the later part of the Second Age, many Númenóreans became jealous of the Elves and became hostile to the Elves and Valar. The people were divided into two fractions, the '''''Elendili''''' ("Elf-friends"), also called the '''Faithful''' because of their loyalty to the Elves and the West, and the '''King's Men''' who rejected the West. Toward the end of the Age the King Tar-Palantir returned Númenor to the old ways of the Faithful for a time. Although his daughter Míriel was supposed to succeed him, his nephew Ar-Pharazôn usurped the throne after Tar-Palantir's death. Ar-Pharazôn landed with a great fleet at Umbar and marched to [[Mordor]], where [[Sauron]] surrendered to him, and returned with the King to Númenor. Sauron over time corrupted Ar-Pharazôn so he became worse than any before him, hunting the Elendili and worshipping [[Melkor]]. At last Ar-Pharazôn built the greatest fleet the world had seen, and sailed to [[Aman]] to wage war on the Valar. As a result and punishment, the island Númenor sank into the Sea. The remaining Elendili had been warned before, and escaped the Downfall of Númenor. Led by Elendil and his sons, they sailed to Middle-earth, where they established the Dúnedain kingdoms of [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Remnants of the King's Men continued in the southern colonies on the coast of [[Harad]], who became known as the ''Black Númenóreans'', who in times to come were loyal to Sauron and enemies of Gondor.

In the later part of the Second Age, many Númenóreans became jealous of the Elves and became hostile to the Elves and Valar. The people were divided into two fractions, the '''''Elendili''''' ("Elf-friends"), also called the '''Faithful''' because of their loyalty to the Elves and the West, and the '''King's Men''' who rejected the West. Toward the end of the Age the King Tar-Palantir returned Númenor to the old ways of the Faithful for a time. Although his daughter Míriel was supposed to succeed him, his nephew Ar-Pharazôn usurped the throne after Tar-Palantir's death. Ar-Pharazôn landed with a great fleet at Umbar and marched to [[Mordor]], where [[Sauron]] surrendered to him, and returned with the King to Númenor. Sauron over time corrupted Ar-Pharazôn so he became worse than any before him, hunting the Elendili and worshipping [[Melkor]]. At last Ar-Pharazôn built the greatest fleet the world had seen, and sailed to [[Aman]] to wage war on the Valar. As a result, and punishment, the island Númenor sank into the Sea. The remaining Elendili had been warned before, and escaped the Downfall of Númenor. Led by Elendil and his sons, they sailed to Middle-earth, where they established the Dúnedain kingdoms of [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Remnants of the King's Men continued in the southern colonies on the coast of [[Harad]], who became known as the ''Black Númenóreans'', who in times to come were loyal to Sauron and enemies of Gondor.

== See also ==

== See also ==