What was the political situation in the Late 2nd Age for the 🧝Elves?

[BalrogRingDestroyer]

Sauron, who once pretended to be a friend, and taught them Ring lore, had long since revealed himself to be an enemy. On the other hand, Numenor, once great Elf friends, had long been becoming increasingly anti-Elf and anti-Illuvatar, not to mention increasingly oppressive in their colonies and bases on mainland Middle Earth. True, there was the Faithful, but they were persecuted on the continent of Numenor and likely in the colonies as well. While there was a respite during the reign of the king before Pharazon (can't recall the name but he had a daughter who wasn't allowed to take over in his stead, but instead Pharazaon married her and took the throne for himself.)

I mean, at first, Numenor was, no doubt, an ally to the Elves and the people of Middle EArth, but it seemed that, before Pharazon directly was influenced by Sauron as a sort of puppet, that they were becoming increasingly like Mordor.

I'd read that, by the time of the fight between Numenor and Sauorn, where SAuron was captured, that it was more a fight between Hitler and Stalin than one between George Washington and George III, with either side being led by a tyrant. Also, given that FEanor was an Elf and that men were, typically more susceptible into falling into evil than Elves, I'd say, arguably, that Pharazon vs. Sauron was an even greater case of evil vs. evil than Feanor vs. Morgoth (there is no indication that Feanor and his sons had an interest in dominating MIddle EArth or oppressing others, but was just an extreme case of "I want my Precious back!' with the Simirals.) , but was clsoser to that of Saruman vs. Sauron.

I get that Numenor saved Lindon, but it's also clear that they were quite tyrannical in later years. If they were willing to march on the Elves of Valinor, it stands to reason that the Elves of Middle Earth might have cause to fear Numenor.

 

[Olorgando]

If they were willing to march on the Elves of Valinor, it stands to reason that the Elves of Middle Earth might have cause to fear Numenor.

They weren't attacking the Elves of Valinor (they completely ignored Tol Eressëa), they were trying to seize Valinor from the Valar. Sauron had lied to them claiming that Valinor the land imparted immortality, to the Valar themselves at least by implication, turning the situation on its head. Sauron stayed well away from Valinor as he knew there were several Valar who could destroy his bodily form with hardly more than the flick of the wrist, Tulkas, Aulë and Oromë at the very least.
Ar-Pharazôn's "argument" with Sauron was about overlordship in Middle-earth, where very few High Elves remained after Sauron's attack on Eregion. And none were in the least "expansionist", quite in contrast to Sauron. I don't think Ar-Pharazôn gave much thought to these Elven remnants. Sauron would more likely have been more of a threat if he had been able to continue his re-expansion from the east without interference from Númenor.

 

[Ent]

If they were willing to march on the Elves of Valinor, it stands to reason that the Elves of Middle Earth might have cause to fear Numenor.

I guess I've got some catching up to do, as I understood Ar-Pharazon's move was against the Valar themselves, not the elves.
In Numenorean man's arrogance and pride, he felt he would wrest eternal life from the gods. He built up his fleet to the greatest point ever. And it's mentioned 'they could have wrought ruin in Valinor" given their might. (SIL).

Yes, these were the Numenoreans who listened to Sauron and his lies...who went to the new religion and worship of the Dark under Sauron, and who became tyrants and oppressors in Middle-earth, "tormenting and slaying men." But "in the North West" this did not happen, as the Faithful who remailed Elf-friends were the only ones coming there.

The Valar sought Eru's help, who caused the cataclysm, etc.

(This is one reason some feel we assign way too much 'power' to the Valar/Ainur, much less the Maiar - at one point, the great kingdom of Men were a fear even to them.)

What was the 'political situation'? Quite a mess, with an aged and failing King making a last effort to get eternal life, completely seduced and misled by Sauron, etc. etc. But it was not so for all Numenoreans, nor for others.

As has always been the case in the world, the political situation was 'there are the oppressed, the oppressors, and those on the outskirts.' A pretty simplistic formula.

by the time of the fight between Numenor and Sauorn, where SAuron was captured,

I don't believe there WAS a fight between Numenor and Sauron. Numeanor was so strong Sauron would not face them, and capitulated. yes, he was taken hostage, but by his wiles and deviousness, became a favored servant. And it was his lies, and his dark religion worshipping the 'one who was in the Void' misleading and sowing discord among those Numeanoreans who would listen. (SIL).

There could of course be things I don't know about, including entire wars.

 

[Ent]

I see the eloquent and knowledgeable @Olorgando and I overlapped a bit. Sorry.