Umbar

Umbar, the realm of Men in the southernmost area of Gondor, where heirs of the King’s Men dwell during the Glorious Years of the Corsair mariners.

The Haven of Umbar was established under the reign of the Kings of Gondor. The vast headland and estuaries of Umbar below the Bay of Belfalas was a natural stone harbor. Here, Numenor’s great fortress was built not later than SA 2280. It was during this period that Sauron attempted to conquer Numenor. This is when the books first mention this grand fortress. It was detailed in The Silmarillion’s Akallabêth that Sauron’s menace terrorized with overwhelming power over the realm of men. Then, he conquered the stronghold of Numenor along the coasts.

Like the first New Haven in Enedwaith and Pelargir on the Anduin, which was built later, Umbar housed the capital of the Numenorean domain in the Middle-earth. Here, Ar-Pharazon the Golden, who was the final King of Numenor, waged war with Sauron. The Akallabeth also narrates when the vast armada of Ar-Pharazon finally arrived in the land that was named Umbar, detailed as a natural harbor untouched by the instruments of Men. Ar-pharazon, also called The King of the Sea, roamed the land, but it was deserted and quiet in that crescent moon. Ar-pharazon marched for seven days with trumpets and flags. Then, his heralds advanced, and he ordered Sauron to appear and promise his loyalty.

Fifty-eight years after the fall of Numenor, the Numenoreans kept their control in Umbar. It was mostly a kingdom in exile, just as the cities of Arnor and Gondor. However, unlike Gondor and Arnor, the Men of the kingship exploited Umbar when they became worshippers of Melkor during the last days of Numenor. These men of the king were hostile to the Elves and the other Numenorean refugees. The latter was in allegiance with the Elves. These men were called Black Numenoreans, ruled by their Lords Herumor and Fuinur of Umbar. The Two Black Numenorean ruled during the end of the Second Age.

They also reigned over a multitude of people called the Haradrim (also Men of Harad), their ally and neighbor. There is no mention of the fate of these two lords, but since they are Sauron’s servants, they were among his forces who faced defeat in the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. The overlords of Umbar kept their control of the Haradwaith up to the Third Age, and given their independence from Gondor, they maintained domineering governance.

But In TA 933, the forces of Gondor overpowered Umbar as the Third Age continued. King Eärnil I of Gondor conquered Umbar in an unexpected strike as they fought with a tremendous effort and garnered massive losses and damages. In the next 50 years, Umbar transformed into a significant city of Gondor, not only as a busy harbor but also as the recognized location of the surrender of Sauron to Ar-Pharazôn, a dignified remembrance of the prime moment of the Dunedain. An excerpt from “The Heirs of Elendil” from the book “The Peoples of Middle-earth” [1] described the place: “A magnificent white tower served as a memorial standing at the peak of the foreland in Umbra. Coronated with a glass sphere, it stole the radiance of the Sun and Moon and glowed like a shining star. In a cloudless sky, it was visible from Gondor’s shores and far off the west sea.”

In the assault of TA 933, most of the Black Numenoreans escaped Umbar to their citizens in Near Harad. But after 82 years, they turned into a mighty force to match the great fortress in an undertaking to reclaim Umbar. However, it did not guarantee their advantage and only slightly helped the Men of Harad. They continuously besieged the fortification of Umbar for 35 years and only admitted defeat afterward. They could never win as the provisions of Umbar are easy to replenish with the upper hand strength of Gondor at sea. In TA 1050, Ciryandil, son of the late King Earnil, triumphed over the army of the Men of Harad as he advanced his forces across the land, then to Harnen and through the sea. All the area from below Belfalas to Harnen and the boundaries of Near Harad and shores extending to Umbar are Gondor’s territories. You can find a description of this feat in Annals of the Kings and Rulers from Appendix A to The Lord of the Rings. The Men of Harad headed by their overlords retreated from Umbar with their powerful forces. They faced a great army from the north, which crossed the sea and land, and traversed the river Harnen, crushing the Men of Harad to a dreadful defeat.

In TA 1448, Gondor’s occupation of Umbar concluded, but this time it is not because of their enemies. After the tragic conflict of “Kin-strife,” Castamir the Usurper’s sons gathered with many of their forces and Gondor’s army. Also, from Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings, it detailed how they made a refuge for all the king’s foes and appointed overlords to overthrow the crown. Umbar continued their war against Gondor.

They were called “Corsairs of Umbar” [2] and threatened Gondor for over 200 years. In TA 1634, Angamaitë and Sangahyando of Umbar, the great-grandsons of Castamir, struck Pelargir out of Umbar and there, King Minardil fell. Gondor could not strike back as the Great plague had affected the kingdom greatly. It took many years, but Gondor had its deserved vengeance. After 78 years, the great grand-nephew of Minardil avenged Gondor, once again reclaiming Umbar. He even took another name, Umbardarcil, to commemorate his victory. But another misfortune fell on Gondor, and the Men of Harad seized Umbar.

Until the end of the Third Age, Umbar was the dwelling of the new order of Corsairs of Umbar. They were speculated to come from the Men of Harad or their close relatives. The new generation of Corsairs were brutal slave traders who constantly ransacked Gondor’s Anfalas and Belfalas shores. In TA 2746, the fifteenth Prince of Dol Amroth, named Amrothos, died protecting Dol-en-Ernil against the Corsairs of Umbar. In TA 2758, Umbar, together with Men of the Harad and forces of Dunland, held a combined extensive offense upon Gondor and Rohan’s new kingdom. Three massive, full, and ready armadas sailed from Umbar and Harad and hit the bay of Gondor with sweeping power. They attacked from all directions, even way up north to Isen.

In TA 2885, Umbar allied with the Men of Harad to seize Harondor, for the Kings and Corsairs disputed this territory for a long time. In TA 2951, Sauron re-emerges, and Umbar pledged their support to him. With this, the white tower in memory of Ar-Pharazon’s victory was cast down. After 29 years, the armada of Umbar suffered substantial damages as Thorongil, who revealed himself later as Aragorn, led a battalion against them in allegiance for Ecthelion II, the Steward of Gondor. They struck from the south and burned the harbor. This caused the death of the Captain of the Haven.

In the War of the Ring, Umbar was not ready, and they have not entirely revived from the previous battle. But they advanced 50 large ships and a massive number of minor vessels to assault the bay of Gondor and distract their defense in Minas Tirith. Once again, they were overcome by Aragorn, who had the aid of the Army of the Dead. And so, Barad-dur fell. This time, Umbar’s loss almost depleted its forces. Because of this, they gave up their independence and finally yielded to the King Elessar.

In the early edition of the Lord of the Rings' maps, [3] it shows Umbar in the far south. However, Umbar is missing from the modern version. The current Middle-earth map covers a little less area than the first.

Umbar is a Quenyan word for “fate.”

1. ^The Peoples of Middle-earth (Book).
2. ^Corsairs of Umbar.
3. ^Map of the City of Umbar.