Dark Years: Difference between revisions
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After the [[War of Wrath]], the [[Middle Men]] were in a primitive state, as they had no contact with the [[Eldar]] of [[Beleriand]]. Some of the Men were taught agriculture by the [[Entwives]] and honored them.<ref>{{TT|Treebeard}}</ref> In contrast, the [[Edain]] had retreated to the isle of [[Elenna]] and flourished, but around {{SA|600}} the [[Númenóreans]] established contact with the Men of Middle-earth and taught them agriculture, stonecraft and smithying.<ref>{{UT|Aldarion}}</ref><ref>{{App|Numenor}}</ref> | After the [[War of Wrath]], the [[Middle Men]] were in a primitive state, as they had no contact with the [[Eldar]] of [[Beleriand]]. Some of the Men were taught agriculture by the [[Entwives]] and honored them.<ref>{{TT|Treebeard}}</ref> In contrast, the [[Edain]] had retreated to the isle of [[Elenna]] and flourished, but around {{SA|600}} the [[Númenóreans]] established contact with the Men of Middle-earth and taught them agriculture, stonecraft and smithying.<ref>{{UT|Aldarion}}</ref><ref>{{App|Numenor}}</ref> | ||
[[File:John Howe - The Dark Tower 02.jpg|thumb|[[John Howe]] - The Dark Tower|left]] | |||
But [[Sauron]] who denied the judgment of the [[Valar]] and around {{SA|1000}} he retreated to [[Mordor]] which he fortified with the [[Black Gate]] and armies of the [[Men of Darkness]] whom he corrupted and enslaved. He also built [[Barad-dûr]] near [[Mount Doom]]. | But [[Sauron]] who denied the judgment of the [[Valar]] and around {{SA|1000}} he retreated to [[Mordor]] which he fortified with the [[Black Gate]] and armies of the [[Men of Darkness]] whom he corrupted and enslaved. He also built [[Barad-dûr]] near [[Mount Doom]]. | ||
[[File:Abe Papakhian - Death of Celebrimbor.jpg|thumb|Abe Papakhian - ''Death of Celebrimbor'']] | |||
Sauron attempted to corrupt the [[Elves]] of [[Eregion]] persuading them to create the [[Rings of Power]]. When the Elves rejected him, they begun [[War of the Elves and Sauron|a bloody conflict]] which destroyed [[Eregion]] and devastated much of [[Eriador]]. The Elves were pushed back almost to the [[Blue Mountains]], while the [[Dwarves]] retreated to [[Moria]]. Sauron now dominated most of the [[Westlands]] and the [[East]], until the powerful Númenóreans, came to support the Elves. The alliance, after heavy fighting, managed to reclaim Eriador and pushed the Dark Lord back to Mordor with a handful of orcs. | Sauron attempted to corrupt the [[Elves]] of [[Eregion]] persuading them to create the [[Rings of Power]]. When the Elves rejected him, they begun [[War of the Elves and Sauron|a bloody conflict]] which destroyed [[Eregion]] and devastated much of [[Eriador]]. The Elves were pushed back almost to the [[Blue Mountains]], while the [[Dwarves]] retreated to [[Moria]]. Sauron now dominated most of the [[Westlands]] and the [[East]], until the powerful Númenóreans, came to support the Elves. The alliance, after heavy fighting, managed to reclaim Eriador and pushed the Dark Lord back to Mordor with a handful of orcs. | ||
However this was not the end of the Dark Days. Sauron directed his power over the far south and east.{{fact}} Meanwhile the Númenóreans fell under the [[Shadow]] and started to oppress the primitive Men, demanding tribute of goods and wealth and enslaving them.<ref name=Ak>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref> Some indigenous folk of Middle-earth were afraid of those [[Black Númenóreans]], and their ships and intended at some point to conquer the land of [[Agar]] and slay its people.<ref>{{PM|Elmar}}</ref> | However this was not the end of the Dark Days. Sauron directed his power over the far south and east.{{fact}} Meanwhile the Númenóreans fell under the [[Shadow]] and started to oppress the primitive Men, demanding tribute of goods and wealth and enslaving them.<ref name=Ak>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref> Some indigenous folk of Middle-earth were afraid of those [[Black Númenóreans]], and their ships and intended at some point to conquer the land of [[Agar]] and slay its people.<ref>{{PM|Elmar}}</ref> | ||
The arrogant Númenóreans started to see Sauron as their competitor, and King [[Ar-Pharazôn]] came against him. Sauron was taken on [[Númenor]], further corrupting the Númenóreans, eventually | The arrogant Númenóreans started to see Sauron as their competitor, and King [[Ar-Pharazôn]] came against him. Sauron was taken on [[Númenor]], further corrupting the Númenóreans, who continued to enslave the primitive Men and even using them as human sacrifices. The corruption eventually resulted to the [[Downfall of Númenor]].<ref name=Ak/> | ||
Sauron's spirit, as well as some of the [[Faithful]] Númenóreans, escaped to Middle-earth. Sauron returned to Mordor, where he slowly rebuilt his strength. Unable to assume a fair shape, he started to rule through terror and force. | Sauron's spirit, as well as some of the [[Faithful]] Númenóreans, escaped to Middle-earth. Sauron returned to Mordor, where he slowly rebuilt his strength. Unable to assume a fair shape, he started to rule through terror and force. | ||
Revision as of 14:31, 24 August 2014
The Dark Years (also Black Years and Dark Days[1]) were the long years of the Second Age when the races of Middle-earth, especially the Men, suffered under the domination of Sauron.
After the War of Wrath, the Middle Men were in a primitive state, as they had no contact with the Eldar of Beleriand. Some of the Men were taught agriculture by the Entwives and honored them.[2] In contrast, the Edain had retreated to the isle of Elenna and flourished, but around S.A. 600 the Númenóreans established contact with the Men of Middle-earth and taught them agriculture, stonecraft and smithying.[3][4]
But Sauron who denied the judgment of the Valar and around S.A. 1000 he retreated to Mordor which he fortified with the Black Gate and armies of the Men of Darkness whom he corrupted and enslaved. He also built Barad-dûr near Mount Doom.
Sauron attempted to corrupt the Elves of Eregion persuading them to create the Rings of Power. When the Elves rejected him, they begun a bloody conflict which destroyed Eregion and devastated much of Eriador. The Elves were pushed back almost to the Blue Mountains, while the Dwarves retreated to Moria. Sauron now dominated most of the Westlands and the East, until the powerful Númenóreans, came to support the Elves. The alliance, after heavy fighting, managed to reclaim Eriador and pushed the Dark Lord back to Mordor with a handful of orcs.
However this was not the end of the Dark Days. Sauron directed his power over the far south and east.[source?] Meanwhile the Númenóreans fell under the Shadow and started to oppress the primitive Men, demanding tribute of goods and wealth and enslaving them.[5] Some indigenous folk of Middle-earth were afraid of those Black Númenóreans, and their ships and intended at some point to conquer the land of Agar and slay its people.[6]
The arrogant Númenóreans started to see Sauron as their competitor, and King Ar-Pharazôn came against him. Sauron was taken on Númenor, further corrupting the Númenóreans, who continued to enslave the primitive Men and even using them as human sacrifices. The corruption eventually resulted to the Downfall of Númenor.[5]
Sauron's spirit, as well as some of the Faithful Númenóreans, escaped to Middle-earth. Sauron returned to Mordor, where he slowly rebuilt his strength. Unable to assume a fair shape, he started to rule through terror and force.
The Faithful founded Gondor and Arnor in Middle-earth. Sauron still considered them his hated enemies and he launched a pre-emptive attack against them. The Númenóreans formed a Last Alliance with the Elves of Lindon and fought Sauron in the War of the Last Alliance, where finally Sauron perished.[7]
Sauron's defeat ended the Dark Years and the Second Age, and allowed the Númenórean realms to flourish during the Third Age.
Names
Other names of this period were the Accursed Years,[1] the Days of Flight.
Mark Fisher has noted that the term "Accursed Years" is a "term of uncertain meaning" (it could also refer to the cursed Oathbreakers, thus being a period roughly corresponding to the Third Age).[8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, p. 82
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "Treebeard"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Númenor"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Akallabêth: The Downfall of Númenor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XVII. Tal-Elmar"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
- ↑ Mark Fisher, "Accursed Years: The long years of Isildur's curse", Encyclopedia of Arda (accessed 19 May 2012)
