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The '''Dark Years''' (also '''Black Years''' and '''Dark Days'''<ref name=Foster>{{HM|Guide}}, p. 82</ref>) were the long years of the [[Second Age]] when the races of [[Middle-earth]], especially the [[Men]], suffered under the domination of [[Sauron]].
The '''Dark Years''' (also '''Black Years''' and '''Dark Days'''<ref name=Foster>{{HM|Guide}}, p. 82</ref>) 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.<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. But it was around {{SA|882}} when King [[Gil-galad]] warned the Númenóreans that an evil power was taking shape in the [[East]].<ref>{{UT|Aldarion}}</ref><ref>{{App|Numenor}}</ref>
[[File:John Howe - The Dark Tower 02.jpg|thumb|[[John Howe]] - The Dark Tower|left]]
[[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]].  
Indeed, [[Sauron]], who had denied the judgment of the [[Valar]], established himself to [[Mordor]] around {{SA|1000}}. He fortified the land 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'']]
[[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 against him]], but Sauron which destroyed [[Eregion]] and devastated much of [[Eriador]], pushing the Elves back almost to the [[Blue Mountains]]. 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>
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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/>
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 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.
 
[[File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Last Alliance.jpg|left|thumb|Dúnedain attack in Peter Jackson's ''Fellowship of the Ring'']]
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.<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref>
The [[Faithful]] who escaped founded [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]] in Middle-earth and gathered Mannish peoples under them, including the [[Oathbreakers|Men of the Mountains]] who formerly worshipped Sauron. Sauron still considered the Númenóreans his most 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.<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref>


Sauron's defeat ended the Dark Years and the Second Age, and allowed the Númenórean realms to flourish during the [[Third Age]].
Sauron's defeat ended the Dark Years and the Second Age, and allowed the Númenórean realms to flourish during the [[Third Age]].
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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]]).<ref>{{webcite|author=Mark Fisher|articleurl=http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/a/accursedyears.html|articlename=Accursed Years: The long years of Isildur's curse|dated=|website=EoA|accessed=19 May 2012}}</ref>
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]]).<ref>{{webcite|author=Mark Fisher|articleurl=http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/a/accursedyears.html|articlename=Accursed Years: The long years of Isildur's curse|dated=|website=EoA|accessed=19 May 2012}}</ref>
 
== Portrayal in Adaptations ==
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Some of the Dark Years are seen during the [[Prologue: One Ring to Rule Them All...|Prologue]] to the film. After Sauron forged the [[One Ring]], his power is seen expanding over a map of the [[Westlands]], with flashback scenes of battles and peoples being ravaged by [[Orcs]]. The Last Alliance is formed as a direct response to Sauron's brutalities.
{{References}}
{{References}}
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[[Category:Periods]]
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[[de:Dunkle Jahre]]
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[[fi:Mustat Vuodet]]

Revision as of 15:52, 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. But it was around S.A. 882 when King Gil-galad warned the Númenóreans that an evil power was taking shape in the East.[3][4]

John Howe - The Dark Tower

Indeed, Sauron, who had denied the judgment of the Valar, established himself to Mordor around S.A. 1000. He fortified the land with the Black Gate and armies of the Men of Darkness whom he corrupted and enslaved. He also built Barad-dûr near Mount Doom.

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 a bloody conflict against him, but Sauron which destroyed Eregion and devastated much of Eriador, pushing the Elves back almost to the Blue Mountains. 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 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.

Dúnedain attack in Peter Jackson's Fellowship of the Ring

The Faithful who escaped founded Gondor and Arnor in Middle-earth and gathered Mannish peoples under them, including the Men of the Mountains who formerly worshipped Sauron. Sauron still considered the Númenóreans his most 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]

Portrayal in Adaptations

2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:

Some of the Dark Years are seen during the Prologue to the film. After Sauron forged the One Ring, his power is seen expanding over a map of the Westlands, with flashback scenes of battles and peoples being ravaged by Orcs. The Last Alliance is formed as a direct response to Sauron's brutalities.

References