Ar-Pharazôn
"Ar-Pharazôn the Golden was the proudest and most powerful of all the Kings, and no less than the kingship of the world was his desire." —The Lord of the Rings: Appendix A
Ar-Pharazôn the Golden (Second Age 3118 – 3319, aged 201 years) was the twenty-fifth and last King of Númenor, ruling for 64 years, from 3255 to 3319.
Pharazôn was the son of Gimilkhâd, who was the younger brother of the twenty-fourth King, Tar-Palantir. In his youth, Pharazôn and Amandil, the Lord of Andúnië, were dear friends. When Tar-Palantir died, Pharazôn took the King's daughter Míriel as his wife, much against her will. Though Tar-Palantir had named his daughter as his successor, Ar-Pharazôn was able to usurp the throne. He gave his wife the name Ar-Zimraphel, banned the speaking of Quenya, and persecuted the last vestiges of the Faithful.
In 3062 he launched the Númenórean armada, landing at the Haven of Umbar and marching north to Mordor. Such was their power that Sauron's servants deserted him and the Dark Lord taken prisoner. Sauron, however, took on a pleasing form and began poisoning the minds of the King's Men, convincing them to repudiate the Valar and turn their hearts to Morgoth. Within three years he had become Ar-Pharazôn's chief councillor and the corruption of Númenor was complete. The White Tree was cut down and sacrifices were made in the Temple.
Sauron ultimately convinced Ar-Pharazôn to challenge the Valar directly. In 3310, Ar-Pharazôn began building a massive fleet to attack Valinor. Nine years later he broke the Ban of the Valar, landing on the shores of the Undying Lands and marching his army into the abandoned city of Valimar. The next morning the Valar laid down their guardianship of the world and called upon Eru the One, who sank Ar-Pharazôn, his fleet, and all of Númenor beneath the ocean, and changed the shape of the world so that the Undying Lands were no longer part of the world.
The line of Elros survived through Elendil and his two sons, Isildur and Anárion. They would later create the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor in Middle-earth.
Pharazôn means "Golden" in Adûnaic. Had Ar-Pharazôn taken a Quenya name, he would have ruled as Tar-Calion.
| Preceded by: Tar-Palantir |
25th King of NúmenorII 3255 – 3319
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Followed by: none (Kingdom destroyed) |
