After Númenór was destroyed, those that survived sailed east to Middle-earth. These men were lead by Isildur and Anárion. They founded the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor in 3320 S.A. They built the grand city of Osgiliath to be the capital, as well as the cities of Minas Arnor (Tower of the Sun) and Minas Ithil (Tower of the Moon).
The exiled Númenórians allied with the Elves in 3430 S.A. to form the Last Alliance of Elves and Men to resist Sauron’s power. After winning a great battle at Dagorlad, this Alliance pressed on into Mordor and besieged Barad-dûr. Sauron came out with a huge army to confront them and killed Gil-galad, Elendil, and Anárion. Isildur, however, managed to cut the One Ring from Sauron, which “killed” the Dark Lord. Elrond told Isildur to destroy the Ring in Mount Doom, but the man refused. The Second Age ended and the Third began. The Ring betrayed and killed Isildur in 2 T.A.
Gondor kept a watch on Mordor and prospered at first. But incredible wealth created a culture of decadence and Gondor began to decline. A civil war known as the Kin-strife tore apart Gondor in the 1400s. Many of Gondor’s best troops were slain and Umbar was lost. In 1636 T.A. the Great Plague reached Gondor and decimated its major population centers. The symbolic white trees in Minas Arnor and Minas Ithil died. The watch on Mordor ended and evil creatures began to return there. Osgiliath and Minas Ithil were abandoned. Minas Arnor became Gondor’s new capital in 1640 T.A.
Easterlings invaded Gondor in the 1900s and Gondor faced a succession crisis when its king and both his sons died in battle. The disagreements lead to the establishment of the Stewards of Gondor. One Steward, Cirion, asked a tribe of Northmen to help Gondor in the war against the Easterlings. This tribe agreed and defeated the enemy army in 2510 T.A. The grateful steward gifted the province of Rohan to this tribe and the tribe settled there and became known as the Rohirrim. Their leader, Eorl, swore an oath that Rohan would always be an ally to Gondor.
In 2000 T.A. the Nazgul, led by the Witch-King, returned to Mordor and took the abandoned city of Minas Ithil, renaming it Minas Morgul (Tower of Sorcery). Minas Arnor was renamed Minas Tirith (Tower of Guard) as it fought against the evil forces from Morgul. Sauron returned to Mordor and declared himself openly in 2951 T.A. Gondor is now fighting desperately against the Dark Lord’s growing forces.
Dol Amroth History
After Númenór was destroyed those that survived sailed east to Middle-earth. One of these Númenórians, named Imrazôr, arrived at the elven port-city of Edhellond in the Belfalas Peninsula. He married an elven lady named Mithrellas and had a son named Galador. This son founded a new city for the exiled Númenórians upon a hill named Dol Amroth, or “The Hill of Amroth.”
The city was named after the hill (which itself was named after a noble elf) and grew into a large and prosperous city. It became part of the Kingdom of Gondor, but remained semi-independent under the rule of its princes. Dol Amroth became fortified during the Kin-Strife to protect itself from the Corsairs of Umbar. The people of the city are excellent sailors and craftsmen and furnish Gondor with fleets. The current ruler of the city is Prince Imrahil and he must prepare for a new wave of Corsair attacks that is about to be unleashed.
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