The Black Númenóreans | Sauron's Mightiest Servants - Tolkien Lore Video

They were the best of Men, they were the worst of Men. Today we'll explore how some among the mighty race of Númenóreans fell in league with the Dark Lord, and became the most dangerous of all his followers.
Learn more about the Dark Lord Sauron in this video - www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZScb...
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Much love, stay groovy, and navaer mellyn nin!

Пікірлер: 377

  • @oliveromarsson4189
    @oliveromarsson4189 Жыл бұрын

    I like the idea of the mouth of sauron being over 3000 years old. Kinda explains why he forgot his name

  • @tristanburgos1
    @tristanburgos1 Жыл бұрын

    I like how the “Angry Queen” had 9 black cats that were her slaves/spies. Similar to how Sauron had the 9 Nazgûl that wore all black and were slaves to him as well

  • @Keegan171

    @Keegan171

    Жыл бұрын

    In that analogy, Saruman could possibly represent the white cat

  • @tristanburgos1

    @tristanburgos1

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Keegan171 An excellent theory! You just blew my mind lol never even thought about that💯

  • @dronesclubhighjinks

    @dronesclubhighjinks

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Keegan171Interesting idea, but did Saruman spy on the Nazgûl? He was stationary* whereas the Nazgûl roamed freely. (How did they get from the river Bruinen back home? If they can fly, why would they need horses or fell beasts?) *except maybe that one evening (in the book only) when he appeared as an old man by the edges of Fangorn, where Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli were staying overnight. (Was that man ever confirmed to be Saruman? Gandalf denied being there so who else could it have been? And if Saruman can teleport around like that, he could have spied on the Nazgûl, couldn't he? Why did he go to see the three of them, but did not undertake any actions against them?) Saruman certainly was not loyal to Sauron. Did Sauron ever suspect the Nazgûl might betray him? I thought that, having succumbed to their respective rings of power gifted from Sauron, each Nazgûl was his slave in perpetuity. Well, it seems that your comment was very thought-provoking! Thanks!

  • @HD82345
    @HD82345 Жыл бұрын

    In my head cannon I like to think that the mouth of Sauron went on to be the next “dark lord”, like the Sauron to Sauron’s Morgoth. So he’s just another step removed and less powerful and less divine power. Showing more so how the world is kind of becoming less magical, in the same way as how the Valor themselves fought against Morgoth, then it’s just the up to elves and men with the help of the Istari to defeat Sauron, and any further potential threats would be fought by men and elves until eventually it’s just the men fighting another evil man and there’s no more magic.

  • @Malisteen

    @Malisteen

    Жыл бұрын

    The Witch King was pretty much already Sauron's Sauron, as he was the Dark Lord's greatest servant and carried on the work of evil after Sauron's defeat by the last alliance. He even founded his own evil empire in Angmar, from which he led a generations-long campaign to destroy the northern Dunedain nation of Arnor, before returning to Mordor to continue the war against their southern cousins in Gondor. And that war even to the very end was mostly organized and fought by the Witch King and his forces based in Minas Morgul, rather than Sauron & the forces of Barad Dur.

  • @wildfire9280

    @wildfire9280

    5 ай бұрын

    @@Malisteen Not to mention how “the Necromancer” initially popped up in Dol Guldur, many thousands of stone throws away.

  • @marcoslaureano5562
    @marcoslaureano5562 Жыл бұрын

    I don't see Aragorn decapitating the Mouth of Sauron during a so-called "parlay" as dishonorable. The way I see it, Aragorn HAD to do it. The Mouth and his poisonous words were literally sucking the courage right from his men's hearts. They were already shrinking back and Aragorn saw this. In fact his first words to his men after decapitating the Mouth in the movie - "I see in your eyes the same FEAR that would take the heart of me", kind of prove my point. Decapitating him as he did was a way to show his men that there was literally NOTHING to fear from the Mouth OR from Sauron because they once again have a bad-ass Numenorean King leading them. It gave his men heart and bolstered their courage, especially with the speech that followed. Besides, had Aragorn ridden to the Black Gate alone - there is no doubt they would have done much worse to him regardless, because the servants of Sauron have NO HONOR.

  • @noahtylerpritchett2682
    @noahtylerpritchett26822 жыл бұрын

    "His fate is a mystery" Me: "time to write a non canonical book of Mordu"

  • @bryandraughn9830
    @bryandraughn9830 Жыл бұрын

    Love your style, especially when you go off on a tangent and then quickly summarize the tangent with a little humor thrown in so as to get back to the main topic. Anyways.... So entertaining! Don't ever change! Peace:)

  • @fredrickseiler4492
    @fredrickseiler44922 жыл бұрын

    On Beruthial. Tolkien must have had a crazy cat lady neighbor! LOL

  • @joemck74
    @joemck742 жыл бұрын

    I think the version where the Mouth of Sauron is extremely old feels better. Remember, he isn't just a great sorcerer in his own right, but he's one of the Dark Lords favourites. We've seen that the One-ring can greatly extend mortal life just as an unintended side-effect, and 'life extension' was one of Saurons main lures to ensnare the Numenoreans, so I think that between them they could extend the MoSs life to a crazy extent - although the price he paid was something very few would consider worth it. And, he would need a huge amount of time to pass to forget his own name. It's possible to break somebody quiet quickly through hardship and torment, but that's not what happened to The Mouth. From his PoV he was living-his-best-life! And it takes a lot longer than 68, or even 168 years to become a powerful sorcerer as well. Just a thought.

  • @Aames32
    @Aames32 Жыл бұрын

    I have been binging all of these lore videos so far you and nerd of the Rings are my favorites. Such in depth explanations. Thank you.

  • @tolkienuntangled

    @tolkienuntangled

    Жыл бұрын

    I'm really glad you're enjoying the videos!

  • @mike-mz6yz
    @mike-mz6yz2 жыл бұрын

    you cant equate tolkien and Numenorians blood running true with blood purity in our world. This is about a different species really, it is a group that were men but were changed by the gods to be stronger smarter bigger and live longer (really become a middle people between elves and men) So when he talks about blood running true it means the super human traits are still there. It is more like if you breed wolves with dogs and a few generations down the line pointed to a puppy that was more aggressive and bigger and said that dogs wolf blood runs true. I think its important to point this out, Tolkien was the opposite of a blood purist, guy had the guts to send a letter to the Nazi calling them out on antisemitic practices.

  • @rogersmith3657

    @rogersmith3657

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for that observation, that's extremely important to point out.

  • @mike-mz6yz

    @mike-mz6yz

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@rogersmith3657 Thanks! I feel like we often try to put our societal issues into societies of the past and even fictional societies like this. For example the tolkien society debating how atheism is treated in middle earth. I mean in a world where the big bad is a literal fallen angle and a race of people are constantly leaving to go live among actual gods and can remember fighting along side them, I find it hard to believe atheism is wide spread lol.

  • @OljeiKhan

    @OljeiKhan

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@mike-mz6yz as an atheist scum in real life , i can confirm that i would DEFINITELY be believing in shit if i witnessed stuff like an Elf leaving no trails in snow or a Troll who turns to stone thanks to holy sunlight... Tolkien's universe contains many beings that would be considered divine by our standards. The wargs themselves are implied to be bred from the maia/hounds of the first age. So if i was a regular Joe Slankton living near Bree , i could very well witness a lot of supernatural looking stuff and that would be plenty of reason to believe in supernatural stuff. I wish real life rivers had actual spirits like Goldberry and grandpas like Tom :D

  • @mike-mz6yz

    @mike-mz6yz

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@OljeiKhan exactly! lol in our world even those that believe in God tend to believe he/it/them were way more involved thousands of years ago. In ME they are alll around. I mean an angle literally goes around launching fireworks at parties. I agree about the river spirits and such too. Its one reason ive always wished the greek gods were real. Having different gods to represent ever aspect of life would be really cool. So would the idea that if you walk through the woods there is a chance you could run into nypths or water spirits or any other magically beings. Too bad our world is so plain.

  • @paintedweasels

    @paintedweasels

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@mike-mz6yz I heard in India you can still get run over by Bronze-Age priests, they kept a lot of their old gods and beliefs, and still use ancient manuscript books when creating their idols to the old traditional specifications exactly, even painting the eyes last as that is the moment the deity enters the statue.

  • @skatemetrix
    @skatemetrix2 жыл бұрын

    Nice video! That section about Berúthiel got me thinking though... Berúthiel and her cats may be Tolkien reusing an old idea for the original character of Sauron, who was originally called Tevildo. Now Tevildo was the Prince of Cats, and the mightiest of the cats, and occupied a fortress which Beren and Luthien went to- their Luthien defeated Tevildo, took that golden collar which made him big and powerful, and thus caused all the other cats to shrink in size and lose their power. Tevildo was an unpleasant character, known as the Prince of Cats and controlled many great cats. Berúthiel was an unpleasant character, known for her cats and appeared to mind-control her cats as well. So it's either a coincidence or Tolkien refashioned Tevildo's character to create Berúthiel!

  • @BroadwayRonMexico

    @BroadwayRonMexico

    Жыл бұрын

    It was probably a mix of that character idea and the friend of his he mentioned in an interview who REALLY didn't like cats but always got followed by them anyway

  • @mlebrooks
    @mlebrooks Жыл бұрын

    I watched this a year ago and again just now. I love that I can repeat watch your content and still learn.

  • @lordofthehouseofstormcrows8615
    @lordofthehouseofstormcrows86152 жыл бұрын

    Everytime I think of Black Numenoreans.....I get heart burn and bubble guts. Lolol Thanks again Mellon. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK! ECTHELION!

  • @godocs11
    @godocs11 Жыл бұрын

    I just realized the parallel between Beruthiel and her cats and Sauron and the rings. Nine black cats and nine rings for men and one white cat The One Ring to rule them.

  • @gib59er56

    @gib59er56

    Жыл бұрын

    I had the exact same thought. 9 mortal cats doomed to die , one cat to eat all of the meow mix!! lol

  • @dronesclubhighjinks
    @dronesclubhighjinks Жыл бұрын

    Fantastic video! I learned so much. The cat queen Beruthiel is a new favourite villain of mine for sure. I should be used to it by now, but every time I learn about more Middle Earth, history, I feel astonished at Tolkien's level of detail. Thank you for the video! 😻 (I only rarely find use for this emoji!)

  • @that1otherJake
    @that1otherJake Жыл бұрын

    I'd love to see some fanfiction for Berúthiel. Maybe something where she's either misunderstood or intentionally maligned by the Gondorians. Seems like a legitimate take on her legend.

  • @deanross159
    @deanross1592 жыл бұрын

    Awesome video! Been a Tolkien fan for decades and your channel is great! I didn’t know Umbar was a full fledged kingdom, I always imagined it as a city-state. Love that I’m still learning! Thanks!

  • @NOIDEAIWILLJUSTUSEHAILEYIGUESS
    @NOIDEAIWILLJUSTUSEHAILEYIGUESS2 жыл бұрын

    I know I'm very late to comment on this video, but part of me always hoped there would be a surviving member of both the Black Numenoreans and the sons of Castamir to redeem the Dunedain of Umbar. Imagine if the Heir of Isildur met a long distant relative with blood from the Dunedain of Umbar and Gondor. Even if they were to become rival kingdoms again, I hope that their mutual love for Numenorean ideals could lead both kingdoms to gaining an understanding for one another as sucessor states to the legendary kingdom of Numenor.

  • @sarahgould5435

    @sarahgould5435

    Жыл бұрын

    Sadly, any such redemption would probably have to come through Aragorn. Remember, the Black Numenoreans were left behind in Umbar when Ar-Pharazon arrived to conquer and carried Sauron captive back to Numenor. At that point, they were followers of the Usurper and desired immortality just as he did. Umbar is separated from the Northwest of the continent by Mordor, which was impassible even when people believed it was empty. It is likely that the first news they received of the Foundering came from Sauron himself. If not, the first they would have heard was when Gondor finally made it down to the mouth of Anduin in the first attempt to take Umbar generations later. Not exactly something to put them in a listening or redeeming mindframe. Though there may have been travelers up and down Anduin who brought the news to them.

  • @shadowthoughts7959
    @shadowthoughts7959 Жыл бұрын

    17:50 - Dude. Unarmed messenger? They aren't there to negotiate. In the books, Gandalf uses that moment to stall for time, but there was never a version of that reality where he was going to make it. There's Parlay that involves intention to make real peace with an amicable host, and then there is this; Sauron sending a messenger to poke and prod his guests into a state of hopelessness and disarray after just recently storming on their territory after thousands of years of deceit and destruction both under Morgoth AND solo... Look. There is no parlaying. It wasn't dishonorable. It was a return message to a far crueler Sauron; "We reject your offer and substitute our own. Come out and fight." And Aragorn probably sees a Dark Numenorean as a traitor to his own kind, and wouldn't be wrong, so again, I'm cool with it. Also...Dude. Don't break your spine trying to bend around the term "blood." It's a term used across history before an understanding of genetics to explain personal traits such as strength, vitality, endurance, intellect and willpower, as well as to discern the source of physical traits presented. Would you say "Faramir and Denethor bore clear genetic similarities in appearance to Numenoreans?" No. It's a grounding statement that shows us today what Numenoreans back then roughly looked like on average. It's literally the same statement with different words. Relax. Context is key, and if anyone tells you different, they are wrong.

  • @alexandrosmantzolis3738
    @alexandrosmantzolis37382 жыл бұрын

    Dave, there's so much respect for your work here. If you haven't noticed by your self, you are by far the greatest teller of Tolkiens' lore, even from these big channels with hundreds of thousands of views. Please work on your promotion of your channel too, it's a shame if there is people who haven't discovered you yet. Your voice, your rythm, your details and also your script on how to unravel these things for us seems to be with "μεράκι", as we say in Greece with this word that's not translated to other languages. Be well, we expect to see many of your thoughts come to life in your videos.

  • @chaseneedham7127

    @chaseneedham7127

    Жыл бұрын

    I started watching a different channel by way of endless scroll and immediately switched back to Dave. He's fantastic.

  • @celestialspartan1176
    @celestialspartan11762 жыл бұрын

    The Numenoreans, especially the Faithful, in terms of height, were almost as tall as the Spartan super soldiers from the Halo games. I know this game is non-canon, but in Shadow Of Mordor, there was a Black Numenorean known only as The Tower. He was the embodiment of Sauron’s cruel and sadistic nature, but his height was comparable to that of the Numenoreans of old. It actually makes me wonder if he was purely of Numenorean blood.

  • @killer2434

    @killer2434

    2 жыл бұрын

    The Tower should be canon, Tolkien would be proud of such an abomination!

  • @SSchithFoo

    @SSchithFoo

    Жыл бұрын

    @@killer2434 Tower may not be canon but The Mouth of Sauron was one of the Black Númenóreans so there you go.

  • @j-mc5201

    @j-mc5201

    11 ай бұрын

    Shadow of Mordor. Shadow of War. 2 greatest games in History. Rule of Opinion of games is MINE! And No Others!

  • @alsie8459
    @alsie84592 жыл бұрын

    this is the first video i have seen from you and i must say that i fell in love with the way you explain things. i don't feel overwhelmed by all the details you choose to present. listening to your voice is like having a conversation over tea with a friend. i'm looking forward to your future projects!

  • @glenhayman8722
    @glenhayman8722 Жыл бұрын

    thank you for your research these videos greatly help me understand the lore of tolkien in a bite size portions

  • @jennipherem3695
    @jennipherem36952 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Rainbow Dave! My pet fanfic regarding the black numenoreans/the mouth of sauron/the fourth age: Canoncially: In the Kin-Strife, Castamir the Usurper, who was of the royal line of Gondor, rose up against the rightful king on the basis of racial prejudice against the royal blood being mixed with the middle men of Rhovanion. He was defeated after a brief reign, but we know that his sons fled south and became the rulers of Umbar. We know that these rulers would later mix with the men of Harad, but I propose that there was a faction of the line of Castamir that protested against this mingling, and returned in secret to try and preserve their 'supremacy' among the 'purer' nobility of Gondor. They were servants of the shadow, and late in the third age offered up a child to the newly returned Sauron. This child became the Mouth of Sauron, who was the lieutenant of Barad-dur, in line to be Sauron's second-in-command in Orthanc - Just as Sauron had been the lieutenant of Morgoth. But when Sauron fell, the Mouth survived the battle of the Morannon, and his line re-infiltrated Gondorian society. Down the generations they passed the secret title of "Lieutenant" to their leader, regarding themselves as the heirs to the shadow. They would be behind the plot in The New Shadow, and continue to operate even after its thwarting. Being "mostly true" descendants of the Numenorean line of kings, they could also produce an 'anti-Elessar' to challenge or even intermarry to the kingship of the Re-united Kingdom. I would like to see the racial supremacist elements within Tolkien's world confronted head-on by a narrative which understands their folly. Perhaps the last remnants of the world of the Numenoreans must finally burn down, and notions of supremacy based on ancient bloodlines be ended, before men can start a new age in equality.

  • @Isambardify
    @Isambardify2 жыл бұрын

    It's so weird how on the nose Tolkien's names are, especially for evil characters. Like, the language exists in universe. We would expect an educated person in Numinorean aristocracy to be aware they were naming their kid the elfish phrase for "dark evil" or whatever. How metal were these parents??

  • @joedarby4596

    @joedarby4596

    2 жыл бұрын

    Maybe the elvish phrase came after the original name? Just a thought :)

  • @kevinohara4574

    @kevinohara4574

    2 жыл бұрын

    As metal as were we...

  • @mike-mz6yz

    @mike-mz6yz

    2 жыл бұрын

    I think he did this intently to show how history shapes language. Kind of like Benedict Arnold, in 1000 years someone might look at that character and say why did his parents name him after a term meaning traitor? nobody should have trusted him. When really his actions gave the term meaning.

  • @abnercliff9624

    @abnercliff9624

    2 жыл бұрын

    The term came from the name

  • @roger5059

    @roger5059

    2 жыл бұрын

    I think this was the name given to him after he was kidnapped

  • @midori4352
    @midori43522 жыл бұрын

    I do like that the crazy not-so-cat-loving lady gets put on a boat with cats. Critters probably didn't like water much. I feel bad that Ulmo has to deal with her.

  • @jameswest981
    @jameswest9812 жыл бұрын

    U are so good at explaining,this body of work,I've tried to study with other channels, but I get lost in the many, descendants of the characters kin,but u walk it down,step by step in a way I can understand.I think u sir.

  • @Phuskooz
    @Phuskooz2 жыл бұрын

    So grateful for the upload!! Keep it up, Rainbow Dave! 🌈

  • @simonvegas793
    @simonvegas7932 жыл бұрын

    Great channel. Great content. Would deffo like to hear more about Sauron and his relationship with Numenor. Keep it up.

  • @jessewilliams9195
    @jessewilliams91952 жыл бұрын

    This was fascinating. Thank you so much.

  • @totallynotthebio-lizard7631
    @totallynotthebio-lizard76312 жыл бұрын

    The number 9 seems to be very important in the Legendarium. From the rings to Frodo’s fingers at the end of the tale.

  • @jamescam04

    @jamescam04

    Жыл бұрын

    The number 9 recurs in Norse mythology, which may be where Tolkien got it from.

  • @H0plite99
    @H0plite992 жыл бұрын

    Nice work with these videos. My compliments!

  • @shawnnorton2218
    @shawnnorton22182 жыл бұрын

    Glad to have you back creating new content Dave! Good luck with the new job and new city~ hope it all works out for ya! Just happy to have you back~ I tried all the other channels while you were doing your thing and, lol~ well here I am writing this, lol~ you just explain it very well my friend, so thank you!

  • @tolkienuntangled

    @tolkienuntangled

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much for your lovely words! I really appreciate it!

  • @LaurensCorner
    @LaurensCorner2 жыл бұрын

    Every time i hear numenor the numa numa song becomes a thing in my head.... lol i will show myself out :P

  • @garythesweep
    @garythesweep2 жыл бұрын

    i completely agree with your take on PJ sullying Aragons honour during the parlie with the LT of barudur , his character in books is totally counter to this kinda action imo

  • @GODDAMNLETMEJOIN

    @GODDAMNLETMEJOIN

    Жыл бұрын

    That's why they cut the scene presumably.

  • @garythesweep

    @garythesweep

    Жыл бұрын

    Totally forgot theres a non theatrical version without this scene tbh

  • @thor2070
    @thor20702 жыл бұрын

    I believed that the Mouth of Sauron had died in the final battle leading the armies of Sauron. Such a loyalist is not just going to up and leave their lord in their greatest need--unless commanded.

  • @gregbors8364

    @gregbors8364

    2 жыл бұрын

    Mouth of Sauron, as depicted in the short scene in the book, was a coward.

  • @ovcharkaboxing
    @ovcharkaboxing2 жыл бұрын

    great channel. interesting vids. i expect your subs will skyrocket

  • @rashida7777
    @rashida7777 Жыл бұрын

    Subscribed! Loved it!

  • @musicman7982
    @musicman7982 Жыл бұрын

    I'm enjoying your videos on Tolkien. Thank you for your efforts. One question I had was in ROTK before they set out for The Black Gate someone says they are barely the size of Gondor's vanguard at its height (I don't remember the line word for word). I'm wondering just how big the army was if the vanguard was 6 or 7 thousand.

  • @jeromyframe1930
    @jeromyframe19302 жыл бұрын

    Loved it Dave. especially the summary resisting our fears and staying to True in our faith. Really enjoyed this as I do all your content. Stay groovy 🌈 Dave

  • @CarlPottsprofile
    @CarlPottsprofile2 жыл бұрын

    outstanding Dave :)

  • @jackschwartz1783
    @jackschwartz17832 жыл бұрын

    The reason cats go to people that don't like cats is due to cats perceiving that looking at them is an invitation. People that don't like cats tend to keep an eye on the cats, hoping they will stay away. The cat sees them looking and comes over to see what they want. Ironic huh? lol Take Care All

  • @shahsjddjejdjd2551

    @shahsjddjejdjd2551

    Жыл бұрын

    That's some real shit

  • @ellanenish5999
    @ellanenish59992 жыл бұрын

    It's always sad for me how they change the vision of Angmar into the dominion of Black Numenoreans, there was never a population of these people in the North, instead Angmar (apart from being inhabited by orcs) was home for Angmarim Hillmen which in many games for eg. are forgotten and no body really remembers them, that's why I love the depiction of Angmarim in War in the North, at this the game is really accurate. Remember Angmar!

  • @republikadugave420
    @republikadugave420 Жыл бұрын

    I do not understand how you have so few followers...content you produce is golden

  • @tolkienuntangled

    @tolkienuntangled

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @tommygun333
    @tommygun333 Жыл бұрын

    Great work!

  • @IGBaguley
    @IGBaguley Жыл бұрын

    Love all the videos

  • @Raz.C
    @Raz.C2 жыл бұрын

    It's a bit misleading to say that Numenoreans aren't from Middle Earth, since all their human ancestors both before and during the First Age were indeed from Middle Earth. Even their Elven ancestry, passed down from Elwing of the Teleri (Sindar) and Idril Celebrindal of the Noldor, both came from Middle Earth.

  • @morganhale3434
    @morganhale34342 жыл бұрын

    The greatest reason for the eclipse of the Black Numenoreans after the Akallebeth was that they lived in the most heavily populated lands of Middle Earth and intermarried with the twilight men and lost their culture and heritage; whereas the Faithful lived in Gondor and Eriador which was not heavily populated, except for the forefathers of the Dunlendings who did not want much to do with the Dunedain. Numenor lived on in Gondor and Arnor, but not in Harad, amongst the Southrons, or the Mumakani.

  • @BartAllen

    @BartAllen

    2 жыл бұрын

    *Actually Numenoreans lived in Harad, too, whether it be Umbar or the settlements south (the areas which Earendil explored during the First Age which lead to his encounter with Ungoliant albeit that was in the Book of Lost Tales) ~ One of the three last settlements of Elros' bloodline was in Harad, when Castamir's sons, grandsons and great-grandsons mated with the women of Harad ~ Also one of the reasons Arnor fell - unlike Gondor and Umbar - was due to their lack of intermarriage with non-Numenoreans and Middle Men ~*

  • @morganhale3434

    @morganhale3434

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@BartAllen Harad was much more heavily populated than Eriador and Belfalas, Lebennin, Anorien, and Ithilien were more or less desolate because the Eldar were in those regions and the twilight men feared them.

  • @morganhale3434

    @morganhale3434

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@BartAllen That is why the Faithful settled in Gondor, to be nearer to the Eldar and let's be honest much better real estate with very few locals to be upset with their new neighbors. What happened later with Gondor and the middle-men came after the establishment of the Gondorian Empire of the Sea Kings.

  • @CarlosRodriguez-gn4xl
    @CarlosRodriguez-gn4xl2 жыл бұрын

    Where the hell have you been? Great video, 👏

  • @lopirobinson1991
    @lopirobinson19912 жыл бұрын

    Just like a cat to do something just to annoy you 😂 Probably knocked over the palatiri any chance they got.

  • @EldergodUK
    @EldergodUK Жыл бұрын

    I have to say blood purity in middle earth is an important factor of all the realms. It's why Aragon is superior to Théoden in the third age, due to his blood line to the great island of Numenor. 🙂

  • @WHYtheband
    @WHYtheband Жыл бұрын

    Great videos

  • @krystianklima2503
    @krystianklima25032 жыл бұрын

    Superb 🔥

  • @bobbycooperyoung6048
    @bobbycooperyoung60487 ай бұрын

    I’m down for working through the questions arising out of the age of the mouth of Sauron. My instincts tell me that 66 is not quite old enough. Next time you’re in NYC look me up and we’ll have lunch and try to figure it out!

  • @shawnmiller9617
    @shawnmiller9617 Жыл бұрын

    Love your stuff dave. Absolutly love. But. And i feel slow for asking but. At the begining and end of every video. What is it u are saying. It sounds beautiful

  • @davidthetraveler1466
    @davidthetraveler1466 Жыл бұрын

    Just goes to show that even the best of us can turn out to be the worst of us (something we really need to keep our eyes out for in this day and age).

  • @erikkarlsson861
    @erikkarlsson861 Жыл бұрын

    I think you would love the "Age of The Ring" mod for Batle for Middle-Earth II, while the vanilla game made Angmar a faction with the black numenorians (as you mentioned) the mod made an entire new faction (the "Haradwaith") while they house the easterlings and harads they also house black numenorians as its elite tier troops. All together with a roster of Harad heros, among them a hero claiming to be the rightfull king of the numenorian legacy. Although it may be completely made up they do seem to follow the lore than other games wich usually lump them together with Angmar as a default.

  • @timwhite5562
    @timwhite55622 жыл бұрын

    Yeah, I wasn't cheering Aragon cutting the Mouth of Sauron's head off. I literally said out loud "so we're chopping envoy's heads off during a parlay?" Wasn't one his noblest moments.

  • @timwhite5562

    @timwhite5562

    Жыл бұрын

    @Abe Froman Thanks for that. Where would we all be if you weren't here to tell us it was a movie? Likely going on thinking we were watching a documentary. 🙄

  • @PanzerShrek94

    @PanzerShrek94

    7 ай бұрын

    If the envoy is an arrogant evil insulting jerk then yes,we are chopping..at least i would.

  • @timwhite5562

    @timwhite5562

    7 ай бұрын

    @@PanzerShrek94 that's f'cking dumb

  • @DRKrust492
    @DRKrust4922 жыл бұрын

    He skipped how the rebels who fought the Kin Strife against the true king of Gondor fled to Umbar when defeated. Not sure why he'd skip that, seems relevant. They were allied to Umbar, provided new Numenorean blood to that in Umbar and likely increased the hatred of the Umbar rulers against Gondor.

  • @tolkienuntangled

    @tolkienuntangled

    2 жыл бұрын

    Yeah I'll do a whole video on the King-strife one day

  • @lopirobinson1991
    @lopirobinson19912 жыл бұрын

    I didn’t know that rose warriors on the giant elephants in Return of The King were descendants, some maybe, of Umbar. Cool.

  • @roberthaynes488
    @roberthaynes48823 күн бұрын

    Thank you thank you thank you!

  • @johnsalkeld1088
    @johnsalkeld10882 жыл бұрын

    Beruthiel was a goth queen?

  • @davidmersh7221
    @davidmersh72212 жыл бұрын

    The long life of the Numenoreans was granted by the Valar as a reward to the men who fought with the elves during the wars against Morgoth in the 1st Age (most men sided with Morgoth). Before this they lived ordinary lifespans for men.

  • @BJETNT

    @BJETNT

    2 жыл бұрын

    Okay that's what I thought He left that out! I won't give him a disc like just for that but yeah that's important. Good point

  • @Dante-vf4sd

    @Dante-vf4sd

    2 жыл бұрын

    I thought the Numenorians were long lived because their first member was an elf who gave up his immortality but still had and passed on long life

  • @mike-mz6yz

    @mike-mz6yz

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Dante-vf4sd nope, he wasnt the father of the nation lol in the first age a few clans of men went west to where the elves lived while the rest stayed in the east where melkor was worshiped. The ones who went west mostly ended up becoming friends with the elvish kingdoms and fought along side them (some fought for the dark lord too) Those who survived the war were given gifts for the sacrifice. After the war when the world was reshaped Eru created a new huge island in between middle earth and valinor and settled these men there giving them and made them super human pretty much. They then selected elros as king (the half-elf who picked humanity)

  • @mike-mz6yz

    @mike-mz6yz

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Dante-vf4sd I believe his ancestors did live long even for numenoriens though because of his heritage. Like 200 years for normal ones and 400 for his line.

  • @Dante-vf4sd

    @Dante-vf4sd

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@mike-mz6yz Ah I see, yes that makes sense, I'm getting the two things mixed up, Aragorn was long lived for both reasons.

  • @Aelendris
    @Aelendris2 жыл бұрын

    At 20:30 you write that the kin-strife is the reason Osgiliath is a ruin. That is very vaguely worded and not wholly true, the Dome of the Stars and the Palantír within were destroyed and the city was sacked. The Kin-strife was only the initial decline for Osgiliath as the capital of Gondor, with the king's court being moved in TA 1640, almost two centuries after the Kin-strife. Osgiliath was not abandoned until TA. 2475, almost a millennium after the kin-strife.

  • @itayshorek6872
    @itayshorek6872 Жыл бұрын

    so good 🤩

  • @mlebrooks
    @mlebrooks2 жыл бұрын

    Maybe Berúthiel is sindarin for crazy cat lady

  • @dendyer694
    @dendyer6948 ай бұрын

    Would it be possible that the mouth of sauron was gifted a lesser ring? The statement that he was trusted by Sauron and knew his mind makes me believe he is much older as Sauron works in hundreds of years of dozens, it could have extended his life but not yet turned him into a wraith. And if he becomes a wraith, well it has worked for Sauron in the past the Nazgul???

  • @jaredno
    @jaredno Жыл бұрын

    In the context of LOTR novel, Tolkien wrote that the blood of Numenor ran true in Framir & his father unlike his brother Boromir. Therefore I understood he meant character wise, wisdom & insight rather than purity of race or anything related to genetics. Because otherwise Boromir would also be pure.

  • @kwazooplayingguardsman5615

    @kwazooplayingguardsman5615

    Жыл бұрын

    or that genetic traits that is expressively numenorian (taller in stature, longer of life) were present in faramir but wasn't in boromir, punnet square and all that.

  • @bennuredjedi
    @bennuredjedi Жыл бұрын

    Wow! The movies missed out on a lot of important factions places and things

  • @michaelhanford8139
    @michaelhanford8139 Жыл бұрын

    The cat lady reminds me of a Greek tale of aprofoundly wicked princess who was banished on a boat with her, I believe 10, followers (attendants or ladies in waiting, if memory serves) that landed on an island called Alba that was inhabited by demons with whom the Greek women mated, creating monstrous offspring.

  • @mlebrooks
    @mlebrooks2 жыл бұрын

    The mouth of Sauron actor is Zed from legend of the seeker

  • @mlebrooks

    @mlebrooks

    2 жыл бұрын

    He is also chum (a shark) in finding Nemo

  • @tolkienuntangled

    @tolkienuntangled

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@mlebrooks that's awesome!

  • @mypeeps1965
    @mypeeps19652 жыл бұрын

    I feel like you just let a bunch of horses out of the coral and I'm left trying to gather them up one by one. Thank you? LOL

  • @zachwickett101

    @zachwickett101

    2 жыл бұрын

    0

  • @sauron3488
    @sauron34882 жыл бұрын

    And they worship me as a divine god.

  • @alexiel4406

    @alexiel4406

    Жыл бұрын

    They worshiped your daddy morgoth

  • @KuonilerariLoufanwald

    @KuonilerariLoufanwald

    Жыл бұрын

    Actually, Sauron disguised himself and had the Numenoreans worship Morgoth.

  • @NebMunb

    @NebMunb

    Жыл бұрын

    @@KuonilerariLoufanwald akkkshually

  • @josephmort4039

    @josephmort4039

    Жыл бұрын

    And then you decided to ignore the “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” proverb.

  • @ahriskof1

    @ahriskof1

    Жыл бұрын

    Hey sauron wanna hear a joke? Eye don’t know

  • @ellanenish5999
    @ellanenish59992 жыл бұрын

    I wouldn't say I Umbar was a Kingdom, an independent state does not need to be a Kingdom, we know that Black Numenoreans although having control over coasts of Harad were a minority and various chieftains of Black Numenoreans rose in power among Haradrim, which means that it wasn't really a Kingdom in Second Age but it probably was an Independent State(of course dependent of Sauron's influence indirectly). Herumor and Fuinur are mentioned just as great Lords of that lands having power on those territories and there is no mention of it being a separate Kingdom, I really do not believe that it was a Kingdom ever, maybe in the Third Age when Castamir's decendants ruled it had rose to the rank of Kingdom though it is not sure we know that it was an independent state but that time too, so if there is no mention of a kingdom or a king I think we shouldn't say that. Of course it's just my own opinion, Tolkien didn't gave many information about the southern and eastern territories so there is a lot of free space for speculation.

  • @noahtylerpritchett2682
    @noahtylerpritchett26822 жыл бұрын

    Black Numenoreans have badass fanart. Like Mordu has awesome fanart outside the movie. He actually btw has fire around his head.

  • @noahtylerpritchett2682
    @noahtylerpritchett26822 жыл бұрын

    Racial purity in Numenorean society means lives longer. Middle men blood means life span dilution. Probably also phenotypic change. Which happens among endogamous communities. Tolkien was a product of his time.

  • @Artanis99

    @Artanis99

    2 жыл бұрын

    If you mean the term "Black Numenorians" it is not as I understand about color of their skin, but about their ideology. The "Black" Numenoreans were not called so in the Second Age they were simply Numenoreans or later King's men. This name came from their worship of Sauron and Melkor more than any phenotype. Ironically "Black" Numenoreans could be actually "purer" in their genetics than people of Gondor and Arnor as they were conquerors and tyrants and unconcerned by things like sanity, incest or morality and very concerned by the things like immortality, lifespan, power and superiority. Lessening of the lifespan is another topic. To go a bit into it, Numenoreans were made superhuman by pretty much divine blessing and maintained teachings of the elves and Valar. But that blessing was finite and to an extent tied to Numenor's very existence. Essentialy, more they went against Valar and their teachings, shorter their lives became. Prior to Tar-Ancalimon (who made the split between King's men and Faithful) the kings of Numenor usually lived around 4 centuries, past that the lifespan of the kings starts to decline rapidly with final king of Numenor starting to feel decline towards death by the age of 200. In contrast Elendil (of The Faithful) was fit enough to duel Sauron at the age of 322 (and BTW unlike in the movie Gil-Galad and Elendil decisively defeated Sauron in that Duel before succumbing to their wounds). After the fall of Numenor even the Faithful started to decline (line of the kings prior to Aragorn having lifespans around 150-250 years). Dilluting of the Numenorian blood in case of Gondor was more a case of a demographic shift more than anything else. When you read history of Gondor it has its share of catastrophic defeats, plagues etc. and Numenoreans had pretty low birthrate so the population got replenished by Middle men and while the cultural shift was not that severe the ethnic shift was much more pronounced so by the end of TA only a small percentage were truly Numenoreans the rest may have had Numenorian generations back but were for intents and purposes of the lifespan Middle men.

  • @CryMyName100
    @CryMyName100 Жыл бұрын

    So, about the Black Numenorians fear of death; is it just a coincidence that before the Battle of Pelennor Fields Théoden shouted to Rohirrim "Death!" ?

  • @bridgetcooper6331
    @bridgetcooper6331 Жыл бұрын

    Can you do a episode on the Oath Breakers

  • @johnbigboote8900
    @johnbigboote89002 жыл бұрын

    Beruthiel reminds me of Gertrude, Lady Groan, in Mervyn Peake's novel Titus Groan; very introspective, powerful, and surrounded by a menagerie of various birds and a veritable army of cats. Is this the only mention of cats in the Legendarium? Frankly I have trouble picturing cats in Middle Earth at all.

  • @johnbenedictsy530
    @johnbenedictsy5302 жыл бұрын

    were there any good black numenorean characters? (i just love redemption arcs)

  • @tolkienuntangled

    @tolkienuntangled

    2 жыл бұрын

    There's absolutely no evidence to support this either way, but I like to imagine the Mouth of Sauron being de-radicalised after the fall of Barad-dur, and at least finding some redemption in a life absent the Dark Lord's influence. Other than that there's not really any good Black Numenroeans, although after the downfall of Sauron, the men of Harad did make peace with Aragorn and lived in peaceful co-existance with Gondor. So it is possible.

  • @area609joe2

    @area609joe2

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@tolkienuntangled interesting theory

  • @SantomPh

    @SantomPh

    2 жыл бұрын

    There is no redemption for these people. They literally worship evil and breed it down to their descendants. Even when Numenor was still above the water, the Faithful and King's Men were already separate. Now when Arnor and Gondor were formed a lot of Numenoreans eventually turned to the Black Numenorean side, but no one came the other way. There is the term "fallen" for a reason. No one gets back up. Of course we are talking about Numenoreans, not others like Easterlings or Haradrim, who Sam imagines might actually believe that their cause was just

  • @SantomPh

    @SantomPh

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@tolkienuntangled the Men of Harad are not Black Numenoreans, so they fought for Sauron as an ally on equal standing. The Mouth probably killed himself or fled so far east no one found him, as he was clearly old and set in his ways

  • @johnbenedictsy530

    @johnbenedictsy530

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@SantomPh well good thing there was no mention then, haha I'd like to believe that even those who were bred for evil have a chance at redemption. thanks for the answers :)

  • @jeffleake1960
    @jeffleake1960 Жыл бұрын

    what Aragorn did chopping the mouth of Saurons head of is where we get the phrase don't kill the messenger , a little known fact !

  • @PanzerShrek94

    @PanzerShrek94

    7 ай бұрын

    If the envoy is an arrogant evil insulting jerk then yes,we are chopping..at least i would.

  • @ZombieWarningStation
    @ZombieWarningStation Жыл бұрын

    love it

  • @teakay1412
    @teakay14122 жыл бұрын

    I find myself in the Tolkien hole and now I'm here!

  • @johnsalkeld1088
    @johnsalkeld10882 жыл бұрын

    Maybe a few off shoots of the line of elros?

  • @StarcatMkV
    @StarcatMkV Жыл бұрын

    Sorry, video was too nice, so second comment. (: Adding onto the thing about the Oath Breakers: Watching them swarm the Mûmakil in the Pelennor Fields like bugs during the movie was both one of my favourite and most hilarious parts. xD

  • @tjk3430
    @tjk3430 Жыл бұрын

    There's no parlay after what Sauron just did to Gondor and Rohan. Honor was not to be expected from Argorn.

  • @therealmatthewsmith
    @therealmatthewsmithАй бұрын

    The men of Numenor were so old and tall that when Eru Ilúvatar went to destroy them he just gave them prostate cancer.

  • @waltonsmith7210
    @waltonsmith72102 жыл бұрын

    I'm really curious about those dark secrets the men of Gondor wished to keep hidden lol. What on earth are those men of Gondor getting up to?

  • @mike-mz6yz

    @mike-mz6yz

    2 жыл бұрын

    I love that line! it shows how tolkien didnt see the good guys as always good.

  • @damenwhelan3236
    @damenwhelan32362 жыл бұрын

    When I first crossed the bridge again, it wasn't for 9 months having been closed....

  • @carlcramer9269
    @carlcramer92692 жыл бұрын

    Berúthiel shown as liking rather puritan aesthetics gives the idea that this was what the Black Numenoreans were like. It may also show us what Tolkien, a catholic, thought of puritan aesthetics. :)

  • @StarcatMkV
    @StarcatMkV Жыл бұрын

    This dude said *‘a ton’* of cats, then said there were only ten. xD I feel called out. :')

  • @johnsalkeld1088
    @johnsalkeld10882 жыл бұрын

    Is that foreshadowing - nine ring wraiths and 1 white wizard?

  • @woolenthreads
    @woolenthreads Жыл бұрын

    Sorry, but I take issue with "The Numenoreans were not from Middle-earth....", Hurin and Huors kin, whose descendants became the Numenoreans travelled west across Middle-earth and met the Noldorin in Middle-earth. So they did come from Middle-earth through the houses of Hador, Beor and Haleth and were given some gifts for the actions of their houses by the Valar.

  • @EuroAdds
    @EuroAdds2 жыл бұрын

    This video announces an incorrect version of the history of the ship Kings of Gondor. I am abit surprised that the author of this video made this error. In the video at 10mins 35secs we are told in the video that it was the 12th King Tarranon Falastur of Gondor (the first ship king) who took Umbar. This is clearly incorrect. It was his nephew Earnil I, the 13th King of Gondor (second ship king) who took Umbar at great cost in 933.

  • @enzeth
    @enzeth2 жыл бұрын

    Interesting video as always, thanks for making them. Something I have wondered about for a while is, in the movie at the gates of Mordor, Frodo, Sam and Gollum are almost caught by two soldiers from a large group entering the black gates, who were they?

  • @tolkienuntangled

    @tolkienuntangled

    2 жыл бұрын

    That scene isn't really in the books, but I believe those guys are supposed to be the Eastelrings of Rhun. Along with the Haradrim (and corsairs) the Easterlings were Gondor's most persistent enemies. In fact even after the defeat of Sauron, they remained enemies of Gondor for a long time, and continued hostilities against Aragorn.

  • @enzeth

    @enzeth

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@tolkienuntangled Yes, that makes sense, thank you! =)

  • @waltonsmith7210
    @waltonsmith72102 жыл бұрын

    The Black Numenorians are the coolest faction in the Legendarium. I like that not all the Numenorians were such goodie tooshoes. It makes so much sense that the greatest of men would also be the greatest threat to Middle Earth.

  • @tonys9397
    @tonys93974 ай бұрын

    Well I mean even if we go with the second date for barad dur he would still be quite old since i doubt he enter service as soon as he shot out of the womb. If he was like say 25 (i suspect older tho) he would be like in his 90s by the time of lotr. Also presumably a lot of time would have had to past for him to forget his name

  • @jackruby6696
    @jackruby66962 жыл бұрын

    Good video btw. In my mind sauron was an Anti villain

  • @rickblaine9670
    @rickblaine9670 Жыл бұрын

    12:07 Wait a second, Sauron was literally The Lord of Cats in his first iteration as Tevildo. I’m seeing a pattern here😂

  • @loganphelps3720
    @loganphelps3720 Жыл бұрын

    9:38 he sounds like a british travis from fallout 4 lol