{Home} >> {Lore}

Historical Periods of Númenor

By Peter Crijins, ported to the Lexicon by Atharôn.

Arcadian Period – (S.A. 32 - 883)

• Foundation – (S.A. 32 - 442)

• The reign of Elerosse Tar-Minyatur; during this period, Númenor is founded and the King takes a

royal Quenya name, setting a tradition of Quenya being the royal language of the isle.

• Classical Antiquity – (S.A. 442 - 883)

• Tar-Vardamir to Tar-Meneldur; during this period, the Númenóreans sail back to Middle-earth for the

first time; in SA 750, crown prince Anardil, establishes Vinyalonde, the first permanent haven in

Middle-earth.

Golden Age – (S.A. 883 - 2737)

• Colonisation – (S.A. 883 - 1869)

• Tar-Aldarion to Tar-Minastir; during this period, the Númenóreans establish more permanent havens

and trading posts in Middle-earth and aid the Elves in the War of the Elves and Sauron, SA 1693 - 1701;

sometimes referred to as the Age of Seafaring, or the Eldarin Alliance Period; also called the

Early Middle Period.

• Dominion – (S.A. 1869 - 2737)

• Tar-Ciryatan to Tar-Alcarin; during this period, the King’s Men and the Elendili factions are

established, and the Númenóreans begin the military occupation of other lands. It also includes

Herucalmo’s Usurpation and the Reign of the Illegitimate Sovereign, or the Interregnum; also called

the Late Middle Period.

Imperial Era – (S.A. 2737 - 3319)

• Supremacy – (S.A. 2737 - 3177)

• Ar-Belzagar (Tar-Calmacil) to Ar-Gimilzôr (Tar-Telemnar); during this period, the Kings begin to use

Adûnaic names and to persecute the Faithful; sometimes called the Dark Days of Númenor by the Faithful

historians and the Age of Splendour by King’s Men historians.

• Revival – (S.A. 3177 - 3255)

• The reign of Tar-Palantir; during this period, the King endeavours to bring back the old traditions

  with his Reforms, also assuming a royal Quenya name; sometimes referred to as the Days of

  Restoration by Faithful historians and the Reign of the Apostate by King’s Men historians.

• Against the Powers – (S.A. 3255 - 3319)

• The reign of Ar-Pharazôn (Tar-Calion); during this period, the King defeats the Maia Sauron, making

him his servant, who convinces the King to worship Morgoth and to attack Aman, resulting in the

Downfall of Númenor; sometimes called the Rule of the Fallen Usurper or the Disaster of the West, or

the Last Days of Elenna, by Faithful historians and the Time of the Golden Glory or the Invasion for

Immortality, or the Last Days of Gimlad, by King’s Men historians.

Days after the Downfall – (S.A. 3319 - 3441)

• Exile – (S.A. 3319 - 3441)

• Fall of Númenor to the death of Elendil and the End of the Second Age; historiography of the Realms

in Exile begins.