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appendix a 1355
After Ardamin the Kings took the sceptre in names of
the Númenórean (or Adûnaic) tongue: Ar-Adûnakhôr, Ar-
Zimrathôn, Ar-Sakalthôr, Ar-Gimilzôr, Ar-Inziladûn. Inziladûn
repented of the ways of the Kings and changed his name to
Tar-Palantir ‘The Farsighted’. His daughter should have been
the fourth Queen, Tar-Míriel, but the King’s nephew usurped
the sceptre and became Ar-Pharazôn the Golden, last King
of the Númenóreans.
In the days of Tar-Elendil the first ships of the Númenóreans
came back to Middle-earth. His elder child was a daughter,
Silmariën. Her son was Valandil, first of the Lords of Andúnië
in the west of the land, renowned for their friendship with the
Eldar. From him were descended Amandil, the last lord, and his
son Elendil the Tall.
The sixth King left only one child, a daughter. She became the
first Queen; for it was then made a law of the royal house that
the eldest child of the King, whether man or woman, should
receive the sceptre.
The realm of Númenor endured to the end of the Second Age
and increased ever in power and splendour; and until half the
Age had passed the Númenóreans grew also in wisdom and joy.
The first sign of the shadow that was to fall upon them appeared
in the days of Tar-Minastir, eleventh King. He it was that
sent a great force to the aid of Gil-galad. He loved the Eldar
but envied them. The Númenóreans had now become great
mariners, exploring all the seas eastward, and they began to
yearn for the West and the forbidden waters; and the more joyful
was their life, the more they began to long for the immortality
of the Eldar.
Moreover, after Minastir the Kings became greedy of wealth
and power. At first the Númenóreans had come to Middle-earth
as teachers and friends of lesser Men afflicted by Sauron; but
now their havens became fortresses, holding wide coastlands
in subjection. Atanamir and his successors levied heavy tribute,
and the ships of the Númenóreans returned laden with spoil.
It was Tar-Atanamir who first spoke openly against the Ban
and declared that the life of the Eldar was his by right. Thus the