The Faithful

The Faithful referred to the minority of Numenoreans who remained friendly with the Elves and respectful and obedient to the Valar.

Though the seeds of the Faithful were sown in the days of Tar-Minastir and Tar-Ciryatan, the group arose in about SA 2300 during the days of Tar-Ancalimon with Andúnië as their chief city where the Elves were received with love. As use of Elven-tongues and respect for the Valar began to wane, the Faithful became the only ones to preserve these traditions unto themselves. In 2350 seeing the coming shadow, the Faithful founded the haven of Pelargir on the shores of Middle-Earth as opposed to Umbar which became a haven of the King's Men. As the King's Men's influence grew and the people and their rulers became more and more greedy of wealth and power, there arose Ar-Gimilzôr in 3100. Being one of the King's Men he openly persecuted the Faithful, forbidding the teaching and speaking of the Elven tongues nor was meeting with Elves permitted either. The Faithful were then forced to move from the west havens to Rómenna where they were carefully watched. In these evil days, many of the Faithful emigrated to the friendly havens in Middle-Earth. Some relief came to them when in 3175 Tar-Palantir became king. He repented the ways of his forefathers and stopped the persecution of the Faithful and tried to amend the corruption of Númenor but his line failed and the King's Men survived. But it was when Ar-Pharazôn son of Gimilkhâd forcibly usurped the throne, conquered Sauron and took him prisoner to Númenor that the Faithful endured their most grievous woe for the King listened to his evil words and took him into his councils. During this time the Faithful were hunted, killed and even sacrificed in Sauron's temple to the cult of Melkor. When the King prepared the Great Armament, Amandil, the current leader of the Faithful attempted to sail to Aman to beg for forgiveness and mercy from the Valar. Before doing so he entrusted his son with the task of preparing a fleet of ships to depart to Middle-Earth to escape the coming darkness. When Númenor was destroyed in 3319, the fleet reached the shores of Middle-Earth founding the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor in a lineage of nobility leading up to king Elessar.