Why didn't Sauron use the Numenorean army?

Gordis · 05-02-2006, 07:52 AM

Zimraphel/Miriel was 202 years old at the Downfall. Very old for this time period, indeed. She could have lived for 20-30 more years at best, given that women lived longer than men.

But I have had a second thought about the succession. PharazÃ´n son of GimilkhÃ¢d (Tar-Palantir's younger brother), was Miriel's heir anyway, second in line for the Succession at the time when Tar-Palantir died.
Actually, for Pharazon to get the Sceptre, there was no real necessity to marry his cousin Miriel. He could have made her abdicate in his favour (in favour of her cousin the next heir), as often older sisters did in favour of their younger brothers. And that is what she surely did, when he married her: she is not counted as a XXV ruler of Numenor between Tar-Palantir and Ar-Pharazon, as she would have been, had she ruled even for a day.

But once a Heiress surrenders her right to the Scepter, there is no way back. So, Miriel wouldn't be next in line after Ar-Pharazon, her husband.

Who would? Some descendant of a sibling of Ar-Zimrathon XXI, or Ar-SakalthÃ´r XXII, or Ar-GimilzÃ´r XXIII. At least one of those Kings had to have a sibling. Hardly any of their heirs would be among the Faithful, as "faithfulness" is always connected in some way with the Line of Andunie (like haemophilia). But still they would be strong-willed High Numenoreans, descendants of Elros, next to impossible to enslave. That's why Sauron sent all of them with the Fleet to their deaths.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
How to take a Ring from an unwilling Ring-wielder? - crazy ideas	Gordis	Middle Earth	217	10-03-2013 03:43 PM
Were the Nazgul free from Sauron for the most part of the Third Age?	Gordis	Middle Earth	141	07-09-2006 07:16 PM
Who is the Mouth of Sauron?	Maedhros	Lord of the Rings Books	11	09-15-2003 02:43 PM
The Rings Of Power	zavron	Middle Earth	14	01-08-2003 02:41 PM
Sauron	Dark Lord Sauron	The Silmarillion	4	01-07-2003 11:53 PM

05-02-2006, 07:52 AM	#13
Gordis Lady of the Ulairi Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Minas Morgul Posts: 2,783	Zimraphel/Miriel was 202 years old at the Downfall. Very old for this time period, indeed. She could have lived for 20-30 more years at best, given that women lived longer than men. But I have had a second thought about the succession. PharazÃ´n son of GimilkhÃ¢d (Tar-Palantir's younger brother), was Miriel's heir anyway, second in line for the Succession at the time when Tar-Palantir died. Actually, for Pharazon to get the Sceptre, there was no real necessity to marry his cousin Miriel. He could have made her abdicate in his favour (in favour of her cousin the next heir), as often older sisters did in favour of their younger brothers. And that is what she surely did, when he married her: she is not counted as a XXV ruler of Numenor between Tar-Palantir and Ar-Pharazon, as she would have been, had she ruled even for a day. But once a Heiress surrenders her right to the Scepter, there is no way back. So, Miriel wouldn't be next in line after Ar-Pharazon, her husband. Who would? Some descendant of a sibling of Ar-Zimrathon XXI, or Ar-SakalthÃ´r XXII, or Ar-GimilzÃ´r XXIII. At least one of those Kings had to have a sibling. Hardly any of their heirs would be among the Faithful, as "faithfulness" is always connected in some way with the Line of Andunie (like haemophilia). But still they would be strong-willed High Numenoreans, descendants of Elros, next to impossible to enslave. That's why Sauron sent all of them with the Fleet to their deaths.