Ban of the Valar

The Ban of the Valar is a divine prohibition laid upon the Númenóreans, forbidding them from sailing west out of sight of their own shores or attempting to set foot on the Undying Lands. It is central to the history of Númenor, as its violation by King Ar-Pharazôn leads directly to the Downfall of Númenor and the removal of the Undying Lands from the circles of the world.

Origins and Nature

The Ban was established as a reward for the Edain, the Men who had suffered in the cause against Morgoth. The Valar, the Guardians of the World, granted them a land to dwell in, removed from the dangers of Middle-earth. Most of them set sail over Sea, guided by the Star of Eärendil, and came to the great Isle of Elenna, westernmost of all Mortal lands, where they founded the realm of Númenor. In the midst of the land stood a tall mountain, the Meneltarma, from whose summit the farsighted could descry the white tower of the Haven of the Eldar in Eressëa. The Eldar came to the Edain and enriched them with knowledge and many gifts, but one command was laid upon the Númenóreans: the Ban of the Valar. They were forbidden to sail west out of sight of their own shores or to attempt to set foot on the Undying Lands. Though a long span of life had been granted to them, in the beginning thrice that of lesser Men, they must remain mortal, since the Valar were not permitted to take from them the Gift of Men, or the Doom of Men, as it was afterwards called.

The Growing Resentment

Elros, the first King of Númenor, was afterwards known by the High-elven name Tar-Minyatur. His descendants were long-lived but mortal. Later, when they became powerful, they begrudged the choice of their forefather, desiring the immortality within the life of the world that was the fate of the Eldar, and murmuring against the Ban. In this way began their rebellion which, under the evil teaching of Sauron, brought about the Downfall of Númenor and the ruin of the ancient world. The power and wealth of the Númenóreans continued to increase, but their years lessened as their fear of death grew, and their joy departed. Tar-Palantir attempted to amend the evil, but it was too late, and there was rebellion and strife in Númenor. When he died, his nephew, leader of the rebellion, seized the sceptre and became King Ar-Pharazôn. Ar-Pharazôn the Golden was the proudest and most powerful of all the Kings, and no less than the kingship of the world was his desire.

The Challenge to Sauron and the Breaking of the Ban

Ar-Pharazôn resolved to challenge Sauron the Great for the supremacy in Middle-earth, and at length he himself set sail with a great navy and landed at Umbar. So great was the might and splendour of the Númenóreans that Sauron's own servants deserted him, and Sauron humbled himself, doing homage and craving pardon. Then Ar-Pharazôn, in the folly of his pride, carried him back as a prisoner to Númenor. It was not long before Sauron had bewitched the King and was master of his counsel, and soon he had turned the hearts of all the Númenóreans, except the remnant of the Faithful, back towards the darkness. Sauron lied to the King, declaring that everlasting life would be his who possessed the Undying Lands, and that the Ban was imposed only to prevent the Kings of Men from surpassing the Valar. 'But great Kings take what is their right,' he said. At length Ar-Pharazôn listened to this counsel, for he felt the waning of his days and was besotted by the fear of Death. He prepared then the greatest armament that the world had seen, and when all was ready he sounded his trumpets and set sail, breaking the Ban of the Valar, going up with war to wrest everlasting life from the Lords of the West.

The Downfall of Númenor and Its Aftermath

When Ar-Pharazôn set foot upon the shores of Aman the Blessed, the Valar laid down their Guardianship and called upon the One, and the world was changed. Númenor was thrown down and swallowed in the Sea, and the Undying Lands were removed for ever from the circles of the world. So ended the glory of Númenor. The Ban, which had been a protective command to preserve the mortality of Men, was broken by pride and the fear of death, leading to the utter ruin of the greatest kingdom of Men and the permanent separation of the mortal and immortal realms. The consequences of this transgression echo through the later history of Middle-earth, shaping the fate of the Exiles and the long struggle against the shadow of Sauron.