lor067

2013

The Lord of the Rings

The "Pirate of Umbar" isn't a singular named character in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Instead, the phrase refers collectively to the corsairs who sail from Umbar, a city in the far south of Middle-earth.

These pirates are descendants of Black Númenóreans, Númenóreans who rejected the Valar and turned to evil, and intermarried with local populations. They maintained a fierce independence and a deep hatred for Gondor, frequently raiding its coastal regions and disrupting its shipping lanes.

During the War of the Ring, the Corsairs of Umbar posed a significant threat. Aragorn, along with the Grey Company, captured their ships at Pelargir. This act prevented them from sailing up to Minas Tirith and attacking the city, while also providing reinforcements for the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

Although individual pirate captains are not prominently featured, they represent a constant menace and a tangible obstacle for Gondor throughout the Third Age.