Razing Arnor: How real were the Dunadan conspiracies?

recognition in both kingdoms. The situation in Arnor at the time of Earendur's death could therefore have been complicated by the existence of one or more princely families who had lost faith in Amlaith. Their support would have helped to ensure that Amlaith's younger brothers were accepted among the peoples of Cardolan and Rhudaur, and could have been the chief reason for why Amlaith would agree to a division of his rightful realm in the first place. If the Council of Arnor (or whatever the appropriate body of lords and captains might be called) were divided over Amlaith's fitness to govern Arnor, Amlaith might have agreed to or even proposed the division of Arnor in order to prevent a bloody civil war. Gondor later on did fight a civil war, the Kin-strife, although that war's causes lay strictly in the racial attitudes of the Dunedain, who felt that their kingly house shouldn't mingle its blood with the houses of non-Dunadan realms. There had apparently been no objection to Tarannon's marriage to Beruthiel, but since she was a Black Numenorean she had the appropriate racial background. Presumably Gondor's other kings and princes found wives either in Gondor or Arnor, or among Black Numenorean lands such as Umbar (and Umbar was probably only the northernmost Black Numenorean enclave). Despite the name given to them, and the fact that they were descended from the Kings Men of the Second Age (who had served Sauron), the Black Numenoreans may not always have been on unfriendly terms with Arnor and Gondor. As bizarre as that may seem, it could be there was a serious shift in policy in Gondor away from Elven friendship and toward easier relations with the Black Numenorean nations. This attempt at reconciliation, if it occurred at all (but Tarannon's marriage implies it did), ultimately backfired. Tarannon's expulsion of Beruthiel may have laid the foundation for a renewal of hostilities that forced Earnil to take action against Umbar. Tarannon may have seemed too powerful for the Black Numenoreans to challenge. It may also be that his expulsion of Beruthiel didn't occur until sometime after 863. Hence, the younger sons of Earendur might have advocated a policy of reconciliation with the Black Numenoreans -- based on Tarannon's example -- which was either met with indifference or outright hostility by Amlaith (and perhaps Earendur himself). Arnor stood to gain nothing by an association with the Black Numenoreans, and because of

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