The Sauron Strategies: Footsteps into Failure - Page 9
© Michael Martinez
If that was indeed Sauron's goal, he blundered. For Ar-Pharazon brought such an immense army out of the west that Sauron's allies deserted him. Of course, Sauron resorted to subtrefuge, surrendering himself so that he could be taken to Numenor as a prisoner. There he gradually won the king's confidence and seduced the vast majority of Numenoreans, many of whom were already rebellious toward the Valar, into worshipping Morgoth and defying the Valar. "Akallabeth" implies that Sauron hoped to destroy Numenor all along, but it also records that he was astounded at what he found in Numenor, for the achievements of the Dunedain surpassed all his expectations.
Sauron's change in plans preserved Mordor as a base of power and opened up for him an opportunity to undermine the Numenorean civilization. He was clearly acting opportunistically, and perhaps making up things as he went along. But his sojourn in Numenor was a fresh approach, and one which though resulting in temporary setbacks (Gil-galad was able to extend his own power during Sauron's absence from Middle-earth), helped Sauron achieve one of his goals: the destruction of Numenor.
With Numenor out of the way Sauron returned to Middle-earth, wounded but not greatly weakened. He may have contemplated turning his full attention upon Gil-galad, but he would have quikly learned that Numenorean survivors led by Elendil were establishing two new kingdoms in the north. Although many of the Numenorean colonies would now support Sauron, the Faithful Dunedain were helping Gil-galad to consolidate his power in the north. In effect, Sauron had replaced an immensely powerful Numenor, which he could not overcome militarily, with an immensely powerful alliance of Elves and Men.
Sauron attacked Gondor without warning, but Appendix A says he "struck too soon, before his own power was rebuilt; whereas the power of Gil-galad had increased in his absence." "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age" is less pessissmistic: "When therefore Sauron saw his time he came with great force against the new realm of Gondor, and he took Minas Ithil, and he destroyed the White Tree of Isildur that grew there." Although Minas Ithil fell, Anarion held out in Osgiliath and eventually drove Sauron back to the mountains. Sauron thus seems not to have fully integrated all his former allies back into his realm, or else he didn't wait long enough for their armies to arrive.
The attack on Gondor is similar in scope to the attack on Eregion. Sauron was selecting strategic targets and seeking to isolate them from allied powers. He succeeded partially with Eregion: Elrond was unable to break through Sauron's lines, although Durin III rescued some of Eregion's people. The assault on Gondor was a failure, and it underscored the weakness in Sauron's approach: he allowed his enemies to work for the benefit of each other, even if they could not coordinate their efforts against him. Elrond and Durin both saved a portion of Eregion's people because Sauron was focused on seizing the Rings of Power. Gondor withstood his attack becase he was too eager to launch his war.
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