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The Sauron Strategies: One War to Win Them All, Except... - Page 2

© Michael Martinez

Ultimately, it required massive intervention from Numenor to defeat Sauron, but the lesson he learned from the war was that Numenor was going to be more trouble than Lindon. Tolkien tells us that war never ceased between the Elves and Sauron after that time, yet Sauron altered his strategic goals. He began conquering more territory in the east. And, gradually, as Sauron extended his power southward he came into conflict with the Numenorean colonies along the southern coasts of Middle-earth. Numenor had been colonizing Middle-earth since around the year 1200, but about the year 1800 the Numenoreans began establishing fortresses, levying tribute from local peoples, and conquering occupied lands. Numenor became a rival power with which Sauron had to contend. In fact, it proved impossible for Sauron to defeat Numenor in the field, and he finally overcame the Numenoreans through a subtrefuge which brought about Numenor's destruction and the death of most of its people. And yet, despite the fall of Numenor, Sauron had not rid himself of the Numenorean threat. Elendil and the exiled Faithful Dunedain established the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor in northern Middle-earth. Though but a remnant of the once mighty nation which had humbled Sauron militarily, the Faithful Dunedain were too powerful to be overwhelmed quickly. Sauron learned this when he took Minas Ithil but was driven back from Osgiliath. One can almost hear him thinking, "Uh, oh. This didn't go as planned." Had he waited another 100 years, both Arnor and Gondor would have become more powerful, but Sauron might have re-established full control over his network of allies and subject states. He would have had far greater resources to call upon than he possessed when he attacked Gondor in 3429. Waiting too long, acting too soon -- these were the mistakes Sauron committed in the Second Age. He permitted his enemies to grow strong while he himself dispersed his forces and waged war on many fronts. After his defeat, Sauron had 1,000 years to reflect upon his failures and weaknesses. When he became strong enough to re-embody himself, he understood that in order to seize control over Middle-earth, he needed to work slowly, carefully. He needed to build up his power while wearing down his enemies. The first step was to select a safe haven. Mordor was occupied by Gondor, which in the 11th century of the Third Age had nearly reached the height of its power. There was no hope of wresting control of Mordor away from the Dunedain at this point in time. And yet, Sauron needed to be close to his enemies. Greenwood the Great therefore offered an attractive position. The dense woodlands would offer relative secrecy and some defense, and the commanding height of Amon Lanc, long abandoned by the Elves, would be easy to fortify.

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