King’s Party

A political movement in the later history of Númenor, more commonly known as the King's Men, who advocated an abandonment of the influence of the Eldar and Valar in the affairs of the Númenóreans. This group seems to have emerged during the reign of Tar-Atanamir the thirteenth King of Númenor, but they are first named in annals during the rule of his heir Tar-Ancalimon. Their power was consolidated under Ar-Adûnakhôr the twentieth King, who went so far as to ban the use of Elvish languages (and took his own name in the native Adûnaic tongue of Númenor).

The King's Party continued to gain power until Tar-Palantir took the throne. He attempted to reverse the policies of the preceding Kings and return to Númenor's ancient friendship with the Elves. Nonetheless, the King's Party continued to operate during his reign (opposing the King, despite the party's name) under the leadership of Tar-Palantir's brother Gimilkhâd. On Tar-Palantir's death, Gimilkhâd's son seized the throne as Ar-Pharazôn. Ar-Pharazôn was the last of the Kings, taking his defiance to the point of an armed invasion of Aman, an act that brought about the Downfall of Númenor.