Rise and Fall of Pharazon: Power Hungry King Doomed by His Ambition

Pharazon, a pivotal character in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” is more than just a cunning political figure. His story is laced with ambition, conquest, and ultimate ruin, making him a symbol of the catastrophic effects of power and greed. As fans of Tolkien’s deep lore would recognize, Pharazon’s presence in the first season of The Rings of Power is a foreshadowing of monumental events to come, ones that could shape the fate of Númenor and Middle-earth alike.

In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the complexities of Pharazon’s character arc, his rise to power, and his tragic downfall, as depicted both in Tolkien’s texts and the Amazon Prime adaptation.

Pharazon’s Introduction: The Calm Before the Storm

For viewers new to The Rings of Power, Pharazon may seem like a secondary character in the first season, only occasionally stepping into the limelight. However, those familiar with Tolkien’s Silmarillion and other extended works know that his role is far more significant than what initially meets the eye. Pharazon’s presence in Númenor is a harbinger of political upheaval, war, and the island kingdom’s literal downfall.

As the series progresses, his calculated moves become clearer. While Galadriel’s storyline may dominate early episodes, Pharazon’s slow rise to power signals that Númenor’s fate is intricately tied to his ambition.

Understanding Pharazon: The Seeds of Ambition

To grasp Pharazon’s importance, it’s essential to delve into his background. Born in the year 3118 of the Second Age, Pharazon was the son of Gimilkhâd, leader of the King’s Men those loyal to the rulers of Númenor but indifferent, or even hostile, toward the Valar and Elves. His cousin Amandil, on the other hand, belonged to the Faithful, a group that maintained reverence for the Valar and friendship with the Elves. As a young man, Pharazon’s close bond with Amandil would eventually turn into rivalry, with each representing opposing sides of Númenor’s internal conflict.

Pharazôn’s thirst for power and glory pushed him to embark on campaigns to conquer Middle-earth’s coasts. His victories won him the admiration and loyalty of Númenor’s people, bringing him riches and influence. But even this wasn’t enough. Pharazôn’s ambition knew no bounds.

The Plot for Power: A Calculated Move to the Throne

In 3243 SA, after the death of his father, Pharazôn returned from Middle-earth to take over the leadership of the King’s Men. He was not satisfied with merely being a military leader, however. His sights were set on the ultimate prize: the throne of Númenor.

The path to power was not a straightforward one. Following the death of King Tar-Palantir, Pharazôn made a bold and controversial move he forcibly married his cousin Tar-Míriel, the rightful heir to the throne. This act of political maneuvering, though illegal by Númenórean law due to their close blood relation, showcased Pharazôn’s willingness to break tradition and laws for his own gain.

This ruthless move cemented his position as the ruler of Númenor, earning him the title of Ar-Pharazôn. But this was just the beginning of his complex journey.

Númenor Under Pharazôn’s Rule: A Kingdom in Turmoil

Under Ar-Pharazôn’s reign, Númenor experienced both prosperity and turmoil. His early reign saw him display acts of generosity, which won him the support of the people. But beneath the surface, Pharazôn was slowly tightening his grip on power, waiting for the right moment to further consolidate his rule.

One of Pharazôn’s most significant achievements came when he led a grand host to Middle-earth and decisively defeated Sauron in Mordor. Instead of killing the Dark Lord, Pharazôn made a fateful decision: he took Sauron captive and brought him back to Númenor.

This was the moment that changed everything.

Sauron’s Influence: Pharazôn’s Descent into Darkness

Sauron, ever the master manipulator, soon found a way to worm his way into Pharazôn’s inner circle. Within three years, the former prisoner had become Pharazôn’s chief advisor, whispering insidious ideas into the king’s ear. Sauron began to spread the worship of Melkor, the dark Vala, among Númenor’s elite. Under his influence, Pharazôn and the King’s Men began to reject the Valar and Elves entirely, embracing a path of corruption and destruction.

The result? A kingdom that once thrived became a place of oppression, especially toward those who remained faithful to the Valar. This new era of tyranny also extended to Middle-earth, where Númenor’s colonization became brutal and exploitative, with native peoples enslaved and sacrificed to Melkor in grotesque rituals.

The Fatal Decision: Pharazôn’s Quest for Immortality

As time passed, Pharazôn’s lust for power grew even more insatiable. Faced with the inevitability of death, he became obsessed with finding a way to achieve immortality. It was at this critical juncture that Sauron planted the seed of his final, most disastrous idea: the invasion of Valinor, the land of the gods, where death did not exist.

Pharazôn, convinced by Sauron that he could conquer the Valar and claim immortality for himself, began building the largest armament Númenor had ever seen. By 3319 SA, his fleet was ready, and Pharazôn set sail for the Undying Lands. It was a bold, arrogant move that would ultimately lead to his undoing.

The Downfall of Númenor: A Catastrophic End

Upon arriving in Valinor, Pharazôn made the grave mistake of stepping onto the sacred land, which was forbidden to mortals. In response, the Valar, powerless to act directly against him, called upon Eru Ilúvatar, the supreme deity, to intervene.

Eru’s judgment was swift and devastating. He reshaped the world, separating the mortal lands from the immortal ones and sinking Númenor beneath the waves. Pharazôn and his mighty fleet were swallowed by the sea, and Númenor, the great island kingdom, was destroyed.

Yet, even in this moment of catastrophe, some of Númenor’s people survived. The Faithful, led by Elendil, Isildur, and Anárion, escaped the doom of their homeland and fled to Middle-earth, where they would eventually establish the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor. Meanwhile, Sauron, though his physical form was destroyed, managed to return to Middle-earth to continue his reign of terror.

Conclusion: The Legacy of Pharazôn’s Hubris

Pharazôn’s story is one of ambition, hubris, and downfall. His rise to power was marked by bold and ruthless decisions, but his inability to recognize the limits of his own mortality led to his ruin. In many ways, Pharazôn serves as a cautionary tale within Tolkien’s legendarium a reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the perils of seeking power at any cost.

As The Rings of Power continues to unfold, it will be fascinating to see how the show brings Pharazôn’s tragic arc to life. His story is not just a key part of Númenor’s history; it is a pivotal moment in the larger history of Middle-earth, one that sets the stage for the wars and struggles that will follow in the Third Age.

Pharazôn’s lust for power may have brought about the end of Númenor, but it also paved the way for new heroes to rise heroes who would one day challenge Sauron himself.