For many years, Umbar grew in importance and the Númenóreans built a great fortress there. Although they first came as teachers and leaders, they now wished to conquer Middle-earth and rule its peoples. Numenor itself was also growing in strength and Ar-Pharazon became king. He was a proud monarch and under his rule, the rebellious thoughts of the King's Men festered almost into outright rebellion. It was around this time that news of Sauron's resurgence was heard in Númenor, brought by mariners from the East. It was rumoured that Sauron wished to push the Númenóreans from Middle-earth into the sea. These tidings swelled Ar-Pharazon's anger and he began to prepare for war. He built up a great supply of ships and weapons and gathered a great host to him. He then sailed to Umbar where he planned to meet Sauron. Now Sauron heard of the strength that Ar-Pharazon brought with him, and when he came south from Mordor and saw for himself and he humbled himself and surrendered. To commemorate his great victory, Ar-Pharazon built a great white pillar on a headland above the haven. It was adorned with a crystal sphere that took the rays of the Sun and of the Moon and reflected them like a bright star that could be seen on the coasts of Gondor or far out into the Western Sea. Thus, even to the Elendili, Umbar became a monument of Númenórean strength.

Now, after the fall of Númenor, the Black Númenóreans that remained in Umbar became corrupted by Sauron and they hated the Elendili and their realms in the north, namely Gondor. And although the race of the Dunédain in Umbar dwindled after the fall of Sauron through the mixing of blood with other races of men, they all inherited the same hatred of Gondor. Thus at any time when Umbar was captured by Gondor, it was only at great cost.

Tarannon, the twelfth king of Gondor founded the line of the Ship-kings. His heir, Earnil I, repaired the ancient haven of Pelargir which had been a great harbour of the Elendili. From there, he built a great fleet and laid siege to Umbar by land and sea. He was victorious and Umbar became a great fortress of Gondor. However, he did not long survive his triumph and his son Ciryandil succeeded him and continued the building of ships. However, the lords of Umbar rallied the Men of Harad to their cause and they re-captured Umbar with Ciryandil falling in battle. Ciryaher, son of Ciryandil became king. Many attempts to take Umbar were fruitless until Ciryaher gathered enough power and Umbar was taken by Gondor and the Men of Harad bent the knee.

At this point, Gondor had reached her apex. Her realm extended from the river Greyflood in the West to the Sea of Rhun in the East as well as to the southern eaves of Mirkwood. The recent victories against the Corsairs resulted with Gondor holding the territory south to the river Harnen and along the coasts to the peninsula and haven of Umbar. But Umbar had not yet lost its potency in threatening Gondor. The Corsairs would play a vital role in each of the three evils that devastated the realm of Gondor.

When Castamir the Usurper seized the throne of Gondor he was supported by Umbar because he was Master of Ships. Following the Kin-strife, the sons of Castamir fled to Umbar and they broke away from Gondor. And so Umbar warred with Gondor for many years and the Corsairs raided ceaselessly the coasts of Gondor. The loss of Umbar hurt Gondor more than the fact that they lost a great haven and influence and territory in the south. It was a psychological defeat because it was at Umbar that the monument celebrating Ar-Pharazon's humbling of Sauron was erected. The men of Umbar fell under the domination of Sauron's servants and they threw down the pillar that was a symbol of the Dark Lord's humiliation.

The second and greatest of the evils, the great plague from the east, soon befell Gondor, and it was Corsair raiders that salted Gondor's wounds by slaying Minardil at Pelargir. These raiders were led by the great-grandsons of Castamir the Usurper.

But Telumehtar avenged Minardil and punished the Corsairs who raided his coasts. He gathered his strength and took Umbar by storm. In the ensuing battle, the descendants of Castamir perished and Umbar was once again held by the kings for a little while.

The third and last of the evils came in the form of the Wainriders. These were an eastern people that came stronger and better organized than ever before. This occurred at the same time that Angmar was laying siege to Arnor. As the Wainriders advanced, they made alliances with the Haradrim. And although the Wainriders were thrown back, Umbar was once again lost. It became a gathering place for rebels and some traitors from Gondor fled and joined them.

The line of the kings soon died out and the Stewards took over as acting rulers of Gondor. It was in the time of Beren, the 19th Steward, that Umbar unleashed the greatest peril yet against Gondor. With the Men of Harad, they set sail in a great fleet of ships and made amphibious landings along the Gondorian coast, even as far north as the Isen and up the Anduin so that the lands of Rohan were overrun from the east and the west and the Rohirrim took shelter in the dales of the White Mountains. The year was T.A 2758 and the winter that came was known as the Long Winter because of the cold and snow that came out of the North. And although Rohan was in dire straights, the attacks of Umbar against Gondor south of the White Mountains were less successful. Thus, when spring came, Beregond son of Beren, threw out the invaders and then marched to the aid of Rohan. However, Rohan's strength had been greatly reduced and it was for this reason that Beren welcomed Saruman who returned from the East and gave him the keys to Orthanc.

Not long after, when Turgon was steward of Gondor, Sauron rose again and Barad-dur was rebuilt. After the death of Turgon, Saruman claimed Isengard for himself and fortified it. Thus, Ecthelion II son of Turgon, was lord of a realm that was being assailed from all sides. Being a man of wisdom, he saw the threat and called men of valour to him, and so it was that a great captain arrived in Gondor called Thorongil. It was not known then that Thorongil's true identity was Aragorn son of Arathorn, but even so, Ecthelion loved him. But his heir Denethor II did not.

Thorongil soon became a trusted advisor to Ecthelion and counselled that the rebels in Umbar were a greater peril than was perceived. With the premission of the Steward, he gathered a small fleet, and stole into the Haven of Umbar by night and burnt a great portion of their ships. Thorongil himself ovethrew the Captain of the Haven in hand-to-hand combat upon the docks and he escaped with little loss. But when Thorongil returned to Pelargir, he never went to Minas Tirith, but instead sent a message of farewell to Ecthelion and left to meet other hazards.

But despite the heroics of Thorongil, Umbar still managed to threaten Gondor. During the War of the Ring, they sent a great fleet to attack Pelargir, and so it was that Thorongil's prediction came true. However, Thorongil returned, now under his true identity of Aragorn, heir of Isildur, and led an army of dead from Dunharrow to Pelargir. The Corsairs fled in terror from the King of the Dead and their ships were captured.

Thorongil