The sons of Elendil, Isildur and Anárion, upon arriving in Pelargir did set about building the watchtowers of Minas Anor and Minas Ithil, and between them their great city of Osgiliath. Alas, it was not to be long before Sauron rose again and was defeated in the Last Alliance, but with the loss of Anárion in SA 3440 before Barad Dur. Isildur it was who cut the one ring from Sauron's hand, but it betrayed him, costing his life to orcs in TA 2.

In the days of the eighth king, Gondor was first attacked by Easterlings, who were driven out. The king took the name Rómendacil (East-Victor) in celebration. The twelfth king, Tarannon Falastur, expanded the navies of Gondor and conquered the coasts to the west and south. He was the first of the four Ship-Kings. His nephew Eärnil it was who first conquered Umbar, haven of the Black Númenóreans, followers of Sauron. However, in the next reign Umbar was lost.

The fifteenth king, whom history calls Hyarmendacil (South-Victor), led Gondor to its greatest expanse. It was he who destroyed the navies of Umbar and forced its kings to pay homage to Gondor. He extended Gondor north to the Celebrant and the southern eaves of Mirkwood, west to the Greyflood, east to the Sea of Rhûn and south along the coasts to Umbar. Yet his sons did grow lax and so evil came to Gondor.

The second Rómendacil cared deeply for his allies,the Northmen of Rhovanion, and so did send his son Valacar to live among them. This prince married a woman of the north, although many Gondorians felt she was inferior. Their son, Eldacar, was beseiged in Osgiliath but evaded the usurper Castamir who ruled only a short while (and showing his great cruelty in the process) before Eldacar returned to kill him at the Crossings of the Erui. Castamir's sons did flee to Pelargir and thence to Umbar which was lost to Gondor. And this was the great Kin-Strife.

In the reign of Telemnar a great plague struck which did kill the king and all his children and a great many others of Osgiliath. With him died the White Tree brought from Numenor by Anarion. After him, during the reign of Telumehtar, Gondor again took Umbar, but it was soon to be lost forever.

When the Wainriders attacked a third time, Gondor could just manage to hold them to Ithilien, which was destroyed. In this battle was lost Ondoher, king, and his two sons. The crown passed to Eärnil, captain of the Southern Army.

Eärnil was followed by one king only, Eärnur. He it was who wished to challenge the Witch King at the fall of Angmar, yet was restrained by the Noldor Glorfindel. However, the Witch King did not forget the rash Gondorian king, and later challenged him to single combat. In this time, the Dark One's forces had taken Minas Ithil, which they re-named Minas Morgul, and in response had Eärnur called Minas Anor, Minas Tirith 'Tower of the Guard'. Eärnur rode out to meet the Witch King's challenge, disappearing into Minas Morgul with all his companions.

His Steward, Mardil, ruled Gondor for many years, the watch passing down through his house to the current Steward, Denethor, the crown remaining in the lap of King Earnil in the Houses of the Dead, where Eärner had placed it.

The map of Gondor (click for a larger image)

The map of Middle Earth (click for a larger image)

In the early days of Middle Earth there were great wars between elves and Morgoth. Some men fought on the side of Morgoth while others fought on the side of the elves and were faithful to the Valar. When the Valar finally intervened and defeated Morgoth, they decided to reward the men who had remained faithful. These men were granted a longer lifespan than other men and were also given their own land to live on. this land called Númenór was west of the lands of Middle Earth and east of the undying lands of Valinor, where the Valar and many elves lived. Númenór was also known as Westernesse or Anadûnê.

The first king of the Númenóreans was Elros, the brother of Elrond. Since they both had a human father and an elven mother, they were allowed to choose between living as an elf or living as a mortal man. Elrond chose the immortal life on an elf while Elros chose the mortal life of a man (though he and his line were granted an unusually long lifespan). The kings of Númenór all descended from Elros.

To begin with, the Númenóreans prospered and became a great people. They also became great mariners and though they were forbidden from sailing west to the undying lands of Valinor, they often sailed east to Middle Earth. There they taught and helped the men there and also befriended the elves there. In later years the people of Númenór became proud and were more interested in ruling men in middle earth than befriending them. Many of them also began to turn against the Valar and blamed the Valar for not letting them live immortally as the elves did.
While the Númenóreans were enjoying peace and prosperity in the west, Sauron was spreading his evil over Middle Earth to the east. The king at the time was Ar Pharazôn "The Golden" who became angry at reports of Sauron proclaiming himself "the King of Men. Ar Pharazôn led his navies across the sea to Middle Earth and challenged Sauron. When the armies of Númenór landed on the shores of Middle Earth, they were so great that the forces of Sauron became afraid. Sauron knew that he could not defeat them so he decided instead to go with them as a captive, hoping to corrupt from within. At that time, Sauron was able to appear in a fair and pleasant form. In a short time, he gained the trust of the king and corrupted most of the leaders and people of Númenór. He even went as far as convincing the king to worship Melkor, Sauron's former master.

Only a small group of people, called the faithful remained loyal to The Valar. Of all the faithful, Sauron hated Amandil most of all since he was the only Lord of Númenór who didn't trust Sauron.
Sauron finally convinced Ar Pharazôn that if the armies of Númenór conquered the Valar in the west and took their lands then they would become immortal (which of course was false). Through the flattery of Sauron he believed that the might of Númenór would be sufficient to overthrow the Valar.
While he prepared his navies, the faithful, led by Amandil's son Elendil, prepared to leave Númenór for the lands in the east. Once the navies of Ar Pharazon were ready, they sailed westward until they arrived on the shores of Valinor and issued their challenge to the Valar.

On this one occasion, the Valar laid down the government of Middle Earth. Manwë called upon Ilúvatar who showed his power and caused great changes to come upon Middle Earth. The land of Númenór sank beneath the oceans and the fleet of Ar Pharazôn was destroyed. Elendil and his group barely escaped in their ships and made their way to Middle Earth. Elendil and his sons soon after formed kingdoms in Middle Earth.

Númenór was destroyed as Sauron wished but he didn't expect the destruction to be so great. Sauron himself was caught up in the destruction and his physical form was temporarily destroyed while his spirit passed over the sea back to the lands of Mordor. From that time onwards he was never again able to appear in a pleasant form. Instead he was only able to appear in a form of fear and terror.

The map of Númenór (click for a larger image)