Timeline Event
Númenóreans begin to establish dominions in Middle-earth
Event Type: Political
Age: 2nd Age - Rings
Year: 1800
Description:
circa 1800
From about this time onward the Númenoreans begin to establish dominions on the coasts. Sauron extends his power eastwards. The shadow falls on Númenor.
The Return of the King, LoTR Appendix B, The Tale of Years: The Second Age
Thus it came to pass in that time that the Númenóreans first made great settlements upon the west shores of the ancient lands; for their own land seemed to them shrunken..., and they desired now wealth and dominion in Middle-earth, since the West was denied. Great harbours and strong towers they made, and there many of them took up their abode....
The Silmarillion, Akallabêth
...the Númenoreans had tasted power in Middle-earth, and from that time forward they began to make permanent settlements on the western coasts [dated 'c. 1800' in the Tale of Years], becoming too powerful for Sauron to attempt to move west out of Mordor for a long time.
Unfinished Tales, Part 2, Ch 4, The History of Galadriel and Celeborn: Concerning Galadriel and Celeborn
During the same time Sauron extends his dominion slowly over the great part of Middle-earth; but his power reaches out eastward, since he is withheld from the coasts by the Numenoreans. He nurses his hatred for them, but cannot yet challenge them openly.
The Peoples of Middle-Earth, HoME Vol 12, Part 1, Ch 6, The Tale of Years of the Second Age
Contributors:
Lyllyn 5.3.03
added quotes: Elena Tiriel 17Nov05