Not sure if I understood your post correctly, but if I did, then:
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Originally Posted by CSteefel
On the Nazgul, I have never quite understood how "Black Easterlings" could come to be called Numenorean, or vice versa. I guess it depends on the origin of ALL the people given the right to populate Numenor.
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It is explicitely said that only three of the Nazgul were "Númenorean lords". The others were "great kings of Men", which does not exclude the possibility that the other six Nazgul came from other nations of Middle-Earth. And what more, I think it would seem logical that Sauron recruited many of his servants from the Men who lived in Rhun or Harad or other lands which were under his dominion.
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Originally Posted by CSteefel
The other question is when exactly 9 Nazgul were identified. One logical source of the Nazgul would be from the kingdom of Rhudaur, which was corrupted relatively early on in the 3rd Age. Unless there is some evidence that all 9 Nazgul were active before this time (i.e., before 1400 or so)...
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Okay, I will recapitulate it everything only to make it clear. First activity of Nazgul at all was spotted around 2250 Second Age (they were already Ringwraith at that time). Most of Middle-Earth was under Sauron's dominion. The Númenoreans still lived on Númenor, but they also took part in what was happening in Middle-Earth. Thus, it is very probable that they also learned of the Nine. With the Fall, at the end of Second Age, the Faithful came to Middle-Earth and founded the realms of Arnor and Gondor. The knowledge of the Nazgul was then passed by the residents of Arnor and Gondor, and the wise Elves... but largely it was supposed that the Nine have vanished with Sauron. Rhudaur was only part was corrupted in the 2nd millenium of the Third Age, after the Witch-King rose in Angmar. But apart from the Wise, I think no one knew who the Witch-King really is. There have been also suspicions who was the resident of Dol Guldur (Sauron) and some thought it might be one of the Nine. But until Sauron rose again in Mordor and the Nine started their hunt for the Ring, I think no one knew exactly whether they were or were not in Middle-Earth (or if they were all or just some of them), or in Sauron's service anymore. Perhaps Saruman knew, since he studied the knowledge of the Enemy for a long time... but others surely not:
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Originally Posted by FotR Chapter 2 - Shadow of the Past
Nine he gave to Mortal Men, proud and great, and so ensnared them. Long ago they fell under the dominion of the One, and they became Ringwraiths, shadows under his great
Shadow, his most terrible servants. Long ago. It is many a year since the Nine walked abroad. Yet who knows? As the Shadow grows once more, they too may walk again.
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