After Sauron was taken to Númenor as a hostage by Ar-Pharazôn in II 3262, he began to seduce the King to the worship of Melkor. Gradually gaining the King's ear, he worked to convince Ar-Pharazôn that Ilúvatar¹ was merely an invention of the Valar, and that the true King of the World was Melkor, mightiest of the Powers. In doing this he gave Melkor the titles - apparently of his own invention - 'Giver of Freedom' and 'Lord of All'. The King, eager to escape his own mortality and believing that Melkor could grant his desire, turned to the Dark and took Númenor down the path of destruction that led to its Downfall.