Elendil and the Faithful, too, came to Middle-earth before the cataclysm. Elendil's sons Isildur and Anárion founded the two Kingdoms in Exile: Arnor in the north, and Gondor in the south. The two kingdoms endeavoured to maintain Númenórean culture. Gondor flourished, and for a while its splendour grew, recalling somewhat of the might of Númenor. Sauron gathered strength in nearby Mordor, setting the scene for a struggle lasting thousands of years.