The Lord of the Rings

These were the dark years for Men of Middle-earth, but the years of the glory of Númenor. Of events in Middle-earth the records are few and brief, and their dates are often uncertain.

In the beginning of this age many of the High Elves still remained. Most of these dwelt in Lindon west of the Ered Luin; but before the building of the Barad-dûr many of the Sindar passed eastward, and some established realms in the forests far away, where their people were mostly Silvan Elves. Thranduil, king in the north of Greenwood the Great, was one of these. In Lindon north of the Lune dwelt Gil-galad, last heir of the kings of the Noldor in exile. He was acknowledged as High King of the Elves of the West. In Lindon south of the Lune dwelt for a time Celeborn, kinsman of Thingol; his wife was Galadriel, greatest of Elven women. She was sister of Finrod Felagund, Friend-of-Men, once king of Nargothrond, who gave his life to save Beren son of Barahir.

Later some of the Noldor went to Eregion, upon the west of the Misty Mountains, and near to the West-gate of Moria. This they did because they learned that mithril had been discovered in Moria.[67] The Noldor were great craftsmen and less unfriendly to the Dwarves than the Sindar; but the friendship that grew up between the people of Durin and the Elven-smiths of Eregion was the closest that there has ever been between the two races. Celebrimbor was Lord of Eregion and the greatest of their craftsmen; he was descended from Fëanor.

Year

1 — Foundation of the Grey Havens, and of Lindon.

32 — The Edain reach Númenor.

c. 40 — Many Dwarves leaving their old cities in Ered Luin go to Moria and swell its numbers.

442 — Death of Elros Tar-Minyatur.

c. 500 — Sauron begins to stir again in Middle-earth.

521 — Birth in Númenor of Silmariën.

600 — The first ships of the Númenóreans appear off the coasts.

750 — Eregion founded by the Noldor.

c. 1000 — Sauron, alarmed by the growing power of the Númenóreans, chooses Mordor as a land to make into a stronghold. He begins the building of Barad-dûr.

1075 — Tar-Ancalimë becomes the first Ruling Queen of Númenor.

1200 — Sauron endeavours to seduce the Eldar. Gil-galad refuses to treat with him; but the smiths of Eregion are won over. The Númenóreans begin to make permanent havens.

c. 1500 — The Elven-smiths instructed by Sauron reach the height of their skill. They begin the forging of the Rings of Power.

c. 1590 — The Three Rings are completed in Eregion.

c. 1600 — Sauron forges the One Ring in Orodruin. He completes the Barad-dûr. Celebrimbor perceives the designs of Sauron.

1693 — War of the Elves and Sauron begins. The Three Rings are hidden.

1695 — Sauron’s forces invade Eriador. Gil-galad sends Elrond to Eregion.

1697 — Eregion laid waste. Death of Celebrimbor. The gates of Moria are shut. Elrond retreats with remnant of the Noldor and founds the refuge of Imladris.

1699 — Sauron overruns Eriador.

1700 — Tar-Minastir sends a great navy from Númenor to Lindon. Sauron is defeated.

1701 — Sauron is driven out of Eriador. The Westlands have peace for a long while.

c. 1800 — From about this time onward the Númenóreans begin to establish dominions on the coasts. Sauron extends his power eastwards. The shadow falls on Númenor.

2251 — Death of Tar-Atanamir. Tar-Ancalimon takes the sceptre. Rebellion and division of the Númenóreans begins. About this time the Nazgûl or Ringwraiths, slaves of the Nine Rings, first appear.

2280 — Umbar is made into a great fortress of Númenor.

2350 — Pelargir is built. It becomes the chief haven of the Faithful Númenóreans.

2899 — Ar-Adûnakhor takes the sceptre.

3175 — Repentance of Tar-Palantir. Civil war in Númenor.

3255 — Ar-Pharazôn the Golden seizes the sceptre.

3261 — Ar-Pharazôn sets sail and lands at Umbar.

3262 — Sauron is taken as prisoner to Númenor; 3262–3310 Sauron seduces the King and corrupts the Númenóreans.

3310 — Ar-Pharazôn begins the building of the Great Armament.

3319 — Ar-Pharazôn assails Valinor. Downfall of Númenor. Elendil and his sons escape.

3320 — Foundations of the Realms in Exile: Arnor and Gondor. The Stones are divided (p. 598). Sauron returns to Mordor.

3429 — Sauron attacks Gondor, takes Minas Ithil and burns the White Tree. Isildur escapes down Anduin and goes to Elendil in the North. Anárion defends Minas Anor and Osgiliath.

3430 — The Last Alliance of Elves and Men is formed.

3431 — Gil-galad and Elendil march east to Imladris.

3434 — The host of the Alliance crosses the Misty Mountains. Battle of Dagorlad and defeat of Sauron. Siege of Barad-dûr begins.

3440 — Anárion slain.

3441 — Sauron overthrown by Elendil and Gil-galad, who perish. Isildur takes the One Ring. Sauron passes away and the Ringwraiths go into the shadows. The Second Age ends.

The Third Age