or go diectly to the Timeline

In the Third Age of Middle-earth, the Great Rings of Power and their Lords were the main topics of stories and legends. Of how Isildur, Elendil's son and Heir to the lost Throne of Numenor, cut the One Ring from Sauron's hand thus defeating and diminishing him. Of how he did not heed the advice of Elrond Half-Elven and many other voices of the Wise, to unmake the Ring and cast it into the fire from which it was made. 'This I will have as weregild for my father, and my brother's death' he had said. However he was waylaid by orcs upon the great river Anduin, and the Ring was lost for long years.

In the meantime Middle-earth had peace for a long while, and Hobbits flourished and were granted their land in Eriador. Also the realm of Gondor rose to it's height. Elrond founded the haven of Rivendell, and it was a great place of widom and the last stronghold of the Eldar. For it was Elrond who kept the Ring of Gold, Vilya, set with a blue stone and mightiest of the 'Three Rings for the Elven-Kings under the sky'. Galadriel, kinsman of The Great Gil-Gilad and mightiest of Eldar Women, having seen Valinor and the light of the Two Trees; she it was who kept Nenya, the Ring wrought of Mithril that bore a single white stone, and with her husband Celeborn, made the great realm of Lothlorian. In the end it was known that Gandalf the Grey, kept the Red Ring of Fire, Narya. At first the Ring had been entrusted to Cirdan, Lord of the Grey Havens, a Sindarin Elf of great power and lineage. But he surrendered it to Gandalf, for he knew where he came from and where he would return. 'Take now this Ring' he said, 'for thy labors and thy cares will be heavy, but in all it will support thee and defend thee from weariness. For this is the Ring of Fire, and herewith, maybe, thou shalt rekindle hearts to the valor of old in a world that grows chill. But as for me, my heart is with the Sea, and I will dwell by the grey shores, guarding the Havens until the last ship sails. Then I shall await thee.'

The One Ring remained at the bottom of the river Anduin for long ages. But because it was not unmade, the spirit of Sauron lived and begin to take shape again. He built a great fortress in Greenwood the Great, the fortress of Dol-Guldur. As his power grew, so did the forest become evil, then it became Mirkwood, and many terrible things began to dwell there. The Wise, including Gandalf, Elrond and Galadriel began to fear it was Sauron but made no move against it. Then the One Ring was found by a Hobbit named Deagol, who was fishing with his friend Smeagol on the river. Smeagol coveted the Ring, murdered Deagol and took it for himself. The Ring began twisting his mind and body and his people soon started to call him 'Gollum'. Despising him, they cast him out and he eventualy ended up deep under the Misty Mountains. Gollum kept the One Ring for long ages, for the Ring extended his life.

There came a time when Bilbo, Hobbit of the Shire, was on an adventure with Gandalf and the Dwarves, that he became lost under the Misty Mountains. There he found the One Ring, and took it into the wide world. In Hobbiton, it remained safe for many years until it was passed on to Frodo, Bilbo's nephew and heir. Then war came at last and Sauron, driven from Dol-Gulur by the Wise, went back to Mordor and began to rise in power and wage war on Middle-earth, ever seeking for the One Ring into which he placed most of his power of old.

Frodo Baggins of the Shire, on the advice of Gandalf, took the One Ring to Rivendell. With the aid of Aragorn, decendant of Isildur, Samwise his servant and other friends he made the journey against all odds. In Rivendell many councils were made and listened to, but in the end it was decided that the One Ring must be taken to Mount Doom, and plunged into the fires of its making, thus destroying Sauron's power forever. Many things, good and bad, happened on that journey; Gandalf fell into darkness; in Lothlorian they stayed awhile, but in the end, Frodo and Samwise alone carried the One Ring into Mordor. After long struggles and war across all Middle-earth, the Ring was cast into Mount Doom and was unmade, thus Sauron was defeated forever.

But the Task proved a heavy one for Frodo, he was injured beyond the help of the mortal world. And when the One Ring perished, so did the power of the Three Elven Rings. Then the last of the Elder set sail from the Havens and left Middle-earth forever. Gandalf went also, for his task was complete and in the last days he returned and was revealed as a Lord of great power. With him went Galadriel and Elrond and so it was that the Three Keepers passed into the West on that day. Also went the Ring Bearers, Bilbo and Frodo, for they had both carried the burden of the One Ring and were weary in heart and spirit. In the twilight of autumn the ship sailed out of Mithlond, until the seas of the Bent World fell away beneath it, and the winds of the round sky troubled it no more, and borne upon the high airs above the mists of the world it passed into the Ancient West, and an end was come for the Elder of story and of song.

---

The Tale of Years:

YEAR:
2
Isildur plants a seedling of the White Tree in Minas Anor. He delivers the South-kingdom to Meneldil. Disaster of the Gladden Fields; Isildur and his three elder sons are slain.

3
Ohtar brings the shards of Narsil to Imladris.

10
Valandil becomes King of Arnor.

100
Elrond weds Celebrian, daughter of Celeborn.

139
Birth of Elladan and Elrohir, sons of Elrond.

241
Birth of Arwen Undomiel.

420
King Ostoher rebuilds Minas Anor.

490
First invasion of Easterlings.

500
Romendacil I defeats the Easterlings.

541
Romendacil slain in battle.

830
Falastur begins the line of the Ship-kings of Gondor.

861
Death of Earendur, and division of Arnor.

933
King Earnil I takes Umbar, which becomes a fortress of Gondor.

936
Earnil lost at sea.

1015
King Ciryandil slain in battle.

1050
Hyarmendacil conquers the Harad. Gondor reaches the height of its power. About this time a shadow falls on Greenwood, and men begin to call it Mirkwood. The five Istari or Wizards arrive in Middle-earth from the Far West. The Periannath (Hobbits) are first mentioned in records, with the coming of the Harfoots to Eriador.

1100
The Wise (the Istari and the chief Eldar) discover that an evil power has made a stronghold at Dol Guldur. It is thought to be one of the Nazgul.

1149
Reign of Atanatar Alcarin begins.

1150
The Fallohides enter Eriador. The Stoors come over the Redhorn Pass and move to angle, or to Dunland.

1300
Evil things begin to multiply again. Orcs increase in the Misty Mountains and attack the Dwarves. The Nazgul reappear. The chief of these comes north to Angmar (becomes known as the Witch-king). The Periannath migrate westward; many settle at Bree.

1356
King argeleb I slain in battle with Rhudaur. About this time the Stoors leave the Angle, and some return to Wilderland.

1409
The Witch-king of Angmar invades Arnor. King Arveleg I slain. Fornost and Tyrn Gorthad are defended. The Tower of Amon Sul is destroyed.

1432
King Valacar of Gondor dies, and the civil war of the Kin-strife begins.

1437
Burning of Osgiliath and loss of the palantir. Eldacar flees to Rhovanion; his son Orendil is murdered.

1447
Eldacar returns and drives out the usurper Castamir. Battle of the Crossings of Erui. Seige of Pelargir.

1448
Rebels escape and sieze Umbar.

1540
King Aldamir slain in war with the Harad and Corsairs of Umbar.

1551
Hyarmendacil II defeats the Men of Harad.

1601
Many Periannath migrate from Bree, and are granted land beyond Baranduin by Argeleb II.

1630
They are joined by Stoors coming up from Dunland.

1634
Corsairs ravage Pelargir and slay King Minardil.

1636
The Great Plague devastates Gondor. Death of King Telemnar and his children. The White Tree dies in Minas Anor. The plague spreads north and west, and many parts of Eriador become desolate. Beyond the Baranduin the Periannath survive, but suffer great loss.

1640
King Tarondor removes the King's House to Minas Anor, and plants a seedling of the White Tree. Osgiliath begins to fall into ruin. Mordor is left unguarded.

1810
King Telumehtar Umbardacil retakes Umbar and drives out the Corsairs.

1851
The attacks of the Wainriders upon Gondor begin.

1856
Gondor loses its eastern territories, and Narmacil II falls in battle.

1899
King Calimehtar defeats the Wainriders in Dagorlad.

1900
Calimehtar Builds the White Tower in Minas Anor.

1940
Gondor and Arnor renew communications and form an alliance. Arvedui weds Firiel daughter of Ondoher of Gondor.

1944
Ondoher falls in battle. Earnil defeats the enemy in South Ithilien. He then wins the Battle of the Camp, and drives the Wainriders into the Dead Marshes. Arvedui claims the crown of Gondor.

1945
Earnil II recieves the crown.

1974
End of the North-kingdom. The Witch-king overruns Arthedain and takes Fornost.

1975
Arvedui drowned in the Bay of Forochel. The palantiri of Annuminas and Amon Sul are lost. Earnur brings a fleet to Lindon. The Witch-king defeated at the Battle of Fornost, and pursued to the Ettenmoors. He vanishes from the North.

1976
Aranarth takes the title of Chieftain of the Dunedain. The heirlooms of Arnor are given into the keeping of Elrond.

1977
Frumgar leads the Eotheod into the North.

1979
Bucca of the Marish becomes first Thain of the Shire.

1980
The Witch-king comes to Mordor and there gathers the Nazgul. A Balrog appears in Moria, and slays Durin IV.

1981
Nain I slain. The Dwarves flee from Moria. Many of the Silvan Elves of Lorien flee south. Amroth and Nimrodel are lost.

1999
Thrain I comes to Erebor and founds a dwarf-kingdom 'under the Mountain'.

2000
The Nazgul issue from Mordor and besiege Minas Ithil.

2002
Fall of Minas Ithil, afterwards known as Minas Morgul. The palantir is captured.

2043
Earnur becomes King of Gondor. He is challenged by the Witch-king.

2050
The challenge is renewed. Earnur rides to Minas Morgul and is lost. Mardil becomes the first ruling Steward.

2060
The power of Dol Guldur grows. The wise fear that it may be Sauron taking shape again.

2063
Gandalf goes to Dol Guldur. Sauron retreats and hides in the east. The Watchful Peace begins. The Nazgul remain quiet in Minas Morgul.

2210
Thorin I leaves Erebor, and goes north to the Grey Mountains, where most of Durin's Folk are now gathering.

2340
Isumbras I becomes thirteenth Thain, and first of the Took line. The Oldbucks occupy the Buckland.

2460
The Watchful Peace ends. Sauron returns with increased strength to Dol Guldur.

2463
The White Council is formed. About this time Deagol the Stoor finds the One Ring, and is murdered by Smeagol.

2470
About this time Smeagol-Gollum hides in the Misty Mountains.

2475
Attack on Gondor renewed. Osgiliath finally ruined, and it's stone-bridge broken.

2480
Orcs begin to make secret strongholds in the Misty Mountains so as to bar all the passes into Eriador. Sauron begins to people Moria with his creatures.

2509
Celebrian, jouneying to Lorien, is waylaid in the Redhorn Pass, and recieves a poisoned wound.

2510
Celebrian departs over Sea. Orcs and Easterlings overrun Calenardhon. Eorl the Young wins the victory of the Field of Celebrant. The Rohirrim settle in Calenardhon.

2545
Eorl falls in battle of the Wold.

2569
Brego son of Eorl completes the Golden Hall.

2570
Baldor son of Brego enters the Forbidden Door and is lost. About this time Dragons reappear in the far North and begin to afflict the Dwarves.

2589
Dain I slain by a dragon.

2590
Thror returns to Erebor. Gror his brother goes to the Iron Hills.

2670
Tobold plants 'pipe-weed' in the Southfarthing.

2683
Isengrim II becomes tenth Thain and begins the excavation of the Great Smials.

2698
Ecthelion I rebuilds the White Tower in Minas Tirith.

2740
Orcs renew thier invasion of Eriador.

2747
Bandobras Took defeats an Orc-band in the Northfarthing.

2758
Rohan attacked from the west and east and overrun. Gondor attacked by fleets of Corsairs. Helm of Rohan takes refuge in Helm's Deep. Wulf siezes Edoras. The Long Winter Follows. Great suffering and loss of life in Rohan and Eriador. Gandalf comes to the aid of the Shire-folk.

2759
Death of Helm. Frealaf drives out Wulf, and begins second line of Kings of the Mark. Saruman takes up his abode in Isengard.

2770
Smaug the Dragon decends on Erebor. Dale destroyed. Thror escapes with Thrain II and Thorin II.

2790
Thror slain by orcs in Moria. The Dwarves gather for a war of vengence. Birth of Gerotinous, later known as the Old Took.

2793
The War of the Dwarves and Orcs begins.

2799
Battle of Nanduhirion before the East-gate of Moria. Dain Ironfoot returns to the Iron Hills. Thrain II and his son Thorin wander westwards. They settle in the South of Ered Luin beyond the Shire (2802).

2800-64
Orcs from the North trouble Rohan. King Walda slain by them (2861).

2841
Thrain II sets out to revisit Erebor, but is pursued by the servants of Sauron.

2845
Thrain the Dwarf is imprisoned in Dol Guldur; the last of the Seven Rings is taken from him.

2850
Gandalf again enters Dol Guldur, and discovers that its master is indeed Sauron, who is gathering all the Rings and seeking news for the One, and of Isildur's Heir. He finds Thrain and recieves the key of Erebor. Thrain dies in Dol Guldur.

2851
The White Council meets. Gandalf urges an attack on Dol Guldur. Saruman overrules him. Saruman begins to search near the Galdden Fields.

2852
Belecthor II of Gondor dies. The White Tree dies, and no seedling can be found. The dead tree is left standing.

2885
Stirred up by emissaries of Sauron the Haradrim cross the Poros and attack Gondor. The sons of Folcwine of Rohan are slain in the sevice of Gondor.

2890
Bilbo born in the Shire.

2901
Most of the inhabitants of Ithilien desert it owing to the attacks of Uruks of Mordor. The secret refuge of Henneth Annun is built.

2907
Birth of Gilraen mother of Aragorn II.

2911
The Fell Winter. The Baranduin and other rivers are frozen. White Wolves invade eriador from the North.

2912
Great floods devastate the Enedwaith and Minhiriath. Tharbad is ruined and deserted.

2920
Death of the Old Took.

2929
Arathorn son of Arador of the Dunedain weds Gilraen.

2930
Arador slain by Trolls. Birth of Denethor II son of Ecthelion II in Minas Tirith.

2931
Aragorn son of Arathorn II born on March 1st.

2933
Arathorn II slain. Gilraen takes Aragorn to Imladris. Elrond recieves him as foster-son and gives him the name Estel (Hope); his ancestry is concealed.

2939
Saruman discovers that Sauron's servants are searching the Anduin near Gladden Fields, and that Sauron therefore has learned of Isildur's end. He is alarmed but says nothing to the council.

2941
Thorin Oakenshield and Gandalf visit Bilbo in the Shire. Bilbo meets Smeagol-Gollum and finds the One Ring. The White Council meets; Saruman agrees to attack Dol Guldur, since he now wishes to prevent Sauron from searching the River. Sauron having made his plans abandons Dol Guldur. The Battle of the Five Armies in Dale. Death of Thorin II. Bard of Esgaroth slays Smaug. Dain of the Iron Hills becomes King under the Mountain (Dain II).

2942
Bilbo returns to the Shire with the Ring. Sauron returns in secret to Mordor.

2944
Bard rebuilds Dale and becomes King. Gollum leaves the Mountains and begins his search for the 'thief' of the Ring.

2948
Theoden son of Thengel, King of Rohan, born.

2949
Gandalf and Balin visit Bilbo in the Shire.

2950
Finduilas, daughter of Adrahil of Dol Amroth, born.

2951
Sauron declares himself openly and gathers power in Mordor. He begins the rebuilding of Barad-Dur. Gollum turns toward Mordor. Sauron sends three of the Nazgul to reoccupy Dol Guldur. Elrond reveals to 'Estel' his true name and ancestry, and delivers to him the shards or Narsil. Arwen, newly returned from Lorien, meets Aragorn in the woods of Imaldris. Aragorn goes out into the Wild.

2953
Last meeting of the White Council. They debate the Rings. Saruman feigns that he has discovered that the One Ring has passed down Anduin to the Sea. Saruman withdraws to Isengard, which he takes as his own, and fortifies it. Being jealous and afraid of Gandalf he sets spies to watch all his movements; and notes his interest in the Shire. He soon begins to keep agents in Bree and the Southfarthing.

2954
Mount Doom bursts into flame again. The last inhabitants of Ithilien flee over Anduin.

2956
Aragorn meets Gandalf and their friendship begins.

2957-80
Aragorn undertakes his great journeys and errantries. As Thorongil he serves in disguise both Thengel of Rohan and Ecthelion II of Gondor.

2968
Birth of Frodo.

2976
Denethor weds Finduilas of Dol Amroth.

2977
Bain son of Bard becomes King of Dale.

2978
Birth of Boromir son of Denethor II.

2980
Aragorn enters Lorien, and there meets again Arwen Undomiel. Aragorn gives her the ring of Barahir, and they plight their troth upon the hill of Cerin Amroth. About this time Gollum reaches the confines of Mordor and becomes acquainted with Shelob. Theoden becomes King of Rohan.

2983
Faramir son of Denethor born. Birth of Samwise.

2984
Death of Ecthelion II. Denethor II becomes Steward of Gondor.

2988
Finduilas dies young.

2989
Balin leaves Erebor and enters Moria.

2991
Eomer Eomund's son born in Rohan.

2994
Balin perishes, and the dwarf-colony is destroyed.

2995
Eowyn sister of Eomer born.

3000
The shadow of Mordor lengthens. Saruman dares to use the palantir of Orthanc, but becomes ensnared by Sauron, who has the Ithil Stone. He becomes a traitor to the Council. His spies report that the Shire is being closely guarded by the Rangers.

3001
Bilbo's farewell feast. Gandalf suspects his ring to be the One Ring.The guard on the Shire is doubled. Gandalf seeks news of Gollum and calls on the help of Aragorn.

3002
Bilbo becomes the guest of Elrond, and settles in Rivendell.

3004
Gandalf visits Frodo in the Shire, and does so at intervals during the next four years.

3007
Brand son of Bain becomes King in Dale. Death of Gilraen.

3008
In the autumn Gandalf pays his last visit to Frodo.

3009
Gandalf and Aragorn renew their hunt for Gollum at intervals during the next eight years, searching in the vales of Anduin, Mirkwood, and Rhovanion to the confines of Mordor. At some time during these years Gollum himself ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron. Elrond sends for Arwen, and she returns to Imladris; the Mountains and all lands eastward are becoming dangerous.

3017
Gollum is released from Mordor. He is taken by Aragorn in the Dead Marshes, and brought to Thranduil in Mirkwood. Gandalf visits Minas Tirith and reads the scroll of Isildur.

3018-21
The Great Years.

Henceforth the deeds at the end of the Third Age have been described in full within the pages of The Lord of the Rings.