Timeline of Arda

This article includes several timelines relating to J. R. R. Tolkien's fiction.

With Respect to Real Events
Tolkien has often mentioned that after the War of the Ring the ages went on and now we are likely in the beginning of the Seventh Age, a bridge that connects this fantasy to reality. This following section is a list of events related to this entire mythology.

"Sixth and Seventh Ages"

 * January 3, 1892 - John Ronald Reuel Tolkien is born
 * 1914 - 1919 - First World War (in which J. R. R. Tolkien fought as a soldier from England). Allies declared victory and temporary peace was established.
 * November 21, 1924 - Christopher Tolkien is born
 * September 21, 1937 - The Hobbit is first published by George Allen & Unwin LTD of London (for further publishing dates, see The Hobbit)
 * 1931 - 1945 - Second World War. 1945 could be taken as the end of the Sixth Age.
 * 1954-1955 - All three volumes of The Lord of the Rings are published, several months apart, by Allen & Unwin (for further publishing history, see The Lord of the Rings)
 * 1966 - The Adventures of Tom Bombadil are published; BBC radio broadcasts an eight-part (4-hour) adaptation of The Hobbit
 * September 2, 1973 - J. R. R. Tolkien dies
 * 1977 - An animated version of The Hobbit debuts on U.S. television
 * 1977 - The Silmarillion is published
 * 1978 - United Artists produces an animated adaptation of The Fellowship of the Ring and the first portion of The Two Towers
 * 1980 - Publishing of Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth
 * 1981 - Publishing of The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien
 * 1983–1996 - Twelve volumes The History of Middle-earth are published
 * 1993 - Proposal for the inclusion of the elvish scripts Tengwar and Cirth in Unicode
 * 2001 - Peter Jackson's film The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is released
 * 2002 - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is released
 * 2003 - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is released
 * 29 February 2004 - The Return of the King garners 11 Academy Awards, including Best motion picture of the year and Achievement in directing

Arda Events
Before the creation of the Sun few dates can be given, and those dates are given in Valinorean Years, which are about a century in length.

Before the creation of Eä

 * Eru Ilúvatar creates the Timeless Halls and the race of the Ainur
 * The Ainur create the Ainulindalë, the Music of the Ainur which leads to the vision of Eä; Melkor tries to corrupt the theme, but ends up enriching it even more
 * Eru creates Arda (the world) in Eä with the Secret Fire at its center.

Creation of Arda

 * Many Ainur enter Arda and become the Valar and Maiar; shaping of Arda begins; creation of the elder stars by Varda
 * First War: Melkor assaults his brethren; Arda's symmetry is marred
 * Tulkas arrives, the last of the Valar to descend into Arda: Melkor runs from him and hides in the Outer Void.

c. 5000: Years of the Lamps
endured 5 ages, or 15,000 years approx.


 * Creation of the Two Lamps, Illuin and Ormal
 * Ordering of Arda by the Valar
 * Spring of Arda: first forests grow, and animals are awakened
 * Melkor returns in secret and builds Utumno and Angband
 * Rebel Maiar and "demons" enter Arda in summons of Melkor, under them Ungoliant
 * Destruction of the Two Lamps and the isle of Almaren by Melkor and his followers; Spring of Arda ends

c. 10000: Years of the Trees
&mdash; endured six Ages


 * The Valar retire to Aman, while Melkor rules Middle-earth; Valinor founded; Trees of the Valar are created
 * Aulë the Smith creates the Dwarves but is not allowed to awaken them; Yavanna thinks of the Ents in response
 * c. 20000: Varda begins gathering light from the Trees of the Valar for the Great Stars
 * Melian the Maia and others of her kind depart for Middle-earth, Melian dwells in Nan Elmoth in Beleriand
 * Varda creates the Great Stars, setting the Sickle of the Valar in the north as a challenge to Melkor
 * Eru awakes the Elves as the Great Stars are created
 * Fathers of the Dwarves and first Ents awakened by Eru; Elves discover the Ents and begin teaching them language
 * Melkor discovers and begins capturing Elves in secret
 * Melkor begins breeding the Orcs from captured Elves, and the Trolls; Khazad-dûm founded by Durin the Deathless
 * Oromë first learns of the Elves, he spends time with them, and then returns to Valinor
 * The Valar make war on Melkor; Melkor is captured, chained, and is sentenced to serve a term in the Halls of Mandos for three Ages; Utumno is destroyed; Sauron escapes capture and remains in Angband, breeding Orcs and Trolls for Melkor
 * Oromë brings three ambassadors of the Elves to Aman: Ingwë of the Vanyar, Finwë of the Ñoldor and Elwë of the Teleri
 * Great Journey of the Elves: The Elves are summoned to Aman (not all answer the summon&mdash;see Sundering of the Elves)
 * A group of Teleri under Lenwë (or Dan) abandon the March at Anduin and become the Nandor
 * The Vanyar and Ñoldor arrive in Beleriand. The Teleri arrive later, tarrying in the great forests of Eriador. Elwë meets Melian and is entranced. Ulmo is unwilling to wait until Elwë is found, and the Vanyar and Ñoldor are ferried across on the island of Tol Eressëa, while the Teleri stay behind, looking for their lord. The Vanyar and Ñoldor settle in Tirion near Valimar
 * Ulmo finally returns for the Teleri, but many stay behind because Elwë is not yet found, and become the Sindar. Another group remains behind at the request of Ossë, they become the Elves of the Falas under Círdan. The majority of the Teleri is ferried across on Tol Eressëa, which is anchored in the bay of Eldamar. They take Elwë's brother Olwë as lord
 * Finwë marries Míriel. Later she gives birth to Fëanor and dies. Elwë awakes from slumber and reunites with the Sindar. He becomes known as Thingol, settling in Doriath; Nogrod and Belegost founded by Dwarves
 * Finwë marries Indis; Findis born
 * Fingolfin born
 * Lúthien born
 * Irimë born
 * The Teleri of Tol Eressëa learn the art of shipbuilding, and ferry across the bay of Eldamar to Aman, where they found the city of Alqualondë. Tol Eressëa is abandoned
 * The Vanyar abandon Tirion and settle in Aman proper. The Ñoldor remain in Tirion under Finwë their lord
 * The Elves of the Falas join with the Sindar in an alliance
 * Finarfin born
 * Fingon born
 * Dwarves of Nogrod and Belegost enter Beleriand, establishing trade
 * Turgon born
 * Finrod born
 * The Nandor under Denethor arrive in Beleriand, becoming known as the Laiquendi of Ossiriand
 * Galadriel and Aredhel born
 * Melkor, freed from his sentence, begins corrupting some of the Ñoldor.
 * Fëanor, deceived by Melkor, draws arms against his brothers and is banished from Tirion: his father Finwë and many of the Ñoldor follow him in exile to Formenos. Melkor hides from capture and joins forces with Ungoliant
 * Manwë tries to heal the feud of the Ñoldor, and summons Fëanor to a festival in Valimar. Melkor and Ungoliant destroy the Two Trees, kill Finwë and steal the Silmarils; Fëanor first names Melkor Morgoth. Fëanor and his sons swear an Oath to regain the Silmarils and the majority of the Ñoldor depart from Valinor; Ñoldor kill many Teleri and seize their ships in the First Kinslaying
 * Prophecy of Mandos: the Ñoldor are banished from Valinor, and foretold great doom; the Valar hide Valinor behind the Magic Isles and raise the Pelóri mountains
 * Idril born
 * Morgoth returns to Angband, and tries to take Beleriand: First Battle of Beleriand is fought; Denethor of the Laiquendi slain and the Havens of the Falas are besieged
 * The Ñoldor arrive at Helcaraxë; Fëanor and sons betray the sons of Indis and sail across, then burn the ships
 * Return of the Ñoldor to Middle-earth. Morgoth's army attacks Fëanor. Dagor-nuin-Giliath, the Battle under Stars is fought. Fëanor is slain by Balrogs in sight of Angband
 * The Valar begin devising the Moon and Sun
 * The remainder of the Ñoldor arrives in Middle-earth; Moon arises

c. 30000: Years of the Sun
From this time on years are of normal length. Events from Valinor during the Years of the Sun cannot be accurately dated.

First Age
&mdash; 583 years long


 * Year 1 - The Sun first sets sail, Awakening of Men in Hildórien.
 * 50 - Turgon and Finrod are told by Ulmo to establish a refuge
 * 65 - Finrod builds the tower of Barad Nimras ("White Horn Tower") on a cape of the Falas between Brithombar and Eglarest
 * 75 - Dagor Aglareb: the Ñoldor, ruled by Fingolfin, start the Siege of Angband
 * c. 100 - Foundation of Nargothrond: Fingon's folk depart from Hithlum
 * 126 - Completion of Gondolin. Turgon's people begin the migration from Nevrast in secret
 * 265 - Glaurung ravages Beleriand, but is driven back to Angband.
 * 305 - Bëor leads The First House of the Edain into Beleriand: Men discovered by Finrod
 * 341 - Haldar and Haleth born
 * 345 - Return of Aredhel and Maeglin to Gondolin. Later that year Eöl and Aredhel die.
 * 389 - Birth of Hador, later Lord of Dor-lómin
 * 443 - Birth of Beren Erchamion
 * 445 - Birth of Rodnor son of Orodreth, later called Gil-galad
 * 455 - Morgoth breaks the Siege of Angband in Dagor Bragollach, Battle of Sudden Flame; kills Fingolfin in duel; Húrin and Huor are brought to Gondolin by Thorondor
 * 456 - Húrin and Huor return out of Gondolin to Dor-lómin.
 * 457 - Capture of Finrod's fortress of Minas Tirith by the forces of Sauron, its warden Orodreth flees for Nargothrond. Minas Tirith is renamed Tol-in-Gaurhoth, Isle of the Werewolves
 * 461 - Barahir and companions are killed, Beren becomes an outlaw
 * 462 - Beren departs for Doriath
 * 463 - Birth of Túrin Turambar in Dor-lómin. Beren first comes upon Lúthien.
 * 465 - Celegorm and Curufin are exiled from Nargothrond and journey to Himring
 * 468 - Finrod and Beren are imprisoned in Tol-in-Gaurhoth. Finrod is slain by a werewolf, but Beren is rescued by Lúthien.
 * 469 - Beren and Lúthien achieve the Quest of the Silmaril. Beren dies, and Lúthien abandons life: Lúthien pleads with Mandos and Beren and Lúthien are restored to life; Beren and Lúthien take up bodies again in Ossiriand on the isle of Tol Galen
 * 471 - Nirnaeth Arnoediad, The Battle of Unnumbered Tears; Huor is slain in the Fens of Serech, Húrin is captured by Morgoth. Birth of Tuor son of Huor. Fingon slain
 * 472 - Siege and capture of the Havens of the Falas: Brithombar and Eglarest.
 * c. 473 - Birth of Nienor and death of Rían.
 * 475 - Birth of Dior Eluchíl on Tol Galen
 * 494 - Gurthang is reforged for Túrin, who becomes known as the Black Sword of Nargothrond
 * 495 - Sack of Nargothrond. The coming of Tuor to Gondolin
 * 497 - Dior weds Nimloth.
 * 498 - Slaying of Glaurung, and deaths of Túrin Turambar and Nienor Níniel in Brethil
 * 499 - Thingol is slain and Doriath sacked by Dwarves of Belegost; Beren, Laiquendi and Ents destroy the Dwarves; Melian returns to Valinor in grief; Lúthien wears the Silmaril; Dior refounds Doriath
 * 500 - Birth of Elwing daughter of Dior.
 * c. 501 - Death of Morwen
 * c. 502 - Final deaths of Beren and Lúthien; Dior receives the Silmaril; death of Húrin
 * 505 - Doriath is destroyed in the Second Kinslaying; Dior, Nimloth, and sons killed; Celegorm, Curufin and Caranthir are all slain; Elwing escapes for the Mouths of Sirion with the Silmaril
 * 510 - Death of Turgon
 * 511 - Gondolin is betrayed by Maeglin and sacked; Glorfindel slays a Balrog in the Echoriath, and is himself slain
 * 525 - Elrond and Elros are born to Eärendil and Elwing
 * 560 - Tuor and Idril sail into the West in the ship Eärrámë
 * c. 580 - Third Kinslaying: while Eärendil is away the remaining Sons of Fëanor attack the people of the Mouths of Sirion trying to claim the Silmaril; Amrod is slain; Elwing casts herself in the sea but is brought to Eärendil by Ulmo; Eärendil sets out to Valinor to beg for rescue by the Valar
 * 583 - The War of Wrath; Morgoth is cast into the Void; Most of Beleriand is sunk; the Sea of Helcar is drained through the Great Gulf; the plateaus of Mordor, Khand, and Rhûn rise from the former seabed; the remaining two Silmarils are stolen by Maedhros and Maglor but are lost in the earth and in the sea; the Elves are summoned to Valinor and settle on Tol Eressëa; Galadriel refuses the summons and is still banned; a small part of the Ñoldor remain in Lindon; many Sindar depart east and establish realms, under them Thranduil

Second Age
&mdash; 3441 years long


 * 1 - Foundation of Mithlond the Grey Havens under Círdan, and Lindon as the Ñoldorin Kingdom under Gil-galad
 * 32 - Edain reach Númenor, Elros is crowned first King of Númenor
 * c. 40 - Many Dwarves abandon the ruined cities of Belegost and Nogrod in the Ered Luin and join Durin's folk in Moria
 * 61 - Birth of Vardamir Nólimon, eldest child of Elros. Subsequently three more children are born.
 * 192 - Birth of Tar-Amandil
 * 222 - Birth of Nolondil
 * 350 - Birth of Tar-Elendil
 * 361 - Birth of Eärendur
 * 442 - Elros, also known as Tar-Minyatur, dies. Vardamir Nólimon succeeds the throne but abdicate immediately. Tar-Amandil becomes third king of Númenor.
 * c. 500 - Sauron arises again in Middle-earth
 * 521 - Silmariën is born in Númenor1, line of lords of Andúnië splits off the line of Kings
 * 532 - Isilmë, sister of Silmarien, born
 * 543 - Meneldur, brother of Silmarien, born
 * 590 - Tar-Elendil becomes fourth king of Númenor.
 * 600 - First Númenórean ships sail to Middle-earth.
 * 700 - Anardil born
 * 740 - Tar-Meneldur becomes fifth king of Númenor.
 * 750 - the Ñoldor found the realm of Eregion near Moria
 * 870 - Anardil weds Erendis.
 * 873 - Ancalimë born
 * 882 - Anardil and Erendis separate
 * 883 - Tar-Aldarion becomes sixth king of Númenor.
 * 985 - Death of Erendis, apparently by drowning.
 * c. 1050 - The shadow of Sauron falls upon Greenwood the Great, which is renamed Mirkwood. Sauron begins building Barad-dûr
 * 1075 - Tar-Ancalimë becomes the first Queen and seventh ruler of Númenór.
 * c. 1200 - Sauron deceives the Ñoldor in Eregion, but Gil-galad mistrusts him; the Númenóreans begin building permanent havens in Middle-earth at Lond Daer, Umbar, and other places
 * 1280 - Tar-Anárion becomes seventh king of Númenor.
 * c. 1350 - Celeborn and Galadriel together with their daughter Celebrían emigrate from Eregion to Lórien; Celebrimbor becomes lord of Eregion
 * 1394 - Tar-Súrion becomes eighth king of Númenor.
 * c. 1500 - the Ñoldor under Celebrimbor are instructed by Sauron, beginning of the forging of the Rings of Power
 * 1566 - Tar-Telperiën becomes the second Queen and tenth ruler of Númenor.
 * c. 1600 - Forging of the One Ring; Barad-dûr completed; Celebrimbor begins fighting Sauron
 * 1693 - War of the Elves and Sauron begins, the Three Rings are hidden
 * 1695 - Elrond sent to Eregion as lieutenant of Gil-galad
 * 1697 - Eregion destroyed, Elrond establishes the refuge of Rivendell, Celebrimbor dies
 * 1699 - Rivendell and Lindon besieged
 * 1700 - Minastir sends a great navy to Lindon; Sauron defeated; Sauron's forces retreat from Eriador and the coasts
 * 1731 - Tar-Minastir becomes eleventh king of Númenor.
 * c. 1800 - Númenor begins establishing permanent settlements in Middle-earth
 * 1869 - Tar-Ciryatan becomes twelveth king of Númenor.
 * 2029 - Tar-Atanamir the Great becomes thirteenth king of Númenor but is hostile to the Valar. The Elendili or "Faithful" still receive the Elves in secret.
 * 2221 - Tar-Ancalimon becomes fourteenth king of Númenor2.
 * 2251 - The Ringwraiths first appear.
 * 2280 - Umbar is fortified by the Númenóreans
 * 2350 - Pelargir is built by the Elendili
 * 2386 - Tar-Telemmaitë becomes fifteenth king of Númenor.
 * 2526 - Tar-Vanimeldë becomes third Queen and sixteenth ruler of Númenor.
 * 2637 - Herucalmo seizes the throne and rule as Tar-Anducal, but he's not counted in the list of kings.
 * 2657 - Tar-Alcarin becomes seventeenth king of Númenor.
 * 2737 - Tar-Calmacil becomes eighteenth king of Númenor.
 * 2899 - Ar-Adûnakhôr becomes twentieth king of Númenor and the first to take his royal name in Adûnaic, the language of Men, instead of Quenya, the high language of the Elves
 * c. 2900 - Teaching of Elvish languages prohibited in Númenor.
 * 2962 - Ar-Zimrathôn becomes twenty-first king of Númenor.
 * 3033 - Ar-Sakalthôr becomes twenty-second king of Númenor.
 * 3102 - Ar-Gimilzôr becomes twenty-third king of Númenor.
 * c. 3110 - Usage of Elvish languages and visit of the Elves prohibited in Númenor.
 * 3119 - Birth of Elendil
 * 3209 - Birth of Isildur
 * 3219 - Birth of Anárion
 * 3177 - Tar-Palantir repents, resulting in a civil war in Númenor


 * 3243 - Death of Gimilkhâd, at 198 years old.


 * 3255 - Ar-Pharazôn the Golden weds his first-cousin Míriel, the daughter of Tar-Palantir, and seizes the throne of Númenor
 * 3261 - Ar-Pharazôn sails to Middle-earth landing at Umbar, and takes Sauron captive
 * 3262 - Sauron is taken as prisoner to Númenor, but begins corrupting the Númenóreans


 * c. 3265 - Sauron becomes Ar-Pharazôn's court advisor.
 * c. 3280 - Isildur steals a fruit from Nimloth. The White Tree is felled and burnt in Sauron's Temple thereafter.


 * c. 3300 - Sauron establishes himself as High Priest of Melkor, "Lord of the Dark"; Elendili are openly persecuted and sacrificed to Morgoth


 * 3310 - At Sauron's instigation, Ar-Pharazôn begins building the Great Armament.


 * 3318 - Birth of Meneldil, fourth child of Anárion and last man born in Númenor
 * 3319 - Ar-Pharazôn sets foot on Aman; the World is Changed: Aman and Tol Eressëa are removed from Arda, Númenor is drowned, and the world is made round; Elendil and his sons arrive on the shores of Middle-earth
 * 3320 - Founding of Gondor and Arnor by Elendil and his sons, Isildur and Anárion; Umbar as realm in exile founded by Black Númenóreans
 * 3429 - Sauron conquers Minas Ithil and burns the White Tree; Isildur flees to Arnor while Anárion defends Osgiliath
 * 3430 - The Last Alliance of Elves and Men is formed
 * 3434 - Sauron's forces are defeated in the Battle of Dagorlad; Siege of Barad-dûr begins
 * 3440 - Anárion is slain
 * 3441 - Elendil and Gil-galad perish in battle; Isildur slays Sauron by taking the shards of his father's sword Narsil and cutting the One Ring from Sauron's finger, destroying Sauron's physical form and winning the war. In the aftermath of the War many Elves of Gil-galad's following depart to Valinor: end of the Ñoldorin realms in Middle-earth.

Third Age
&mdash; 3021 years long

''Note on Shire Reckoning: Year 1601 of the Third Age, in which the Shire was founded, is year 1 of the Shire Reckoning. Thus, Third Age years can be converted into their Shire equivalents by deducting 1600.''


 * Year 2 - Planting of the Second White Tree at Minas Tirith, Death of Isildur by Orcs in the Battle of the Gladden Fields, losing the One Ring in the Gladden river
 * 109 - Elrond weds Celebrían, daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel
 * 130 - Elrohir and Elladan are born to Elrond and Celebrían
 * 241 - Arwen Undómiel is born to Elrond and Celebrían
 * 492 - Easterlings invade Gondor
 * 541 - Easterlings invade Gondor once more, slaying King Rómendacil
 * c. 550 - King Turambar of Gondor defeats the Easterlings of Rhûn; the Kingdom of Rhovanion becomes and ally of Gondor
 * 861 - Following Eärendur's death, the kingdom of Arnor breaks up into Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur
 * 933 - Eärnil I of Gondor takes Umbar in a surprise attack
 * 936 - Eärnil I lost at sea
 * 1000 - The Wizards come to Middle-earth
 * 1015 - Hyarmendacil I ascends throne of Gondor
 * 1015 - Black Númenóreans of Umbar besiege their old city
 * 1030 - Siege of Umbar ends, Umbar retaken by Black Númenóreans.
 * 1050 - Hyarmendacil I, king of Gondor, conquers Umbar, Hobbits migrate to Eriador.
 * 1149 - Death of Hyarmendacil I, Atanatar takes the sceptre of Gondor
 * c. 1200 - Rulers of Rhovanion assume the title "King of Rhovanion"
 * 1248 - Rómendacil II of Gondor strucks decisive blow to the Easterlings; forms a strong alliance with Rhovanion, to which he cedes all the lands east of Anduin
 * 1255 - Eldacar born
 * c. 1259 - Castamir born3
 * 1300 - The kingdom of Angmar first appears at Arthedain's north-eastern border
 * 1344 - Death of Vidumavi
 * 1356 - King Argeleb I of Arthedain is killed during an invasion by Rhudaur, now controlled by Angmar; his son, Arveleg I, ascends the throne
 * 1366 - Valacar ascends the throne of Gondor
 * 1409 - Cardolan is conquered by the kingdom of Angmar and Rhudaur disappears; Weathertop watchtower, and fortifications are burned and destroyed
 * 1432 - Eldacar succeeds his father, Valacar, as king of Gondor
 * 1437 - Castamir the Usurper, Lord of Ships, usurps throne of Gondor (see Kin-strife); Osgiliath's Palantír is lost in the river
 * 1447 - Eldacar reclaims Gondor with a Rhovanion army and kills Castamir
 * 1448 - Sons of Castamir the Usurper and most of the fleet of Gondor flee south to Umbar; become known as the Corsairs of Umbar
 * 1540 - King Aldamir of Gondor is slain by Haradrim
 * 1600 - Two Fallohide (see Hobbit) brothers decided to cross the River Baranduin and settle on the other side, and are followed by large numbers of Hobbits
 * 1601 - The Shire is first settled by Hobbits
 * 1634 - Corsairs of Umbar attack Gondor, slaying king Minardil at Pelargir, and raiding the city
 * 1636 - The Great Plague decimates Gondor and Rhovanion; Cirith Ungol is abandoned
 * 1810 - King Telumehtar of Gondor destroys Umbar; renames himself Umbardacil
 * 1851 - Wainriders overrun the Kingdom of Rhovanion
 * 1856 - The Wainriders first attack Gondor
 * 1899 - Gondor attacks Wainriders from the east; the Kingdom of Rhovanion, occupied by Wainriders, rebels and is freed
 * 1936 - Ondoher succeeds Calimehtar as king of Gondor
 * 1944 - During an invasion by the Wainriders and the Haradrim, King Ondoher of Gondor is killed in battle without heirs and is succeeded by Eärnil II; Haradrim, Wainriders and the Variags of Khand take Umbar; new Corsairs of Umbar emerge
 * 1964 - Arvedui, son of King Araphant of Arthedain, ascends the throne
 * 1974 - The kingdom of Arthedain is conquered by Angmar
 * 1975 - Gondor destroys Angmar in the Battle of Fornost, death of Arvedui
 * 1980 - The Moria Dwarves awaken Durin's Bane, a Balrog, which kills Durin VI, king of Khazad-dûm; the Nazgûl return to Mordor and lay siege to Minas Ithil
 * 1981 - Durin VI's son, Náin, is also killed, and the Dwarves flee Moria; deaths of Amroth and Nimrodel
 * 1999 - Erebor is founded
 * 2050 - End of the royal dynasty of Gondor (until the return of King Elessar)
 * 2430 - approximate birth year of Sméagol
 * 2460 - Sauron returns to Middle-earth; establishes himself in Dol Guldur in southern Mirkwood
 * 2463 - Sméagol (later known as Gollum) becomes the fourth master of the One Ring, after killing his cousin Déagol
 * 2501 - 2510 Eorl the Young, lord of the Éothéod and 1st king of Rohan (2510-2545).
 * 2509 - Cirion, Steward of Gondor, sends summons to the Éothéod for military aid; Celebrían is waylaid by Orcs, receives a poisoned wound, and consequentially departs Middle-earth
 * 2510 - The alliance between Rohan and Gondor comes into existence. The Easterlings launch a massive invasion of Gondor. The Balchoth invade Rhovanion (which disappears as an independent realm) and Gondor, conquering much of Calenardhon, but are driven back by the people of Éothéod; Gondor gives the now-uninhabited province of Calenardhon to the people of Éothéod
 * 2545 - Eorl the Young, 1st king of Rohan, dies in the battle in the Wold against the Easterlings. Brego succeeds him as the 2nd king of Rohan
 * 2570 - Aldor, aged only 26, becomes 3rd king of Rohan at the death of his father Brego
 * 2645 - Fréa becomes 4th king of Rohan after the death of his father Aldor ('the Old')
 * 2659 - Fréawine, 5th King of Rohan
 * 2680 - Goldwine, 6th King of Rohan
 * 2699 - Déor, 7th king of Rohan
 * 2718 - Gram, 8th king of Rohan
 * 2741 - Helm Hammerhand 9th king of Rohan ascends the throne as last king of the first line
 * 2746 - Amrothos, 15th Prince of Dol Amroth, falls while defending Dol-en-Ernil against the Corsairs of Umbar
 * 2758 - Dunlendings, under Wulf, invade Rohan, supported by the Corsairs of Umbar
 * Long Winter of 2758-2759 - The Dunlendings lay siege to Hornburg
 * 2759 - Helm Hammerhand, king of Rohan, is killed by the Dunlendings. He is succeeded by his nephew Fréaláf Hildeson; Saruman settles in Isengard
 * 2798 - Fréaláf Hildeson, 10th king of Rohan, dies. He is followed by his son Brytta Léofa
 * 2799 - The Battle of Azanulbizar is fought on Moria's East Gate, in which the Dwarves defeat Sauron's minions but are defeated by the Balrog Durin's Bane
 * 2842 - Brytta Léofa, 11th king of Rohan, dies. Succeeded by his son Walda.
 * 2850 - Gandalf enters Dol Guldur and confirms that the evil thereby found is indeed Sauron returned
 * 2851 - Walda, 12th king of Rohan, is killed by an orc, his son Folca succeeds him
 * 2864 - Folca, 13th king of Rohan, is killed by the Boar of Everholt. He is succeeded by his son Folcwine
 * 2885 - Harondor is once again claimed by the Haradrim, supported by the Corsairs of Umbar
 * - Fastred and Folcred, the twin sons of king Folcwine, were killed during the Battle of Crossings of Poros


 * 22 September 2890 - Bilbo Baggins is born
 * 2903 - Folcwine, 14th king of Rohan, dies and is succeeded by his youngest son Fengel
 * 2907 - Birth of Gilraen (later wife of Arathorn II)
 * Fell Winter of 2911-2912 - wolves invade the Shire. Tharbad is ruined in the following floods.
 * 2930 - Arathorn II becomes the Chieftain of the Dúnedain
 * 2931 - Birth of Estel, son of Arathorn II and Gilraen
 * 2933 - Arathorn II is killed while hunting Orcs
 * July, 2941 - Bilbo Baggins obtains the One Ring; the White Council drives Sauron out of Dol Guldur
 * 2941 - Esgaroth is attacked by the dragon Smaug, who is consequentially killed by Bard the Bowman; Battle of Five Armies
 * 2951 - Estel, later known as Aragorn, comes of age and is told about his heritage; the Corsairs of Umbar officially ally themselves with Mordor and destroy great monument commemorating Ar-Pharazôn's victory over Sauron
 * 2953 - Last meeting of the White Council
 * - Fengel, 15th king of Rohan, dies. His son Thengel returns to Rohan to succeed him


 * 2956 - Aragorn first meets Gandalf the Grey
 * 2957-2980 - Aragorn as Thorongil serves in the armies of King Thengel of Rohan, and Steward Ecthelion II of Gondor
 * September 22, 2968 - Frodo Baggins is born
 * 2980 - Arwen pledges her hand in marriage to Aragorn; Frodo Baggins loses both of his parents in a boating accident; Aragorn, in the service of the Steward of Gondor Ecthelion II leads a taskforce south and kills the Captain of the Haven, ruler of Umbar; Sam Gamgee born4; Théoden, son of Thengel, becomes 17th king of Rohan after the death of his father. Théoden is the last king of the second line.
 * 2982 - Birth of Meriadoc Brandybuck (Merry)
 * 2983 - Birth of Faramir
 * 2989 - Frodo Baggins comes under the guardianship of Bilbo Baggins; a company of Dwarves, led by Balin, try to recolonize Moria
 * 2990 - Birth of Peregrin Took (Pippin)
 * 2991 - Birth of Éomer
 * 2994 - Balin is killed; the dwarf-colony in Moria is destroyed
 * 2995 - Birth of Éowyn
 * 3001 - Bilbo Baggins turns 111 and leaves the Shire
 * 3002 - Lalia Clayhanger, the matriarch of the Took clan, dies, aged 119, and possibly pushed by Pearl Took5; Bilbo settles in Rivendell
 * 3009 - Aragorn captures Gollum at Gandalf's request, and brings him as a captive to King Thranduil's halls in Mirkwood
 * 3014 - Saruman begins using his influence to weaken Théoden, 17th king of Rohan
 * 3018 - The Ringwraiths are given the task of retrieving the One Ring; Gandalf returns to the Shire, telling Frodo Baggins he must take the ring away
 * September 30, 3018 - Aragorn meets Frodo Baggins in the Inn of the Prancing Pony in Bree
 * October 25, 3018 - Council of Elrond at Rivendell
 * December 25, 3018 - The Fellowship of the Ring sets out in the evening
 * January 15, 3019 - The Fellowship parts after Gandalf falls into Khazad-dûm while fighting a Balrog
 * February 3019 - Death of Boromir; Saruman launches a full-scale invasion on Rohan at Helm's Deep
 * March 3019 - Théoden King of Rohan is killed at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, Éomer becomes his successor as the 18th king of Rohan. Éowyn and Merry kill the Witch King
 * March 25, 3019 - death of Gollum (Sméagol), about 589 years old; the destruction of the One Ring and final defeat of the Dark Lord Sauron.
 * May 3019 - Aragorn is crowned King Elessar of the Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor; Gandalf helps Aragorn to find the sapling of the new White Tree
 * (Date unspecified) - Faramir marries Éowyn
 * Mid-year's Day (between June and July) 3019 - Aragorn marries Arwen Undómiel
 * July 3019 - King Théoden is laid to rest beside other Kings of Rohan in Edoras
 * November 19, 3019 - Battle of Bywater; death of Saruman and Wormtongue
 * Spring 3020 - Samwise Gamgee marries Rosie Cotton and together they move to Bag End
 * 3021 - Éomer marries Imrahil's daughter, Lothíriel of Dol Amroth
 * September 22, 3021 - Bilbo marks his 131st birthday, surpassing the Old Took
 * September 29, 3021 - Elrond, Galadriel, Gandalf, Frodo and Bilbo depart from the Grey Havens

Fourth Age
&mdash; length uncertain

''In the reckoning of Gondor, the Fourth Age began on 25 March T.A. 3021. Since most of the following events were dated according to the Shire-reckoning, their years in the Fourth Age cannot be stated with certainty. Some events may have occurred in the following year of the Fourth Age.''


 * 6 - Peregrin Took marries Diamond of Long Cleeve
 * (Date Uncertain) - Birth of Aelfwin son of Eomer and Lothiriel
 * (Date Uncertain) - Birth of Elboron son of Faramir and Eowyn
 * (Date Uncertain) - Birth of Durin VII, son of Thorin III Stonehelm
 * 13 - Peregrin Took becomes 32nd Thain of the Shire
 * 15 - Death of Gloin, father of Gimli.
 * 34 - Death of Prince Imrahil. Imrahil's son Elphir assumes the Principality.
 * 41 - Birth of Holfast Gardner, son and heir of Frodo Gardner
 * 43 - Birth of Eldarion son of Aragorn and Arwen
 * 61 - Samwise Gamgee leaves Middle-earth via Mithlond
 * 63 - Meriadoc Brandybuck, aged 102, and Pippin leave the Shire to live in Gondor; death of Éomer, aged 93. His son Aelfwin ascends the throne of Rohan.
 * 67 - Death of Prince Elphir son of Imrahil, 23rd Prince of Dol Amroth. Elphir's son Alphros assumes the Principality.
 * 80 - Birth of Harding of the Hill, Sam Gamgee's heir and great-grandson
 * 83 - Death of Faramir, aged 120. His son Elboron assumes the Principality.
 * 91 - Death of Dwalin brother of Balin, aged 341.
 * 95 - Death of Prince Alphros of Dol Amroth, son of Elphir.
 * 120 - Death of Aragorn, King of the Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor, after 210 years of life and 122 years of reign; Aragorn's son Eldarion ascends the throne.  According to legend, on the death of Aragorn, Legolas builds a ship and sails into the west to the Undying Lands, taking  Gimli (now a very old Dwarf) with him
 * 121 - Death of Arwen, aged 2901
 * 172 - A copy of the Red Book of Westmarch is made
 * 185 - Death of Harding of the Hill, Sam Gamgee's heir.

First Age

 * Year 1 - Dagor-nuin-Giliath, Battle under the Stars.
 * 75 - Dagor Aglareb, Glorious Battle
 * 455 - Dagor Bragollach, Battle of Sudden Flame, which ended the Siege of Angband
 * 473 - Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Battle of Tears Unnumbered
 * 583 - War of Wrath

See also Battles of Beleriand.

Second Age

 * 3434 - Battle of Dagorlad

Third Age

 * Year 2 - Battle of the Gladden Fields
 * 1447 - Battle of Erui
 * 1975 - Battle of Fornost
 * 2509 - Battle at the Field of Celebrant
 * 2799 - Battle of Azanulbizar (part of the War of the Dwarves and Orcs)
 * 2941 - Battle of Five Armies
 * 3019 - Battle of the Hornburg
 * March 15, 3019 - Battle of the Pelennor Fields

End of the World

 * Final Battle (prophesied)

Other Timelines of Interest

 * Ages of Middle-earth
 * Book publishing dates
 * Chieftains of the Dúnedain
 * Kings of Arnor
 * Kings of Arthedain
 * Kings of Gondor
 * Kings of Númenor
 * Kings of Rohan
 * Line of Durin's folk
 * Princes of Dol Amroth
 * Realms of Arda
 * Stewards of Gondor
 * Sundering of the Elves
 * Thains of the Shire