Third Age

History of Arda
Ainulindalë Years of the Lamps Years of the Trees Years of the Sun Ages of Arda First Age Second Age Third Age Fourth Age
Timeline of Arda

Arda during the Third Age

The Third Age was the Age of Arda that lasted for 3021 years, from the first defeat of Sauron by the forces of the Last Alliance and the deaths of Elendil and Gil-galad, to the departure of Gandalf, Galadriel, Elrond, Bilbo, and Frodo to the Undying Lands after Sauron's final downfall during the War of the Ring.

Timeline

Year16	Events
2	The planting of the Second White Tree at Minas Anor, Isildur killed by orcs in the Disaster of the Gladden Fields. Isildur loses the One Ring in the Anduin.
3	Ohtar brings the shards of Narsil to Imladris.
10	Valandil becomes the 3rd King of Arnor.
109	Elrond weds Celebrían, daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel.
130	Elladan and Elrohir are born to Elrond and Celebrían.
241	Arwen Undómiel is born to Elrond and Celebrían.
420	King Ostoher rebuilds Minas Tirith.
492	The Easterlings invade Gondor.
500	King Tarostar successfully defeats the Easterlings, and he changes his name to Rómendacil, meaning "East Victor".
541	Easterlings invade Gondor once more, slaying King Rómendacil.
*c.550	King Turambar of Gondor defeats the Easterlings of Rhûn; the Northmen of Rhovanion become allies of Gondor.
861	King Eärendur of Arnor dies, his sons dispute the succession and after a bloody civil war, Arnor is divided into three smaller Realms. Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur will fight over Weathertop and other territories for hundreds of years to come.
933	Eärnil I of Gondor takes Umbar in a surprise attack.
936	Eärnil I lost at sea.
1000	The Istari come to Middle-earth.
1015	The Haradrim besiege Umbar in an attempt to recapture the city. King Ciryandil of Gondor is slain in the siege, Ciryaher takes the throne.
1050	Ciryaher conquers Harad and takes the name of Hyarmendacil meaning Southern-Victor. Gondor reaches the height of its power. The Harfoots cross the Misty Mountains into Eriador. Sauron takes up his abode at Dol Guldur. Greenwood is renamed Mirkwood.
1149	Death of Hyarmendacil I. Atanatar the Glorious takes the sceptre of Gondor. Under his rule, the power of Gondor begins to wane.
1150	The Fallohides migrate to Eriador.
1248	Rómendacil II, the Regent of Gondor strikes a decisive blow to the Easterlings and forms a strong alliance with the men of Rhovanion.
1250	Rómendacil II sends his son, Valacar to Rhovanion as an emissary. Valacar falls in love with Vidumavi, Vidugavia, the King of Rhovanion's daughter.
1255	Eldacar born.
*c. 1259	Castamir the Usurper born.
1300	The shadow over Middle-earth lengthens. The Realm of Angmar is formed north of Rhudaur under the rule of a Black Nûmenorean, later revealed to be the Witch King. The Nazgûl begin to reappear. Orcs begin to infest the Misty Mountains.
1344	Death of Vidumavi.
1356	King Argeleb I of Arthedain is killed in defence of the Weather Hills 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 ravaged by the kingdom of Angmar and Rhudaur is terminated. Weathertop watchtower, and the Weather Hills fortifications are burned and destroyed. Fornost is attacked but successfully defended by King Araphor.
1432	Eldacar succeeds his father, Valacar, as King of Gondor. Castamir the Usurper, Lord of the Ships, and a large following of Nobles are distressed by the half-blood King. They rebel and the Kin-strife begins.
1437	Castimir besieges and captures Osgiliath. The Palantir is lost in the Anduin, the Dome of Stars is destroyed and the city sacked. Eldacar flees Gondor, his son and heir Ornendil is captured by Castamir and executed.
1447	Eldacar reclaims Gondor with an army of Northmen and kills Castamir at the Battle of the Crossings of Erui. Castamir's sons take refuge in Pelagir, Eldacar lays siege.
1448	The sons of Castamir the Usurper and most of the fleet of Gondor flee south to Umbar, and become known as the Corsairs of Umbar.
1540	King Aldamir of Gondor is slain by Haradrim.
1551	King Vinyarion of Gondor wins a great victory over the Haradrim, taking the name Hyarmendacil II.
1600	Two Fallohide brothers Marcho and Blanco decided to cross the River Baranduin, later Brandywine and settle on the other side, and are followed by large numbers of Hobbits. King Argeleb II gives permission for the founding of the Shire.
1601	The Shire is first settled by Hobbits.
1634	The Corsairs of Umbar attack Gondor, slaying king Minardil at Pelargir, and raiding the city.
1636	The Great Plague decimates Gondor and Rhovanion, the watch on Mordor is abandoned.
1810	King Telumehtar of Gondor recaptures Umbar; renames himself Umbardacil.
1851	The Wainriders overrun Rhovanion. King Araval of Arthedain wins a victory over Angmar.
1856	The Wainriders first major assault on Gondor, King Narmacil II killed in the Battle of the Plains.
1899	Gondor attacks Wainriders, is victorious in the Second Battle of Dagorlad. The Men of Rhovanion, occupied by Wainriders, rebel and are freed.
1900	The White Tower is built in Minas Anor.
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. The Wainriders are destroyed in the Battle of the Camp.
1945	After a disputed succession, Eärnil II is crowned King of Gondor.
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.
1976	Aranarth assumes the title Chieftain of the Dúnedain, the Dúnedain of Arnor go into hiding.
1979	The Hobbits create the office of Thain to assume the functions of the lost king.
1980	The Moria Dwarves awaken Durin's Bane, a Balrog, which kills Durin VI, king of Khazad-dûm. The Witch-king of Angmar returns to Mordor.
1981	Durin VI's son, Náin, is also killed, and the Dwarves flee Moria. Amroth and Nimrodel are lost at sea.
1999	Erebor is founded.
2000	The Witch King besieges Minas Ithil
2002	Minas Ithil falls, becomes Minas Morgul. Minas Anor is renamed Minas Tirith.
2050	The line of kings fails in Gondor.
2063	The period of Watchful Peace begins.
2430	The approximate birth year of Sméagol.
2460	Sauron returns to Middle-earth and establishes himself in Dol Guldur in southern Mirkwood. The period of Watchful Peace ends.
2463	Sméagol (later known as Gollum) becomes the fourth master of the One Ring, after killing his cousin Déagol.
2501	Eorl the Young, lord of the Éothéod is born.
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 Balchoth invade Rhovanion and Gondor, conquering much of Calenardhon, but are driven back by the people of Éothéod at the Battle of the Field of Celebrant. Gondor gives the now-uninhabited province of Calenardhon to the people of Éothéod. The alliance between Rohan and Gondor comes into existence.
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, becomes 5th King of Rohan.
2680	Goldwine, becomes 6th King of Rohan.
2698	Ecthelion I rebuilds the White Tower
2699	Déor, becomes 7th King of Rohan.
2710	Isengard is occupied by Dunlendings.
2718	Gram, becomes 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. Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thráin II, is born.
2747	The Hobbits of the Shire led by Bandobras "Bullroarer" Took defeat an Orc invasion at Battle of Greenfields.
2758	Dunlendings, under Wulf, invade Rohan, supported by the Corsairs of Umbar.
Long Winter 2758 to TA 2759	The Dunlendings in alliance with Easterlings lay siege to the Hornburg and take Edoras.
2759	Helm Hammerhand, King of Rohan, is killed by the Dunlendings. He is succeeded by his nephew Fréaláf Hildeson who drives out the Dunlendings. Saruman settles in Isengard.
2763	Balin is born.
2770	Erebor is taken over by Smaug.
2783	Glóin is born.
2793	The War between Dwarves and Orcs begins.
2798	Fréaláf Hildeson, 10th King of Rohan, dies. He is followed by his son Brytta Léofa.
2799	The Battle of Azanulbizar is fought at Moria's East Gate, in which the Dwarves defeat Sauron's minions, but are unable to enter Moria due to the Balrog Durin's Bane. War of Dwarves and Orcs ends. Some Orc survivors flee south to the White Mountains.
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.
2859	Fili, son of Dis and nephew of Thorin II Oakenshield, is born.
2864	Folca, 13th King of Rohan, is killed by the Boar of Everholt. He is succeeded by his son Folcwine. The Orcs in the White Mountains are wiped out. Kili, son of Dis and nephew of Thorin II Oakenshield, is born.
2872	The White Tree of Gondor dies.
2879	Gimli son of Glóin is born.
2885	Harondor is once again claimed by the Haradrim, supported by the Corsairs of Umbar. Fastred and Folcred, the twin sons of king Folcwine, are killed during the Battle of the Crossings of Poros.
2890	Bilbo Baggins is born. (22 September)
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 to 2912	Wolves invade the Shire. Tharbad is ruined in the following the floods.
2930	Arador is killed by Trolls. Arathorn II becomes the Chieftain of the Dúnedain. Denethor II is born.
2931	Birth of Estel, son of Arathorn II and Gilraen.
2933	Arathorn II is killed while hunting orcs.
2941	Bilbo Baggins obtains the One Ring. (July) The White Council drives Sauron out of Dol Guldur. Esgaroth is attacked by the dragon Smaug, who is consequentially killed by Bard the Bowman. The Battle of Five Armies Deaths of Thorin II Oakenshield, Fíli and Kíli.
2942	Bilbo returns to the Shire with the Ring. Sauron returns in secret to Mordor.
2944	Bard rebuilds Dale and become king. Gollum leaves the Mountains and begins looking for the "thief" of the Ring.
2948	Théoden, son of Thengel, king of Rohan, is born.
2949	Gandalf and Balin visit Bilbo in the Shire.
2950	Finduilas, daughter of Adrahil of Dol Amroth, is born.
2951	Sauron declares his presence in Mordor openly. 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 the great monument commemorating Ar-Pharazôn's victory over Sauron.
2953	Last meeting of the White Council. Saruman takes Isengard for himself. Fengel, 15th King of Rohan, dies. His son Thengel returns to Rohan to succeed him.
2954	Mount Doom bursts into flame.
2956	Aragorn first meets Gandalf the Grey.
2957 to 2980	Aragorn as Thorongil serves in the armies of King Thengel of Rohan, and Steward Ecthelion II of Gondor.
2968	Frodo Baggins is born. (22 September)
2976	Denethor II marries with Finduilas.
2977	Bain, son of Bard, become King of Dale.
2978	Boromir, son of Denethor II, is born.
2980	Aragorn, in the service of the Steward of Gondor Ecthelion II leads a taskforce south to Umbar and kills the Captain of the Haven. Arwen pledges her hand in marriage to Aragorn. Frodo Baggins loses both of his parents in a boating accident. Sam Gamgee born. 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.
2984	Ecthelion II dies, Denethor II becomes Steward of Gondor.
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. 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 and attack Osgiliath. Thranduil is attacked and Gollum escapes. The traces of Gollum disappear. He gets lost in Moria, but, finally discovering the way to the West Gate, he can't leave. (August) Gandalf meets Shadowfax, but the horse doesn't allow him to approach. Gandalf pursues Shadowfax far over the fields. (21 September) Glorfindel attacks the Ringwraiths on the Bridge of Mitheithel. (11 October) The Council of Elrond is held at Rivendell. (25 October) The Fellowship of the Ring sets out in the evening. (25 December)
3019	The Fellowship parts after Gandalf falls into Khazad-dûm while fighting a Balrog. (15 January) The Breaking of the Fellowship of the Ring. Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took are captured. Frodo and Samwise Gamgee penetrate the east part of Emyn Muil. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli depart in persecution of the orcs that have taken Merry and Pippin by night. Éomer knows of the descent of the band of orcs of Emyn Muil. (26 February) Deaths of Gollum, Boromir, Denethor II, Dáin II, Brand, Lotho Sackville-Baggins, Saruman, Grima, Theoden. Battles of the Hornburg, Pelennor Fields, Bywater, Dale, Mirkwood, and Black Gate. The Nazgûl and the One Ring destroyed. End of Sauron. Bard II becomes King of Dale and Thorin III Stonehelm becomes King of Erebor. Mirkwood is renamed Eryn Lasgalen. Aragorn takes the Sceptre of the Reunited Kingdom.
3020	Faramir marries Éowyn. Samwise Gamgee marries Rosie Cotton and together they move into Bag End. (Spring)
3021	Éomer marries Imrahil's daughter, Lothíriel of Dol Amroth. Bilbo marks his 131st birthday, surpassing the Old Took. (22 September) Elrond, Galadriel, Gandalf, Frodo and Bilbo depart from the Grey Havens. (29 September) The Fourth Age begins.

Translations

Foreign Language	Translated name
Afrikaans	Derde Tydsnede
Albanian	Epokë e Tretë
Amharic	ሦስተኛ ዘመን
Arabic	العصر الثالث
Armenian	Երրորդ Տարիք
Azerbaijani	Üçüncü dövr
Basque	Hirugarren Aroa
Belarusian Cyrillic	Трэцяя эпоха
Bosnian	Treće Doba
Breton	Trede Oad
Bulgarian Cyrillic	Трета възраст
Burmese	တတိယခေတ်
Cambodian	អាយុទីបី
Catalan	Tercera Època
Cebuano	Ikatulo Edad
Chinese (Hong Kong)	第三紀元
Croatian	Treća Dob
Czech	Třetí věk
Danish	Tredje Alder
Dutch	Derde Era
Esperanto	Tria Aĝo
Estonian	Kolmanda ajastu
Fijian	Ikatolu ni yabaki
Finnish	Kolmas aika
French	Troisième Âge
Frisian	Tredde Âldens
Galician	Terceira Idade
Georgian	მესამე ეპოქა
German	Drittes Zeitalter
Greek	Τρίτη Εποχή
Haitian Creole	Twazyèm Laj
Hausa	Na uku Shekaru
Hebrew	העידן השלישי
Hindi	तीसरा युग
Hungarian	Harmadkor
Icelandic	Þriðja Aldri
Indonesian	Ketiga Jaman
Irish Gaelic	Tríú Tréimhse
Italian	Terza Era
Japanese	第三紀
Javanese	Telung Umur
Kannada	ಮೂರನೇ ವಯಸ್ಸು
Kazakh	Үшінші дәуір (Cyrillic) Üşinşi däwir (Latin)
Korean	제3시대
Kyrgyz Cyrillic	үчүнчү жашы
Latin	Tertia Aetas
Latvian	Trešais laikmets
Lithuanian	Trečiasis amžius
Lombard	Terza Età
Luxembourgish	Drëtten Zäitalter
Macedonian Cyrillic	Третото Доба
Malaysian	Usia Ketiga
Malayalam	മൂന്നാം പ്രായം
Maltese	It-tielet Età
Marathi	तिसऱ्या युग
Mongolian Cyrillic	Гурав дахь Нас
Nepalese	तेस्रो उमेर
Norwegian	Tredje tideverv
Occitan	Edat Tresena
Pashto	دریم عمر
Persian	دوران سوم
Polish	Trzecia Era
Portuguese	Terceira Era
Punjabi	ਤੀਜਾ ਉਮਰ
Romanian	Treilea Ev
Romansh	Temps Terz
Russian	Третья Эпоха
Scottish Gaelic	Treas Linn
Serbian	Треће доба (Cyrillic) Treće doba (Latin)
Shona	Wechitatu Zera
Sindhi	ٽيون عمر
Sinhalese	තුන්වන වයස
Slovak	Tretí Vek
Somalian	Da'da Saddexaad
Spanish	Tercera Edad
Sundanese	Katilu Jaman
Swahili	Zama za ya Tatu
Swedish	Tredje Åldern
Tajik Cyrillic	Синну сеюм
Tamil	மூன்றாம் காலம்
Telugu	మూడో వయసు
Thai	ยุคที่สามแห่ง
Turkish	Üçüncü Çağ
Ukrainian Cyrillic	Третя епоха
Uzbek	Учинчи Йош (Cyrillic) Uchinchi Yosh (Latin)
Vietnamese	Kỳ thứ ba
Welsh	Y Trydydd Oes
Xhosa	Ubudala wesithathu
Yiddish	דריט צייט
Yoruba	Kẹta Ori