| History of Arda |
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| 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.
The Age was one of transition, as the time of the Elves gave way to the rule of Men. The first millennium was mostly peaceful, marked by the growing power of Gondor and peace and prosperity for the lands of the West. However with the return of the shadow, evil began to grow once more, leading to war and other calamities.
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 formally takes the Sceptre of Annúminas as third High 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 Anor. |
| 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 Wizards come to Middle-earth. |
| 1015 | The Black Númenóreans 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 South-victor.
Gondor reaches the height of its power. The Harfoots cross the Misty Mountains into Eriador. Sauron takes up abode at Dol Guldur. Greenwood is renamed Mirkwood. |
| 1149 | Death of Hyarmendacil I.
Atanatar II the Glorious takes the crown of Gondor. Under his rule, the power of Gondor begins to wane. |
| 1150 | The Fallohides migrate to Eriador. |
| 1248 | Minalcar, the Regent of Gondor strikes a decisive blow to the Easterlings and forms a strong alliance with the men of Rhovanion. |
| 1250 | Minalcar sends his son, Valacar to Rhovanion as an emissary.
Valacar falls in love with Vidumavi, daughter of Vidugavia 'King' of Rhovanion. |
| 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 dark sorcerer, later revealed to be the Witch-king of Angmar. The Nazgûl begin to reappear. Orcs begin to infest the Misty Mountains. |
| 1304 | On the death of his father King Calmacil, Minalcar becomes King of Gondor as Rómendacil II. |
| 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 and Rhudaur annexed by the kingdom of Angmar.
Weathertop watchtower, and the Weather Hills fortifications are burned and destroyed. Arveleg I is slain in battle. Fornost is attacked but successfully defended by the new King Araphor. |
| 1432 | Eldacar succeeds his father, Valacar, as King of Gondor.
Castamir the Usurper, Lord of Ships, and a large following of Nobles are distressed by the half-blood King. They rebel and the Kin-strife begins. |
| 1437 | Castamir besieges and captures Osgiliath. The palantír 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 Pelargir, 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. |
| 1601 | 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. |
| 1634 | The Corsairs of Umbar attack Gondor, slaying king Minardil at Pelargir, and sacking the city. |
| 1636 | The Great Plague decimates Gondor and Rhovanion, the watch on Mordor is abandoned. |
| 1640 | Minas Anor becomes the capital of Gondor. Osgiliath begins to fall into ruin. |
| 1810 | King Telumehtar of Gondor recaptures Umbar and takes the title Umbardacil. |
| 1851 | Raids by the Wainriders begin.
|
| 1856 | The Wainriders first major assault on Gondor, King Narmacil II is killed in the Battle of the Plains. |
| 1899 | King Calimehtar of Gondor attacks the Wainriders, is victorious in the Second Battle of Dagorlad.
The Men of Rhovanion, occupied by Wainriders, rebel. |
| 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 along with both his sons. The Wainriders are then 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 of the Shire create the office of Thain to assume the functions of the lost king. |
| 1980 | The Khazad-dûm 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 I, is also killed, and the Dwarves flee Khazad-dûm, which becomes known as Moria.
|
| 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. The rule of the Stewards of Gondor begins. |
| 2063 | Gandalf goes to Dol Guldur to determine the identity of the Necromancer. Sauron withdraws before he can do so.
The Watchful Peace begins. |
| 2430 | The approximate birth year of Sméagol. |
| 2460 | Sauron returns to Dol Guldur in southern Mirkwood.
The Watchful Peace ends. |
| 2463 | Sméagol (later known as Gollum) becomes the fourth master of the One Ring, after killing his cousin Déagol. |
| 2475 | Black Uruks from Mordor attack Osgiliath, destroying the Great Bridge and completing the ruin of the city. They are driven back to Minas Morgul by Boromir. |
| 2485 | Eorl the Young is born. |
| 2501 | Eorl the Young, becomes Lord of the Éothéod. |
| 2509 | Cirion, Steward of Gondor, sends summons to the Éothéod for military aid.
Celebrían is waylaid by Orcs, receives a poisoned wound, and subsequently departs Middle-earth. |
| 2510 | The Balchoth invade Gondor, conquering much of Calenardhon, but are driven back by the Éothéod at the Battle of the Field of Celebrant.
Gondor gives the now-uninhabited province of Calenardhon to the Éothéod. The kingdom of Rohan is founded. The alliance between Rohan and Gondor comes into existence. |
| 2545 | Eorl the Young, 1st King of Rohan, dies in the battle on 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. |
| 2746 | 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 Easterlings and Corsairs of Umbar. |
| Long Winter 2758 to TA 2759 | The Dunlendings take Edoras and lay siege to the Hornburg. |
| 2759 | Helm Hammerhand, King of Rohan, dies of hunger and exposure. He is succeeded by his nephew Fréaláf Hildeson who drives out the Dunlendings.
|
| 2763 | Balin is born. |
| 2770 | Erebor is taken over by Smaug. |
| 2783 | Glóin is born. |
| 2793 | The War of the 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 the Dwarves and Orcs ends. Some Orc survivors flee south to the White Mountains. |
| 2841 | Thráin II mounts an expedition to the Lonely Mountain, but vanishes without trace, seized by servants of Sauron and taken to Dol Guldur. |
| 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. He finds the dying Thráin II in the dungeons and is given Thrór's Map and the Key to the Side-door. |
| 2851 | Walda, 12th King of Rohan, is killed by an Orc, his son Folca succeeds him. |
| 2859 | Fíli and Kíli, the sons of Dis and nephews of Thorin II Oakenshield, are 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. |
| 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) |
| 2901 | Under pressure from Orc raids, Gondor abandons Ithilien, but establishes the Rangers of Ithilien and constructs hidden refuges to harass the enemy. |
| 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.
|
| 2930 | Arador is killed by Trolls. Arathorn II becomes the 15th Chieftain of the Dúnedain.
Denethor II is born. |
| 2931 | Birth of Aragorn II Elessar, 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. Lake-town is attacked by the dragon Smaug, who is killed by Bard the Bowman. Deaths of Thorin II Oakenshield, Fíli and Kíli. Dáin II Ironfoot becomes King under the Mountain. |
| 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 of Dol Amroth, daughter of Adrahil of Dol Amroth, is born. |
| 2951 | Sauron declares his presence in Mordor openly.
Estel 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. Turgon, 24th Ruling Steward of Gondor dies. His son Ecthelion II succeeds him. 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 Finduilas. |
| 2977 | Bain, son of Bard, become King of Dale. |
| 2978 | Boromir, son of Denethor II, is born. |
| 2980 | Thorongil, in the service of the Steward of Gondor Ecthelion II leads a Raid on 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. Samwise Gamgee is 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 26th Ruling 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) Took, 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, King of Rohan. |
| 3018 | The Nazgûl are given the task of retrieving the One Ring and attack Osgiliath. Thranduil's realm is attacked and Gollum escapes. The traces of Gollum disappear. He gets lost in Moria, but, finally discovering the way to the Doors of Durin, he can't leave. (August) Gandalf meets Shadowfax, but the horse doesn't allow him to approach. Gandalf pursues Shadowfax far over the fields. (September 21) Glorfindel attacks three Nazgûl on the Last Bridge. (October 11) The Council of Elrond is held at Rivendell. (October 25) The Fellowship of the Ring sets out in the evening. (December 25) |
| 3019 | The Fellowship parts after Gandalf falls into Moria while fighting a Balrog. (January 15)
The Breaking of the Fellowship of the Ring. Deaths of Gollum, Boromir, Denethor II, Dáin II Ironfoot, Brand, Lotho Sackville-Baggins, Saruman, Gríma Wormtongue, Théoden. Battles of the Hornburg, Pelennor Fields, Bywater, Dale, Mirkwood, and Black Gate. The Nazgûl and the One Ring are destroyed. End of Sauron. Bard II becomes King of Dale and Thorin III Stonehelm becomes King under the Mountain. Mirkwood is renamed Eryn Lasgalen. Aragorn takes the Crown and Sceptre of the Reunited Kingdom as King Elessar. |
| 3020 | 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. (September 22) Elrond, Galadriel, Gandalf, Frodo and Bilbo depart from the Grey Havens. (September 29) The Fourth Age begins. |
Translations
| Foreign Language | Translated name |
| Afrikaans | Derde Era |
| 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 |
| Slovenian | Tretji 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 |
