Middle-earth

Chronology

The History of Arda

Tolkien used several calendars across the Ages — the Years of the Trees, Valian Years, and the reckonings of the Eldar and the Dúnedain — and he revised dates between drafts. Every event below therefore carries a display date, a certainty label, and, where sources disagree, a note on the discrepancy. Continuity labels mark whether an account comes from Tolkien’s own texts, posthumously published writings, or an adaptation.

A view of the history of Arda across the ages

The Ages of Arda

Before the Ages

Before the reckoning of time

The creation of Eä through the Music of the Ainur, and the shaping of Arda by the Valar.

The First Age

The Elder Days

The awakening of the Elves, the wars against Morgoth, and the great tragedies of Beleriand ending in the War of Wrath.

The Second Age

S.A. 1 – 3441

The rise and downfall of Númenor, the forging of the Rings of Power, and the Last Alliance of Elves and Men.

The Third Age

T.A. 1 – 3021

The kingdoms of the Dúnedain, the long history of the Ring, the quest of Erebor, and the War of the Ring.

The Fourth Age

After the War of the Ring

The Reunited Kingdom, the waning of the Elves, and the beginning of the Dominion of Men.

39 events in the chronology

Before the Ages

Before the reckoning of time

4 events

  1. Before the reckoning of time

    UncertainCreation
    The Music of the Ainur

    The Ainur sing the Great Music from which Eä, the World, is made.

  2. Before the First Age

    UncertainCreation
    The Shaping of Arda

    The Valar labour to order the world while Melkor strives to undo their work.

  3. Years of the Trees / dawn of the First Age

    DisputedDiscovery
    The Awakening of the Elves

    The first Elves awake at Cuiviénen by the light of the stars.

  4. Late Years of the Trees

    ApproximateDisaster
    The Darkening of Valinor

    Melkor and Ungoliant destroy the Two Trees and steal the Silmarils.

The First Age

The Elder Days

4 events

  1. F.A. 466

    ApproximateJourney
    Beren and Lúthien

    A mortal man and an Elf-maiden win a Silmaril from Morgoth’s crown.

  2. F.A. 472

    ApproximateBattle
    Nirnaeth Arnoediad

    The Union of Maedhros is broken and the Elven realms of Beleriand are ruined.

  3. F.A. 510

    ApproximateDownfall
    The Fall of Gondolin

    Morgoth’s forces discover and destroy the hidden city of Turgon.

  4. F.A. 545–587

    ApproximateBattle
    The War of Wrath

    The Valar overthrow Morgoth, ending the First Age and sinking much of Beleriand.

The Second Age

S.A. 1 – 3441

6 events

  1. S.A. 32

    ApproximateFounding
    The Founding of Númenor

    The Edain are given the island of Númenor as reward for their war against Morgoth.

  2. S.A. c. 1500–1600

    ApproximateCreation
    The Forging of the Rings of Power

    Sauron, as Annatar, teaches the smiths of Eregion and secretly forges the One Ring.

  3. S.A. 1693–1701

    ApproximateBattle
    The War of the Elves and Sauron

    Sauron overruns Eregion; the Elves, with Númenórean aid, hold him off.

  4. S.A. 3319

    ApproximateDisaster
    The Downfall of Númenor

    Númenor is drowned after its king sails against Valinor, and Sauron’s body is destroyed with it.

  5. S.A. 3320

    ApproximateFounding
    The Founding of Gondor and Arnor

    The exiled Dúnedain establish the two kingdoms in Middle-earth.

  6. S.A. 3429–3441

    ApproximateBattle
    The War of the Last Alliance

    Elves and Men besiege Sauron in Mordor; Elendil and Gil-galad fall, and Isildur cuts the Ring from Sauron’s hand.

The Third Age

T.A. 1 – 3021

24 events

  1. T.A. 2

    ExactDisaster
    The Disaster of the Gladden Fields

    Isildur is ambushed and killed; the One Ring is lost in the Gladden River for two thousand years.

  2. T.A. 1974–1975

    ApproximateDownfall
    The Fall of Arnor

    The Witch-king’s kingdom of Angmar destroys the last successor-state of Arnor.

  3. T.A. 1980

    ApproximateDownfall
    The Fall of Moria

    The Dwarves of Khazad-dûm awaken a Balrog and abandon their greatest city.

  4. T.A. 2002

    ApproximateDownfall
    The Fall of Minas Ithil

    The Nazgûl capture Minas Ithil and make it Minas Morgul.

  5. T.A. 2799

    ApproximateBattle
    The Battle of Azanulbizar

    The Dwarves avenge Thrór; Thorin earns the name Oakenshield and Azog is slain.

  6. T.A. 2941

    ExactJourney
    The Quest of Erebor

    Thorin’s company, with Bilbo and Gandalf, reclaims the Lonely Mountain from Smaug.

  7. T.A. 2941

    ExactBattle
    The Battle of the Five Armies

    Elves, Men and Dwarves unite against Orcs and Wargs at the Lonely Mountain.

  8. T.A. 2941

    ApproximateBattle
    The White Council Drives Out the Necromancer

    Sauron is expelled from Dol Guldur, but only after he has planned his return to Mordor.

  9. T.A. 3001

    ExactOther
    Bilbo’s Farewell Party

    Bilbo leaves the Shire and gives the One Ring to Frodo.

  10. T.A. 2989–2994

    ApproximateDownfall
    Balin’s Colony in Moria

    Balin attempts to recolonise Moria and is destroyed with his followers.

  11. T.A. 3018 · October

    ExactJourney
    Flight to the Ford of Bruinen

    Frodo is wounded at Weathertop and healed in Rivendell after the Nazgûl are swept away at the Ford.

  12. T.A. 3018 · 25 October

    ExactCouncil
    The Council of Elrond

    The free peoples resolve that the One Ring must be destroyed in Mordor, and Frodo takes it.

  13. T.A. 3018–3019

    ExactBattle
    The War of the Ring

    The great war of T.A. 3018–3019, from the breaking of the Fellowship to the fall of Sauron.

  14. T.A. 3019 · 15 January

    ExactBattle
    The Bridge of Khazad-dûm

    Gandalf falls with the Balrog while the Fellowship escapes Moria.

  15. T.A. 3019 · 2–3 March

    ExactBattle
    The Destruction of Isengard

    The Ents and Huorns overrun Saruman’s fortress and flood his works.

  16. T.A. 3019 · 3–4 March

    ExactBattle
    The Battle of Helm’s Deep

    Rohan, with Aragorn, holds the Hornburg against Saruman’s host until dawn and rescue arrive.

  17. T.A. 3019 · 8–13 March

    ExactJourney
    Aragorn Takes the Paths of the Dead

    Aragorn summons the Oathbreakers and turns the sea to the aid of Gondor at Pelargir.

  18. T.A. 3019 · 12 March

    ExactBattle
    The Fall of Osgiliath

    Sauron’s forces take the ruined fords and bridge of Osgiliath, opening the way to Minas Tirith.

  19. T.A. 3019 · 15 March

    ExactBattle
    The Battle of the Pelennor Fields

    The siege of Minas Tirith is broken by Rohan and by Aragorn’s fleet; the Witch-king is slain.

  20. T.A. 3019 · 25 March

    ExactBattle
    The Battle of the Black Gate

    The Captains of the West assault the Morannon to draw Sauron’s eye from Frodo.

  21. T.A. 3019 · 25 March

    ExactDownfall
    The Destruction of the One Ring

    In the Cracks of Doom the Ring falls into the fire with Gollum, and Sauron is unmade.

  22. T.A. 3019 · Mid-year’s Day

    ExactOther
    The Wedding of Aragorn and Arwen

    Aragorn is crowned King Elessar and weds Arwen Undómiel in Minas Tirith.

  23. T.A. 3019 · November

    ExactBattle
    The Scouring of the Shire

    The returned hobbits rouse the Shire and overthrow Saruman’s ruffians.

  24. T.A. 3021 · 29 September

    ExactDeparture
    The Departure from the Grey Havens

    The Ring-bearers and the Three Keepers sail into the West, ending the Third Age.

The Fourth Age

After the War of the Ring

1 event

  1. Fourth Age · from T.A. 3021

    ApproximateFounding
    The Beginning of the Fourth Age

    The Reunited Kingdom is established under King Elessar as the dominion of Men begins.