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The Third Age

Important Facts
• 4,024 years after the Return of the Noldor
• 123 years after the Downfall of Númenor
• Contemporary with the War of the Ring

2 Meneldil takes on the rule of the South-kingdom.
Isildur plants a seedling of the White Tree in Minas Anor. Returning northward to Arnor with the One Ring, he is waylaid by Orcs and slain.
5 September Isildur sets out from Minas Tirith with the Ring on his fateful journey into the north.
4 October The Disaster of the Gladden Fields. The One Ring is lost in Anduin.
10 Isildur's son Valandil reaches his majority and becomes King of Arnor.
109 Wedding of Elrond and Celebrían.
130 Birth of the twins Elladan and Elrohir.
158 Death of Meneldil. He is succeeded as King of Gondor by his son Cemendur.
238 Death of Cemendur. He is succeeded as King of Gondor by his son Eärendil.
241 Birth of Arwen Evenstar.
249 Death of Valandil son of Isildur. He is succeeded as King of Arnor by his son Eldacar.
310 Probable date of the birth of Tarostar, later King Rómendacil I of Gondor.
324 Death of Eärendil of Gondor. He is succeeded as King by his son Anardil.
411 Death of Anardil. He is succeeded as King of Gondor by his son Ostoher.
490 Gondor is assailed by Men out of the East; the first of many wars with the Easterlings and Southrons.
492 Death of Ostoher. He is succeeded as King of Gondor by his son Tarostar, who rules as Rómendacil I.
541 Death of Rómendacil I. He is succeeded as King of Gondor by his son Turambar.
667 Death of Turambar of Gondor. He is succeeded as King by his son Atanatar I.
726 Probable date of the birth of Amlaith of Fornost.
748 Death of Atanatar I. He is succeeded as King of Gondor by his son Siriondil.
830 Death of Siriondil. He is succeeded as King of Gondor by his son Tarannon.
861 Division of Arnor into Arthedain, Rhudaur and Cardolan.
913 Death of Tarannon Falastur. Leaving no heir, he is succeeded as King of Gondor by his nephew Eärnil I.
936 Death of Eärnil I. He is succeeded as King of Gondor by his son Ciryandil.
946 Death of Amlaith of Fornost, founder of Arthedain. He is succeeded by his son Beleg.
1000 Arrival of the Istari in Middle-earth.
1015 Death of Ciryandil. He is succeeded as King of Gondor by his son, who rules as Hyarmendacil I.
1050 A shadow falls on Greenwood the Great, and it begins to be called Mirkwood.
The Harfoots cross the Misty Mountains and settle in Eriador.
Gondor conquers the Harad, and reaches the height of its power.
1100 The first stirrings of Sauron are felt again in Middle-earth, though they are thought at this time to signal the return of a Nazgûl.
1126 Probable date of the birth of Minalcar, later King Rómendacil II of Gondor.
1149 Death of Hyarmendacil I. He is succeeded as King of Gondor by his son Atanatar II.
1150 The Hobbits of the Fallohide and Stoor strains wander west across the Misty Mountains.
1226 Death of King Atanatar II of Gondor. He is succeeded by his son, who becomes Narmacil I.
1240 Minalcar (later King Rómendacil II) is made Regent of Gondor by his uncle Narmacil I.
1250 Likely date of the construction of the Argonath
1294 Death of King Narmacil I of Gondor. He is succeeded by his younger brother, Calmacil, though Calmacil's son Minalcar retains the Regency.
1300 The Nazgûl reappear in Middle-earth. Angmar is founded in the far north.
1300 The Hobbits travel westwards. Some reach the Bree-land and settle there.
1304 Death of King Calmacil of Gondor. He is succeeded by his son and Regent, who becomes Rómendacil II.
1349 Death of King Malvegil of Arthedain. He is succeeded by his son Argeleb I.
1356 Argeleb I dies in battle with Angmar. He is succeeded by his son Arveleg I.
1366 Death of King Rómendacil II of Gondor. He is succeeded by his son Valacar.
1409 The Witch-king of Angmar invades the northern kingdoms.
1432 Death of King Valacar of Gondor. The succession of his son Eldacar is disputed, and civil war begins in Gondor.
1437 The burning of Osgiliath, and the loss of its palantír.
1447 Eldacar returns from the east and reclaims the Crown of Gondor, slaying Castamir the Usurper.
1448 Castamir's sons escape to Umbar, and form the beginnings of the Corsairs.
1473 Probable date of the birth of Argeleb son of Araphor, later King Argeleb II of Arthedain.
1516 Probable date of the birth of Telemnar son of Minardil, later King of Gondor
1540 Death of Aldamir. He is succeeded as King of Gondor by his son Hyarmendacil II.
1589 Death of Araphor. He is succeeded by his son Argeleb II.
1601 The foundation of the Shire, and the beginning of the Shire-reckoning.
1621 Death of Hyarmendacil II. He is succeeded as King of Gondor by his son Minardil.
1634 Death of Minardil. He is succeeded as King of Gondor by his son Telemnar.
1636 In Gondor, King Telemnar and all his children sicken and die.
The year of the Great Plague, and the appearance of the Barrow-wights in the Barrow-downs.
1640 Tarondor removes the seat of the King of Gondor from Osgiliath to Minas Anor.
The decay of Osgiliath begins.
1670 Death of Argeleb II. He is succeeded by his son Arvegil.
1684 Probable date of the birth of Narmacil II.
1731 Birth of Durin VI, later King of Durin's Folk in Khazad-dûm.
1798 Death of Tarondor. He is succeeded as King of Gondor by his son Telumehtar.
1810 Telumehtar Umbardacil takes Umbar and slays the last descendants of Castamir.
1832 Birth of Náin I, later King of Durin's Folk in Khazad-dûm.
1850 Death of Telumehtar Umbardacil. He is succeeded by his son, who becomes Narmacil II.
1856 Death of Narmacil II in battle with the Wainriders. He is succeeded by his son Calimehtar.
1864 Probable date of the birth of Arvedui son of Araphant, later King of Arthedain.
1936 Death of Calimehtar. He is succeeded as King of Gondor by his son Ondoher.
1944 Gondor is assaulted simultaneously by the armies of Khand, Harad and the Wainriders. The Battle of the Camp.
King Ondoher of Gondor is slain with both his sons.
Arvedui lays claim to the throne of Gondor.
1945 The Crown of Gondor is granted to Eärnil II.
1964 Death of Araphant. He is succeeded by his son Arvedui.
1974 The forces of Angmar capture Fornost; the remnant of the North-kingdom is destroyed.
1975 Eärnur of Gondor brings a fleet to the north. Too late to save the North-kingdom, he avenges its loss at the Battle of Fornost. Angmar is destroyed.
Arvedui, last of the Kings of Arthedain, is drowned in the Icebay of Forochel.
1979 Bucca of the Marish is the made the first of the Shire-thains.
1980 Return of the Nazgûl to Mordor.
The Dwarves of Moria unleash Durin's Bane. King Durin VI is slain by it.
1981 Loss of Nimrodel and Amroth.
Náin I is slain. The last remaining Dwarves flee from Durin's Bane in Khazad-dûm.
1999 After years of wandering, the exiles of Khazad-dûm found Erebor.
2000 The Nazgûl emerge from Mordor and assault Minas Ithil.
2000 Approximate date of the slaying of Scatha the Worm by Fram of the Éothéod.
2002 Capture of Minas Ithil by the Nazgûl. It is renamed Minas Morgul.
2004 Birth of Galador son of Imrazör, later to become the first Lord of Dol Amroth.
2043 Death of Eärnil II. He is succeeded as King of Gondor by his son Eärnur.
2050 Eärnur, the last King of Gondor is lost. The Stewards now rule in the King's name.
2080 Death of Mardil the first Ruling Steward. He is succeeded by his son Eradan.
2106 Death of Aranarth. He is succeeded as Chieftain of the Dúnedain by his son Arahael.
2129 Death of Galador, the first Lord of Dol Amroth.
2136 Birth of Glóin, later King in the Grey Mountains.
2165 Probable date of the birth of Túrin I, later Steward of Gondor.
2177 Death of Aranhael. He is succeeded as Chieftain of the Dúnedain by his son Aranuir.
2190 Death of Thráin I, founder of Erebor. He is succeeded by his son Thorin I.
2210 The Dwarves of Durin's Folk leave Erebor and settle in the Grey Mountains.
2227 Probable date of the birth of Aragorn son of Aravir, later Chieftain Aragorn I of the Dúnedain.
2238 Birth of Óin, later King in the Grey Mountains.
2244 Death of Steward Húrin I. He is succeeded by his son, who becomes Túrin I.
2247 Death of Aranuir. He is succeeded as Chieftain of the Dúnedain by his son Aravir.
2278 Death of Steward Túrin I. He is succeeded by his son Hador.
2289 Death of King Thorin I of Durin's Folk. He is succeeded by his son, Glóin.
2319 Death of Chieftain Aravir of the Dúnedain. He is succeeded by his son, who becomes Aragorn I.
2327 Aragorn I is slain by wolves. He is succeeded as Chieftain of the Dúnedain by his son Araglas.
2338 Birth of Náin, later King Náin II, in the Grey Mountains.
2340 Isumbras I is the first Took to be Thain of the Shire.
Founding of Buckland by Gorhendad Oldbuck.
2385 Death of King Glóin of Durin's Folk. He is succeeded by his son, Óin.
2435 Death of Steward Dior of Gondor. He is succeeded by his son, who becomes Denethor I.
2440 Estimated birth date of Sméagol, later called Gollum.
2455 Death of Araglas. He is succeeded as Chieftain of the Dúnedain by his son Arahad I.
2460 The Watchful Peace comes to an end with Sauron's return out of the east.
2463 Gollum comes upon the One Ring.
Formation of the Council of the Wise.
2475 Mordor launches a sudden attack on Osgiliath, finally ruining the long-decaying city and breaking its bridge.
2480 Sauron sends orcs and trolls to infest the Misty Mountains and cut off their passes.
2488 Death of King Óin of Durin's Folk. He is succeeded by his son, Náin.
2497 Birth of Aravorn, later Chieftain of the Dúnedain.
2509 Steward Cirion sends messengers into the north to seek aid from the Éothéod against Gondor's enemies.
2510 The Rohirrim ride to the aid of Gondor. They are given the land of Calenardhon (Rohan) to dwell in.
Departure of Elrond's spouse Celebrían into the West.
2523 Death of Arahad I. He is succeeded as Chieftain of the Dúnedain by his son Aragost.
2542 Birth of Thrór, later King under the Mountain.
2570 Death of King Brego of Rohan, from grief at the loss of his son Baldor in the Paths of the Dead. He is succeeded by Baldor's brother Aldor.
2585 Death of King Náin II of Durin's Folk. He is succeeded by his son, Dáin.
2588 Death of Chieftain Aragost of the Dúnedain. He is succeeded by his son, Aravorn.
2589 Dáin I and his son Frór are slain by a Cold-drake. Dáin is succeeded by his son Thrór.
2590 The Dwarves of Durin's Folk return to Erebor.
2594 Birth of Fréawine, later King of Rohan.
2619 Birth of Goldwine, later King of Rohan.
2644 Birth of Déor, later King of Rohan.
2645 Death of King Aldor the Old of Rohan. He is succeeded by his son Fréa.
2654 Death of Chieftain Aravorn of the Dúnedain. He is succeeded by his son, who becomes Arahad II.
2659 Death of King Fréa of Rohan. He is succeeded by his son Fréawine.
2670 Introduction of pipe-weed to the Shire by Tobold Hornblower of Longbottom.
2680 Death of King Fréawine of Rohan. He is succeeded by his son Goldwine.
2683 Isengrim Took II becomes the tenth Shire-thain of the Took line.
2699 Death of King Goldwine of Rohan. He is succeeded by his son Déor.
2710 The Dunlendings capture Isengard.
2719 Death of Arahad II. He is succeeded as Chieftain of the Dúnedain by his son Arassuil.
2722 Death of Thain Isengrim II of the Shire. He is succeeded by his son Isumbras III.
2745 Orcs out of the Misty Mountains start their fiercest attacks on Eriador.
2746 Birth of Thorin, later called Oakenshield, son of King Thráin II.
2747 The Battle of Greenfields is fought in the Northfarthing of the Shire.
2748 The worst of the Orc-battles of Eriador come to an end.
2758 Rohan is overrun by the Dunlendings and their allies.
2759 Saruman is given the Keys of Orthanc by Steward Beren.
Death of Thain Isumbras III of the Shire. He is succeeded by his son Ferumbras II.
2763 Birth of Balin son of Fundin.
2770 Smaug descends on Erebor, destroying it and the neighbouring town of Dale.
2772 Birth of Dwalin.
2783 Birth of Glóin son of Gróin.
2784 Death of Arassuil. He is succeeded as Chieftain of the Dúnedain by his son Arathorn I.
2790 Thrór is slain in Moria by Azog.
2799 The Battle of Azanulbizar. The War of the Dwarves and Orcs ends with the death of Azog.
2801 Death of Thain Ferumbras II of the Shire. He is succeeded by his son Fortinbras I.
2846 Birth of Hob Gammidge.
2848 Death of Thain Fortinbras I of the Shire. He is succeeded by his son Gerontius, who becomes famous as the Old Took.
Death of Arathorn I. He is succeeded as Chieftain of the Dúnedain by his son Argonui.
2850 Thráin II dies in the pits of Dol Guldur. His son Thorin becomes King of Durin's Folk.
2851 The White Council discover proof that the Necromancer of Dol Guldur is Sauron returned.
2859 Birth of Thorin's nephew Fíli.
2873 Probable date of the birth of Arathorn II, later Chieftain of the Dúnedain and father to Aragorn.
2879 Birth of Gimli, later called Elf-friend.
2885 Gondor and Rohan defeat a force of Haradrim at the Crossings of Poros.
2890 Very approximate date of the construction of Bag End.
22 September Birth of Bilbo Baggins in the Shire.
2892 Birth of Holman Greenhand.
2900 Approximate date of the refortification of Cair Andros by Steward Túrin II.
2907 Birth of Gilraen, who would become the mother of Aragorn.
2911 The year of the Fell Winter. White Wolves invade the Shire.
2912 Death of Argonui. He is succeeded as Chieftain of the Dúnedain by his son Arador.
2920 Death of Gerontius, the Old Took. He is succeeded by his son Isengrim III.
2926 Birth of Hamfast Gamgee, the 'Gaffer', father of Sam Gamgee.
Death of Bungo Baggins, father of Bilbo Baggins.
2929 Marriage of Arathorn and Gilraen, the parents of Aragorn.
2930 Arador is slain by hill-trolls. He is succeeded as Chieftain of the Dúnedain by his son Arathorn II.
Death of Thain Isengrim III of the Shire. He is succeeded by his brother Isumbras IV.
Birth of Denethor in Minas Tirith, later to become Steward Denethor II.
2931 1 March Birth of Aragorn II Elessar.
2933 Death of Aragorn's father Arathorn II.
Birth of Paladin Took, later Thain Paladin II and father to Peregrin Took.
2934 Death of Belladonna Took, mother of Bilbo Baggins.
2939 Death of Thain Isumbras IV of the Shire. He is succeeded by his son Fortinbras II.
2941 Smaug is slain by Bard.
Journey of Bilbo Baggins to Erebor with Thorin and Gandalf.
2941 A young Hamfast Gamgee becomes apprenticed to the gardener Holman Greenhand.
Expulsion of the Necromancer from Dol Guldur by the White Council.
1 Lithe Bilbo Baggins and the Dwarves set out from Rivendell on their journey to the Lonely Mountain.
July Bilbo Baggins comes across the One Ring beneath the Misty Mountains.
October The Battle of Five Armies.
2942 Return of Sauron to Mordor.
2948 Birth of Théoden, later King of Rohan
2951 The Nazgûl are sent to reclaim Dol Guldur.
Rebuilding of Barad-dûr begins.
2953 The last meeting of the White Council.
2955 Likely date of the birth of Imrahil of Dol Amroth.
2957 Aragorn enters the service of Thengel of Rohan, under the alias of Thorongil.
2962 Hamfast Gamgee takes over as gardener at Bag End.
2968 22 September Birth of Frodo Baggins in the Shire.
2978 Birth of Boromir, heir to Denethor II of Gondor.
2980 Death of Thain Fortinbras II of the Shire. He is succeeded by his son Ferumbras III.
Loss of Drogo Baggins and his wife Primula in a boating accident.
Death of King Thengel of Rohan. He is succeeded by his son Théoden.
'Thorongil' (Aragorn) leaves the service of Gondor and travels into the east.
2982 Birth of Meriadoc Brandybuck, later Master of Buckland.
2983 Birth of Faramir, second son of Denethor II.
6 April Likely date of Samwise Gamgee's birth.
2985 Birth of Melilot Brandybuck in the Shire.
2989 Balin begins his ill-fated attempt to recolonise Moria.
Adoption of Frodo Baggins as Bilbo's heir. Frodo removes from Buckland to Bag End
. 2990 Birth of Peregrin Took.
2991 Birth of Éomer, later King of Rohan.
2994 Balin's attempt to recolonise Moria ends in disaster, and his own death.
2995 Birth of Éowyn in Rohan.
3001 22 September Baggins' Birthday Party and farewell feast.
3003 Bilbo Baggins begins work on his Translations from the Elvish.
3007 Death of Gilraen the mother of Aragorn.
3014 Théoden begins to fall ill, and his counsellor Gríma begins to gain power over the King.
3015 Death of Thain Ferumbras III of the Shire, the last of his line. He is succeeded by Paladin Took II.
3018 12 April Gandalf returns to the Shire to warn Frodo about the Ring.
20 June Sauron's forces simultaneously attack eastern Gondor and the Wood-elves of Thranduil. The War of the Ring begins.
10 July Saruman traps Gandalf and imprisons him on the pinnacle of Orthanc.
18 September On their journey north to the Shire, the Black Riders cross the Fords of Isen.
18 September Gwaihir rescues Gandalf from Orthanc.
19 September Gandalf seeks aid from Théoden, but is turned away from Edoras.
20 September Gandalf returns to Edoras, and is again dismissed by Théoden, though he is granted a horse.
21 September Gandalf comes upon Shadowfax for the first time, and follows the great horse across the fields of Rohan.
22 September In Rohan, Gandalf overtakes Shadowfax. Meanwhile, in the north, the Black Riders enter the Shire.
23 September The Black Riders enter the Shire.
23 September Gandalf sets out from Rohan.
23 September Frodo, Sam and Pippin set out from Bag End.
24 September Riding north to the Shire, Gandalf crosses the River Isen.
26 September Frodo encounters Tom Bombadil and Goldberry.
27 September Gandalf, riding wildly northward from Rohan, crosses the River Greyflood.
30 September The Hobbits awake in Bree to find their ponies stolen. Bill Ferny sells them his pony, later called Bill himself.
1 October Black Riders raid Buckland in the early morning.
25 October The Council of Elrond.
3 January The setting-out of the Fellowship from Rivendell.
3019 15 January The remaining members of the Fellowship flee Moria and reach the borders of Lórien.
15 January Gandalf and the Balrog fall from the Bridge of Khazad-dûm.
23 January Gandalf and the Balrog reach the peak of Zirakzigil.
25 January Gandalf casts Durin's Bane from Zirakzigil.
16 February The Company of the Ring depart from Lórien.
25 February Death of Théodred at the First Battle of the Fords of Isen.
26 February Boromir is slain by Orcs; the Fellowship of the Ring is broken.
29 February Uglúk's Orc-band is destroyed by the Rohirrim. Merry and Pippin escape into Fangorn Forest.
2 March The Second Battle of the Fords of Isen.
3 March The Battle of the Hornburg begins.
3 March Destruction of Isengard by the Ents.
4 March The Battle of the Hornburg is won, and the siege of Helm's Deep relieved.
8 March Aragorn and his company pass through the Paths of the Dead, and gather at Erech in the Morthond Vale.
10 March An army out of the Morannon captures Cair Andros and invades Anórien.
13 March Aragorn captures the fleet of the Corsairs at Pelargir, and releases the army of the Dead who aided him.
14 March A dispute breaks out in the Tower of Cirith Ungol, leading to open battle between the Orcs in the Tower.
15 March The pyre of Denethor.
15 March The Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
15 March Death of King Théoden in the Battle of the Pelennor. He is succeeded by his nephew Éomer.
17 March The Battle of Dale begins.
20 March The end of the Battle of Dale. Erebor is besieged
. 25 March Destruction of the One Ring and final downfall of Sauron and his Nazgûl.
25 March The Captains of the West are assaulted by Sauron's forces before the Black Gate of Mordor.
27 March The siege of Erebor is broken.
6 April Celeborn and Thranduil meet and rename Mirkwood as Eryn Lasgalen.
1 May Coronation of Aragorn II Elessar.
18 July Éomer returns to Minas Tirith to escort Théoden's remains to Edoras.
19 July The funeral escort of Théoden sets out from Minas Tirith.
7 August The funeral escort of Théoden arrives at Edoras.
10 August The funeral of Théoden.
18 August Aragorn and his company arrive at Helm's Deep, accompanying the Travellers northward
22 August Returning into the north, the Travellers reach Isengard, where they bid farewell to Aragorn.
28 August On their journey north, the Travellers encounter Saruman. Saruman starts towards the Shire.
21 September Gandalf and the Hobbits, travelling homeward from Minas Tirith, reach Rivendell.
22 September Saruman enters the Shire.
3 November Saruman dies at the hands of his servant Gríma. The end of the War of the Ring.
3020 1 Lithe Frodo Baggins gives up the post of Mayor of the Shire, and Will Whitfoot is restored.
3021 24 March The last day of the Third Age, according to the reckoning of Gondor.
21 September Frodo and Sam set out from Hobbiton for the Grey Havens.
22 September Frodo and Sam meet the Last Riding of the Keepers.
29 September Departure of the Ring-bearers.
6 October Sam returns to Bag End on his faithful pony, Bill.