The Grey Havens - Middle-earth: Third Age

Third Age

From: Kjell Arne Brudvik

These were the fading years of the Eldar. For long they were at peace, wielding the Three Rings while Sauron slept and the One Ring was lost; but they attempted nothing new, living in the memory of the past. The Dwarves hid themselves in deep places, guarding their hoards; but when evil began to stir again and dragons reappeared, one by one their ancient treasures were plundered, and they became a wandering people. Moria for long remained secure, but its numbers dwindled until many of its vast mansions became dark and empty. The wisdom and life-span of the Númenoreans also waned as they became mingled with lesser Men.
When maybe a thousand years had passed, and the first shadow had fallen on Greenwood the Great, the Istari or Wizards appeared in Middle-Earth. It was afterwards said that they came out of the Far West and were messengers sent to contest the power of Sauron, and to unite all those who had the will to resist him; but they were forbidden to match his power with power, or to seek to dominate Elves or Men by force and fear.
They came therefore in the shape of Men, thought hey were never young and aged only slowly, and they had many powers of mind and hand. They revealed their true names to few, but used such names as were given to them. The two highest of this order (of whom it is said there were five) were called by the Eldar Curunír, 'the Man of Skill', and Mithrandir, 'the Grey Pilgrim', but by Men in the North Saruman and Gandalf. Curunír journeyed often into the East, but dwelt at last in Isengard. Mithrandir was closest in friendship with the Eldar, and wandered mostly in the West, and never made for himself any lasting abode.
Througout the Third Age the guardianship of the Three Rings was known only to those who possessed them. But at the end it became known that they had been held at first by the three greatest of the Eldar: Gil-Galad, Galadriel, and Círdan. The ring of Gil-Galad was given by him to Elrond; but Círdan surrendered his to Mithrandir. For Círdan saw further and deeper than any other in Middle-Earth, and he welcomed Mithrandir at the Grey Havens, knowing whence he came and whither he should return.

'Take this ring, Master,' he said, 'for your labours will be heavy; but it will support you in the weariness that you have taken upon yourself. For this is the Ring of Fire, and with it you may rekindle hearts in a world that grows chill. But as for me, my heart is with the Sea, and I will dwell by the grey shores until the last ship sails. I will await you.'

2	Isuldur plants a seedling of the White Tree in Minas Anor. He delivers the South-kingdom to Meneldil. Disaster of the Gladden Fields; Isuldur and his three older sons are slain.
3	Ohtar brings the shards of Narsil to Imladris.
10	Valandil becomes King of Arnor.
100	Elrond weds daughter of Celeborn.
139	Birth of Elladan and Elrohir, sons of Elrond.
241	Birth of Arwen Undómiel.
420	King Ostoher rebuilds Minas Anor.
490	First invasion of Easterlings.
500	Rómendacil I defeats the Easterlings.
541	Rómendacil slain in battle.
830	Falastur begins the ling of the Ship-kings of Gondor.
861	Death of Eärendur, and division of Arnor.
933	King Eärnil I takes Umbar, which becomes a fortress of Gondor.
936	Eärnil lost at sea.
1015	King Ciryandil slain in the siege of Umbar.
1050	Hyarmendacil conquers the Harad. Gondor reaches the height of its power. About this time a shadow falls on Greenwood, and men begin to call it Mirkwood. The Periannath are first mentioned in records, with the coming of Harfoots to Eriador.
1100	The Wise (the Istari and the chief Eldar) discover that an evil power has made a stronghold at Dol Guldur. It is thought to be one of the Nazgûl.
1149	Reign of Atanatar Alcarin begins.
1150	The Fallohides enter Eriador. The Stoors come over the Redhorn Pass and move to Angle, or to Dunland.
1300	Evil things begin to multiply again. Orcs increase in the Misty Mountains and attack the Dwarves. The Nazgûl reappear. The chief of these comes north to Angmar. The Periannath migrate westward; many settle at Bree.
1356	King Argeleb I slain in battle with Rhudaur. About this time the Stoors leave the Angle, and some return to Wilderland.
1409	The Witch-king of Angmar invades Arnor. King Arveleg I slain. Fornost and Tyrn Gorthad are defended. The Tower of Amon Sûl destroyed.
1432	King Valacar of Gondor dies, and the civil war of the Kin-strife begins.
1437	Burning of Osgiliath and loss of its palantir. Eldacar flees to Rhovanion; his son Ornendil is murdered.
1447	Eldacar returns and drives out the usurper Castamir. Battle of the Crossings of Erui. Siege of Pelargir.
1448	The rebels escape and seize Umbar.
1540	King Aldamir slain in war with the Men of Harad and the Corsairs of Umbar.
1551	Hyarmendacil II defeats the Men of Harad.
1601	Many Periannath migrate from Bree, and are granted land beyond Baranduin by Argeleb II. Founding of the Shire.
1630	The Shirefolk are joined by Stoors coming up from Dunland.
1634	The Corsairs ravage Pelargir and slay King Minardil.
1636	The Great Plague devastates Gondor. Death of King Telemnar and his children. The White Tree dies in Minas Anor. The plague spreads north and west, and many parts of Eriador become desolate. Beyond the Baranduin the Periannath survive, but suffer great loss.
1640	King Tarondor removes the Kings's House to Minas Anor and plants a seedling of the White Tree. Osgiliath begins to fall into ruin. Mordor is left unguarded.
1700	Evil things enter into Mordor again and take up abode. Communication between the North and South Kingdoms ceases for a long while.
1810	King Telumenhtar Umbardacil retakes Umbar and drives out the Corsairs.
1851	The attacks of the Wainriders upon Gondor begins.
1856	Gondor loses its eastern territories, and Narmacil II falls in battle with the Wainriders.
1899	King Calimehtar defeats the Wainriders on Dagorlad.
1900	Calimehtar builds the White Tower in Minas Anor.
1940	Gondor and Arnor renew communications and form an alliance. Arvedui weds Firiel daughter of Ondoher of Gondor.
1944	Ondoher falls in battle. Eärnil defeats the enemy in South Ithilien. He then wins the Battle of the Camp, and drives Wainriders into the Dead Marshes. Arvedui claims the crown of Gondor.
1945	Eärnil II receives the crown.
1974	End of the North-kingdom. The Witch-king overruns Arthedain and takes Fornost.
1975	Arvedui drowned in in the Bay of Forochel. The palantiri of Annuminas and Amon Sûl are lost. Eärnur brings a war fleet to Lindon. The Witch-king defeated at the Battle of Fornost, and pursued to the Ettenmoors. He vanishes from the North.
1976	Aranarth takes the title of Chieftain of the Dúnedain. The heirlooms of Arnor are given into the keeping of Elrond.
1977	Frungor leads the Eotheod into the North.
1979	Bucca of the Marish becomes the first Thain of the Shire, charged with ruling them until the king returns.
1980	The Witch-King comes to Mordor, and there gathers the Nazgûl. A Balrog appears in Moria and slays Durin VI.
1981	Nain I slain. The Dwarves flee from Moria. Many of the Silvan Elves of Lórien flee south. Amroth and Nimrodel are lost. Celeborn and Galadriel become the guardians of Lórien at the request of its people.
1998	The Stewardship of Gondor becomes hereditary.
1999	Thrain I comes to Erebor and founds a dwarf-kingdom under the Lonely Mountain.
2000	The Nazgûl issue from Mordor and besiege Minas Ithil.
2002	Fall of Minas Ithil, afterwards known as Minas Morgul. The palantir is captured.
2043	Eärnur becomes King of Gondor. He is challenged by the Witch-king.
2050	The challenge is renewed. Eärnur rides to Minas Morgul and is lost. Mardil become the first Ruling Steward.
2060	The power of Dol Guldur grows. The Wise fear that it may be Sauron taking shape again.
2063	Gandalf goes to Dol Guldur. Sauron retreats and hides in the East. The Nazgûl remain quiet in Minas Morgul.
2063-2460	The Watchful Peace.
2080	Founding of the fiefdom of Dol Amroth in Gondor.
2210	Thorin I leaves Erebor, and goes north to the Grey Mountains, where most of the remnants of Durin's Folk are now gathering.
2327	Aragorn I slain by wolves which infested eastern Eridaor in this year.
2340	Isumbras I becomes thirteenth Thain, and first of the Took line. The Oldbucks occupy the Buckland.
2460	The Watchful Peace ends, and Sauron returns with increased strength to Dol Guldur. He begins the breeding of a new strain of Orcs, the Uruks, akin to those of the First Age: larger, stronger, and able to move about in daylight.
2463	The second White Council is formed. Saruman begins his study of the Rings of Power. About this time Deagol the Stoor finds the One Ring, and is murdered by Smeagol.
2470	About this time Smeagol-Gollum hides in the Misty Mountains.
2475	The attack on Gondor is renewed. Osgiliath finally ruined, and its stone bridge broken.
2480	Orcs begin to make secret strongholds in the Misty Mountains so as to barr all the passes into Eriador. Sauron begins to people Moria with his creatures.
2509	Celebrian, journeying to Lórien, is waylaid in the Redhorn Pass and receives a poisoned wound.
2510	Celebrian departs over the Sea. Orcs and Easterlings overrun Calenardhon. Eorl the young wins the victory of the Field of Celebrant. The Rohirrim settle in Calenardhon, afterwards known as Rohan.
2545	Eorl falls in battle in the Wold.
2569	Brego son of Eorl completes the Golden Hall.
2570	Baldor son of Brego enters the Forbidden Door and is lost. About this time the Dragons reappear in the far North and begin afflicting the Dwarves.
2589	Dain I slain by a Dragon.
2590	Thror returns to Erebor. Gror his brother goes to the Iron Hills.
2670	Tobold plants 'pipe-weed' in the Southfarthing.
2683	Isengrim II becomes tenth Thain and begins the excavation of the Great Smials.
2698	Ecthelion I rebuilds the White Tower in Minas Tirith.
2710	Isengard captured by the Dunlendings.
2740	Orcs renew their invasions of Eriador.
2745-8	In this time the chief battles between the Dunedan and the folk of Eriador against the invading Orcs take place. The Free Peoples eventually defeat the Orcs.
2747	Bandobras Took defeats an Orc-band in the Northfarthing at the Battle of the Greenfields.
2758	Rohan attacked from west and east and overrun. Gondor attacked by fleets of the Corsairs. Helm of Rohan takes refuge in Helm's Deep. Wulf seizes Edoras.
2758-9	The Long Winter. Great suffering and loss of life in Eriador and Rohan. Gandalf comes to the aid of the Shirefolk.
2759	Death of Helm. Frealaf drives out Wulf, and begins second line of Kings of the Mark. Isengard retaken by Rohan. Saruman takes up his abode there at the behest of the Rohirrim.
2767	Dain II Ironfoot cousin of Thorin Oakenshield born.
2770	Smaug the Dragon descends on Erebor. Dale destroyed. Thror escapes with Thrain II and Thorin II.
2790	Thror slain by an Orc in Moria. The Dwarves gather for a war of vengance. Birth of Gerontius, later known as the Old Took.
2793-99	The War of the Dwarves and Orcs. The forces of Gondor prevent any fleeing Orc-hosts from escaping south into the White Mountains.
2799	Battle of Nanduhirion before the East-gate of Moria. Dain Ironfoot returns to the Iron Hills. Thrain II and his son Thorin II begin their westward wanderings.
2802	Thrain II and Thorin II settle in the South of Ered Luin beyond the Shire, near the ruins of Belegost.
2800-64	Orcs from the North trouble Rohan.
2861	King Walda slain by Orcs.
2841	Thrain II sets out to revist Erebor, but is pursued by the servants of Sauron.
2845	Thrain the Dwarf is imprisoned in Dol Guldur; the last of the Seven Rings is taken from him.
2850	Gandalf enters Dol Guldur, and discovers that its master is indeed Sauron, who is gathering all the Rings and seeking for news of the One, and of Isildur's Heir. He finds Thrain and receives the key of Erebor. Thrain dies in Dol Guldur.
2851	The White Council meets. Gandalf urges an attack on Dol Guldur. Saruman overrules him, and hides his desire for the One Ring. Saruman begins to search near the Gladden Fields.
2872	Belecthor II of Gondor dies. The White Tree dies, and no seedling can be found. The Dead Tree is left standing.
2885	Stirred up by the emmisaries of Sauron, the Haradrim cross the Poros and attack Gondor. The sons of Folcwine of Rohan are slain in the service of Gondor.
2890	Bilbo Baggins born in the Shire.
2901	Most of the remaining inhabitants of Ithilien desert it owing to the attacks of Uruks of Mordor. The secret refuge of Henneth Annun is built.
2907	Birth of Gilraen mother of Aragorn II.
2911	The Fell Winter. The Baranduin and other rivers are frozen. White wolves invade Eriador from the North.
2912	Great floods devastate Enedwaith and Minhiriath. Tharbad is ruined and finally deserted.
2920	Death of the Old Took.
2929	Arathorn son of Arador of the Dúnedain weds Gilraen.
2930	Arador slain by Trolls. Birth of Denethor II son of Ecthelion II in Minas Tirith.
2931	Aragorn II son of Arathorn II born in Eriador.
2933	Arathorn II slain. Gilraen takes Aragorn to Imladris. Elrond receives him as foster-son and his ancestry is concealed.
2939	Saruman discovers that Sauron's servants are searching the Anduin near the Gladden Fields, and that Sauron has therefore learned of Isildur's end. He is alarmed, but says nothing to the White Council.
2941	Thorin Oakenshield and Gandalf visit Bilbo in the Shire. Bilbo meets Gollum and finds the One Ring. The White Council meets; Saruman agrees to an attack on Dol Guldur, since he now wishes to prevent Sauron from searching the River. Sauron having made his plans abandons Dol Guldur. The Battle of the Five Armies in Dale. Death of Thorin II. Bard of Esgaroth slays Smaug. Dain of the Iron Hills becomes King under the Mountain (Dain II).
2942	Bilbo returns to the Shire with the Ring. Sauron returns in secret to Mordor.
2942-4	Bilbo composes his memoirs, being the first volume of the Red Book.
2944	Bard rebuilds Dale and becomes King. Gollum leaves the Mountains and begins his search for the 'thief' of the Ring.
2948	Theoden son of Thengel, King of Rohan, born.
2949	Gandalf and Balin visit Bilbo in the Shire.
2950	Finduilas, daughter of Adrahil of Dol Amroth, born.
2951-3019	The War of the Ring.
2951	Sauron declares himself openly and gathers power in Mordor. He begins the rebuilding of Barad-dûr. Gollum turns toward Mordor. Sauron sends three of the Nazgûl to recapture Dol Guldur. Elrond reveals to Aragorn his true heritage and delivers to him the shards of Narsil. Arwen newly returned from Lórien meets Aragorn in the woods of Imladris. To prove his worthiness of her hand to Elrond, Aragorn goes out into the world to begin the fulfillment of his destiny.
2953	Last meeting of the White Council. They debate the Rings. Saruman feigns that he has discovered that the One Ring has passed down Anduin to the Sea. Saruman withdraws to Isengard, which he takes as his own, and fortifies it. Being afraid and jealous of Gandalf he sets spies to watch all his movements and notes his interest in the Shire. He soon begins to keep agents in Bree and the South-farthing.
2954	Mount Doom bursts into flame again. The last inhabitants of Ithilien flee over Anduin.
2955	Birth of Imrahil, Prince of Dol Amroth.
2956	Aragorn meets Gandalf and their friendship begins.
2957-80	Aragorn undertakes his great journeys and errantries. He serves in disguise both Thengel of Rohan and Ecthelion II of Gondor. He travels far and wide, even into the South and East. Because of his high race, his fostering, his learning from Gandalf, and his many deeds and journeys he becomes the most hardy of Men, both Elven-wise and skilled in craft and lore.
2968	Birth of Frodo Baggins.
2976	Denethor weds Finduilas of Dol Amroth.
2977	Bain son of Bard becomes King of Dale.
2978	Birth of Boromir son of Denethor II.
2980	Aragorn enters Lórien, and there meets again Arwen Undomiel. Aragorn gives her the Ring of Barahir, and they plight their troth upon the hill of Cerin Amroth. About this time Gollum reaches the confines of Mordor and becomes acquainted with Shelob. Theoden becomes king of Rohan.
2983	Faramir son of Denethor born. Birth of Samwise Gamgee.
2984	Death of Ecthelion II. Denethor II becomes Steward of Gondor.
2987	Finduilas wife of Denethor dies young.
2988	Denethor first looks into the the Anor Stone.
2989	Balin leaves Erebor with a large company and enters Moria.
2990	Saurman begins his breeding experiments between Orcs and Men.
2991	Eomer son of Eomund born in Rohan
2994	Balin perishes, and the dwarf-colony in Moria is destroyed.
2995	Eowyn sister of Eomer born.
3000	The shadow of Mordor lengthens. Saurman dares to use the palantir of Orthanc, but becomes ensared by Sauron, who has the Ithil Stone. He becomes a traitor to the Council.
3001	Bilbo's farewell feast. Gandalf suspects his ring to be the One Ring. Ganldalf seeks for news of Gollum and calls on the help of Aragorn.
3002	Bilbo becomes a guest of Elrond, and settles in Imladris. Gandalf begins to explore the history of Bilbo's ring.
3003-18	Bilbo composes the third volume of the Red Book with the help of the folk of Imladris.
3007	Brand son of Bain becomes King in Dale. Death of Gilraen.
3009	Gandalf and Aragorn renew their hunt for Gollum at intervals during the next eight years. At some time during these years Gollum himself ventured into Mordor and was captured by Sauron. Elrond sends for Arwen and she returns to Imladris; the Mountains and all lands eastward are becoming dangerous.
3017	Gollum is released from Mordor. He is captured by Aragon in the Dead Marshes, and brought to Thranduil in Mirkwood. Gandalf visits Minas Tirith and reads the scroll of Isildur.
3018	Gandalf warns Frodo heir of Bilbo of the One Ring. Sauron attacks Osgiliath. About the same time Thranduil is attacked, and Gollum escapes. Gandalf imprisoned in Orthanc by Saruman, but escapes with the help of Gwahir. The Black Riders issue forth in search of the One Ring. Frodo flees the Shire. Gandalf attacked by Black Riders at Weathertop. Aragorn meets Frodo at Bree. The Ring is brought to Imladris. Forming of the Fellowship of the Ring.
3019	Fellowship broken at Amon Hen. The Battles of the Fords of Isen. The Entmoot of Fangorn. The Battle of the Hornburg. Parley with Saruman and his removal from the Order of Istari. Riding of the Grey Company of the North to Rohan. The Dawnless Days. The siege of Minas Tirith, ending in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. The Battles of Mirkwood. The Battle of Dale. Downfall of Barad-dûr and passing of Sauron. Aragorn of the North, Elessar Telcontar, Heir of Isildur, is crowned King of Gondor and Arnor. The White Tree is restored. Wedding of Elessar and Arwen. The Scouring of the Shire and passing of Saruman.
3020	Faramir and Eowyn are married. The only mallorn west of the Misty Mountains flowers in the Shire.
3021	Beginning of the Fourth Age in the reckoning of Gondor. Frodo completes the second volume of the Red Book and gives all three volumes to Samwise. Last Riding of the Ring-Keepers.

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