Borrowed from here: Timeline of Arda
Events outside of time
Eru Ilúvatar makes the Timeless Halls and the race of the Ainur.
The Ainur make the Ainulindalë, the Music of the Ainur which leads to the vision of Arda. Melkor's attempts to disrupt the Music with ideas of his own devising only serve to cause variations in Eru's themes.
Eru makes Eä with the Secret Fire at its centre.
Many Ainur enter Eä.
Arda events
Before the making of the Sun dates are given in Valian Years and not all events can be precisely dated. In such cases events are given in chronological order between known dates. Although all dates prior to the first sunrise have been given in Valian years, these can be converted to Years of the Lamps by subtracting 1900 or Years of the Trees by subtracting 3500.
All entries are derived from The Annals of Aman (see references) unless otherwise noted.
Valian years
1: After many ages completing labours in the halls of Eä, including Varda's crafting of the stars, the Valar descended into Arda at the time of its origin.
First War: Melkor assaults his brethren and disrupts the ordered symmetry they seek to build within Arda.
1500: Tulkas arrives, the last of the Valar to descend into Arda: Melkor runs from him and hides in the halls of Eä.
The Valar begin their labours anew and order the lands and seas to their liking.
Years of the Lamps
1900: The Two Lamps, Illuin and Ormal, are set upon pillars to provide light for Arda.
Ordering of Arda by the Valar. They form the isle of Almaren to dwell upon.
Spring of Arda: first forests grow, and non-humanoid animals are awakened.
Melkor's spies and secret friends, chief among them a great craftsman of the folk of Aulë, later named Sauron, inform him that the Valar are weary from their labours.
3400: Wedding of Tulkas and Nessa. Melkor returns in secret with followers from Eä and begins building Utumno.
Melkor begins to corrupt the lands and living things of Arda, turning them into sickly or monstrous shapes.
The Valar become aware of Melkor's return and begin seeking his stronghold.
3450: Destruction of the Two Lamps and the isle of Almaren by Melkor and his followers; Spring of Arda ends.
Melkor retreats to Utumno while the Valar save what they can from the cataclysm.
The Valar establish a new home in Aman and raise the Pelóri to defend it.
3500: Yavanna makes the Trees of the Valar.
Years of the Trees
In some cases, after V.Y. 4580, exact chronological order cannot be determined and the placement of undated entries is estimated.
3501: A new tally of years is begun with Year of the Trees 1.
Aulë the Smith makes the Dwarves but is not allowed to awaken them; Yavanna thinks of the Ents in response.
4500: The Valar hold council to discuss the concerns of Oromë and Yavanna regarding Middle-earth and the impending arrival of the Eruhíni, or Children of Ilúvatar.
Varda begins gathering light from the Trees of the Valar for the Great Stars.
Varda sets the Menelmacar and other constellations in the sky.
4550: Varda finishes her work on the Great Stars, setting the Sickle of the Valar in the north as a challenge to Melkor.
First Age
During the Years of the Trees the First Age of the Children of Ilúvatar begins, at the Awakening of the Elves.
4550: Eru Ilúvatar awakens the Elves.
Melian the Maia departs for Middle-earth.
4580: Melkor discovers and begins capturing Elves in secret.
Melkor begins breeding the Orcs from captured Elves, and the Trolls
4585: Oromë first learns of the Elves
4586: Oromë returns to Valinor, informs the other Valar of the dangers faced by the Elves, and then returns immediately to Cuiviénen.
4590: The Valar march to war against Melkor on behalf of the Elves.
4592: The Valar lay siege to Utumno.
Melian begins dwelling in Nan Elmoth and caring for the living things that have been awakened in Beleriand.
4599: Melkor is captured and Utumno destroyed. Sauron escapes capture and remains in Angband, breeding Orcs and Trolls for Melkor.
4600: Melkor is taken to Valinor in chains and sentenced to serve a term in the Halls of Mandos for three Ages.
4601: The Valar decide to summon the Elves to dwell with them in Aman.
4602: Oromë brings three ambassadors of the Elves to Aman: Ingwë of the Vanyar, Finwë of the Noldor, and Elwë of the Teleri
4604: The three ambassadors return and work to convince the Elves to accept the summons of the Valar. They accumulate many followers.
4605: Great Journey of the Elves: The Elves depart for Aman (not all answer the summon—see Sundering of the Elves)
4615: The Elves reach the great river which would later be called Anduin.
A group of Teleri under Lenwë (or Dan) abandon the March at Anduin and become the Nandor
Fathers of the Dwarves and first Ents awakened by Eru Ilúvatar; Elves discover the Ents and begin teaching them language.
4625: The Vanyar and Noldor arrive in Beleriand.
4628: The Teleri arrive in Beleriand after tarrying in the great forests of Eriador.
4630: Elwë meets Melian and is entranced.
4632: Ulmo is unwilling to wait until Elwë is found, and the Vanyar and Noldor are ferried across on the island of Tol Eressëa, while the Teleri stay behind, looking for their lord.
4633: The Vanyar and Noldor settle in Eldamar and begin building Tirion
4640: Tirion is finished, Mindon Eldaliéva is built.
Ingwë and many of the Vanyar leave Tirion to dwell with Manwë in Valimar.
4642: Yavanna gives the White Tree, Galathilion, to the Noldor.
4649: Ulmo finally returns for the Teleri, but many stay behind because Elwë is not yet found, and become the Sindar. Another group remains behind at the request of Ossë, and together with those who came too late they become the Elves of the Falas under Círdan.
4651: The majority of the Teleri are ferried across on Tol Eressëa, which is anchored in the Bay of Eldamar. They take Elwë's brother, Olwë, as lord.
4652: Elwë awakes from slumber and reunites with the Sindar. He becomes known as Thingol, settling in Doriath.
4661: The Teleri of Tol Eressëa learn the art of shipbuilding, and ferry across the bay of Eldamar to Aman, where they found the city of Alqualondë.
4665: The last Vanyar abandon Tirion and settle in Valimar proper. The Noldor remain in Tirion under their lord, Finwë.
4669: Birth of Fëanor. Rúmil invents writing.
Death of Míriel.
Nogrod and Belegost founded by Dwarves; Khazad-dûm founded by Durin the Deathless.
4690: Fingolfin born
c. 4700: Lúthien born
4730: Finarfin born
4750: Dwarves of Nogrod and Belegost are met by the Sindar, establishing trade. Fëanor develops the Tengwar.
Daeron devises the Cirth.
c. 4780: Orcs begin to appear in Beleriand.
4850: The Nandor, under Denethor, arrive in Beleriand, becoming known as the Green Elves of Ossiriand. The Halls of Menegroth finished.
4863: Galadriel born.
4900: Melkor, freed from his sentence, begins corrupting some of the Noldor.
4950: Fëanor completes the forging of the Silmarils.
4990: Fëanor, deceived by Melkor, draws arms against his brother and is banished from Tirion: his father, Finwë, and many of the Noldor follow him in exile to Formenos.
4992: Fëanor argues with Melkor at Formenos. Melkor hides from capture by the Valar and joins forces with Ungoliant.
4995: The Darkening of Valinor. Manwë tries to heal the feud of the Noldor, and summons Fëanor to a festival in Valimar. Melkor and Ungoliant destroy the Two Trees, kill Finwë and steal the Silmarils. Fëanor and his sons swear an oath to regain the Silmarils and the majority of the Noldor depart from Valinor; Noldor kill many Teleri and seize their ships in the First Kinslaying.
4996: Prophecy of Mandos: the Noldor are banished from Valinor and face great doom.
4997: Melkor returns to Angband, and tries to take Beleriand: First Battle of Beleriand is fought; Denethor of the Green-elves slain and the Havens of the Falas are besieged. The Noldor arrive at Helcaraxë; Fëanor and his host betray the sons of Indis and sail across, then burn the ships. Return of the Noldor to Middle-earth. Morgoth's army attacks Fëanor. Dagor-nuin-Giliath ("the Battle under Stars") is fought. Fëanor is slain by Balrogs in sight of Angband. Maedhros taken captive.
The Valar hide Valinor behind the Enchanted Isles and raise the Pelóri mountains to greater heights; they begin devising the Moon and Sun.
5000: The remainder of the Noldor arrives in Middle-earth; the Moon arises.
Years of the Sun in the First Age
From this time on years are of normal length. Events from Valinor during the Years of the Sun cannot be accurately dated. All entries are derived from The Grey Annals (see references) unless otherwise noted. The dating begins anew at 1, although these years are still held to be part of the First Age.
1: The Sun first sets sail, start of reckoning by 'Years of the Sun', Awakening of Men in Hildórien.
5: Fingon rescues Maedhros. The feud between the Noldor is healed.
7: Sons of Fëanor depart to Eastern Beleriand.
20: The Mereth Aderthad (Feast of Reuniting) is held at Eithel Ivrin.
50: Turgon and Finrod are told by Ulmo to establish a refuge.
52: Finrod begins building Nargothrond.
60: Dagor Aglareb: the Noldor defeat Morgoth's forces and start the Siege of Angband
60–c. 200: Melkor is absent from Angband, after discovering Men. Persuaded by Melkor, Men stop worshipping Eru Ilúvatar and turn to evil, but some revolt: the Atanatári. These travel to the West in search for the Valar, aided by Avari Elves and Dwarves. According to legend, Men now lose the gift to die at will as the result of divine punishment, and are doomed to lead short life-spans at the end of which death takes them by force.
64: Turgon begins building Gondolin.
65: The havens of Brithombar and Eglarest are fortified; the Tower of Barad Nimras is built.
67: Quenya is prohibited by Thingol.
102: Completion of Nargothrond: Finrod's folk depart from Hithlum.
116: Completion of Gondolin. Turgon's people begin the migration from Nevrast in secret.
150: The Dwarves renew their trade in Beleriand.
155: An assault upon Hithlum from the Firth of Drengist is defeated by Fingolfin's forces.
260: Glaurung ravages Ard-galen, but is driven back to Angband. The Long Peace begins.
310: Bëor leads The First House of the Edain into Beleriand: they are discovered by Finrod. They move to Estolad, and after a few years the Second House enters Thargelion and the Third settles in Estolad.
316: Aredhel departs from Gondolin and comes to Eöl.
320: The Edain begin migrating from Estolad to Dorthonion, Hithlum and Talath Dirnen.
369: Many of the Edain, led by Bereg, leave to Eriador.
375: An attack of orcs on Thargelion; many of the Second House of the Edain perish, but next year Haleth leads the remnants to Estolad.
390: Haleth lead her people from Eriador and in 391 they come to the lands south of Taeglin. The majority later enter the forest of Brethil.
400: Return of Aredhel and Maeglin to Gondolin; later, Eöl and Aredhel die.
410: The province of Ladros is officially granted to Boromir of the House of Bëor.
416: Dor-lómin is granted to the House of Marach.
432: Birth of Beren Erchamion.
455: Morgoth breaks the Siege of Angband in Dagor Bragollach ("Battle of Sudden Flame"); Dorthonion is laid waste, people of Barahir become outlaws. Capture of Finrod's fortress of Minas Tirith by the forces of Sauron; Tol Sirion is renamed Tol-in-Gaurhoth, "Isle of Werewolves".
456: Fingolfin challenges Morgoth to single combat and is slain.
458: Húrin and Huor are separated from the Folk of Brethil during a battle and are brought to Gondolin by Thorondor.
459: Húrin and Huor return out of Gondolin to Dor-lómin.
460: Barahir and companions are betrayed by Gorlim and killed, but Beren survives.
462: Morgoth tries to assault Hithlum but is withstood by Fingon and Círdan.
463: The first hosts of Easterlings appear in Beleriand.
464: Birth of Túrin Turambar in Gwaeron (March). Beren departs for Doriath and is enchanted by Lúthien.
465: Beren sets on a Quest of the Silmaril, comes to Nargothrond and receives help of Finrod Felagund. They are imprisoned in Tol-in-Gaurhoth. Finrod is slain by a werewolf, but Beren is rescued by Lúthien. Celegorm and Curufin are exiled from Nargothrond and try attacking them.
466: Birth of Lalaith in the beginning of spring. Beren and Lúthien come to Angband and achieve the Quest of the Silmaril. They return to Doriath, but Carcharoth ravages the land. Beren dies, and Lúthien abandons life. She pleads with Mandos and Beren and Lúthien are restored to life as mortals; they take up bodies again in Ossiriand.
468: The Union of Maedhros is begun.
469: Death of Lalaith in autumn.
472: Nírnaeth Arnoediad, "The Battle of Unnumbered Tears", is fought at midsummer. Morgoth utterly defeats the Elves and Edain. Fingon and Huor are slain, but Gwindor and Húrin are captured. Easterlings invade Hithlum, in autumn Morwen sends Túrin to Doriath. Birth of Tuor, son of Huor.
473: Birth of Nienor in the beginning of year; Túrin reaches Doriath. Siege and capture of the Havens of the Falas.
481: Dor-lómin is cut off; Túrin goes to the marches of Dimbar.
484: In summer he slays Saeros, flees from Doriath and joins the outlaws.
485: In spring Túrin becomes their leader, meets Beleg in summer. In summer Mîm leads the outlaws to Amon Rûdh.
486: In the beginning of year Beleg joins Túrin; by autumn Dor-Cúarthol prospers.
489: In autumn Amon Rûdh is taken; Túrin captured, but is rescued by Gwindor and Beleg, and slays the latter.
490: In the beginning of year Túrin is healed at Eithel Ivrin, comes to Nargothrond. Gurthang is reforged, Túrin becomes known as the Blacksword.
494: In autumn Morwen and Nienor flee to Doriath.
495: Fall of Nargothrond in autumn; Orodreth and Gwindor perish. In the beginning of winter Túrin passes Ivrin; Tuor comes to Gondolin.
496: Túrin rises a revolt in Dor-lómin; in the beginning of spring he comes to Brethil, Morwen with Nienor journey to Nargothrond; Níniel comes to Brethil.
497: Turambar asks Níniel in marriage, but she delays.
498: Turambar marries Níniel in autumn; before the end of the year he returns to warfare.
499: In spring Níniel conceives; in the beginning of summer slaying of Glaurung, and deaths of Túrin Turambar and Nienor Níniel.
500: Húrin released from captivity.
501: Death of Morwen. The Kin-strife in Brethil is brought about by Húrin.
502: Húrin brings the Nauglamír from Nargothrond to Thingol.
From this point the entries are derived from The Tale of Years of the First Age (see references) unless otherwise noted.
502: Reforging of the Nauglamír and quarrel of Thingol and the Dwarves. Thingol is slain. Melian returns to Valinor in grief.
503: Doriath is sacked by Dwarves of Nogrod. Beren and the Laiquendi destroy the Dwarves, with the help of the Ents who prevent the Dwarves' escape; Lúthien receives and wears the Silmaril, Dior travels to Doriath and tries to restore it. Birth of Eärendil and Elwing. Final deaths of Beren and Lúthien; Dior receives the Silmaril in autumn.
506–7: Sons of Fëanor attack Doriath at Yule. Doriath is destroyed in the Second Kinslaying; Dior, Celegorm, Curufin, and Caranthir are all slain. Elwing escapes for the Mouths of Sirion with the Silmaril.
509: Maeglin captured by Morgoth's spies.
510: Gondolin is betrayed by Maeglin and sacked; Glorfindel slays a Balrog in the Echoriath, Ecthelion slays Gothmog, both of them killed as well. Death of Turgon. Tuor and Idril escape.
511: Tuor and Idril bring Eärendil and refugees of Gondolin to the Mouths of Sirion which prosper as 'New Havens'.
525: Eärendil marries Elwing. Tuor feels 'Unquiet of Ulmo' and sails into the West in the ship Eärrámë with Idril.
532: Elrond and Elros are born to Eärendil and Elwing.
534: Eärendil begins his great voyages
538: Third Kinslaying: while Eärendil is away the remaining Sons of Fëanor attack the people of the Mouths of Sirion trying to claim the Silmaril. Elwing casts herself with the Jewel in the sea but is brought to Eärendil by Ulmo. Of the Sons of Fëanor only Maedhros and Maglor now remain.
540: Morgoth destroys the dwellings of Fëanorians upon Amon Ereb. The last inhabitants of Beleriand flee to the south or to the Isle of Balar. Morgoth's triumph is complete.
542: Eärendil arrives in Valinor and delivers the errand of the Two Kindreds.
545: The Host of the Valar arrives in Beleriand.
545–587: The War of Wrath. Morgoth is defeated; the remaining two Silmarils are stolen by Maedhros and Maglor, but are lost in the earth and in the sea; most of Beleriand and the lands to the north are sunk.
590: Morgoth is cast into the Void; the Elves are summoned to Valinor and settle in Tol Eressëa; a small part of the Noldor and Sindar remain in Lindon or depart east and establish realms.
Second Age
1: Foundation of Mithlond the Grey Havens under Círdan, and Lindon as the Noldorin Kingdom under Gil-galad
32: Edain reach Númenor, Elros is crowned first King of Númenor
c. 40: Many Dwarves abandon the ruined cities of Belegost and Nogrod in the Ered Luin and join Durin's folk in Moria
61: Birth of Vardamir Nólimon, eldest child of Elros. Subsequently three more children are born.
192: Birth of Tar-Amandil
222: Birth of Nolondil
350: Birth of Tar-Elendil
361: Birth of Eärendur
442: Elros, also known as Tar-Minyatur, dies. Vardamir Nólimon succeeds the throne but abdicates immediately. Tar-Amandil becomes third king of Númenor.
c. 500: Sauron arises again in Middle-earth
521: Silmariën is born in Númenor, line of lords of Andúnië splits off the line of Kings
532: Isilmë, sister of Silmariën, born
543: Meneldur, brother of Silmariën, born
590: Tar-Elendil becomes fourth king of Númenor.
600: First Númenórean ships sail to Middle-earth.
700: Anardil born
740: Tar-Meneldur becomes fifth king of Númenor.
750: the Noldor found the realm of Eregion near Moria
800: Tar-Aldarion founds Vinyalondë on the Enedwaith coast of Middle-earth for lumbering and ship repair.
870: Anardil weds Erendis.
873: Ancalimë born
882: Anardil and Erendis separate
883: Tar-Aldarion becomes sixth king of Númenor.
985: Death of Erendis, apparently by drowning.
c. 1000: Sauron begins building Barad-dûr
1075: Tar-Ancalimë becomes the first Queen and seventh ruler of Númenor.
c. 1200: Sauron seduces and deceives the Noldor in Eregion, but Gil-galad mistrusts him and refuses to work with him; the Númenóreans begin building permanent havens in Middle-earth at Lond Daer, Umbar, and other places
1280: Tar-Anárion becomes seventh king of Númenor.
c. 1350: Celeborn and Galadriel together with their daughter Celebrían emigrate from Eregion to Lórien; Celebrimbor becomes lord of Eregion
1394: Tar-Súrion becomes eighth king of Númenor.
c. 1500: the Noldor under Celebrimbor are instructed by Sauron, beginning of the forging of the Rings of Power
1566: Tar-Telperiën becomes the second Queen and tenth ruler of Númenor.
c. 1590: The Three Rings are completed in Eregion.
c. 1600: Forging of the One Ring; Barad-dûr completed; Celebrimbor begins fighting Sauron
1693: War of the Elves and Sauron begins, the Three Rings are hidden
1695: Elrond sent to Eregion as lieutenant of Gil-galad
1697: Eregion destroyed, Elrond establishes the refuge of Rivendell, Celebrimbor dies, the gates of Moria are shut.
1699: Rivendell and Lindon besieged, Sauron overruns Eriador.
1700: Minastir sends a great navy to Lindon; Sauron defeated; Sauron's forces retreat from Eriador and the coasts
1731: Tar-Minastir becomes eleventh king of Númenor.
c. 1800: Númenor begins establishing permanent settlements in Middle-earth, Sauron extends his power eastwards.
1869: Tar-Ciryatan becomes twelfth king of Númenor.
2029: Tar-Atanamir the Great becomes thirteenth king of Númenor but is hostile to the Valar. The Elendili or "Faithful" still receive the Elves in secret.
2221: Tar-Ancalimon becomes fourteenth king of Númenor.
2251: The Ringwraiths first appear.
2280: Umbar is fortified by the Númenóreans
2350: Pelargir is built by the Elendili
2386: Tar-Telemmaitë becomes fifteenth king of Númenor.
2526: Tar-Vanimeldë becomes third Queen and sixteenth ruler of Númenor.
2637: Herucalmo seizes the throne and rule as Tar-Anducal, but he is not counted in the list of kings.
2657: Tar-Alcarin becomes seventeenth king of Númenor.
2737: Tar-Calmacil becomes eighteenth king of Númenor.
2825: Tar-Ardamin becomes nineteenth king of Númenor.
2899: Ar-Adûnakhôr becomes twentieth king of Númenor and the first to take his royal name in Adûnaic, the language of Men, instead of Quenya, the high language of the Elves
c. 2900: Teaching of Elvish languages prohibited in Númenor.
2962: Ar-Zimrathôn becomes twenty-first king of Númenor.
3033: Ar-Sakalthôr becomes twenty-second king of Númenor.
3102: Ar-Gimilzôr becomes twenty-third king of Númenor.
c. 3110: Usage of Elvish languages and visit of the Elves prohibited in Númenor.
3119: Birth of Elendil
3177: Tar-Palantir repents, resulting in a civil war in Númenor
3209: Birth of Isildur
3219: Birth of Anárion
3243: Death of Gimilkhâd, at 198 years old.
3255: Ar-Pharazôn the Golden weds his first cousin Míriel, the daughter of Tar-Palantir, and seizes the throne of Númenor
3261: Ar-Pharazôn sails to Middle-earth landing at Umbar, and takes Sauron captive
3262: Sauron is taken as prisoner to Númenor, but begins corrupting the Númenóreans
c. 3265: Sauron becomes Ar-Pharazôn's court advisor.
c. 3280: Isildur steals a fruit from Nimloth. The White Tree is felled and burnt in Sauron's Temple thereafter.
c. 3300: Sauron establishes himself as High Priest of Melkor, "Lord of the Dark"; Elendili are openly persecuted and sacrificed to Morgoth
3310: At Sauron's instigation, Ar-Pharazôn begins building the Great Armament.
3318: Birth of Meneldil, fourth child of Anárion and last man born in Númenor
3319: Ar-Pharazôn sets foot on Aman; the World is Changed: Aman and Tol Eressëa are removed from Arda, Númenor is drowned, and the world is made round; Elendil and his sons arrive on the shores of Middle-earth
3320: Founding of Gondor and Arnor by Elendil and his sons, Isildur and Anárion; Umbar as realm in exile founded by Black Númenóreans. Sauron returns to Mordor.
3429: Sauron attacks Gondor, conquers Minas Ithil and burns the White Tree; Isildur flees to Arnor while Anárion defends Osgiliath and Minas Anor
3430: The Last Alliance of Elves and Men is formed
3434: The Last Alliance crosses the Misty Mountains; Sauron's forces are defeated in the Battle of Dagorlad; Siege of Barad-dûr begins
3440: Anárion is slain
3441: Elendil and Gil-galad face Sauron in hand to hand combat, but they themselves perish; Isildur takes the shards of his father's sword Narsil and cuts the One Ring from Sauron's finger. Sauron's physical form is destroyed and the Barad-Dûr is razed to the ground. In the aftermath of the War, many Elves of Gil-galad's following depart to Valinor: end of the Noldorin realms in Middle-earth.
Third Age
The Third Age was 3,021 years long. All entries are derived from Appendix B (see references) unless otherwise noted.
Note on Shire Reckoning: Year 1601 of the Third Age, in which the Shire was founded, is year 1 of the Shire Reckoning. Thus, Third Age years can be converted into their Shire equivalents by deducting 1600.
2: Planting of the Second White Tree at Minas Tirith, Death of Isildur by Orcs in the Disaster of the Gladden Fields, losing the One Ring in the Gladden river
109: Elrond weds Celebrían, daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel
130: Elrohir and Elladan are born to Elrond and Celebrían
241: Arwen Undómiel is born to Elrond and Celebrían
490: Easterlings invade Gondor
541: Easterlings invade Gondor once more, slaying King Rómendacil
c. 550: King Turambar of Gondor defeats the Easterlings of Rhûn; the Kingdom of Rhovanion becomes an ally of Gondor
861: Following Eärendur's death, the kingdom of Arnor breaks up into Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur. The Court and the palantír of Annúminas are moved to Fornost.
933: Eärnil I of Gondor takes Umbar in a surprise attack
936: Eärnil I lost at sea
c. 1000: The Wizards come to Middle-earth
1015: Hyarmendacil I ascends to the throne of Gondor
1015: Black Númenóreans of Umbar besiege their old city
1050: Hyarmendacil I, king of Gondor, conquers Umbar, finishing the siege of Umbar, Hobbits migrate to Eriador. The shadow of Sauron falls upon Greenwood the Great, which is renamed Mirkwood.
1149: Death of Hyarmendacil I, Atanatar II takes the sceptre of Gondor
c. 1200: Rulers of Rhovanion assume the title "King of Rhovanion"
1248: Rómendacil II of Gondor strikes decisive blow to the Easterlings; forms a strong alliance with Rhovanion, to which he cedes all the lands east of Anduin
1255: Eldacar born
c. 1259: Castamir born
1300: Nazgûl reappear in Middle-earth, the kingdom of Angmar first appears at Arthedain's north-eastern border, built by the Witch-king, later revealed as Lord of the Nazgûl.
1344: Death of Vidumavi
1356: King Argeleb I of Arthedain is killed 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 conquered by the kingdom of Angmar and Rhudaur disappears; Weathertop watchtower and fortifications are burned and destroyed. Annúminas is attacked, sacked and abandoned in ruins until the Fourth Age.
1432: Eldacar succeeds his father, Valacar, as king of Gondor
1437: Castamir the Usurper, Lord of Ships, usurps throne of Gondor (see Kin-strife); Osgiliath's palantír is lost in the river
1447: Eldacar reclaims Gondor with a Rhovanion army and kills Castamir
1448: Sons of Castamir the Usurper and most of the fleet of Gondor flee south to Umbar; become known as the Corsairs of Umbar
1540: King Aldamir of Gondor is slain by Haradrim
1600: Two Fallohide (see Hobbit) brothers decided to cross the River Baranduin and settle on the other side, and are followed by large numbers of Hobbits
1601: The Shire is first settled by Hobbits
1634: Corsairs of Umbar attack Gondor, slaying king Minardil at Pelargir, and raiding the city
1636: The Great Plague decimates Gondor and Rhovanion; Cirith Ungol is abandoned
1810: King Telumehtar of Gondor reconquers Umbar for Gondor; renames himself Umbardacil
1851: The Wainriders first attack Gondor
1856: The Wainriders overrun eastern territories of Gondor; death of Narmacil II in battle.
1899: Gondor attacks Wainriders from the east; the Kingdom of Rhovanion, occupied by Wainriders, rebels and is freed
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 with his sons; Haradrim, Wainriders and the Variags of Khand take Umbar; new Corsairs of Umbar emerge.
1945: Eärnil II succeeds the crown of Gondor
1964: Arvedui, son of King Araphant of Arthedain, ascends the throne
1974: The kingdom of Arthedain is conquered by Angmar. Fornost is attacked and left abandoned until the Fourth Age.
1975: Gondor destroys Angmar in the Battle of Fornost. Death of Arvedui and loss of the two palantíri of Amon Sûl (Weathertop) and Annúminas.
1980: The Moria Dwarves awaken Durin's Bane, a Balrog, which kills Durin VI, king of Khazad-dûm; the Nazgûl return to Mordor and lay siege to Minas Ithil.
1981: Durin VI's son, Náin I, is also killed, and the Dwarves flee Moria; deaths of Amroth and Nimrodel
1999: Thráin I founds realm of Erebor, discovers Arkenstone
2043: King Eärnil II of Gondor dies and his son, the Witch-king's old enemy Eärnur, inherits the throne. Upon his coronation, the Witch-king challenges him to combat, but King Eärnur refuses.
2050: The Witch-king again challenges King Eärnur, this time he accepts. Eärnur rides out of Minas Tirith to meet the Witch-king in Minas Morgul. He enters the city's gates and is never seen again, thus ending the reign of the Gondorian Kings and causing the beginning of the Ruling Stewards of Gondor, until the time of King Elessar.
2063: Gandalf drives Sauron from Dol Guldur. The Watchful Peace begins.
2210: Thorin I, son of Thráin I, leaves Erebor with most of his people, settles in the Grey Mountains
2430: Approximate birth year of Sméagol
2460: Sauron returns to Middle-earth; establishes himself in Dol Guldur in southern Mirkwood. The Watchful Peace ends.
2463: Sméagol (later known as Gollum) becomes the fourth bearer of the One Ring, after killing his cousin Déagol
2475: First Uruks appear out of Mordor in attacks on Gondor.
2501–2510: Eorl the Young, lord of the Éothéod and first king of Rohan (2510–2545).
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 alliance between Rohan and Gondor comes into existence. The Easterlings launch a massive invasion of Gondor. The Balchoth invade Rhovanion (which disappears as an independent realm) and Gondor, conquering much of Calenardhon, but are driven back by the people of Éothéod; Gondor gives the now-uninhabited province of Calenardhon to the people of Éothéod
2545: Eorl the Young, king of Rohan, dies in the battle in the Wold against the Easterlings. Brego succeeds him as the second king of Rohan
2570: Aldor, aged only 26, becomes third king of Rohan at the death of his father Brego; Dragons attack the Dwarf settlements in the Grey Mountains
2589: Dáin I and his son Frór are killed by a cold-drake
2590: Thrór, son of Dáin I, leaves the Grey Mountains and resettles The Lonely Mountain, his brother, Grór, settles in the Iron Hills
2645: Fréa becomes fourth king of Rohan after the death of his father Aldor ('the Old')
2659: Fréawine, fifth King of Rohan
2680: Goldwine, sixth King of Rohan
2699: Déor, seventh king of Rohan
2718: Gram, eighth king of Rohan
2741: Helm Hammerhand ninth king of Rohan ascends the throne as last king of the first line
2746: Amrothos, fifteenth Prince of Dol Amroth, falls while defending Dor-en-Ernil against the Corsairs of Umbar
2747: Bandobras "Bullroarer" Took leads a force of hobbits and defeats invading Orcs of the Misty Mountains in the Northfarthing at the Battle of Greenfields
2758: Dunlendings, under Wulf, invade Rohan, supported by the Corsairs of Umbar
Long Winter of 2758–2759: The Dunlendings lay siege to Hornburg
2759: Helm Hammerhand, king of Rohan, freezes to death outside the fortress of Helm's Deep, where he and his loyal subjects have taken refuge from the Dunlendings. He is succeeded by his nephew Fréaláf Hildeson; Saruman settles in Isengard
2770: Smaug lays waste to the town of Dale and captures Erebor with all of its treasure. The surviving dwarves there are driven into exile.
2790: Thrór enters Moria and is killed by Orc chieftain Azog, starting the War of the Dwarves and Orcs
2798: Fréaláf Hildeson, tenth king of Rohan, dies. He is followed by his son Brytta Léofa
2799: The Battle of Azanulbizar, the culmination of the War of the Dwarves and Orcs, is fought on Moria's East Gate, in which the Dwarves defeat the Orcs of Moria, including slaying their chieftain Azog, but lack the strength to retake Moria.
2802: Thráin II, son of Thrór settles in the Blue Mountains
2842: Brytta Léofa, eleventh king of Rohan, dies. Succeeded by his son Walda.
2845: Thráin II is captured by forces of Sauron and imprisoned in Dol Guldur after having wandered for four years trying to reclaim the lost treasure at Erebor and the last of the Dwarven Rings of Power is taken from him
2850: Gandalf enters Dol Guldur and confirms that the evil thereby found is indeed Sauron returned; Thráin II, broken, raving, and dying, gives Gandalf his map and key to be passed on to his son, Thorin Oakenshield
2851: Walda, twelfth king of Rohan, is killed by an orc, his son Folca succeeds him
2864: Folca, thirteenth king of Rohan, is killed by the Boar of Everholt. He is succeeded by his son Folcwine
2879: Birth of Gimli
2885: Harondor is once again claimed by the Haradrim, supported by the Corsairs of Umbar. Fastred and Folcred, the twin sons of king Folcwine, were killed during the Battle of Crossings of Poros
September 22, 2890: Bilbo Baggins is born
2903: Folcwine, fourteenth king of Rohan, dies and is succeeded by his youngest son Fengel
2907: Birth of Gilraen (later wife of Arathorn II)
Fell Winter of 2911–2912: wolves invade the Shire. Tharbad is ruined in the following floods.
2930: Arathorn II becomes the Chieftain of the Dúnedain
2931: Birth of Aragorn, son of Arathorn II and Gilraen
2933: Arathorn II is killed while hunting Orcs
March 15, 2941: Thorin Oakenshield meets with Gandalf the Grey at the Prancing Pony in Bree, the Quest of Erebor begins
July 2941: Bilbo Baggins obtains the One Ring; the White Council drives Sauron out of Dol Guldur
October 2941: Esgaroth is attacked by the dragon Smaug, who is consequentially killed by Bard the Bowman; Thorin Oakenshield, Fíli, and Kíli killed at the Battle of Five Armies along with Bolg son of Azog; Dáin II Ironfoot becomes King of The Lonely Mountain; Town of Dale reestablished by Bard
June 22, 2942: Bilbo Baggins returns to Bag End
2951: Sauron reveals himself in Mordor, and starts raising Barad-dûr anew. 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 great monument commemorating Ar-Pharazôn's victory over Sauron
2953: Last meeting of the White Council. Fengel, fifteenth king of Rohan, dies. His son Thengel returns to Rohan to succeed him.
2956: Aragorn first meets Gandalf the Grey
2957–2980: Aragorn as Thorongil serves in the armies of King Thengel of Rohan, and Steward Ecthelion II of Gondor
September 22, 2968: Frodo Baggins is born
2978: Birth of Boromir
2980: Arwen pledges her hand in marriage to Aragorn; Frodo Baggins loses both of his parents in a boating accident; Aragorn, in the service of the Steward of Gondor Ecthelion II leads a taskforce south and kills the Captain of the Haven, ruler of Umbar; Samwise Gamgee born; Théoden, son of Thengel, becomes seventeenth king of Rohan after the death of his father.
2982: Birth of Meriadoc Brandybuck (Merry)
2983: Birth of Faramir
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, passes the One Ring on to Frodo Baggins, and leaves the Shire. From now on Aragorn and Gandalf intermittently hunt Gollum
3002: Lalia Clayhanger, the matriarch of the Took clan, dies, aged 119, and possibly pushed by Pearl Took; Bilbo settles in Rivendell
3007: Gilraen, Aragorn II's mother passes away at the age of 100 years
3014: Saruman begins using his influence to weaken Théoden, king of Rohan
3017: Gollum is released from Mordor; Aragorn finally tracks him down in the Dead Marshes, and brings him as a captive to King Thranduil's halls in Mirkwood
"The Great Years"
3018
The Ringwraiths are given the task of retrieving the One Ring
April 11: Gandalf reaches Hobbiton. He returns to the Shire, telling Frodo Baggins he must take the Ring away
June 20: Sauron attacks Osgiliath.
July 4: Boromir leaves Minas Tirith
July 10: Saruman imprisons Gandalf in Orthanc
September 18: Gandalf escapes from Orthanc
September 19–21: Gandalf reaches Edoras and is given Shadowfax the horse
September 23: Frodo leaves Bag End
September 26: Frodo meets Tom Bombadil
September 30: Aragorn meets Frodo Baggins in the Inn of the Prancing Pony in Bree.
October 6: Frodo wounded at Weathertop
October 20: Frodo crosses the ford of Bruinen
October 25: Council of Elrond at Rivendell
December 25: The Fellowship of the Ring sets out in the evening from Rivendell
3019
January 15: Gandalf falls in Khazad-dûm while fighting a Balrog.
February 25: The Fellowship passes the Argonath and camp at Parth Galen. First Battle of Fords of Isen; Théodred son of Théoden is slain.
February 26: The breaking of the Fellowship; Boromir is killed.
February 29: Merry and Pippin escape the orcs and meet Treebeard.
March 1: Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli meet the resurrected Gandalf the White in Fangorn Forest while looking for Merry and Pippin, and they head off for Edoras. Frodo and Sam begin travelling through the Dead Marshes.
March 3: Battle of the Hornburg.
March 5: Rohan's army reaches Isengard.
March 7: Faramir takes Frodo and Sam to Henneth Annûn.
March 8: Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli enter the Paths of the Dead.
March 9: Gandalf and Pippin arrive in Minas Tirith.
March 10: Frodo and Sam see the Morgul host led by the Witch-king leave Minas Morgul. An army from Morannon takes Cair Andros and marches in Anórien.
March 11: First assault on Lórien by Dol Guldur.
March 12: Gollum leads Frodo into Shelob's lair.
March 13: Frodo captured by Cirith Ungol orcs. Aragorn captures the Umbar fleet at Pelargir.
March 15: Witch-king breaks the gate of Minas Tirith in the early hours. Denethor burns himself on a pyre. Confrontation between Gandalf and the Witch-king at the gate; Horns of the Rohirrim are heard at a cockcrow. Battle of the Pelennor Fields: Théoden King of Rohan is killed by the Witch-king; Éomer succeeds him as the eighteenth king of Rohan. Éowyn and Merry kill the Witch-king. Aragorn, Rangers, sons of Elrond and men from the southern fiefdoms of Gondor arrive in the black ships and turn the tide of battle. Sam and Frodo escape and journey along the Morgai. Battle under the trees in Mirkwood; second assault on Lórien.
March 16: Debate of the Captains of the West.
March 17: Battle of Dale. King Brand and Dáin Ironfoot fall in battle against invading Easterlings. Many Men and Dwarves take refuge in Erebor.
March 18: Armies leave Minas Tirith. Frodo and Sam join the orc company.
March 25: The Host is surrounded on the Slag-hills. Frodo and Sam reach the Sammath Naur. Gollum (Sméagol) seizes the One Ring and falls into the Cracks of Doom. Downfall of Barad-dûr and the passing of the Dark Lord Sauron.
May: Arwen Undómiel and her father Lord Elrond of Imladris arrive in Lórien, where they are welcomed at Caras Galadhon by the Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn, grandparents of Lady Arwen through her mother, the Lady Celebrían.
May: Aragorn is crowned King Elessar of the Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor. Gandalf helps Aragorn to find the sapling of the new White Tree.
(Date unspecified): Faramir marries Éowyn.
Mid-year's Day (between June and July): Aragorn marries Arwen Undómiel.
July: King Théoden is laid to rest beside other Kings of Rohan in Edoras.
September 21: Hobbits arrive in Rivendell.
September 22: Saruman arrives in the Shire.
November 1: The four hobbits arrested at Frogmorton.
November 3: Battle of Bywater; death of Saruman and Wormtongue, final end to the War of the Ring.
3020–21
May 1, 3020: Samwise Gamgee marries Rosie Cotton and together they move to Bag End on Bagshot Row
3021: Éomer marries Imrahil's daughter, Lothíriel of Dol Amroth
September 22, 3021: Bilbo marks his 131st birthday, surpassing the Old Took
September 29, 3021: Elrond, Galadriel, Gandalf, Frodo and Bilbo depart for the Grey Havens
October 6: Sam arrives back in Bag End
Fourth Age
In the reckoning of Gondor, the Fourth Age began on March 25, T.A. 3021. Since most of the following events were dated according to the Shire-reckoning, their years in the Fourth Age cannot be stated with certainty. Some events may have occurred in the following year of the Fourth Age.
6: Peregrin Took marries Diamond of Long Cleeve
(Date uncertain): Birth of Elfwine, son of Éomer and Lothíriel
(Date uncertain): Birth of Elboron, son of Faramir and Éowyn
(Date uncertain): Birth of Durin VII, descendant (perhaps son) of Thorin III Stonehelm
13: Peregrin Took becomes thirty-second Thain of the Shire
15: Death of Glóin, father of Gimli.
34: Death of Prince Imrahil. Imrahil's son Elphir assumes the Principality.
41: Birth of Holfast Gardner, son and heir of Frodo Gardner
61: Samwise Gamgee leaves Middle-earth via Mithlond
63: Meriadoc Brandybuck, aged 102, and Pippin leave the Shire to live in Gondor; death of Éomer, aged 93, whose son Elfwine ascends the throne of Rohan.
67: Death of Prince Elphir son of Imrahil, twenty-third Prince of Dol Amroth. Elphir's son Alphros assumes the Principality.
80: Birth of Harding of the Hill, Sam Gamgee's heir and great-grandson
82: Death of Faramir, aged 120. His son Elboron assumes the Principality.
91: Death of Dwalin, brother of Balin, aged 341.
95: Death of Prince Alphros of Dol Amroth, son of Elphir.
120: Death of Aragorn, King of the Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor, after 210 years of life and 122 years of reign; his son Eldarion ascends the throne. The bodies of Meriadoc and Peregrin are laid beside that of Aragorn. According to legend, on the death of Aragorn, Legolas builds a ship and sails into the west to the Undying Lands, taking Gimli (now a very old Dwarf) with him and marking an end to the Fellowship of the Ring.
121: Death of Arwen, aged 2901
172: A copy of the Red Book of Westmarch is made
185: Death of Harding of the Hill, Sam Gamgee's heir
c. 220: End of Eldarion's reign
