Middle-earth: The Third Age

Middle-earth: The Third Age 24

• T.A. 1 – 100 Isildur slain — the Ring lost in Anduin Shortly after the Second Age ends, Isildur is ambushed by Orcs near the Gladden Fields while travelling north. He puts on the Ring to escape by invisibility — but the Ring slips from his finger in the River Anduin. Without it, he is seen by the Orc archers and slain. The One Ring sinks to the bottom of the Anduin and rests there for nearly 2,500 years. The line of the High Kings of Gondor and Arnor is broken. Gondor and Arnor are eventually ruled by Stewards and lesser kings; Arnor eventually fragments and falls to the Witch-king of Angmar.
• T.A. 1000 – 1200 Sauron stirs — the Necromancer appears in Dol Guldur Around the year 1000 of the Third Age, a shadow appears in Mirkwood. Sauron, though without his Ring, gradually reassembles enough power to take a dark form. He occupies the fortress of Dol Guldur in southern Mirkwood and is known as the Necromancer — his true identity suspected but not confirmed for centuries. The White Council (Gandalf, Saruman, Galadriel and other Elven lords) debates whether to act. Saruman counsels delay, secretly hoping to find the One Ring himself. The presence of the Necromancer darkens Mirkwood and drives its Elves northward.
• T.A. 1300 – 1975 The Witch-king of Angmar — fall of the North Kingdom The Witch-king of Angmar — greatest of the Nazgul, once a great king of Men — establishes the realm of Angmar in the far north and wages a series of wars against the remnants of Arnor. Over centuries he destroys the three successor kingdoms of Arnor: Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur. The last King of Arthedain, Arvedui, is lost in the northern ice in 1975. The Witch-king is driven from Angmar by a combined force of Gondor and the Elves of Lindon, but escapes. Eriador (the land that includes the future Shire) becomes a largely empty wilderness, haunted by Barrow-wights and wolves.
• T.A. 1980 – 1981 The Balrog awakened — Khazad-dum falls The Dwarves of Khazad-dum (Moria), mining too deep for mithril, awaken a Balrog — a fire demon of Morgoth, lurking in the deep places of the world since the First Age. The Balrog (whom Gandalf will later call Durin's Bane) drives the Dwarves from Khazad-dum. King Durin VI and his son Nain I are both slain. The great Dwarvish city, most magnificent underground realm ever built, becomes a place of shadow and dread. When Gandalf falls with the Balrog two thousand years later — fighting it through the depths, through fire and water, to the peak of Zirakzigil — this same creature is its cause.
• T.A. 2063 Gandalf enters Dol Guldur — the Watchful Peace begins Gandalf enters Dol Guldur secretly and confirms that the Necromancer is Sauron. He urges the White Council — Saruman, Galadriel, Elrond, Cirdan and others — to assault Dol Guldur immediately. Saruman overrules him, still hoping to find the One Ring himself (he believes it has been swept down the Anduin to the sea, but searches in secret). Sauron withdraws east and the Watchful Peace begins, but the delay allows him to grow in power for centuries before the White Council finally acts.
• T.A. 2463 Deagol finds the One Ring — Smeagol murders him The One Ring lies in the Gladden Fields for nearly 2,500 years. A Stoor Hobbit named Deagol is fishing there and is pulled into the river — and finds the Ring in the riverbed. His companion Smeagol, immediately transfixed by it, strangles Deagol and takes the Ring. Smeagol — whose birthday it is, who considers it his birthday present — is driven from his community and retreats to the Misty Mountains, where the Ring's influence slowly transforms him into the creature called Gollum over the next 500 years.
• T.A. 2770 Smaug takes Erebor — the Dwarves dispossessed The dragon Smaug, attracted by rumours of the great wealth of the Dwarves of Erebor (the Lonely Mountain), descends on the mountain and drives out King Thror and his people. He occupies the mountain and its vast hoard of gold. The Dwarves of Erebor wander as refugees. Thror himself is later murdered by the Orc chieftain Azog in Moria, triggering the War of the Dwarves and Orcs. Thorin Oakenshield, grandson of Thror, is left with a dispossessed people and a burning desire to reclaim his ancestral home — the motivation for the Quest of Erebor.
• T.A. 2941 Bilbo finds the One Ring — Riddles in the Dark Bilbo Baggins, recruited by Gandalf and Thorin Oakenshield for the Quest of Erebor, becomes separated from the Dwarves deep in the Misty Mountains and finds a small gold ring in the dark. He pockets it. He then encounters Gollum, who challenges him to a riddle contest — the loser to be eaten if Gollum wins, or guided out if Bilbo wins. Bilbo wins by asking: 'What have I got in my pocket?' Gollum, discovering the Ring is gone, pursues Bilbo furiously. Bilbo escapes by putting on the Ring and becoming invisible — discovering its power for the first time. The finding of the Ring by Bilbo is the pivot of the entire story.
• T.A. 2941 The Quest of Erebor — death of Smaug, Battle of Five Armies Thorin and Company, aided by Bilbo, reach Erebor. Bilbo steals a cup from Smaug's hoard and speaks with the dragon — discovering a bare patch in Smaug's armour (which he reports to a thrush who tells Bard of Lake-town). Smaug attacks Lake-town and is slain by Bard's black arrow. The mountain is now empty — and immediately contested: the Men of Lake-town and the Elves of Mirkwood demand a share of the treasure; Thorin refuses; Dwarves and Eagles and Beornings arrive. The Battle of Five Armies is won with the arrival of the Eagles and Beorn. Thorin is mortally wounded and dies. Bilbo returns to the Shire with the Ring in his pocket.
• T.A. 2941 – 2951 White Council drives Sauron from Dol Guldur The White Council finally assaults Dol Guldur and drives Sauron out. But Saruman tells Gandalf that the Ring has been swept into the sea and cannot be recovered — he lies, having searched extensively for it without success and wanting to prevent any further search. Sauron, who has anticipated the assault, withdraws to Mordor deliberately. By 2951 Sauron openly declares himself in Mordor, raises Barad-dur again and sends the Nazgul to reoccupy Dol Guldur. The council is too late: Sauron is now strong enough to move openly.
• T.A. 3001 Bilbo's farewell party — the Ring passed to Frodo Bilbo Baggins celebrates his 111th birthday — and the coming of age (33rd birthday) of his heir Frodo — with an enormous party at Bag End in the Shire. At the party's end, Bilbo vanishes using the Ring and departs for Rivendell, intending to finish his memoirs and then make one last journey. Gandalf persuades him to leave the Ring to Frodo — an act of extraordinary will, since Bilbo has carried it for 60 years and it has begun to claim him. As he leaves Bag End without it for the first time, Bilbo suddenly feels lighter. The Ring passes to Frodo Baggins. Its long journey to the fire of Mount Doom begins.
• T.A. 3018 The Council of Elrond — the Fellowship formed At Rivendell, the Council of Elrond brings together representatives of all the Free Peoples: Elrond, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas of Mirkwood, Gimli of the Dwarves, Boromir of Gondor and Frodo. The Council debates what to do with the Ring. Destroying it in the fire of Mount Doom in Mordor is the only option. Frodo volunteers to carry it. The Fellowship of the Ring is formed: Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Boromir. Nine companions to counter the Nine Ringwraiths. They depart Rivendell on 25 December 3018.
• T.A. 3018 The Nazgul hunt the Ring — Weathertop The Nine Nazgul, sent by Sauron to recover the One Ring, converge on the Shire and then track Frodo east. At Weathertop (the ruined watchtower of Amon Sul), the Nazgul attack at night. Their lord, the Witch-king, stabs Frodo with a Morgul-blade — a sliver of which works toward his heart to make him a wraith. Aragorn drives the Nazgul off with fire. Frodo races toward Rivendell on horseback, the Morgul-wound growing; the Nazgul pursue. At the Ford of Bruinen, Glorfindel's elvish horse carries Frodo across — and the river, at Elrond's command, rises in flood and sweeps away the Nazgul pursuing him.
• T.A. 3018 Gandalf discovers the Ring — Frodo must leave Gandalf, increasingly suspicious of Bilbo's ring, consults the records of Minas Tirith and questions Gollum (captured by Aragorn and questioned by Gandalf). He confirms: the Ring Bilbo found is the One Ring. He returns to the Shire urgently and tells Frodo: the Ring must leave the Shire immediately. He entrusts Frodo to the Ranger Aragorn (known in Bree as Strider) to guide him to Rivendell. Frodo departs Bag End on the night of 23 September 3018 — accompanied by his gardener Samwise Gamgee and his cousins Merry and Pippin.
• T.A. 3019 The Mines of Moria — Gandalf falls with the Balrog The Fellowship, unable to cross the mountain passes, enters Moria — the ancient Dwarvish kingdom, now dark and dangerous. They find the tomb of Balin (who had attempted to recolonise Moria a generation earlier) and are attacked by Orcs and a cave troll. Fleeing through the Bridge of Khazad-dum, they are confronted by the Balrog, Durin's Bane. Gandalf faces the Balrog on the bridge and cries: 'You shall not pass!' The bridge breaks; Gandalf and the Balrog fall into the abyss together. The Fellowship escapes but is leaderless and grief-stricken. Gandalf fights the Balrog for ten days through the depths of Moria, through fire and water, to the peak of Zirakzigil, where the Balrog is finally destroyed — and Gandalf himself dies and is returned as Gandalf the White.
• T.A. 3019 Battle of the Pelennor Fields — the Witch-king slain The great battle of the War of the Ring. Sauron's armies besiege Minas Tirith. The Rohirrim ride to the city's aid; the Witch-king, lord of the Nazgul, confronts Theoden on horseback and kills him. He then turns to Eowyn of Rohan — who has ridden to war disguised as a man — and declares: 'No living man may hinder me.' She reveals herself: 'I am no man.' Merry stabs the Witch-king from behind with a Barrow-blade that breaks the spell holding his wraith together; Eowyn kills him. The prophecy is fulfilled: the Witch-king, who no man could kill, is slain by a woman and a Hobbit. The armies of the south (led by Aragorn commanding the Dead Men of Dunharrow) arrive and the battle is won.
• T.A. 3019 The Crack of Doom — destruction of the One Ring Frodo and Sam reach the Sammath Naur — the Chamber of Fire — inside Mount Doom. At the last moment Frodo cannot destroy the Ring: it has claimed him utterly. He puts it on. But Gollum, who has tracked them through Mordor, attacks Frodo and bites off his finger — Ring and all. Gollum, exulting in recovering his Precious, falls into the Crack of Doom. The Ring is destroyed. In Mordor, Sauron's armies crumble; Barad-dur collapses; the great Eye of Sauron is extinguished. Frodo and Sam are rescued from the flanks of the erupting Mount Doom by the Eagles, sent by Gandalf. The War of the Ring is over. Sauron is defeated forever.
• T.A. 3019 The crowning of Aragorn — the age of Men begins Aragorn son of Arathorn — heir of Isildur, Chieftain of the Dunedain and rightful King of Gondor and Arnor — is crowned King Elessar on 1 May 3019, the first King of the Reunited Kingdom in a thousand years. He marries Arwen Undomiel, daughter of Elrond, who gives up her Elvish immortality for love of him — the last of the great unions of Elf and Man. The Fourth Age, Age of Men, is about to begin. The power of the Elves, sustained by the Three Rings, fades with the destruction of the One; the Elvish presence in Middle-earth withdraws.
• T.A. 3019 Breaking of the Fellowship — Boromir falls At Amon Hen on the banks of the Anduin, the Fellowship breaks apart. Boromir, driven by the Ring's influence, tries to take the Ring from Frodo. Frodo puts on the Ring and flees to a hilltop where he nearly surrenders it to Sauron's searching Eye before pulling it off. He decides to continue alone to Mordor, fearing the Ring will corrupt the others. Sam, refusing to be left behind, runs into the river and is dragged into the boat by Frodo. They cross the Anduin alone toward Mordor. Boromir, repenting, dies heroically defending Merry and Pippin from an Orc attack — Merry and Pippin are captured and carried toward Isengard.
• T.A. 3019 The Two Towers — Rohan, Isengard and Gondor The story divides. Frodo and Sam, guided by Gollum, journey through Emyn Muil and the Dead Marshes toward Mordor. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli pursue the Orcs who took Merry and Pippin across Rohan; they find the Hobbits in Fangorn Forest, where Treebeard the Ent has befriended them. The Ents march on Isengard and destroy Saruman's fortress. Gandalf the White reappears. At the Battle of Helm's Deep, Aragorn and Theoden of Rohan hold the fortress of the Hornburg against Saruman's Uruk-hai army — and are saved at dawn by Gandalf with Erkenbrand's cavalry and the forest of Huorns.
• T.A. 3019 Shelob and the Pass of Cirith Ungol Gollum, jealous of Sam and determined to recover the Ring, betrays Frodo to Shelob — a great spider, last child of Ungoliant, who lairs in the pass of Cirith Ungol. Frodo is stung by Shelob and left paralysed. Sam, believing Frodo dead, takes the Ring himself — then discovers Frodo is alive when Orcs carry his body into Cirith Ungol. Sam fights his way into the tower of Cirith Ungol, recovers the Ring and returns it to Frodo. Frodo and Sam, disguised in Orc armour, enter Mordor and begin the long march toward Mount Doom while Sauron's attention is drawn to the decoy army at the Black Gate.
• T.A. 3019 Frodo and Gollum — the road to Mordor Frodo and Sam are guided by Gollum through the Emyn Muil, the Dead Marshes (where the faces of the dead shine beneath the dark water) and toward the Black Gate of Mordor. Frodo, feeling the Ring's increasing weight, begins to trust Gollum — who promises to show them a secret way into Mordor. Gollum leads them to Ithilien, where they are captured by Faramir, Captain of Gondor and brother of Boromir. Faramir, unlike his brother, refuses the Ring when he understands what it is — a testament to his greatness. He releases them and directs them toward Minas Morgul and the stair of Cirith Ungol.
• T.A. 3019 The Scouring of the Shire — Saruman's last spite The Hobbits return to the Shire and discover it has been occupied and industrialised by Saruman (calling himself Sharkey) and his ruffians during their absence. The Shire's trees have been felled, its mills replaced by ugly machinery, its inns closed. Merry and Pippin, now seasoned warriors, organise the Hobbits to fight back. Saruman is finally overthrown and tries to kill Frodo; his servant Grima Wormtongue, goaded past endurance, cuts Saruman's throat. Saruman's spirit rises and is blown away as smoke by a cold wind from the west. The Scouring of the Shire is Tolkien's most directly political chapter — a critique of industrialisation that some readers find unexpected in a fantasy.
• T.A. 3021 The Grey Havens — departure of the Ringbearers On 29 September 3021, the last ships leave the Grey Havens for the Undying Lands. Aboard: Gandalf (bearing Narya), Galadriel (bearing Nenya), Elrond (bearing Vilya), Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins — those who bore the Rings of Power and were wounded beyond full healing by their burdens. Sam, Merry and Pippin ride with them to the shore. Sam watches the ship sail west until its light disappears. He returns to the Shire and to Rosie and their children. 'Well, I'm back,' he says. The Third Age of Middle-earth is over. The Age of Men begins. The Elves, their long work done, have passed forever from the circles of the world.