The Return Of The King Part 27

3320.

Foundations of the Realms in Exile: Arnor and Gondor. The Stones are divided (p. 780). Sauron returns to Mordor.

3429.

Sauron attacks Gondor, takes Minas Ithil and burns the White Tree. Isildur escapes down Anduin and goes to Elendil in the North. Anarion defends Minas Anor and Osgiliath.

3430.

The Last Alliance of Elves and Men is formed.

3431.

Gil-galad and Elendil march east to Imladris.

3434.

The host of the Alliance crosses the Misty Mountains. Battle of Dagorlad and defeat of Sauron. Siege of Barad-dur begins.

3440.

Anarion slain.

3441.

Sauron overthrown by Elendil and Gil-galad, who perish. Isildur takes the One Ring. Sauron pa.s.ses away and the Ringwraiths go into the shadows. The Second Age ends.

The Third Age 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 memory of the past. The Dwarves hid themselves in deep places, guarding their h.o.a.rds; 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 the life-span of the Numenoreans also waned as they became mingled with lesser Men.

When maybe a thousand years had pa.s.sed, and the first shadow had fallen on Greenwood the Great, the Istari 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. 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, though they were never young and aged only slowly, and they had many powers of mind and hand. They revealed their true names to few, 1 1 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 Curunir, 'the Man of Skill', and Mithrandir, 'the Grey Pilgrim', but by Men in the North Saruman and Gandalf. Curunir journeyed often into the East, but dwelt at last in Isengard. Mithrandir was closest in friends.h.i.+p with the Eldar, and wandered mostly in the West, and never made for himself any lasting abode. 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 Curunir, 'the Man of Skill', and Mithrandir, 'the Grey Pilgrim', but by Men in the North Saruman and Gandalf. Curunir journeyed often into the East, but dwelt at last in Isengard. Mithrandir was closest in friends.h.i.+p with the Eldar, and wandered mostly in the West, and never made for himself any lasting abode.

Throughout the Third Age the guardians.h.i.+p 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 Cirdan. Gil-galad before he died gave his ring to Elrond; Cirdan later surrendered his to Mithrandir. For Cirdan 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 would 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 sh.o.r.es until the last s.h.i.+p sails. I will await you.'

Year .

2.

Isildur plants a seedling of the White Tree in Minas Anor. He delivers the South-kingdom to Meneldil. Disaster of the Gladden Fields; Isildur and his three elder sons are slain.

3.

Ohtar brings the shards of Narsil to Imladris.

10.

Valandil becomes King of Arnor.

109.

Elrond weds Celebrian, daughter of Celeborn.

130.

Birth of Elladan and Elrohir, sons of Elrond.

241.

Birth of Arwen Undomiel.

420.

King Ostoher rebuilds Minas Anor.

490.

First invasion of Easterlings.

500.

Romendacil I defeats the Easterlings.

541.

Romendacil slain in battle.

830.

Falastur begins the line of the s.h.i.+p-kings of Gondor.

861.

Death of Earendur, and division of Arnor.

933.

King Earnil I takes Umbar, which becomes a fortress of Gondor.

936.

Earnil 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 the Harfoots to Eriador.

c. 1100 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 Nazgul.

1149.

Reign of Atanatar Alcarin begins.

c. 1150 The Fallohides enter Eriador. The Stoors come over the Redhorn Pa.s.s and move to the Angle, or to Dunland.

c. 1300 Evil things begin to multiply again. Orcs increase in the Misty Mountains and attack the Dwarves. The Nazgul 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 Sul destroyed.

1432.

King Valacar of Gondor dies, and the civil war of the Kin-strife begins.

1437.

Burning of Osgiliath and loss of the palantir. palantir. Eldacar flees to Rhovanion; his son Ornendil is murdered. 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.

Rebels escape and seize Umbar.

1540.

King Aldamir slain in war with the Harad and 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.

c. 1630 They 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 King's House to Minas Anor, and plants a seedling of the White Tree. Osgiliath begins to fall into ruin. Mordor is left unguarded.

1810.

King Telumehtar Umbardacil retakes Umbar and drives out the Corsairs.

1851.

The attacks of the Wainriders upon Gondor begin.

1856.

Gondor loses its eastern territories, and Narmacil II falls in battle.

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. Earnil 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.

Earnil II receives the crown.

1974.