The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Started after the defeat of Morgoth in the War of Wrath (II 1); ended with the first defeat of Sauron in the War of the last Alliance (II 3441)
Meaning
The Second Age of the Years of the Sun, after the long First Age came to an end with the fall of the Dark Lord Morgoth

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About this entry:

  • Updated 30 January 1998
  • Updates planned: 11

Second Age

The Age of Númenor

The Ages of Arda

Dating from a point 590 years after the first rising of the Sun, the Second Age began after Morgoth was defeated in the War of Wrath and expelled from Arda. That war wrought devastation in northwestern Middle-earth; the lands of Beleriand were largely overwhelmed by the Sea, with only the realm of Lindon remaining to the west of the Blue Mountains.

The Second Age was the Age of Númenor; the great island kingdom was created and peopled by the descendants of the Edain in the first years of the Age, and as the years passed, their power grew until it surpassed that of any nation of Men, before or since. They sailed east, exploring Middle-earth and founding great cities there. Eventually, their power and pride became so great that they challenged the Valar themselves, and were destroyed.

The end of Númenor was not the end of the Second Age, though; a remnant of the Númenóreans led by Elendil escaped its wreck and founded kingdoms in Middle-earth: Arnor in the north and Gondor in the south. They formed a mighty alliance, the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, and marched on Sauron, who had grown great again, assailing the Dark Tower of Barad-dûr. With the first overthrow of Sauron by the Alliance, the Second Age came to its end.

Key Events of the Second Age

1 Foundation of the Elven-kingdoms in the west of Middle-earth, Mithlond and Lindon.
32 Arrival of the Edain in Númenor. Elrond's brother Elros becames their first king, taking the name Tar-Minyatur.
600 The first ships of the Númenóreans return to Middle-earth.
1200 Sauron comes to the Elves of Eregion in a fair guise, and begins to teach them.
c. 1590 The smiths of Eregion complete the Three Rings of the Elves.
c. 1600 Sauron forges the One Ring in Orodruin, and so reveals his true purposes to the Elves.
1693 War begins between the Elves and Sauron.
1701 Sauron's forces, after taking much of Eriador, are driven back into the East by an army of Númenor.
c. 2250 First appearance of the Nazgûl.
3255 Ar-Pharazôn, last King of Númenor, usurps the throne.
3262 Ar-Pharazôn takes Sauron as prisoner back to Númenor. There, Sauron begins to corrupt the Númenóreans.
3319 Ar-Pharazôn sails into the West to assail the Valar. The Downfall of Númenor.
3320 Arnor and Gondor are founded by Elendil and his sons Isildur and Anárion.
3430 Formation of the Last Alliance.
3441 Defeat of Sauron by the Last Alliance.

For a full chronicle of events from the Second Age, see the Chronicle of Arda


See also...

Accursed Years, Agathurush, Alphabet of Daeron, Aman, Amdír, Amon Amarth, Ancient West, Angerthas Daeron, Artano, Ash Mountains, Astar, Atanalcar, Aulendil, Ban of the Valar, Battle of Dagorlad, [See the full list...]

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 30 January 1998
  • Updates planned: 11

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