The Third Age |
| 2941 | 1341 | Death of Hildigrim Took. |
| | | Birth of Tolman Cotton the elder. |
| | | 15 March Gandalf and Thorin encounter one another at Bree, and begin to plan the recovery of Erebor. |
| | | 25 April Gandalf briefly visits Bilbo Baggins at Bag End. |
| | | 26 April Thorin and Company come to Bag End with Gandalf, and the planning of the Quest of Erebor begins. |
| | | 27 April Gandalf, Bilbo Baggins and the Dwarves set out from Bag End on the Quest of Erebor. |
| | | May Bilbo and the Dwarves encounter three trolls, and narrowly escape being eaten. |
| | | Midyear's Day Bilbo Baggins and the Dwarves set out from Rivendell on their journey to the Lonely Mountain. |
| | | July Bilbo Baggins comes across the One Ring beneath the Misty Mountains. |
| | | Expulsion of the Necromancer from Dol Guldur by the White Council. |
| | | Bard the Bowman slays the Dragon Smaug. |
| | | October The Battle of Five Armies. Thorin Oakenshield is slain, and his cousin Dáin Ironfoot becomes King of Durin's Folk. |
c. | 2941 | 1341 | A young Hamfast Gamgee becomes apprenticed to the gardener Holman Greenhand. |
| 2942 | 1342 | Return of Sauron to Mordor. |
| | | Birth of Filibert, son of Adalbert Bolger and Gerda Boffin. |
| | | Birth of Merimac, younger son of Master Rorimac Brandybuck. |
| | | 22 June Return of Bilbo Baggins to Bag End in the Shire. |
| 2943 | 1343 | Birth of Marmadas Brandybuck, son of Gorbulas Brandybuck |
| 2944 | 1344 | Gollum sets out from the Misty Mountains in search of his lost Precious. |
| | | Bard completes the rebuilding of Dale, and is made its King. |
| | | Birth of Poppy Chubb-Baggins. |
| 2945 | 1345 | Death of Hugo Boffin. |
| 2946 | 1346 | Birth of Wilcome 'Will' Cotton, second son of Holman Cotton of Bywater. |
| | | Birth of Olo, son of Odo Proudfoot. |
| | | Death of Isembold Took, fifth child of the Old Took. |
| | | Birth of Griffo Boffin, son of Gruffo Boffin. |
| | | Birth of Ponto, eldest son of Posco Baggins and Gilly Brownlock. |
| 2947 | 1347 | Birth of Wilimar Bolger, son of Wilibald Bolger and Prisca Baggins. |
| | | Birth of Milo Burrows, son of Rufus Burrows and Asphodel Brandybuck. |
| | | Death of Isembard Took, seventh child of the Old Took. |
| 2948 | 1348 | Birth of Seredic, son of Saradas Brandybuck. |
| | | Death of Donnamira Took, daughter of Gerontius the Old Took. |
| | | Birth of Théoden, later King of Rohan |
| | | Death of Rudigar Bolger. |
| | | Birth of Porto, second son of Posco Baggins and Gilly Brownlock. |
| 2949 | 1349 | Bilbo Baggins is visited in the Shire by Gandalf and Balin. |
| 2950 | 1350 | Death of Longo Baggins. |
| | | Birth of Finduilas, the daughter of Adrahil, later to become the mother of Boromir and Faramir. |
| | | Birth of Peony Baggins. |
| | | Birth of Hugo Bracegirdle. |
| | | Birth of Daisy, daughter of Dudo Baggins. |
| 2951 | 1351 | Birth of Heribald Bolger, son of Wilibald Bolger and Prisca Baggins. |
| | | Elrond reveals Aragorn's ancestry to him. The first meeting of Aragorn and Arwen, in the woods of Rivendell. |
| | | Khamûl and two other Nazgûl are sent to reclaim Dol Guldur. |
| | | Rebuilding of Barad-dûr begins. |
| 2953 | 1353 | Saruman claims Isengard as his own and begins to fortify it. |
| | | Death of King Fengel of Rohan. He is succeeded by his son Thengel. |
| | | Death of Steward Turgon. He is succeeded by his son, Ecthelion II. |
| | | The last meeting of the White Council. |
| 2954 | 1354 | Mount Doom erupts, causing the last remaining people of Ithilien to flee across the Anduin. |
| | | Birth of Hilda Bracegirdle. |
| 2955 | 1355 | Likely date of the birth of Imrahil of Dol Amroth. |
| 2956 | 1356 | Death of Belba Baggins. |
| | | Gandalf and Aragorn meet for the first time. |
| 2957 | 1357 | Aragorn enters the service of Thengel of Rohan, under the alias of Thorongil. |
| 2960 | 1360 | Death of Mirabella, wife of Master Gorbadoc Brandybuck of Buckland. |
| | | Death of Isengar Took. |
| | | Birth of Nora Bolger, daughter of Wilibald Bolger and Prisca Baggins. |
| | | Death of Frodo Baggins' grandfather Fosco Baggins. |
| | | Death of Bingo Baggins. |
| 2961 | 1361 | Birth of Anson, son of Andwise Roper of Tighfield. |
| 2962 | 1362 | Hamfast Gamgee takes over as gardener at Bag End. |
| 2963 | 1363 | Death of Linda Baggins. |
| | | Birth of Théodwyn, youngest daughter of King Thengel of Rohan. |
| | | Death of Gorbadoc Brandybuck. He is succeeded as Master of Buckland by his son, Rorimac. |
| 2964 | 1364 | Birth of Lotho Sackville-Baggins, later self-appointed Chief Shirriff of the Shire. |
| 2965 | 1365 | Birth of Hamson, the eldest brother of Samwise Gamgee. |
| 2968 | 1368 | 22 September Birth of Frodo Baggins in the Shire. |
| 2969 | 1369 | Birth of Reginard, eldest son of Adelard Took. |
| | | Birth of Halfred, elder brother of Samwise Gamgee. |
| 2972 | 1372 | Birth of Halfast Gamgee. |
| | | Birth of Daisy, elder sister of Samwise Gamgee. |
| 2975 | 1375 | Birth of Pearl, eldest daughter of Paladin Took and Eglantine Banks. |
| 2976 | 1376 | Birth of May, elder sister of Samwise Gamgee. |
| | | Denethor, future Steward of Gondor, weds Finduilas, daughter of Adrahil of Dol Amroth. |
| 2977 | 1377 | Death of Bard the Bowman. He is succeeded as King of Dale by his son Bain. |
| | | Likely date of the death of Angelimir. He is succeeded as Prince of Dol Amroth by his son Adrahil. |
| 2978 | 1378 | Birth of Théodred, son of Théoden of Rohan. His mother Elfhild dies in childbirth. |
| | | Birth of Boromir, heir to Denethor II of Gondor. |
| | | Birth of Folco Boffin in the Shire. |
| 2979 | 1379 | Birth of Pimpernel, second daughter of Thain Paladin Took II, and elder sister of Peregrin Took. |
| 2980 | 1380 | Birth of Tolman Cotton, eldest son and namesake of Farmer Tolman Cotton. |
| | | Birth of Fredegar 'Fatty' Bolger, son of Odovacar Bolger and Rosamunda Took. |
| | | 'Thorongil' (Aragorn) leaves the service of Gondor and travels into the east. He later comes to Lórien, where he meets Arwen again, and the two become betrothed. |
| | | Death of King Thengel of Rohan. He is succeeded by his son Théoden. |
| | | Death of Thain Fortinbras II of the Shire. He is succeeded by his son Ferumbras III. |
| | | Loss of Drogo Baggins and his wife Primula in a boating accident. |
| | | Birth of Berilac, son of Merimac Brandybuck. |
| | | Birth of Everard, son of Adelard Took. |
| | | 6 April Likely date of Samwise Gamgee's birth. |
c. | 2980 | 1380 | Gollum first encounters Shelob in Ephel Dúath on Mordor's western border. |
| 2981 | 1381 | Birth of Angelica, daughter of Ponto Baggins. |
| | | Birth of Merimas, eldest child of Marmadas Brandybuck. |
| 2982 | 1382 | Death of Adalgrim Took. |
| | | Birth of Meriadoc Brandybuck, later Master of Buckland. |
| 2983 | 1383 | Birth of Mentha, daughter of Marmadas Brandybuck. |
| | | Birth of Faramir, second son of Denethor II. |
| | | Birth of Ferdibrand, son of Ferdinand Took. |
| | | Birth of Marigold, youngest daughter of Hamfast Gamgee and Bell Goodchild. |
| 2984 | 1384 | Death of Hobson, also known as Roper Gamgee, the first Hobbit to bear the name 'Gamgee'. |
| | | Death of Steward Ecthelion II. He is succeeded by his son, who rules as Denethor II. |
| | | Birth of Rose Cotton, who later married Samwise Gamgee, and of her brother Wilcome 'Jolly' Cotton. |
| 2985 | 1385 | Birth of Melilot Brandybuck, Estella Bolger and Pervinca Took in the Shire. |
| 2986 | 1386 | Death of Jago Boffin, grandfather of Folco Boffin. |
| | | Birth of Bowman Cotton, son of Tolman Cotton and Lily Brown. |
| 2987 | 1387 | Birth of Mosco, eldest child of Milo Burrows and Peony Baggins. |
| 2988 | 1388 | Birth of Tosto Boffin in the Shire. |
| | | Death of Finduilas, spouse of Denethor II and mother to Boromir and Faramir, at the age of just 38. |
| 2989 | 1389 | Birth of Doderic Brandybuck. |
| | | Balin begins his ill-fated attempt to recolonise Moria. |
| | | Adoption of Frodo Baggins as Bilbo's heir. Frodo removes from Buckland to Bag End. |
| | | Birth of Carl, called 'Nibs', youngest child of Tolman Cotton and Lily Brown. |
| | | Death of Flambard Took. |
| 2990 | 1390 | Birth of Peregrin Took. |
| | | Birth of Iorlas, uncle of Bergil, in Gondor. |
| | | Birth of Sancho, son of Olo Proudfoot. |
| 2991 | 1391 | Birth of Moto, son of Milo Burrows and Peony Baggins. |
| | | Birth of Éomer, later King of Rohan. |
| | | Death of Sigismond Took. |
| | | Birth of Ilberic Brandybuck. |
| 2993 | 1393 | Birth of Myrtle, daughter of Milo Burrows and Peony Baggins. |
| 2994 | 1394 | Balin's attempt to recolonise Moria ends in disaster. Balin himself, and the Dwarves of his company, are all slain. |
| | | Birth of Celandine, youngest child of Seredic Brandybuck and Hilda Bracegirdle. |
| 2995 | 1395 | Birth of Éowyn in Rohan. |
| | | Birth of Diamond of Long Cleeve. |
| 2996 | 1396 | Birth of Minto, youngest child of Milo Burrows and Peony Baggins. |
| 2997 | 1397 | Death of Adalbert Bolger. |
| 2998 | 1398 | Death of Amaranth Brandybuck. |
| 2999 | 1399 | Death of Gruffo Boffin. |
| | | Likely birthdate of Lothíriel, later queen to King Éomer Éadig. |
| | | Death of Falco Chubb-Baggins. |
| 3000 | 1400 | Death of Wilibald Bolger. |
c. | 3000 | 1400 | Saruman uses the Orthanc-stone for the first time. He comes under the power of Sauron, and abandons his allegiance to the White Council. |
| 3001 | 1401 | Beginning to suspect that Bilbo's Magic Ring may be Sauron's One Ring, Gandalf and Aragorn begin to search for Gollum. |
| | | 22 September Bilbo Baggins' Birthday Party and farewell feast. |
| 3002 | 1402 | Éomund, father of Éomer and Éowyn, is slain by Orcs. |
| | | After wandering in Middle-earth, Bilbo comes to Rivendell and settles there as Elrond's guest. |
| | | Death of Lalia, widow of Thain Fortinbras Took II, in an apparent accident. |
c. | 3002 | 1402 | Théodwyn, mother of Éomer and Éowyn, dies of a sickness. |
| 3003 | 1403 | Bilbo Baggins begins work on his Translations from the Elvish. |
| 3005 | 1405 | Death of Odo Proudfoot. |
| 3006 | 1406 | Death of Dora Baggins. |
| 3007 | 1407 | Death of Saradas Brandybuck. |
| | | Death of King Bain of Dale. He is succeeded by his son Brand. |
| | | Death of Gilraen the mother of Aragorn. |
| 3008 | 1408 | Death of Rorimac Brandybuck. He is succeeded as Master of Buckland by his son, Saradoc. |
| 3009 | 1409 | Death of Frodo Baggins' uncle Dudo Baggins. |
| | | Birth of Bergil son of Beregond. |
| 3010 | 1410 | Likely date of the death of Dinodas Brandybuck. |
| | | Likely date of the death of Adrahil. He is succeeded as Prince of Dol Amroth by his son Imrahil. |
| | | Death of Bruno Bracegirdle. |
| 3012 | 1412 | Following the death of his father Otho, Lotho Sackville-Baggins inherits Leaf plantations in the Southfarthing of the Shire. |
| | | Death of Asphodel Brandybuck. |
| | | Elfhelm is appointed a Marshal of the Mark in command of the garrison at Edoras. |
| 3013 | 1413 | Midyear's Day A Free Fair is held on the White Downs, at which Will Whitfoot is elected (or re-elected) to the post of Mayor. |
| 3014 | 1414 | Théoden begins to fall ill, and his counsellor Gríma begins to gain power over the King. |
| 3015 | 1415 | Death of Thain Ferumbras III of the Shire, the last of his line. He is succeeded by Paladin Took II. |
| 3017 | 1417 | Gandalf travels to Minas Tirith, and there discovers the Scroll of Isildur. |
| | | Gollum is released after several years captive in Mordor. |
| | | 1 February Gollum is located and captured by Aragorn on the borders of Mordor. |
| | | 21 March Aragorn completes his northward journey to the Woodland Realm with the captured Gollum. |
| 3018 | 1418 | 12 April Gandalf returns to the Shire to warn Frodo about the Ring. |
| | | 13 April In Bag End, Gandalf tells Frodo the history of the Ring. |
| | | 1 May Gandalf and Aragorn meet at Sarn Ford on the southern borders of the Shire. |
| | | 20 June Sauron's forces simultaneously attack eastern Gondor and the Wood-elves of Thranduil. The War of the Ring begins. |
| | | Midyear's Day Gandalf encounters Radagast near Bree, and is given Saruman's message. |
| | | 4 July Boromir sets out from Minas Tirith on his journey to find Imladris. |
| | | 10 July Saruman traps Gandalf and imprisons him on the pinnacle of Orthanc. |
| | | 18 September On their journey north to the Shire, the Black Riders cross the Fords of Isen. |
| | | 18 September Gwaihir rescues Gandalf from Orthanc. |
| | | 19 September Gandalf seeks aid from Théoden, but is turned away from Edoras. |
| | | 20 September Gandalf returns to Edoras, and is again dismissed by Théoden, though he is granted a horse. |
| | | 21 September Gandalf comes upon Shadowfax for the first time, and follows the great horse across the fields of Rohan. |
| | | 22 September In Rohan, Gandalf overtakes Shadowfax. Meanwhile, far to the north, Black Riders reach the borders of the Shire. |
| | | 23 September Gandalf sets out from Rohan. |
| | | 23 September The Black Riders enter the Shire. |
| | | 23 September Frodo, Sam and Pippin set out from Bag End. |
| | | 24 September Riding north to the Shire, Gandalf crosses the River Isen. |
| | | 26 September Frodo encounters Tom Bombadil and Goldberry. |
| | | 27 September Gandalf, riding wildly northward from Rohan, crosses the River Greyflood. |
| | | 28 September Riding on Frodo's trail, Gandalf crosses the Brandywine into the Shire's Southfarthing. |
| | | 28 September Frodo and his companions are captured by a Barrow-wight, and rescued by Tom Bombadil. |
| | | 29 September Gandalf speaks with Hamfast Gamgee in Hobbiton, and discovers that Frodo has already left the Shire. |
| | | 29 September Frodo and his companions arrive at the Prancing Pony in Bree, and meet Strider. |
| | | 30 September Gandalf arrives at Crickhollow in Buckland. Finding Frodo gone, he sets out for Bree, which he reaches at night. |
| | | 30 September Black Riders raid Buckland and Bree in the early morning. |
| | | 30 September The Hobbits awake in Bree to find their ponies stolen. Bill Ferny sells them his pony, later called Bill himself. Aragorn leads them out of Bree and into the Wild. |
| | | 1 October Gandalf sets out from Bree and travels toward Rivendell. |
| | | 3 October Gandalf reaches Weathertop, and is attacked there by Nazgûl. |
| | | 6 October The Nazgûl attack the Hobbits in a dell beneath Weathertop. Frodo is wounded by a Morgul-knife. |
| | | 9 October Learning that the Nazgûl have come to the Northlands, Elrond sends out riders including Glorfindel. |
| | | 11 October Glorfindel discovers three Nazgûl holding the Bridge of Mitheithel. He drives them off into the west. |
| | | 13 October Strider and the Hobbits cross the Bridge of Mitheithel on their journey to Rivendell. |
| | | 18 October Gandalf reaches Rivendell. |
| | | 18 October Aragorn and the Hobbits encounter Glorfindel at dusk. |
| | | 20 October The Black Riders are swept away at the Ford of Bruinen. Frodo reaches Rivendell safely. |
| | | 24 October Frodo recovers and wakes in Rivendell, at ten o'clock in the morning. |
| | | 25 October The Council of Elrond is held. |
| | | 25 December The setting-out of the Fellowship from Rivendell. |