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The Chronicle of Arda

Welcome to The Chronicle of Arda. This section of the site provides automated annals for all four Ages of the Sun and Moon. For any period of Arda's history, the Chronicle will display the events that happened in that time. Events and characters are entered into the Chronicle as they are added to the main database: like the rest of The Encyclopedia of Arda this section of the site is expanding all the time.

You can have the Chronicle look up events for specific dates by entering one or two years in the form below. If you enter two dates, the Chronicle will display events that happened between those two years. If you leave one of the dates blank, the Chronicle will display events in the century around the single year you specify.

For years after III 1601 (the year of the foundation of Shire, and therefore Shire Year 1), the Chronicle will also show years by the Shire-reckoning in a second column.

Enter a date:
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II 3299 to III 158
(a period of 300 years)

 • 3,888 years after the Return of the Noldor
 • Contemporary with the Downfall of Númenor
 • 2,860 years before the War of the Ring

The Lifetime of Meneldil

The Second Age

3299Probable date of the birth of Meneldil.
Birth of Elendur, eldest son of Isildur.
3310Convinced by Sauron to attack Aman, Ar-Pharazôn begins building his Great Armament.
3316Amandil abandons Númenor and sails into the West to seek the aid of the Valar.
3319Ar-Pharazôn sails into the West to assail the Valar. The Downfall of Númenor.
3320Sauron returns in secret to the land of Mordor.
Arnor and Gondor are founded by Elendil and his sons Isildur and Anárion.
c.3320Approximate date of the construction of many great towers and citadels, including Minas Ithil and Isengard.
3339Probable date of the birth of Aratan, second son of Isildur, in Gondor.
3379Probable date of birth of Isildur's third son Ciryon.
3399Likely date of birth of Cemendur, son and eventual heir of Meneldil.
3429Sauron launches an assault on Gondor, and captures Minas Ithil.
3430Probable date of the birth of Valandil, youngest of the four sons of Isildur.
Formation of the Last Alliance.
3431The forces of the newly-formed Last Alliance of Elves and Men assemble in Imladris under their leaders, Gil-galad and Elendil.
3434Sauron's forces are defeated in the Battle of Dagorlad. The Siege of Barad-dûr begins.
3440Anárion slain in the Siege of Barad-dûr.
3441Defeat of Sauron by the Last Alliance. Barad-dûr is destroyed, but both Gil-galad and Elendil are lost. The Nazgûl go into the shadows.

The Third Age

2Meneldil takes on the rule of the South-kingdom.
Isildur plants a seedling of the White Tree in Minas Anor.
5 September Isildur sets out from Minas Tirith with the One Ring, starting the long journey north to Arnor.
4 October The Disaster of the Gladden Fields. The One Ring is lost in Anduin.
3Isildur's squire Ohtar, having escaped the Disaster of the Gladden Fields, arrives at Imladris with the Shards of Narsil.
10Isildur's son Valandil reaches his majority and becomes King of Arnor.
48Probable date of the birth of Eärendil, later King of Gondor.
87Probable date of birth of Eldacar son of Valandil, later King of Arnor.
109Wedding of Elrond and Celebrían.
130Birth of the twins Elladan and Elrohir.
136Birth of Anardil son of Eärendil, later King of Gondor.
158Death of Meneldil. He is succeeded as King of Gondor by his son Cemendur.

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

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