Second Age

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History of Arda
Before the Creation
Before the Ages
Days before days
Years of the Trees (up to Y.T. 1050)
Ages of the Children of Ilúvatar
First Age (begins in Y.T. 1050
and overlaps with the Years of the Trees
up to Y.T. 1500
)
- Years of the Sun begin in F.A. 1
Second Age
- Arda made round in S.A. 3319
Third Age
Fourth Age
Later Ages (up to present day)
End of Arda
Timeline of Arda
(See: Round World version of the Silmarillion
for a later conception of Tolkien's cosmology)
"These were the dark years for Men of Middle-earth, but the years of the glory of Númenor. Of events in Middle-earth the records are few and brief, and their dates are often uncertain."
Appendix B: The Tale of Years, "The Second Age"

The Second Age began after the destruction of Beleriand in the War of Wrath, and the execution and subsequent expulsion of Morgoth from into the Void.

The founding of Lindon (from the remnants of Ossiriand) and the creation of Númenor, the two major Elvish and Mannish kingdoms of the Age, respectively, took place soon afterwards.

Elvish realms[edit | edit source]

Middle-earth & Númenor by Steven White Jr

Lindon was an Elvish realm ruled by Gil-galad, last High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth. It lay in what remained of Beleriand, between the mountains of Ered Luin and the Great Sea. From its Grey Havens Elven ships sailed daily to the West. Imladris, or Rivendell, was founded by Elrond about halfway through the Age.

In the early part of the Second Age many Noldorin Elves journeyed East of the Ered Luin and established the realm of Eregion near the Misty Mountains. These Elves, led by Celebrimbor son of Curufin, became close friends with the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm. Together they made great endeavours in smithcraft, until the skill of the Elves reached a height never to be matched again. This attracted the attention of Sauron, who tricked the Elves into making the Rings of Power by his aid. When the Elves perceived that he desired to rule them with the One Ring, they resisted, and Sauron waged war against them. In this war, Eregion was destroyed and Celebrimbor killed.

Mannish realms[edit | edit source]

The Second Age was the age of the glory of Númenor, the great island kingdom that was created for 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.

Meanwhile, in Middle-earth there were Dark Years, in which Men lived in simple tribal societies or were under the domination of Sauron. The men who served Sauron revered him as a god and feared him greatly. In the beginning of the Second Age, the Dúnedain attempted to help the Men of Middle-earth, but eventually desired to dominate them.

The Downfall of Númenor was not the end of the Second Age; 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. Along with Gil-galad, 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.

Major events[edit | edit source]

Military[note 1] Political Other
1st millennium
2nd millennium
3rd millennium
4th millennium

See also[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

Notes

  1. Only wars and isolated battles are mentioned as events; for battles being part of larger campaigns, look the campaigns' respective articles or Index:Conflicts#Second_Age.

References