Third Age

From Tolkien Gateway
The name Third Age refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Third Age (disambiguation).
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)

The Third Age, often abbreviated to T.A., began after the first downfall of Sauron, when he was defeated by the Last Alliance of Elves and Men following the downfall of Númenor.

This age was characterized by the rise and decline of the exiled Númenorean kingdoms, in contrast to the slow recovery of Sauron's power. In the meantime the Elves, Dwarves and other peoples did little new; also known as the Fading Years, the Age marked the waning of the Elves.

It lasted for 3021 years, only ending after the defeat of Sauron had finally and utterly been achieved by destroying his Ruling Ring. With the One Ring gone, the power of three rings waned and the realms that had been preserved by them began to fade. These events prompted many of the Eldar remaining in Middle-earth to sail for the Uttermost West, and so much memory and beauty were lost to Middle-earth for ever. With the Last Riding of the Keepers the Fourth Age began.

Major events of the Third Age[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

References