Middle-earth: from The Hobbit to the Grey Havens (TA 2941–3021)

Timeline

Layers

Land held: Hobbits · Land held: Dwarves · Land held: Men of Dale and the Lake · Land held: Elves of Mirkwood · Land held: Elves of Lórien · Land held: Elves of Rivendell and Lindon · Land held: Gondor · Land held: Rohan · Land held: Ents and Huorns · Land held: Beorn · Land held: Mordor · Land held: Isengard · Land held: Goblins and Wargs · Land held: Easterlings · Land held: Haradrim · Land held: Corsairs of Umbar · Land held: Smaug · Land held: Others · Smaug: route · Thorin and Company (with Bilbo): route · Bilbo Baggins: route · The Eagles: route · Gandalf: route · The White Council: route · Bard and the Lake-men: route · Thranduil's Elves: route · Sauron: route · Bolg's goblins and Wargs: route · Beorn: route · Dáin Ironfoot's dwarves: route · Gollum: route · The Nazgûl (second group): route · Balin's colony: route · Aragorn (with Legolas and Gimli): route · The Host of Minas Morgul: route · The Nazgûl: route · Boromir: route · Merry and Fatty Bolger: route · Frodo and the Ring: route · The Nazgûl (third group): route · Isengard at the Fords of Isen: route · Elfhelm's riders: route · Companies of the Outlands: route · Frodo and the Ring (Frodo and Sam): route · Éomer's éored: route · Erkenbrand of the Westfold: route · Faramir and the Rangers of Ithilien: route · Imrahil and the knights of Dol Amroth: route · Merry and Pippin: route · Treebeard and the Ents: route · Southron column (Ithilien): route · Théoden and the Rohirrim: route · Corsairs of Umbar: route · The Huorns: route · Saruman's host / Saruman: route · The Grey Company: route · The Dead: route · Haradrim with mûmakil: route · Northern army of Mordor (Anórien): route · Men of Umbar and Harad (Linhir): route · King Brand's Men of Dale: route · The host of Dol Guldur: route · The Easterlings: route · Orcs in the Wold: route · Easterlings and Variags: route · The host of Dol Guldur (north): route · Sam Gamgee: route · Shagrat: route · The Host of the West: route · Detachment to Cair Andros: route · Host of the Black Gate: route · Celeborn and the Elves of Lórien: route · Arwen and Elrond: route · Legolas and Gimli: route · Sharkey's ruffians: route · Pippin and the Tooks: route · The Last Riding to the Havens: route · Smaug · Thorin and Company (with Bilbo) · The Eagles · Gandalf · The White Council · Bard and the Lake-men · Thranduil's Elves · Sauron · Bolg's goblins and Wargs · Beorn · Dáin Ironfoot's dwarves · Gollum · The Nazgûl (second group) · Balin's colony · Aragorn (with Legolas and Gimli) · The Host of Minas Morgul · The Nazgûl · Boromir · Merry and Fatty Bolger · The Nazgûl (third group) · Isengard at the Fords of Isen · Elfhelm's riders · Companies of the Outlands · Frodo and the Ring (Frodo and Sam) · Éomer's éored · Erkenbrand of the Westfold · Faramir and the Rangers of Ithilien · Denethor, Steward of Gondor · Imrahil and the knights of Dol Amroth · Merry and Pippin · Treebeard and the Ents · Southron column (Ithilien) · Théoden and the Rohirrim · Corsairs of Umbar · The Huorns · Saruman's host / Saruman · The Grey Company · The Dead · Haradrim with mûmakil · Northern army of Mordor (Anórien) · Men of Umbar and Harad (Linhir) · King Brand's Men of Dale · The host of Dol Guldur · The Easterlings · Orcs in the Wold · Easterlings and Variags · The host of Dol Guldur (north) · Sam Gamgee · Shagrat · The Witch-king · The Host of the West · Detachment to Cair Andros · Host of the Black Gate · Celeborn and the Elves of Lórien · Arwen and Elrond · Legolas and Gimli · Sharkey's ruffians (second band) · Sharkey's ruffians · Pippin and the Tooks · The Last Riding to the Havens · Bilbo Baggins · Frodo and the Ring

Events

• 26 Apr 2941, The Unexpected Party: Thirteen dwarves and Gandalf descend on Bag End; Thorin's map and key; Bilbo is signed on as burglar.
• 9 Jul 2941, Captured by the goblins at the Front Porch: Sheltering from the stone-giants' thunder-battle, the company is seized through a crack in the cave wall and dragged to Goblin-town.
• 12 Jul 2941, Bilbo finds the Ring: Lost in the dark, Bilbo picks up a ring from the tunnel floor, wins the riddle-game with Gollum and escapes invisible.
• 12 Jul 2941, Rescue by the Eagles: Treed by the Wargs, with the goblins setting the trees on fire, the company is lifted away by the Lord of the Eagles and his chieftains.
• 20 Aug 2941, The White Council meets: The Wise meet; Saruman, who had blocked action since 2851, now agrees to attack Dol Guldur because he wants to keep Sauron from searching the Anduin for the Ring.
• 23 Aug 2941, Captured by the Wood-elves: Thorin (taken the night before) and then the other dwarves are captured and imprisoned in the Elvenking's halls; Bilbo follows invisible.
• 21 Sep 2941, Barrels out of bond: With the butler and the guard drunk, Bilbo packs the dwarves into empty wine-barrels and rides one down the Forest River.
• 22 Oct 2941, The secret door opens on Durin's Day: The thrush knocks, the last light of the setting sun shows the keyhole, and Thorin's key opens the hidden door into the Mountain.
• 23 Oct 2941, Death of Smaug: Smaug burns Lake-town; told of the bare patch by the thrush, Bard shoots the black arrow and the dragon falls on the burning town.
• 24 Oct 2941, The White Council drives Sauron from Dol Guldur: The Wise assault the Necromancer's fortress in southern Mirkwood and drive him out.
• 12 Nov 2941, Battle of Five Armies: Goblins and Wargs under Bolg attack the Elves, Men and Dwarves before the Lonely Mountain; Thorin's sortie fails, the Eagles and then Beorn turn the day.
• 13 Nov 2941, Death of Thorin Oakenshield: Thorin dies of his wounds after making peace with Bilbo; he is buried deep beneath the Mountain with the Arkenstone and Orcrist.
• 1 Jul 2951, Sauron declares himself: Sauron declares himself openly, gathers power in Mordor and begins rebuilding Barad-dûr. He sends three Nazgûl to reoccupy Dol Guldur; Gollum turns towards Mordor. (Year only.)
• 22 Sep 3001, Bilbo's Farewell Party: At his eleventy-first birthday Bilbo vanishes with the Ring and leaves Bag End; after a struggle he leaves the Ring for Frodo. Gandalf suspects it is the One Ring.
• 13 Apr 3018, Gandalf tells Frodo the truth of the Ring: In Bag End Gandalf throws the ring into the fire, reads the fiery letters and tells Frodo it is the One Ring; Frodo decides to leave the Shire.
• 20 Jun 3018, Sauron attacks Osgiliath: A host out of Minas Morgul storms the east bank of Osgiliath; Boromir and Faramir hold the west bank and break the last bridge. Boromir felt a power in it 'like a great black horseman, a dark shadow under the moon'. Behind the attack the Nine set out to hunt the Ring.
• 11 Jul 3018, Gandalf imprisoned in Orthanc: Saruman of Many Colours drops the mask: he would have the Ring for himself or join Sauron. Gandalf refuses and is held on the pinnacle of Orthanc.
• 23 Sep 3018, Frodo leaves Bag End: Without Gandalf, who has not come back, Frodo sets out on foot with Sam and Pippin, the Ring on its chain. That same night Khamûl questions the Gaffer at Bagshot Row.
• 6 Oct 3018, Weathertop: Frodo stabbed: Five Riders attack the camp in the dell under Weathertop. Frodo puts on the Ring, sees the wraiths as they are, and the Witch-king stabs him in the shoulder with a Morgul-knife; Frodo strikes at him and calls on Elbereth, Strider drives them off with fire.
• 20 Oct 3018, The Ford of Bruinen: Asfaloth carries Frodo across the Ford ahead of the Nine; Frodo defies them from the far bank. Elrond's flood, shaped by Gandalf into white horses, sweeps the Riders away while Glorfindel and Strider drive the rest in with fire.
• 25 Oct 3018, Council of Elrond: Elves, Dwarves, Men, a wizard and hobbits hear the whole tale of the Ring, of Saruman's treachery and of Gollum's escape. They resolve that the Ring must be destroyed in Mount Doom, and Frodo offers to take it.
• 25 Dec 3018, The Fellowship sets out: The Nine Walkers, one for each of the Nine Riders, leave Rivendell at dusk after the scouts return.
• 15 Jan 3019, The Bridge of Khazad-dûm: Gandalf falls: Gandalf stands on the Bridge against Durin's Bane, breaks it under the Balrog and is dragged into the abyss: 'Fly, you fools!'
• 25 Jan 3019, Gandalf casts down the Balrog: On the peak of Zirakzigil Gandalf defeats Durin's Bane, which falls and breaks the mountain-side; Gandalf dies there.
• 26 Feb 3019, Death of Boromir; the Breaking of the Fellowship: Uruk-hai of Isengard with orcs of Moria and Mordor fall on the scattered Company; Boromir dies defending Merry and Pippin, pierced with many arrows; his horn is heard in Minas Tirith. Aragorn sends his body over Rauros in a boat.
• 26 Feb 3019, Merry and Pippin captured: Uglúk's Uruk-hai carry off the two hobbits, thinking one of them may be the Ring-bearer.
• 28 Feb 3019, Frodo tames Sméagol: Frodo and Sam catch Gollum at the foot of the cliff; he swears by the Precious to serve Frodo.
• 1 Mar 3019, Gandalf the White meets the Three Hunters: In Fangorn Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli meet Gandalf returned as the White Rider.
• 2 Mar 3019, Théoden healed at Edoras: Gandalf heals Théoden of Wormtongue's counsel; Éomer is freed; Wormtongue flees.
• 3 Mar 3019, Fall of Isengard: The Ents break the walls of Isengard and flood it with the Isen; Saruman is shut in Orthanc.
• 3 Mar 3019, Battle of the Hornburg: Saruman's army storms Helm's Dike and the Hornburg through the night of 3-4 March; at dawn Théoden rides out, Gandalf and Erkenbrand arrive, and the orcs perish in the Huorn-wood.
• 5 Mar 3019, Pippin looks into the palantír: Pippin steals the Orthanc-stone and is questioned by Sauron; a winged Nazgûl passes over the camp.
• 7 Mar 3019, Faramir lets the Ring go: At Henneth Annûn Faramir learns that Frodo carries the Ring and refuses to take it; he sends them on with food on 8 March.
• 8 Mar 3019, Aragorn takes the Paths of the Dead: The Grey Company passes under the mountains from Dunharrow at daybreak; at midnight at the Stone of Erech Aragorn summons the Oathbreakers.
• 12 Mar 3019, Shelob's Lair: Gollum betrays them to Shelob; she stings Frodo; Sam wounds her, takes the Ring believing Frodo dead, then learns he lives as the orcs carry him off.
• 13 Mar 3019, Siege of Minas Tirith: The host of Mordor rings the City with fire-trenches and engines; at the small hours of 15 March Grond breaks the Gate and Gandalf alone bars the Witch-king.
• 13 Mar 3019, Battle of Pelargir: The Shadow Host sweeps the Corsairs of Umbar from their ships at Pelargir; Aragorn takes the fleet and releases the Dead.
• 15 Mar 3019, Death of Théoden: Théoden, having slain the Haradrim chieftain, is crushed by his horse Snowmane at the Witch-king's coming; he names Éomer king.
• 15 Mar 3019, Witch-king slain by Éowyn and Merry: Éowyn, disguised as Dernhelm, and Merry destroy the Lord of the Nazgûl: 'no living man am I'.
• 15 Mar 3019, Battle of the Pelennor Fields: The Rohirrim charge at dawn; Aragorn arrives in the black ships; the host of Mordor is destroyed by evening.
• 15 Mar 3019, Denethor's pyre: Despairing, Denethor burns himself in Rath Dínen; Gandalf, Pippin and Beregond save Faramir.
• 15 Mar 3019, Battle under the Trees: Dol Guldur invades Thranduil's realm on the day of the Pelennor; after a long battle under the trees and great ruin of fire Thranduil wins.
• 16 Mar 3019, The Last Debate: The captains of the West resolve to march on the Black Gate to draw Sauron's eye from the Ring-bearer.
• 17 Mar 3019, Battle of Dale: After three days of fighting in Dale and before the Gate of Erebor the Easterlings win; King Brand and King Dáin Ironfoot fall. 'Think of what might have been… dragon-fire and savage swords in Eriador' (Gandalf, App. A).
• 25 Mar 3019, Battle of the Morannon: The Mouth of Sauron shows Frodo's mithril; Gandalf refuses terms; the Host is surrounded on the slag-hills; the Eagles come; as the Ring is destroyed the armies of Mordor flee.
• 25 Mar 3019, The Ring destroyed: In the Sammath Naur Frodo claims the Ring; Gollum bites it off and falls with it into the Cracks of Doom.
• 25 Mar 3019, Downfall of Barad-dûr: The Dark Tower crumbles and Sauron passes away like a shadow on the wind; the Nazgûl perish in the fire of the mountain.
• 27 Mar 3019, Siege of Erebor lifted: When news of the victory in the South reaches them the Easterlings lose heart; Bard II and Thorin III sally from Erebor and drive them out of Dale.
• 28 Mar 3019, Dol Guldur taken and thrown down: Celeborn leads the Galadhrim over the Anduin and takes Dol Guldur; Galadriel throws down its walls and lays bare its pits, and the forest is cleansed.
• 8 Apr 3019, Ring-bearers honoured at Cormallen: Frodo and Sam wake in Ithilien and are set by Aragorn on his throne before the whole Host: 'Long live the Halflings! Praise them with great praise!'
• 1 May 3019, Coronation of King Elessar: Before the Gate Faramir surrenders his office; Frodo brings the crown and Gandalf sets it on Aragorn's head: 'Now come the days of the King'. The same day Elrond and Arwen set out from Rivendell.
• 1 Jul 3019, Wedding of Elessar and Arwen: On Midsummer's Day King Elessar weds Arwen Undómiel in the City of the Kings; the tale of their long waiting comes to fulfilment.
• 3 Nov 3019, Death of Saruman at Bag End: At Bag End 'Sharkey' is Saruman. Frodo spares him, but Wormtongue, taunted, cuts his throat and is shot by hobbit archers; Saruman's spirit is blown away by a wind from the West. Lotho had been murdered by Wormtongue. End of the War of the Ring.
• 3 Nov 3019, Battle of Bywater: The last battle of the War of the Ring: about a hundred ruffians from Waymeet walk into Merry's trap between the high banks of the Bywater road; ~70 killed, 12 taken; 19 hobbits die.
• 29 Sep 3021, The Ring-bearers sail West: At the Grey Havens Círdan and Gandalf wait; Frodo, Bilbo, Elrond, Galadriel and Gandalf go aboard the white ship and pass into the West. Merry and Pippin arrive in time to say farewell. The Third Age ends.