Third Age
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| The History of Arda |
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| Ainulindalë |
| Valian Years |
| Years of the Lamps Years of the Trees |
| Years of the Sun |
| Ages |
| First Age Second Age Third Age Fourth Age |
| Dagor Dagorath |
| Timeline of Arda |
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, the slow recovery of Sauron's power. In the meantime the Elves and 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, until Sauron was again defeated, this time finally, when his Ruling Ring was destroyed. This was a gamble for the Wise because they preserved the Free Peoples and destroyed much evil. But then the last greatest of the Eldar remaining in Middle-earth left for the Uttermost West, and much good and beauty were lost to Middle-earth for ever. With the Last Riding of the Keepers the Fourth Age began.
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Major events of the Third Age
| Military[note 1] | Political | Other | |
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| 1st millennium |
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| 2nd millennium |
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| 3rd millennium |
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| 4th millennium |
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See also
External links
Notes
- ↑ Only wars and isolated battles are mentioned as events; for battles being part of larger campaigns, look the campaigns' respective articles