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{{History of Arda}}
{{History of Arda}}
Beginning in about the 584th year since the [[Return of the Noldor]] to [[Middle-earth]], the Second Age is the longest of the chronicled [[Ages of the Children of Ilúvatar]]. It began after the destruction of [[Beleriand]] in the [[War of Wrath]]. The founding of [[Lindon]] and the creation of [[Númenor]], the two major Elvish and Mannish kingdoms of the Age, took place soon afterwards.
{{quote|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|''Appendix B: The Tale of Years]]'', "The Second Age"}}
Beginning in about the 584th year since the [[Return of the Noldor]] to [[Middle-earth]], the Second Age is the longest of the chronicled [[Ages]]. It began after the destruction of [[Beleriand]] in the [[War of Wrath]]. The founding of [[Lindon]] and the creation of [[Númenor]], the two major Elvish and Mannish kingdoms of the Age, took place soon afterwards.


== Elvish Realms ==
== Elvish realms ==
[[File:Steven White Jr. - Middle-earth & Numenor.jpg|thumb|''Middle-earth & Númenor'' by [[User:Smeagol|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 [[Belegaer|Great Sea]]. From its [[Grey Havens]] Elven ships sailed daily to [[Aman|the West]]. Imladris, or [[Rivendell]], was founded by [[Elrond]] about halfway through the Age.


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 [[Belegaer|Great Sea]]. From its [[Grey Havens]] Elven ships sailed daily to [[Aman|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 [[Moria|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.


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 ==
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.


== Mannish Realms ==
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 Second Age was the Age 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.
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.


Most other Men in Middle-earth 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.
==Major events==
{| rules="all" style="border:1px solid darkgrey; border-collapse:collapse" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="100%"
!
! style="background:lightgrey; text-align:center" |Military<ref group=note>Only wars and isolated battles are mentioned as events; for battles being part of larger campaigns, look the campaigns' respective articles</ref>
! style="background:lightgrey; text-align:center" |Political
! style="background:lightgrey; text-align:center" |Other
|-
!|1st millennium
|
|
*Foundation of [[Lindon]] ([[Second Age 1|1]])
*Foundation of [[Númenor]] ([[Second Age 32|32]])
*[[Dwarves]] from [[Blue Mountains]] migrate to [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]] ([[Second Age 40|c. 40]])
*[[Númenóreans]] establish contact with [[Middle-earth]] ([[Second Age 600|600]])
*[[Lords of Andúnië]] title is created ([[Second Age 630|630]])
*[[Eregion]] is founded ([[Second Age 750|750]])
*[[Hirilondë]] is built ([[Second Age 877|877]])
|
*[[Sauron]] returns from the [[East]] ([[Second Age 500|c. 500]])
*Sauron constructs [[Barad-dur]] ([[Second Age 1000|1000]])
|-
!|2nd millennium
|
*[[War of the Elves and Sauron]] ([[Second Age 1693|1693]]-[[Second Age 1700|1700]])
|
*Númenóreans establish permanent havens in Middle-earth ([[Second Age 1200|1200]])
*[[Galadriel]] and [[Celeborn]] come to [[Laurelindórenan]] ([[Second Age 1350|1350]])
*[[Elrond]] founds [[Rivendell]] ([[Second Age 1697|1697]])
*First [[shadow]] falls on Númenor ([[Second Age 1800|1800]])
|
*The [[Rings of Power]] are constructed ([[Second Age 1500|1500]])
*The [[Three Rings]] are constructed ([[Second Age 1590|1590]])
*The [[One Ring]] is forged ([[Second Age 1600|1600]])
|-
!|3rd millennium
|
|
*[[Haven of Umbar|Umbar]] is fortified ([[Second Age 2280|2280]])
*[[Pelargir]] is built ([[Second Age 2350|2350]])
|
*Appearance of the [[Nazgûl]] ([[Second Age 2251|2251]])
|-
!|4th millennium
|
*[[Ar-Pharazôn]] lands at the [[Haven of Umbar]] but Sauron surrenders without resistance ([[Second Age 3261|3261]])
*The [[Great Armament]] assails [[Valinor]] ([[Second Age 3319|3319]])
*[[War of the Last Alliance]] ([[Second Age 3429|3429]]-[[Second Age 3441|3441]])
|
*[[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]] founded ([[Second Age 3320|3320]])
*[[Last Alliance]] ([[Second Age 3430|3430]])
|
*[[Downfall of Númenor]] and Changing of the World ([[Second Age 3319|3319]])
*Defeat of Sauron and end of the Age ([[Second Age 3441|3441]])
|}


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.
==See also==
*[[Timeline/Second Age|Timeline of the Second Age]]
*[[Dark Years]]
*[[Middle Days]]


'''See also:'''
==External links==
* [[Timeline#The_2nd_Age|Timeline of The 2nd Age]]
* [https://www.tor.com/2022/08/22/a-second-age-primer-the-rings-of-power-the-rise-and-fall-of-numenor-and-the-last-alliance/ A Second Age Primer: The Rings of Power, the Rise and Fall of Númenor, and the Last Alliance] at [https://www.tor.com Tor.com]


{{references|note}}
[[Category:Ages]]
[[Category:Ages]]
[[Category:Second Age]]
[[de:Das Zweite Zeitalter]]
[[de:Das Zweite Zeitalter]]
[[fr:/encyclo/chronologie/second_age]]
[[fi:Toinen Aika]]
[[fi:Toinen Aika]]

Revision as of 14:44, 26 September 2022

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"

Beginning in about the 584th year since the Return of the Noldor to Middle-earth, the Second Age is the longest of the chronicled Ages. It began after the destruction of Beleriand in the War of Wrath. The founding of Lindon and the creation of Númenor, the two major Elvish and Mannish kingdoms of the Age, took place soon afterwards.

Elvish realms

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

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

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

See also

External links

Notes

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

References