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Timeline/Years of the Trees

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Main article: Timeline

Years of the Trees

All dates in this section are approximate. Calculated solar years for the Years of Trees are rounded to the nearest year.[note 1]
Y.T. Y.S. Event
Before the First Age
1 1 Yavanna creates the Two Trees amidst the hill of Ezellohar in Valinor. With Telperion's first blooming the new Count of Time begins.[1][1.1][1.2]
Over the many centuries, Melkor dwells in Utumno.[1.3] Oromë hunts throughout Middle-earth.[1.4] Melkor raises the Hithaeglir to hinder his efforts.[1.5]
1000 9582 The Valar hold council, for Yavanna and Oromë report that Melkor might rise once more in power. They discuss the Children of Ilúvatar.[1.6] Over the next fifty years, Varda fashions new stars and begins to organize them and those already wrought into constellations.[1.7]
Some time before the waking of the Elves, Aulë secretly creates the 7 Fathers of the Dwarves and their 6 spouses. Ilúvatar adopts them and they are put to sleep.[2][2.1]
First Age
1050 10,061 Varda forms the Valacirca.[1.8] The first 144 Elves (Minyar, Tatyar, and Nelyar)[3] awake in Cuiviénen.[1.9] The First Age begins.[4]
Melian travels to Beleriand after ascending Taniquetil to see the stars.[1.10]
1080 10,349 Spies of Melkor discover the Elves and afflict them.[5][5.1] It is possible through the torture of Melkor that Orcs are first created.[1.11]
1085 10,396 Oromë discovers the Elves, and calls them the Eldar.[1.12] The Eldar are afraid of Oromë and blame him for Melkor's work.[1.13]
1086 10,406 Oromë returns to Valinor and witnesses to his peers about the Children of Ilúvatar, then returns to the Elves while the Valar consider his message.[1.14]
1090 10,444 The Valar make war on Melkor in the Battle of the Powers.[1.15] The shores of Beleriand are formed and bays are created on the North.[5.2] Over the next two years, Melkor is defeated and retreats into Utumno.[1.16]
1092 10,464 The siege of Utumno begins.[1.16] The earth is shaken; the North is desolated and the Sea widened.[1.17]
1099 10,530 The Battle of the Powers ends as the Valar storm the final defences of Utumno. Tulkas captures Melkor and binds him with Angainor.[1.18]
Sauron evades capture.[2.2]
1100 10,540 Melkor is brought back to Valinor, judged and cast into the Halls of Mandos for three Ages of the Valar (300 Valian Years).[1.19]
1101 10,550 The Valar make council about the protection of the Children of Ilúvatar and decide to bring them to Valinor. Oromë extends this invitation to the Elves.[1.20]
1102 10,559 The Elves are unwilling to leave Cuiviénen. Oromë invites three Elven ambassadors, Ingwë, Finwë and Elwë to come to Valinor with the hope that they can convince their people to come as well.[1.21]
1104 10,579 The ambassadors return to Cuiviénen and invite the Elves to return with them to Valinor.[1.22]
1105 10,588 First Sundering of the Elves at Cuiviénen. The Vanyar led by Ingwë, the Noldor led by Finwë and the Teleri led by Elwë and Olwë depart.[1.23] The Avari, led by Morwë and Nurwë, stay in Cuiviénen.[1.24]
The Eldar pass Sea of Helcar and turn west. Some are terrified by the smokes of war and go back.[1.25]
1115 10,684 Second Sundering of the Elves: The Eldar host passes Greenwood the Great and comes to the River Anduin.[1.26] The Teleri wish to stay there, terrified by the Hithaeglir.[1.5] A part of them go south led by Lenwë.[1.27]
1125 10,780 The Vanyar and Noldor enter Beleriand; the foremost of them pass Sirion and reach the shores. Oromë goes to Aman for counsel.[1.28]
1128 10,808 The unwilling Teleri also come to Beleriand and dwell east of Gelion.[1.29] Elwë often visits Finwë in the lands of the Noldor where later will be the forests of Neldoreth and Region.[5.3]
1130 10,828 Elwë, returning from a meeting with Finwë, meets Melian in Nan Elmoth. They fall into a trance.[1.30]
1132 10,847 Ulmo brings an island to the Bay of Balar. The Vanyar and Noldor forget their fear for the Sea and embark upon it while the Teleri stay in Beleriand to look for Elwë.[5.4] While departing, the island breaks and leaves the Isle of Balar behind.[5.5]
After learning of the departure of the Vanyar and Noldor, Olwë leads some Teleri to the Mouths of Sirion where they meet Ossë and Uinen.[5.6]
1133 10,856 The Vanyar and Noldor enter Aman and Valinor and possess Eldamar.[1.31][2.3][6][6.1] The Valar open the rift Calacirya in the Pelóri so that the Light of Valinor reaches Eldamar where the Elves may still see the stars.[1.31][2.3][6.1] The Elves begin the building of the hill Túna and Tirion upon it inside Calacirya.[1.31]
1140 10,923 The Vanyar and Noldor found Tirion and Mindon Eldaliéva. Some Vanyar yearn for the Trees and move to Valinor.[1.32]
1142 10,943 Yavanna gives the Noldor the White Tree.[1.33]
1149 11,010 Ulmo summons the Teleri to Aman in answer to the prayers of Finwë.[1.34][5.7] However, Ossë is grieved to lose the Teleri and persuades some to stay with him in Beleriand.[1.34][5.7] These are called the Falathrim,[2.3] who afterwards[2.3][6.2] establish the havens of Brithombar and Eglarest,[1.34][5.8] and whose lord is Círdan.[1.34][5.8] Ossë teaches them shipcraft.[5.8]
1150 11,019 Olwë and the most part of the Teleri leave Beleriand on Tol Eressëa. The rest of the Teleri remain to search for Elwë and are named the Eglath.[1.35][5.9]
1151 11,029 At the begging of the Teleri who heard the calls of Ossë, Ulmo halts Tol Eressëa outside the Bay of Eldamar.[1.36]
1152 11,038 Elwë and Melian awaken from their trance. Elwë becomes the King of the Elves in Beleriand.[1.37][5.10]
1161 11,125 Ossë teaches the Teleri how to build ships; they leave Tol Eressëa and come to Valinor.[1.38] The Teleri who reach Valinor are afterwards named the Falmari.[7]
1162 11,134 The Teleri begin building Alqualondë with the help of Finwë.[1.39]
1165 11,134 The last Vanyar depart from Tirion to live on western Taniquetil with the Valar.[1.40][8] The Noldor remain in Tirion and develop stronger ties to the Teleri.[1.40]
1169 11,201 Birth of Fëanor, son of Finwë and Míriel.[1.41][1.42]
Masons of the House of Finwë discover gems while quarrying.[1.43][1.42]
Rúmil of Tirion makes the first letters (possibly the Sarati) and records songs and wisdom (possibly the Ainulindalë).[1.44][1.42]
1170 11,211 Death of Míriel Serindë.[1.42]
1172 11,230 The Doom of Manwë is proclaimed.[1.42]
1182 11,325 Finwë is allowed to marry again.[1.42][1.45][9]
1185 11,355 Finwë weds Indis.[1.45]
1190 11,403 Birth of Fingolfin in Aman.[1.46]
1200 11,498 Second Age of the Chaining of Melkor.[5.11]
Traditional dating of the birth of Lúthien in Neldoreth.[5.11]
1230 11,786 Birth of Finarfin in Aman.[1.47]
1250 11,978 Fëanor creates the Tengwar.[1.48]
Dwarves, also known as Naugrim, enter Beleriand and meet the Elves.[5.12]
1260 12,073 Birth of Fingon in Aman.[8] Last of the Vanyar leave Tirion.[8]
1280 12,265 Finarfin weds Eärwen.[1.49]
1300 12,457 Third Age of the Chaining of Melkor.[5.13]
The births of Turgon and Finrod in Aman.[1.50]
The Dwarves of Belegost and the Sindar begin the building of Menegroth in Doriath. The Dwarves are paid with knowledge from Melian and with many pearls, including Nimphelos.[5.14]
Daeron creates the Certhas Daeron.[1.50][5.15]
1330 12,744 Orcs are first seen in Beleriand.[5.16]NB The Dwarves make weapons for the Sindar.[5.17]
1350 12,936 Denethor leads some of the Nandor west into Beleriand and befriends Thingol. They settle in Ossiriand.[5.18]
Daeron betters[source?] the Cirth, which are adopted by the Dwarves and made known east of the Blue Mountains.[5.19]
1362 13,051 Births of Galadriel in Eldamar and Aredhel in Tirion.[1.51]
1400 13,415 Melkor is released from bondage.[1.52] He dwells in Valimar under vigilance.[1.53]
1410 13,511 Melkor is allowed to walk freely in Valinor, allowing him to befriend the Noldor.[1.54]
1449 13,884 Fëanor begins constructing the Silmarils.[1.55]
1450 13,894 Fëanor completes the Silmarils.[1.56] He puts the Light of the Trees in them and Varda hallows them.[1.57]
For the next forty years, Melkor begins spreading strife and urging the need for weapons.[1.58] Fëanor expresses his desire to reject the Valar and return to Middle Earth.[10][10.1]
1479 14,172 Possible birth of Idril.[11][note 2]
1490 14,277 Finwë summons Fëanor to a council meeting, where he threatens Fingolfin with his sword.[1.59][10.2] The Valar then exile Fëanor to Formenos for 12 years.[10.3]NB He takes his seven sons[10.4] and Finwë follows him as well.[1.59][10.4]
1492 14,296 Melkor visits Fëanor in Formenos, but he repels him.[1.60] Finwë then warns the Valar, who pursue Melkor.[1.61] Melkor flees and finds Ungoliant in Avathar.[1.62]
1495 14,325 Fëanor is summoned by Manwë to Taniquetil where he and Fingolfin reconcile.[1.63] Ungoliant destroys the Two Trees.[1.64] Melkor kills Finwë in Formenos and steals the Silmarils.[1.65] Fëanor names him Morgoth.[1.66] He and his sons swear the Oath of Fëanor.[1.67] They begin a rebellion of the Noldor against the Valar and go to Alqualondë where they slay the Teleri and steal their swanships.[1.68] This begins the Flight of the Noldor.[12]
Melkor and Ungoliant flee to Beleriand where Ungoliant threatens him.[1.69] Melkor calls Balrogs to his aid and they drive Ungoliant away.[1.70] Melkor, now known as Morgoth, stays in Angband and raises the peaks of Thangorodrim.[1.71]
1496 14,335 Mandos appears before the Noldor and speaks the Doom of Mandos.[1.72] Finarfin and some of his people repent and return to Valinor.[1.73] Finrod, son of Finarfin, becomes the leader of his father's remaining people[source?] and they follow Fëanor.[1.73]
1497 14,344 The First Battle of Beleriand.[5.20] Death of Denethor.[5.21] Besiegement of the Havens of the Falas.[5.22] Thingol withdraws his people and Melian sets the Girdle of Melian around Doriath.[5.22] The Laiquendi become hidden and take no other king.[5.21]

The Noldor arrive at the Helcaraxë.[1.74] Fëanor and his people betray Fingolfin and sail to Beleriand.[1.75]
They land in Drengist seven years after the First Battle of Beleriand.[5.23] Burning of the ships at Losgar.[1.76]
The Dagor-nuin-Giliath ("Battle-under-Stars").[5.24] Gothmog mortally wounds Fëanor, who is rescued by his sons before dying near Thangorodrim.[5.25]
Maedhros meets with Morgoth under a false truce and is captured.[5.26]

1498 14,354 Maedhros is chained to the Thangorodrim. The Noldor fortify a great camp in Hithlum,[5.27] likely near the north-shore of Lake Mithrim.[5.28]
1500 14,373 The Creation of the Moon and the Sun.[1.77] The host of the Noldor, led by Fingolfin, finishes crossing the Helcaraxë and enters the Northern Lands.[1.78][5.29] The Battle of the Lammoth and death of Argon.[13][13.1] The Moon rises seven times, after which the Sun follows.[1.78] The First Age continues.[4]

Discrepancies

Y.T. 1330

Tolkien also considered YT 1320 for the first year of Orcs in Beleriand.[1.50]

Y.T. 1490

In the Annals of Aman and the first phase of the Later Quenta Silmarillion, his exile is written as twenty years.[1.59][14]

Notes

  1. ↑ One Valian Year is equal to 9.582 solar years.
  2. ↑ Tolkien calculated this birthyear under a later assumptions that the Crossing of the Ice occurred entirely within Y.T. 1496, rather than ending in Y.T. 1500, and that one Valian Year equaled 144 solar years. (Had the previous chronology been left intact, he would have calculated a birthyear of Y.T. 1483.)

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman"
    1. ↑ §24
    2. ↑ §29
    3. ↑ §30
    4. ↑ §31
    5. ↑ 1.5.0 1.5.1 §61
    6. ↑ §32
    7. ↑ §35
    8. ↑ §36
    9. ↑ §37
    10. ↑ §40
    11. ↑ §45
    12. ↑ §§41–2
    13. ↑ §§43–4
    14. ↑ §46
    15. ↑ §§47–8
    16. ↑ 1.16.0 1.16.1 §48
    17. ↑ §49
    18. ↑ §50
    19. ↑ §§51–2
    20. ↑ §53
    21. ↑ §§54–5
    22. ↑ §56
    23. ↑ §§57–8
    24. ↑ §57
    25. ↑ §58
    26. ↑ §60
    27. ↑ §62
    28. ↑ §63
    29. ↑ §64
    30. ↑ §65
    31. ↑ 1.31.0 1.31.1 1.31.2 §67
    32. ↑ §68
    33. ↑ §69
    34. ↑ 1.34.0 1.34.1 1.34.2 1.34.3 §70
    35. ↑ §71
    36. ↑ §§72–3
    37. ↑ §74
    38. ↑ §75
    39. ↑ §76
    40. ↑ 1.40.0 1.40.1 §77
    41. ↑ §78
    42. ↑ 1.42.0 1.42.1 1.42.2 1.42.3 1.42.4 1.42.5 Note 1, p. 101
    43. ↑ §79
    44. ↑ §80
    45. ↑ 1.45.0 1.45.1 Note 4, p. 101
    46. ↑ §81
    47. ↑ §82
    48. ↑ §83
    49. ↑ §85
    50. ↑ 1.50.0 1.50.1 1.50.2 Note on §85, p. 106
    51. ↑ Note on §86, p. 106
    52. ↑ §§87–8
    53. ↑ §89
    54. ↑ §§89–91
    55. ↑ §92
    56. ↑ §93
    57. ↑ §§93–4
    58. ↑ §§95–8
    59. ↑ 1.59.0 1.59.1 1.59.2 §99
    60. ↑ §§101–3
    61. ↑ §§103–4
    62. ↑ §§104–6
    63. ↑ §§110–2
    64. ↑ §113
    65. ↑ §122
    66. ↑ §123
    67. ↑ §134
    68. ↑ §§136–50
    69. ↑ §§125–6
    70. ↑ §126
    71. ↑ §§127–8
    72. ↑ §§151–4
    73. ↑ 1.73.0 1.73.1 §156
    74. ↑ §157
    75. ↑ §159
    76. ↑ §§161–2
    77. ↑ §§168–73
    78. ↑ 1.78.0 1.78.1 §173
  2. ↑ S QSDigital Tolkien Project Citation SystemsJ.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion"
    1. ↑ S QS.02Digital Tolkien Project Citation SystemsJ.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion", "Of Aulë and Yavanna"
    2. ↑ S QS.03Digital Tolkien Project Citation SystemsJ.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion", "Of the Coming of the Elves"
    3. ↑ 2.3.0 2.3.1 2.3.2 2.3.3 S QS.05Digital Tolkien Project Citation SystemsJ.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion", "Of Eldamar"
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar", p. 380
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded edition, Letter 131, (undated, written late 1951): "... First Age, from the coming of the Eldar to its end with overthrow of Morgoth-melkor, the first Dark Lord."
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals"
    1. ↑ §4
    2. ↑ §6
    3. ↑ §9
    4. ↑ §§11–2
    5. ↑ §11
    6. ↑ §12
    7. ↑ 5.7.0 5.7.1 §§13–4
    8. ↑ 5.8.0 5.8.1 5.8.2 §14
    9. ↑ §§13–5
    10. ↑ §16
    11. ↑ 5.11.0 5.11.1 §17
    12. ↑ §19
    13. ↑ §22
    14. ↑ §§22–4
    15. ↑ Note on §31, p. 110
    16. ↑ §§26–7
    17. ↑ §§28–9
    18. ↑ §30
    19. ↑ §31
    20. ↑ §§36–40
    21. ↑ 5.21.0 5.21.1 §39
    22. ↑ 5.22.0 5.22.1 §40
    23. ↑ §41
    24. ↑ §§44–5
    25. ↑ §§45–6
    26. ↑ §49
    27. ↑ §51
    28. ↑ §§58–9
    29. ↑ §§52–5
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (I) The First Phase: 5. Of Eldanor and the Princes of the Eldalië"
    1. ↑ 6.1.0 6.1.1 §38
    2. ↑ §36
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (I) The First Phase: 3. Of the Coming of the Elves", §27
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part One. Time and Ageing: XXII. A Fragment from The Annals of Aman", p. 164
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (II) The Second Phase: The Earliest Version of the Story of Finwë and Míriel", pp. 206–7
  10. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (II) The Second Phase: Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor"
    1. ↑ §52c
    2. ↑ §52e–g
    3. ↑ §53c
    4. ↑ 10.4.0 10.4.1 §53d
  11. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part One. Time and Ageing: X. Difficulties in Chronology", p. 72
  12. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (I) The First Phase: 7. Of the Flight of the Noldor"
  13. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor"
    1. ↑ Note 38, p. 362
  14. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (I) The First Phase: 6. Of the Silmarils and the Darkening of Valinor", §53


Preceded by
Days before days
Years of the Trees
Y.T. 1 - 1500
Followed by
First Age (from Y.T. 1050)
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