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The Chronicle of Arda

Welcome to The Chronicle of Arda. This section of the site provides automated annals for all four Ages of the Sun and Moon. For any period of Arda's history, the Chronicle will display the events that happened in that time. Events and characters are entered into the Chronicle as they are added to the main database: like the rest of The Encyclopedia of Arda this section of the site is expanding all the time.

You can have the Chronicle look up events for specific dates by entering one or two years in the form below. If you enter two dates, the Chronicle will display events that happened between those two years. If you leave one of the dates blank, the Chronicle will display events in the century around the single year you specify.

For years after III 1601 (the year of the foundation of Shire, and therefore Shire Year 1), the Chronicle will also show years by the Shire-reckoning in a second column.

Enter a date:
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III 3018 to III 3019
(a period of 1 year)

 • 7,048 years after the Return of the Noldor
 • 3,140 years after the Downfall of Númenor
 • Contemporary with the War of the Ring

The War of the Ring

The Third Age

3018141812 April Gandalf returns to the Shire to warn Frodo about the Ring.
13 April In Bag End, Gandalf tells Frodo the history of the Ring.
1 May Gandalf and Aragorn meet at Sarn Ford on the southern borders of the Shire.
20 June Sauron's forces simultaneously attack eastern Gondor and the Wood-elves of Thranduil. The War of the Ring begins.
Midyear's Day Gandalf encounters Radagast near Bree, and is given Saruman's message.
4 July Boromir sets out from Minas Tirith on his journey to find Imladris.
10 July Saruman traps Gandalf and imprisons him on the pinnacle of Orthanc.
18 September On their journey north to the Shire, the Black Riders cross the Fords of Isen.
18 September Gwaihir rescues Gandalf from Orthanc.
19 September Gandalf seeks aid from Théoden, but is turned away from Edoras.
20 September Gandalf returns to Edoras, and is again dismissed by Théoden, though he is granted a horse.
21 September Gandalf comes upon Shadowfax for the first time, and follows the great horse across the fields of Rohan.
22 September In Rohan, Gandalf overtakes Shadowfax. Meanwhile, far to the north, Black Riders reach the borders of the Shire.
23 September Gandalf sets out from Rohan.
23 September The Black Riders enter the Shire.
23 September Frodo, Sam and Pippin set out from Bag End.
24 September Riding north to the Shire, Gandalf crosses the River Isen.
26 September Frodo encounters Tom Bombadil and Goldberry.
27 September Gandalf, riding wildly northward from Rohan, crosses the River Greyflood.
28 September Riding on Frodo's trail, Gandalf crosses the Brandywine into the Shire's Southfarthing.
28 September Frodo and his companions are captured by a Barrow-wight, and rescued by Tom Bombadil.
29 September Gandalf speaks with Hamfast Gamgee in Hobbiton, and discovers that Frodo has already left the Shire.
29 September Frodo and his companions arrive at the Prancing Pony in Bree, and meet Strider.
30 September Gandalf arrives at Crickhollow in Buckland. Finding Frodo gone, he sets out for Bree, which he reaches at night.
30 September Black Riders raid Buckland and Bree in the early morning.
30 September The Hobbits awake in Bree to find their ponies stolen. Bill Ferny sells them his pony, later called Bill himself. Aragorn leads them out of Bree and into the Wild.
1 October Gandalf sets out from Bree and travels toward Rivendell.
3 October Gandalf reaches Weathertop, and is attacked there by Nazgûl.
6 October The Nazgûl attack the Hobbits in a dell beneath Weathertop. Frodo is wounded by a Morgul-knife.
9 October Learning that the Nazgûl have come to the Northlands, Elrond sends out riders including Glorfindel.
11 October Glorfindel discovers three Nazgûl holding the Bridge of Mitheithel. He drives them off into the west.
13 October Strider and the Hobbits cross the Bridge of Mitheithel on their journey to Rivendell.
18 October Gandalf reaches Rivendell.
18 October Aragorn and the Hobbits encounter Glorfindel at dusk.
20 October The Black Riders are swept away at the Ford of Bruinen. Frodo reaches Rivendell safely.
24 October Frodo recovers and wakes in Rivendell, at ten o'clock in the morning.
25 October The Council of Elrond is held.
25 December The setting-out of the Fellowship from Rivendell.
301914198 January The Company of the Ring enter the land of Hollin.
11 January The Fellowship attempt the Redhorn Pass, but are troubled by snowfall.
12 January The Fellowship abandons their attempt to cross the Misty Mountains through the Redhorn Pass.
13 January The Fellowship of the Ring reach the West-gate of Moria and pass inside. Gollum, who was within the western doors, begins to follow them.
14 January The Company of the Ring camp in the corner of a great empty hall of Moria.
15 January The remaining members of the Fellowship flee Moria and reach the borders of Lórien.
15 January Gandalf and the Balrog fall from the Bridge of Khazad-dûm.
17 January The Fellowship arrives at Caras Galadhon, and meets with Galadriel and Celeborn.
23 January Gandalf and the Balrog reach the peak of Zirakzigil.
25 January Gandalf casts Durin's Bane from Zirakzigil.
15 February Gandalf returns to life on the peak of Zirakzigil.
15 February In Lórien, Frodo and Sam experience visions in the Mirror of Galadriel.
16 February The Company of the Ring depart from Lórien. Gollum begins to follow them once again.
17 February Gandalf is carried from Zirakzigil to Lórien by the Eagle Gwaihir.
23 February The Fellowship is attacked on the Great River above Sarn Gebir. Legolas downs a Nazgûl with his bow.
24 February Théodred rides against an invading army coming southward from Isengard, but is forced to retreat to the Fords of Isen.
25 February The Company of the Ring pass through the Gates of Argonath, and camp at Parth Galen.
25 February Death of Théodred at the First Battle of the Fords of Isen.
26 February Boromir is slain by Orcs; the Fellowship of the Ring is broken.
27 February The Three Hunters reach the East Wall of Rohan in their pursuit of the captors of Merry and Pippin.
28 February Éomer and his éored catch up to Saruman's Orcs at the edge of Fangorn Forest.
29 February Faramir sees his slain brother Boromir in a boat on the Anduin.
29 February Frodo and Sam encounter Gollum at the feet of the Emyn Muil, and capture him.
29 February Uglúk's Orc-band is destroyed by the Rohirrim. Merry and Pippin escape into Fangorn Forest.
30 February Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli encounter Éomer and his éored in Rohan.
30 February In Fangorn Forest, the Entmoot begins.
1 March Faramir sets out for Ithilien from Minas Tirith.
1 March Gollum begins to lead Frodo and Sam across the Dead Marshes.
1 March Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli encounter Gandalf the White in Fangorn Forest, and together they set out for Edoras.
2 March The Entmoot ends with the Ents resolved to confront Saruman. They set out for Isengard, reaching it at nightfall.
2 March Frodo, Sam and Gollum complete the passage of the Dead Marshes.
2 March Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli arrive at Edoras, and Gandalf cures Théoden of Saruman's influence.
2 March The Rohirrim are defeated at the Second Battle of the Fords of Isen.
3 March The Battle of the Hornburg begins.
3 March Destruction of Isengard by the Ents.
4 March Frodo, Sam and Gollum reach the edge of the Desolation of the Morannon.
4 March The Battle of the Hornburg is won, and the siege of Helm's Deep relieved. Théoden, Gandalf and their companions set out for Isengard.
5 March Frodo, Sam and Gollum reach the Morannon.
5 March Gandalf and his companions reach Isengard, and are reunited with Merry and Pippin. Gandalf expels Saruman from the Order of Wizards.
6 March Halbarad and the Sons of Elrond meet Aragorn and join with him.
7 March Aragorn and his companions arrive at Dunharrow.
7 March Frodo encounters Faramir in North Ithilien, and is taken to Henneth Annûn.
8 March Riding eastward towards Minas Tirith, Gandalf and Pippin see the Beacons of Gondor lit.
8 March Frodo, Sam and Gollum set out from Henneth Annûn.
8 March Aragorn and his company pass through the Paths of the Dead, and gather at Erech in the Morthond Vale.
9 March Aragorn and his company, followed by the Dead, reach Calembel on the river Ciril.
9 March Shadowfax brings Gandalf and Pippin to Minas Tirith.
9 March During the night, the Storm of Mordor spreads darkness across the lands to the west.
10 March Faramir returns to Minas Tirith, and is rescued from the Winged Nazgûl by Gandalf.
10 March Frodo and his companions watch the armies of Minas Morgul set out.
10 March Aragorn leads the host of the Dead across the river Ringló.
10 March The army of Rohan sets out from Dunharrow.
10 March The Dawnless Day.
10 March An army out of the Morannon captures Cair Andros and invades Anórien.
11 March Gollum visits Shelob in secret while Frodo and Sam sleep.
11 March Sauron launches an attack against Rohan from the north, and another against Lórien from Dol Guldur.
11 March Aragorn and his company reach Linhir, and cross the river Serni into Lebennin.
12 March The Ents defend Rohan against the invaders from the north.
12 March Gollum leads Frodo and Sam into Shelob's Lair.
13 March Poisoned by Shelob, Frodo is captured by Orcs and imprisoned in the Tower of Cirith Ungol.
13 March Aragorn captures the fleet of the Corsairs at Pelargir, and releases the army of the Dead who aided him.
14 March The Orcs in the Tower of Cirith Ungol fight over Frodo's mithril-coat, and ultimately slay each other. Sam discovers Frodo in the Tower.
15 March The forces of Sauron attack both Lórien and the Woodland Realm, and are repulsed.
15 March Frodo and Sam escape from the Tower of Cirith Ungol and journey out of Ephel Dúath.
15 March Death of King Théoden in the Battle of the Pelennor. He is succeeded by his nephew Éomer.
15 March The pyre of Denethor.
15 March The Battle of the Pelennor Fields and destruction of the Lord of the Nazgûl.
16 March In Minas Tirith, having won the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, the Captains of the West debate their best course.
17 March Shagrat reaches Barad-dûr with the tokens taken from Frodo in the Tower of Cirith Ungol.
17 March The Battle of Dale begins.
18 March Frodo and Sam, taken for Orcs, are forced to march along the road towards the Isenmouthe.
18 March Aragorn leads the armies of the west from Minas Tirith on the road to Mordor.
19 March Frodo and Sam escape from the Orcs, and start out on the journey across Gorgoroth to Mount Doom.
20 March The end of the Battle of Dale. Erebor is besieged.
22 March Forces from Dol Guldur attack Lórien for the third time.
24 March Frodo and Sam reach the base of Mount Doom.
24 March Aragorn and his followers reach the Desolation of the Morannon, and set up camp.
25 March The Captains of the West are assaulted by Sauron's forces before the Black Gate of Mordor.
25 March Destruction of the One Ring and final downfall of Sauron and his Nazgûl.
27 March The siege of Erebor is broken, and the invading forces are driven out of Dale by Bard II and Thorin III.
28 March Celeborn brings his forces across Anduin into southern Mirkwood, where they begin the destruction of Dol Guldur.
6 April Celeborn and Thranduil meet and rename Mirkwood as Eryn Lasgalen.
8 April Aragorn leads his people in praise of Frodo and Sam at the Field of Cormallen in Ithilien.
1 May Coronation of Aragorn II Elessar.
8 May Éomer and Éowyn set out from Minas Tirith for Rohan.
20 May On their journey south to Minas Tirith, Elrond and Arwen arrive in the land of Lórien.
27 May Elrond and the escort of Arwen set out from Lórien and begin their journey south to Minas Tirith.
14 June The Sons of Elrond meet their father and their sister Arwen, and bring them with their escort to Edoras.
16 June Arwen and her escort set out from Edoras on the road to Minas Tirith.
25 June Aragorn discovers a sapling of the White Tree in a hallow on Mindolluin.
1 Lithe Arwen and her escort arrive in Minas Tirith.
Midyear's Day The marriage of Aragorn and Arwen takes place in Minas Tirith.
18 July Éomer returns to Minas Tirith to escort Théoden's remains to Edoras.
19 July The funeral escort of Théoden sets out from Minas Tirith.
7 August The funeral escort of Théoden arrives at Edoras.
10 August The funeral of Théoden.
15 August Treebeard allows Saruman and Gríma to leave the Tower of Orthanc.
18 August Aragorn and his company arrive at Helm's Deep, accompanying the Travellers northward.
22 August Returning into the north, the Travellers reach Isengard, where they bid farewell to Aragorn.
28 August On their journey north, the Travellers encounter Saruman. Saruman starts towards the Shire.
21 September Gandalf and the Hobbits, travelling homeward from Minas Tirith, reach Rivendell.
22 September Saruman enters the Shire.
5 October Gandalf, along with Frodo and the other Hobbits, sets out from Rivendell on the road back to the Shire.
6 October Leaving Rivendell on the journey home, Frodo and his companions cross the Ford of Bruinen. Frodo feels pain from his old wound, received exactly a year earlier.
28 October Returning to the Shire, Frodo and his companions reach Bree.
30 October Gandalf and the Hobbits leave Bree. Gandalf turns aside to visit Tom Bombadil, and Frodo and his companions reach the Brandywine Bridge as night falls.
1 November Frodo and his companions travel from the Brandywine Bridge to Frogmorton, where they are arrested as evening falls.
2 November The returning Travellers rouse the Hobbits against Sharkey's Men, and Merry blows the Horn of the Mark. Thereafter the Horn was blown on the anniversary of this event every year in Buckland, and the day was celebrated with feasts and bonfires.
3 November The Battle of Bywater is fought in the Shire.
3 November Saruman dies at the hands of his servant Gríma. The end of the War of the Ring.

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