1. Ages before the
trees
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Valian Year
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Description
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The elder days begin with the
Ainulindalë, 'The Music of the Ainur'. Eru then grants to the Ainur a brief vision of
their song to which he later gives Being and creates Eä, the material Universe. Most of
the Ainur enter into the world at the beginning of time and begin their long labours there
to fulfill their vision. They are henceforth called the Valar 'The powers of the World'.
However Melkor who because of his selfish thoughts had spread discord in the great Music
also descends into the world marring the works of the others and forever seeking complete
domination. |
1-1499 |
The first battle of the Valar with
Melkor takes place. Melkor ever desiring the dominion of Arda destroys or mars everything
that the Valar create. |
1500 |
Tulkas, a spirit of great strength
enters Arda and comes to the aid of the Valar in their battle against Melkor. Melkor
fearing the great wrath and laughter of Tulkas retreats and forsakes Arda. Thus there is
peace for a while in Arda. |
1900 |
In the peace that ensues Melkor's
retreat, the Valar continue their works in Arda. The Spring of Arda begins with the Valar
setting up the two lamps Illuin and Ormal at the North and South of Middle Earth upon high
pillars. The Valar dwell in the Isle of Almaren where the light of the two lamps blended
together. |
3400 |
The Valar rest from their labours and
gather at the Isle of Almaren for the feast of the Spring of Arda ordained by Manwë.
Tulkas weds Nessa, sister of Oromë in this feast. But Melkor filled with hatred on
beholding the spring of Arda along with some other spirits whom he had corrupted to his
service begins delving a great fortress named Utumno, having re-entered Arda, forming a
great shadow in the North. The Valar are initially unaware of Melkor's deeds but with the
marring of the Spring of Arda they become aware of his presence and search for his hiding
place. |
3450-3500 |
The Valar leave Middle Earth and
settle in the Land of Aman upon the Westernmost border of the world. They fortify their
lands against the evils of Melkor by raising the mountains of Aman, the Pelóri. Manwë
sets his throne upon the mountain Taniquetil. The Valar gather all the fairest things that
they had saved in the guarded realm of Valinor. |
2. Ages of the trees
|
1 |
The Two trees of Valinor, Telperion
and Laurelin are created by Yavanna in the green mound Ezellhohar before the Western gate
of the city of Valmar. |
1-999 |
It was in this time that Aulë,
because of his desire to teach and his inability to wait till the coming of the children
of Ilúvatar creates the dwarves. Although Eru gives Aulë his pardon, he tells Aulë that
the dwarves would awaken only after the Firstborn did. The Eagles are created by Manwë
and the Ents are conceived by Yavanna. |
1000 |
The Valar become troubled on hearing
the tidings of Melkor that Oromë and Yavanna bring from the outer lands. They perceive
the nearing of the time of the awakening of the Elves and Varda begins creating new and
brighter stars that would shine upon Middle earth. |
1050 |
Varda Elentári finishes her labours
by setting the Valacirca as a challenge and as a sign of doom to Melkor. The Firstborn of
Ilúvatar awaken in Cuiviénen and the first things they behold are the stars of Varda.
Melkor gets news of the awakening of the Elves through his spies. |
1050-1085 |
The dwarves created by Aulë and the
Ents conceived by Yavanna as the shepherds of the Trees also awaken. |
1085 |
Oromë journeys eastwards and while
passing under the Orocarni hears the voices of the Quendi for the first time. Oromë
returns to Valinor with tidings of the awakening. |
1092-1099 |
The Valar decide to gain dominion
over Middle Earth and protect the Quendi from the evil of Melkor. The hosts of the Valar
wage a war on Melkor and bring about the downfall of Utumno. At the end of the swift
victory Tulkas wrestles with Melkor and binds him with Angainor. Peace begins in Arda,
though great destruction is wrought in Middle-earth due to the War |
1100 |
Melkor is brought to Valinor bound
and blindfolded where he is doomed to spend three (Valian) ages in the Halls of Mandos. |
1101 |
After much debate the Valar decide to
bring the elves to Valinor because Middle Earth was still full of many perils and the
Valar fear for the safety of the Quendi and desire their friendship. |
1102 |
Oromë chooses Ingwë, Finwë and
Elwë as ambassadors to visit Valinor. |
1104 |
Ingwë, Finwë and Elwë return to
Middle Earth, but being very much filled with awe by the majesty of the Valar and the
glory of the Trees, they counsel their people to journey to Valinor. |
1105 |
The first sundering of the elves
happens as many of them refuse the summons of the Valar and prefer to stay in Middle
Earth. These become the Avari, 'The Unwilling'. The Eldar begin their journey in three
hosts namely the Vanyar, the Noldor and the Teleri. |
1115 |
The journey of the Eldar is very slow
and they reach the river Anduin. They behold the Misty mountains that had been raised by
Melkor to hinder Oromë. The Vanyar and the Noldor cross the Anduin but the Teleri remain
on the eastern banks of the river. Lenwë leads some of the elves southwards and they
become the Nandor. |
1125 |
The Vanyar and the Noldor cross the
Ered Luin and enter Beleriand. They pass over the Vale of Sirion and come to the shores of
the Great sea. (this entry is in one source also given in the year 1115). |
1128 |
Elwë leads a host of the Teleri into
Beleriand because of his eagerness to return to Valinor and his friendship with Finwë,
though for long they remained in that region later known as Ossiriand. |
1132 |
Ulmo uproots an island from the
middle of the sea and uses it as a great ship to carry the Vanyar and the Noldor to Aman.
The Teleri are left behind in Middle Earth but Ossë and Uinen befriend them when they
come to the coasts of the Western sea. |
1133-1140 |
The Vanyar and the Noldor arrive in
Aman and take their dwelling in Eldamar, between the Calacirya and the Sea, and thus along
the border of Valinor. They build the city of Tirion upon Túna, though Ingwë leads his
people to Taniquetil and Valinor. |
1142 |
Yavanna gives Galathilion, a lesser
image of the White Tree Telperion, which the Noldor loved above all the fair things in
Valinor. Of Galathilion comes later Nimloth, the White Tree of Númenor. |
1149 |
Upon the urgings of the Noldor, Ulmo
returns to the coasts of Beleriand to bear away the Teleri to Aman. However Ossë
persuades the Falathrim to remain in Middle Earth. The Falathrim become the first mariners
of Middle Earth and Círdan the Shipwright becomes their lord. |
1150-1151 |
The host of Olwë leaves for Valinor
but the friends of Elwë are left behind and they call themselves 'Eglath' or the Forsaken
people. When the Teleri reach the Bay of Eldamar, Ossë begs Ulmo to stop their voyage and
Ulmo roots the island to the foundations of the sea. The island is called Tol Eressëa
'The Lonely Isle'. |
1152 |
Elwë awakens from his trance and
lives with Melian. He becomes King of the Sindar. He becomes known as Elu Thingol. All the
elves of Beleriand consider him as their lord. |
1161 |
The Teleri after having dwelt a while
on Eressëa, begin longing to see the rest of their kindred in Valinor. Ossë teaches them
the craft of shipbuilding and brings to them strong winged swans. The Teleri journey to
Valinor. |
1162 |
The Teleri begin building the Haven
of the Swans or Alqualondë, which lay north of the Calacirya. |
1162 |
Yavanna gives Galathilion, a lesser
image of the White Tree Telperion, which the Noldor loved above all the fair things in
Valinor. Of Galathilion comes later Nimloth, the White Tree of Númenor. |
1165 |
The last of the Vanyar, whose love
for Manwë and Varda were the greatest, forsake the city of Tirion and begin dwelling upon
the mountain of Manwë, Taniquetil, or the plains of Valinor. They are thus sundered from
the Noldor. |
1179 |
Birth of Fëanor, son of Finwë and
Míriel Serindë. Míriel, tired of body and spirit rests in the garden of Lórien but
soon her spirit departs from her body much to the grief of Finwë. It is during this time
that the masons of the house of Finwë discover the earth gems. Being skilled in craft
they carve and shape the gems in many forms and give them freely to all. Rúmil, a
Noldorin sage first devises written characters, the Tengwar. |
1190 |
Birth of Fingolfin, son of Finwë and
Indis of he Vanyar. However Fëanor cherishes no love either for Indis or her sons and
there develops slowly a breach in the House of Finwë. |
1200 |
In the entry for this date is
introduced the Birth of Lúthien, daughter of Thingol and Melian, though the time of her
birth is not exactly known. Lúthien is considered the fairest among the Firstborn of
Ilúvatar. |
1200-1250 |
In this time, the lordship of Elu
Thingol spread over all of Beleriand. Those elves who followed him and wife Melian the
Maia became the fairest of the Elves of Middle-earth. |
1230 |
Birth of Finarfin, son of Finwë. |
1250 |
Fëanor devises the Tengwar script on
improving the script of Rúmil. The dwarves, calling themselves The Khazad, enter
Beleriand. They begin building their great cities. |
1280 |
Finarfin weds Eärwen, the swan-
maiden of Alqualondë, daughter of Olwë, lord of the Teleri. |
1300 |
Turgon, son of Fingolfin, is born.
Finrod, son of Finarfin, is born. |
1300-1350 |
Melian counsels Thingol to make for
himself a strong dwelling sensing the troubles that Melkor would create when released at
the end of his captivity. The dwarves of Belegost aid Thingol in the building of Menegroth
'The Thousand Caves' and Thingol gives to them many pearls of which the most renowned was
Nimphelos. |
1330 |
Evil creatures, including the Orcs of
Melkor, begin to enter Beleriand. In order to protect his realm, Thingol has weapons and
armor built by the dwarves. |
1350 |
Daeron, the chief lore master of King
Thingol devises the Runes and the Naugrim aiding Thingol learn them. Denethor, son of
Lenwë of the Nandor, hearing of the realm of King Thingol enters Beleriand. They begin
dwelling in Ossiriand, ' The Land of Seven Rivers'. |
1362 |
Galadriel, daughter of Finarfin is
born. Aredhel, daughter of Fingolfin, is born. |
1400 |
On having completed his term of
captivity, Melkor begs for pardon promising to aid the Valar. Nienna aids his prayer and
Melkor is unchained. |
1410 |
Melkor, who has been granted freedom
within Valinor, feigns friendship for the Eldar, although hating them the most in his
heart. Many of the Noldor however take delight in learning from him. |
1449 |
Fëanor wishing to preserve the light
of the Two trees begins the long and secret labour of the construction of the Silmarils. |
1450 |
The Silmarils, the three most
splendid jewels in the Kingdom of Arda, with the light of the two trees blended in them
are full- wrought. They are hollowed by Varda and all of Valinor is in awe with the
greatest work of any Elf. |
1450-1490 |
Melkor, lusting in his heart for the
Silmarils, begins to spread rumour and lies among the Eldar and the peace of Valinor is
slowly poisoned. There is a growing hatred among the sons of Finwë. The Noldor begin the
smithying of weapons. |
1490 |
Fëanor whose heart is full of the
lies of Melkor threatens Fingolfin and raises his sword against him. Fëanor is brought to
the Ring of Doom and questioned. The treachery of Melkor is revealed. But Melkor vanishes
for a while from Valinor. Fëanor although not completely guilty is banished from the city
of Tirion for twelve years. Fëanor begins dwelling in Formenos. |
1492 |
Melkor meets Fëanor at Formenos and
seeks to deceive him in his lust for the Silmarils. Fëanor however insults Melkor. Melkor
then departs to reach Avathar, south of the bay of Eldamar, where he meets Ungoliant. |
1495 |
The Valar and the Eldar are gathered
at the feast of Manwë where Fëanor had also come. The divide between the brothers is
reconciled. However Melkor and Ungoliant reach the mound Ezellohar and poison the Two
Trees. Melkor then kills Finwë at Formenos and steals the silmarils. Melkor and Ungoliant
flee across the Helcaraxë. They begin quarrelling and Melkor utters his cry at Lammoth
hearing which the Balrogs lurking at the Halls of Angband come to him. Melkor begins to
rebuild Angband and raises the peaks of Thangorodrim The revolt of the Noldor under
Fëanor against the Valar: Fëanor appears in Tirion and with his fiery words leads the
Noldor in pursuit of Melkor, whom he has named Morgoth, "The Black Foe of the
World." Fëanor attempts to convince the Teleri to join him. The Teleri however
refuse to aid him. Fëanor then attempts to take away their ships by force, which results
in the Kinslaying of Alqualondë. |
1496 |
The utterance of the doom of Mandos,
banning the Noldor if they continue their quest, and predicting their downfall. Finarfin
forsakes the march and returns to Valinor where he is pardoned and made king of the
remnant of the Noldor. |
1497 |
The girdle of Melian is raised around
Doriath. Melkor invades Beleriand, which is defended by the Elves of Doriath, of the
Falas, and of Ossiriand, aided by the Naugrim. Fëanor burns his ships at Losgar thereby
betraying Fingolfin. Fingolfin followed by his sons and by Finrod and Galadriel journey
through Helcaraxë. Finally, the Noldor arrive in Middle-earth, bringing aid to the Elves
who had suffered much from Melkor's attack.Dagor-nuin-Giliath, 'the Battle Under The
Stars', the second battle of the wars of Beleriand is fought in Mithrim after Fëanor and
his sons land. Fëanor pursues the host of Melkor ahead of his followers and is surrounded
by Balrogs and mortally wounded. His body is recsued by his sons, though it is consumed by
the fire of his spirit. Maedhros is captured. |
1497-1500 |
The Valar prepare the moon from the
last flower of Telperion and the sun from the last fruit of Laurelin. |
1500 |
The rising of the Moon. The second
spring of Arda begins. Fingolfin marches into middle Earth. He unfurls his banners on
marching into Mithrim with the rising of the Sun. The Age of the trees ends. |
