The Return of the King

2931. Aragorn son of Arathorn II born on March 1st.

2933. Arathorn II slain. Gilraen takes Aragorn to Imladris. Elrond receives him as foster-son and gives him the name Estel (Hope); his ancestry is concealed.

2939. Saruman discovers that Sauron's servants are searching the Anduin near Gladden Fields, and that Sauron therefore has learned of Isildur's end. He is alarmed, but says nothing to the Council.

2941. Thorin Oakenshield and Gandalf visit Bilbo in the Shire. Bilbo meets Sméagol-Gollum and finds the Ring. The White Council meets; Saruman agrees to an attack on Dol Guldur, since he now wishes to prevent Sauron from searching the River. Sauron having made his plans abandons Dol Guldur. The Battle of the Five Armies in Dale. Death of Thorin II. Bard of Esgaroth slays Smaug. Dáin of the Iron Hills becomes King under the Mountain (Dáin II).

2942. Bilbo returns to the Shire with the Ring. Sauron returns in secret to Mordor.

2944. Bard rebuilds Dale and becomes King. Gollum leaves the Mountains and begins his search for the 'thief' of the Ring.

2948. Théoden son of Thengel, King of Rohan, born.

2949. Gandalf and Balin visit Bilbo in the Shire.

2950. Finduilas, daughter of Adrahil of Dol Amroth, born.

2951. Sauron declares himself openly and gathers power in Mordor. He begins the rebuilding of Barad-dûr. Gollum turns towards Mordor. Sauron sends three of the Nazgûl to reoccupy Dol Guldur. Elrond reveals to 'Estel' his true name and ancestry, and delivers to him the shards of Narsil. Arwen, newly returned from Lórien, meets Aragorn in the woods of Imladris. Aragorn goes out into the Wild.

2953. Last meeting of the White Council. They debate the Rings. Saruman feigns that he has discovered that the One Ring has passed down Anduin to the Sea. Saruman withdraws to Isengard, which he takes as his own, and fortifies it. Being jealous and afraid of Gandalf he sets spies to watch all his movements; and notes his interest in the Shire. He soon begins to keep agents in Bree and the Southfarthing.

2954. Mount Doom bursts into flame again. The last inhabitants of Ithilien flee over Anduin.

2956. Aragorn meets Gandalf and their friendship begins.

2957-80. Aragorn undertakes his great journeys and errantries. As Thorongil he serves in disguise both Thengel of Rohan and Ecthelion II of Gondor.

2968. Birth of Frodo.

2976. Denethor weds Finduilas of Dol Amroth.

2977. Bain son of Bard becomes King of Dale.

2978. Birth of Boromir son of Denethor II.

2980. Aragorn enters Lórien and there meets again Arwen Undómiel. Aragorn gives her the ring of Barahir, and they plight their troth upon the hill of Cerin Amroth. About this time Gollum reaches the confines of Mordor and becomes acquainted with Shelob. Théoden becomes King of Rohan.

2983. Faramir son of Denethor born. Birth of Samwise.

2984. Death of Ecthelion II. Denethor II becomes Steward of Gondor.

2988. Finduilas dies young.

2989. Balin leaves Erebor and enters Moria.

2991. Éomer Éomund's son born in Rohan.

2994. Balin perishes, and the dwarf-colony is destroyed.

2995. Éowyn sister of Éomer born.

c. 3000. The shadow of Mordor lengthens. Saruman dares to use the palantír of Orthanc, but becomes ensnared by Sauron, who has the Ithil Stone. He becomes a traitor to the Council. His spies report that the Shire is being closely guarded by the Rangers.

3001. Bilbo's farewell feast. Gandalf suspects his ring to be the One Ring. The guard on the Shire is doubled. Gandalf seeks for news of Gollum and calls on the help of Aragorn.

3002. Bilbo becomes a guest of Elrond, and settles in Rivendell. 

3004. Gandalf visits Frodo in the Shire, and does so at intervals during the next four years.

3007. Brand son of Bain becomes King in Dale. Death of Gilraen.

3008. In the autumn Gandalf pays his last visit to Frodo.

3009. Gandalf and Aragorn renew their hunt for Gollum at intervals during the next eight years, searching in the vales of Anduin, Mirkwood, and Rhovanion to the confines of Mordor. At some time during these years Gollum himself ventured into Mordor, and was captured by Sauron. Elrond sends for Arwen, and she returns to Imladris; the Mountains and all lands eastward are becoming dangerous.

3017. Gollum is released from Mordor. He is taken by Aragorn in the Dead Marshes, and brought to Thranduil in Mirkwood. Gandalf visits Minas Tirith and reads the scroll of Isildur.

The Great Years

3018.

April

12. Gandalf reaches Hobbiton.

June

20. Sauron attacks Osgiliath. About the same time Thranduil is attacked, and Gollum escapes.

July

4. Boromir sets out from Minas Tirith.

10. Gandalf imprisoned in Orthanc.

August

All trace of Gollum is lost. It is thought that at about this time, being hunted both by the Elves and Sauron's servants, he took refuge in Moria; but when he had at last discovered the way to the West-gate he could not get out

September

18. Gandalf escapes from Orthanc in the early hours. The Black Riders cross the Fords of Isen.