From Library of the Randirim

This is a timeline of the events in Middle-earth. Items in italics are from the lore of the books/game and may or may not involve any player characters. These were all pulled from Chronicle of Arda or hobbled together from quests and such in the game. Anything that's specific to LotRO will be marked by (). Feel free to add your own events to the timeline but please refrain from making your own posts italics or changing anyone else's events without speaking to them first.

For convenience the latest century has been set aside here for quicker reference (and to keep the rest of the Third Age to a manageable level). Since the year in-game is T.A. 3018 the Timeline only goes that far. As the story proceeds through expansions and books the timeline will be extended with the appropriate events.

Contents 1 T.A. 2900-2925 2 T.A. 2926-2950 3 T.A. 2951-2975 4 T.A. 2976-3000 5 T.A. 3001-3017 6 The Great Years

T.A. 2900-2925

c.2900

• Approximate date of the refortification of Cair Andros by Steward Túrin II.

2901

• Uruk-hai out of Mordor attack Ithilien, driving out all but a few of its inhabitants. Henneth Annûn is built by the Gondorians.

2902

• Birth of Rorimac Brandybuck, future Master of Buckland, and of Posco Baggins.

2903

• Death of King Folcwine of Rohan. He is succeeded by his son Fengel.

2905

• Birth of Thengel son of Fengel, later King of Rohan.

2907

• Birth of Gilraen, who would become the mother of Aragorn.

2911

• The year of the Fell Winter. White Wolves invade the Shire.

c.2911

• Estimated date of birth of Bard the Bowman.

2912

• Death of Argonui. He is succeeded as Chieftain of the Dúnedain by his son Arador.
• Death of Largo Baggins.
• The melting snows of the Fell Winter cause disastrous flooding. Tharbad on the Gwathló is ruined and its bridge is broken.

2914

• Death of Steward Túrin II. He is succeeded by his son, Turgon.

2916

• On the death of his mother Laura Baggins (née Grubb), Bungo Baggins becomes head of the Baggins family.

2918

• Birth of Lobelia Bracegirdle, better known by her married name of Lobelia Sackville-Baggins.

2920

• Death of Thain Gerontius, the Old Took. He is succeeded by his son Isengrim III.

T.A. 2926-2950

2926

• Death of Bungo Baggins, father of Bilbo Baggins.
• Birth of Hamfast Gamgee, the 'Gaffer', father of Sam Gamgee.

2929

• Marriage of Arathorn and Gilraen, the parents of Aragorn.

2930

• Arador is slain by hill-trolls. He is succeeded as Chieftain of the Dúnedain by his son Arathorn II.
• Death of Thain Isengrim III of the Shire. He is succeeded by his brother Isumbras IV.
• Birth of Denethor in Minas Tirith, later to become Steward Denethor II.

2931

• 1 March Birth of Aragorn II Elessar.

2932

• Likely date of accession of Imrahil's grandfather, Angelimir, the twentieth Prince of Dol Amroth.

2933

• Birth of Paladin Took, later Thain Paladin II and father to Peregrin Took.
• Death of Aragorn's father Arathorn II. Aragorn is fostered by Elrond at Rivendell under the name Estel.

2934

• Death of Belladonna Took, mother of Bilbo Baggins.

2939

• Death of Thain Isumbras IV of the Shire. He is succeeded by his son Fortinbras II.

2941

• Journey of Bilbo Baggins to Erebor with Thorin and Gandalf.

c.2941

• A young Hamfast Gamgee becomes apprenticed to the gardener Holman Greenhand.
• May: Bilbo and the Dwarves encounter three trolls, and narrowly escape being eaten.
• Midyear's Day: Bilbo Baggins and the Dwarves set out from Rivendell on their journey to the Lonely Mountain.
• July" Bilbo Baggins comes across the One Ring beneath the Misty Mountains.
• Autumn: Expulsion of the Necromancer from Dol Guldur by the White Council.
• Autumn: Bard the Bowman slays the Dragon Smaug.
• October: The Battle of Five Armies. Thorin Oakenshield is slain, and his cousin Dáin Ironfoot becomes King of Durin's Folk.
• In the Shadow of Erebor

2942

• Return of Sauron to Mordor.
• Return of Bilbo Baggins to the Shire.

2943

• Birth of Marmadas Brandybuck, son of Gorbulas Brandybuck

2944

• Bard completes the rebuilding of Dale, and is made its King.
• Gollum sets out from the Misty Mountains in search of his lost Precious.

2946

• Death of Isembold Took, fifth child of the Old Took.

2948

• Death of Donnamira Took, daughter of Gerontius the Old Took.
• Birth of Théoden, later King of Rohan

2949

• Bilbo Baggins is visited in the Shire by Gandalf and Balin.

2950

• Birth of Finduilas, the daughter of Adrahil, later to become the mother of Boromir and Faramir.

T.A. 2951-2975

2951

• Rebuilding of Barad-dûr begins.
• The Nazgûl are sent to reclaim Dol Guldur.
• Elrond reveals Aragorn's ancestry to him. The first meeting of Aragorn and Arwen, in the woods of Rivendell.

2953

• The last meeting of the White Council.
• Death of King Fengel of Rohan. He is succeeded by his son Thengel.
• Death of Steward Turgon. He is succeeded by his son, Ecthelion II.

2954

• Mount Doom erupts, causing the last remaining people of Ithilien to flee across the Anduin.

2955

• Likely date of the birth of Imrahil of Dol Amroth.

2956

• Gandalf and Aragorn meet for the first time.
• Death of Belba Baggins.

2957

• Aragorn enters the service of Thengel of Rohan, under the alias of Thorongil.

2962

• Hamfast Gamgee takes over as gardener at Bag End.

2963

• Death of Gorbadoc Brandybuck. He is succeeded as Master of Buckland by his son, Rorimac.

2968

• 22 September Birth of Frodo Baggins in the Shire.

T.A. 2976-3000

2976

• Denethor, future Steward of Gondor, weds Finduilas, daughter of Adrahil of Dol Amroth.

2977

• Death of Bard the Bowman. He is succeeded as King of Dale by his son Bain.
• Likely date of the death of Angelimir. He is succeeded as Prince of Dol Amroth by his son Adrahil.

2978

• Birth of Boromir, heir to Denethor II of Gondor.
• Birth of Théodred, son of Théoden of Rohan. His mother Elfhild dies in childbirth.

2980

• Loss of Drogo Baggins and his wife Primula in a boating accident.
• Death of Thain Fortinbras II of the Shire. He is succeeded by his son Ferumbras III.

c.2980

• Gollum first encounters Shelob in the Ephel Dúath on Mordor's western border.
• Death of King Thengel of Rohan. He is succeeded by his son Théoden.
• 'Thorongil' (Aragorn) leaves the service of Gondor and travels into the east. He later comes to Lórien, where he meets Arwen again, and the two become betrothed.
• 6 April Likely date of Samwise Gamgee's birth.

2982

• Birth of Meriadoc Brandybuck, later Master of Buckland.

2983

• Birth of Faramir, second son of Denethor II.
• Birth of Mentha, daughter of Marmadas Brandybuck.

2984

• Death of Steward Ecthelion II. He is succeeded by his son, who rules as Denethor II.

2985

• Birth of both Melilot Brandybuck and Estella Bolger in the Shire.

2986

• Death of Jago Boffin, grandfather of Folco Boffin.

2988

• Death of Finduilas, spouse of Denethor II and mother to Boromir and Faramir, at the age of just 38.
• Birth of Tosto Boffin in the Shire.

2989

• Balin begins his ill-fated attempt to recolonise Moria.
• Adoption of Frodo Baggins as Bilbo's heir. Frodo removes from Buckland to Bag End.

2990

• Birth of Peregrin Took.

2991

• Birth of Éomer, later King of Rohan.

2994

• Balin's attempt to recolonise Moria ends in disaster. Balin himself, and the Dwarves of his company, are all slain.

2995

• Birth of Éowyn in Rohan.

2999

• Likely birthdate of Lothíriel, later queen to King Éomer Éadig.
• Death of Gruffo Boffin.

c.3000

• Saruman uses the Orthanc-stone for the first time. He comes under the power of Sauron, and abandons his allegiance to the White Council.

T.A. 3001-3017

3001

• Beginning to suspect that Bilbo's Magic Ring may be Sauron's One Ring, Gandalf and Aragorn begin to search for Gollum.
• 22 September: Bilbo Baggins' Birthday Party and farewell feast.

3002

• After wandering in Middle-earth, Bilbo comes to Rivendell and settles there as Elrond's guest.

3003

• Bilbo Baggins begins work on his Translations from the Elvish.

3007

• Death of King Bain of Dale. He is succeeded by his son Brand.
• Death of Gilraen the mother of Aragorn.

3008

• Death of Rorimac Brandybuck. He is succeeded as Master of Buckland by his son, Saradoc.

3010

• Likely date of the death of Adrahil. He is succeeded as Prince of Dol Amroth by his son Imrahil.

3012

• Following the death of his father Otho, Lotho Sackville-Baggins inherits Leaf plantations in the Southfarthing of the Shire.

3014

• Théoden begins to fall ill, and his counsellor Gríma begins to gain power over the King.

3015

• Death of Thain Ferumbras III of the Shire, the last of his line. He is succeeded by Paladin Took II.

3017

• Gollum is released after several years captive in Mordor. He is soon located and captured by Aragorn, who takes him north to the Woodland Realm.
• Gandalf travels to Minas Tirith, and there discovers the Scroll of Isildur.

The Great Years

3018

• 12 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.
• 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.
• 10 July: Saruman traps Gandalf and imprisons him on the pinnacle of Orthanc.
• 18 September: Gwaihir rescues Gandalf from Orthanc.
• 18 September: On their journey north to the Shire, the Black Riders cross the Fords of Isen.
• 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: Frodo, Sam and Pippin set out from Bag End.
• 23 September: The Black Riders enter the Shire.
• 23 September: Gandalf sets out from Rohan.
• 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: Frodo and his companions are captured by a Barrow-wight, and rescued by Tom Bombadil.
• 28 September: Riding on Frodo's trail, Gandalf crosses the Brandywine into the Shire's Southfarthing.
• 29 September: Frodo and his companions arrive at the Prancing Pony in Bree, and meet Strider.
• 29 September: Gandalf speaks with Hamfast Gamgee in Hobbiton, and discovers that Frodo has already left the Shire.
• 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.
• 30 September: Black Riders raid Buckland and Bree in the early morning.
• 30 September: Gandalf arrives at Crickhollow in Buckland. Finding Frodo gone, he sets out for Bree, which he reaches at night.
• 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: Aragorn and the Hobbits encounter Glorfindel at dusk.
• 18 October: Gandalf reaches Rivendell.
• 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.