Before Time and the First Age (Cronology)

[Maedhros]

The First Age ended with the Great Battle, in which the Host of Valinor broke Thangorodrim and overthrew Morgoth. Then most of the Noldor returned into the Far West and dwelt in Eressëa within sight of Valinor; and many of the Sindar went over Sea also.

Before Time

The Valar, Maiar and Melkor enter Eä from the void
Ordering of Arda
Construction of Valinórë

1
Assault on Áren of the Sun
Dome of Varda devised
Tulkas enters Arda
Melkor departs Arda

1500
Lamps of Valinórë are constructed

1900
Melkor re-enters Arda
Melkor devises the Great Clouds
The Great Clouds are dispersed
Melkor departs Arda and gathers his Úmaiar

3400
Melkor re-enters Arda
Utumno constructed

3450
The Lamps of Valinórë are destroyed
The Moon is constructed
Melkor departs Arda

3500
The Two Trees grown in Valinórë

Time of the Trees begins

1
Valarauko appear, [Balrogs]
Ork race bred from beasts and Maiar

1000
Council of the Valar
Varda creates the Great Stars

1040
Melkor re-enters Arda

1043
Melkor again clouds the Earth

1050
Varda creates the Constellations
Manwë drives back the clouds
Elves awake in Cuiviénen
Melian enters Beleriand

1080
Melkor discovers the Elves
Orks assail the Elves

1085
Oromë discovers the Elves

1086
Oromë returns to Valinórë

1090
Valar prepare to assail Utumno
The Great Rains
Men awake on isle of Palisor in Hildorien
Melkor discovers Men

1091
The Great Fall of Men

1092
Siege of Utumno begins

1099
Siege of Utumno ends

1100
Melkor chained

1101
Elves summoned to Valinórë

1102
First ambassadors arrive in Valinórë

1104
Ambassadors return to Cuiviénen

1105
1st sundering of the Elves at Cuiviénen

1110
2nd sundering of the Elves at Anduin

1115
Vanyar and Ñoldor enter Beleriand

1128
Teleri enter Beleriand

1130
Elwë meets Melian

1132
Vanyar and Ñoldor embark on Eressëa

1133
Vanyar and Ñoldor enter Valinórë

1140
Tirion constructed
Ingwë and the Vanyar begin to remove to Taniquentil

1142
White Tree of Galathilion given to Ñoldor

1149
Ossë teaches the Teleri shipcraft

1150
Teleri embark upon Eressëa from Beleriand

1151
Teleri remain on Eressëa

1152
Elwë becomes King of Elves in Beleriand

1161
Teleri have Eressëa drawn near to Valinórë

1162
Alqualondë constructed

1165
Vanyar complete the move to Taniquentil
Orks now bred with Men

1169
Fëanor born

1170
Míriel falls asleep and passes on to Mandos

1172
Doom of Manwë announced concerning espousals of the Eldar
Death of Míriel

1179
Rúmil creates the Tengwar

1185
Finwë weds Indis of the Vanyar

1190
Fingolfin born

1200
Lúthien born

1230
Finarfin born

1250
Fëanor creates the Cirth
Dwarves enter Beleriand

1280
Finarfin weds Earwen
Fingon born

1300
Turgon born
Finrod born
Menegroth begins construction
Daeron the loremaster of Thingol contrives the Runes

1320
The Orks first appear in West Beleriand
Dwarves and Thingol meet

1330
The Orks first appear in East Beleriand

1350
Green Elves enter Beleriand
Menegroth completed

1362
Galadriel born
Aredhel born

1400
Morgoth released from bondage

1410
Morgoth befriends the Ñoldor

1449
Fëanor begins constructing the Silmarils

1450
Fëanor completes the Silmarils
Melkor begins the dissention of the Ñoldor

1469
Idril born

1490
Fëanor banned from Tirion

1492
Morgoth slays Finwë and steals the Silmarils

1495
Morgoth destroys the Two Trees
1st Kinslaying at Alqalondë
Galadriel and Celeborn sail to Middle-Earth

1496
Doom and Prophecy of Mandos

1497
Fëanor abandons the Ñoldor of Nolofinwë
Fëanor and sons enter Beleriand
Death of Amrod and Amras
First Battle in the Wars of Beleriand, Dagor-os-Giliath, the Battle under Stars
Death of Denethor
The Second Battle in the Wars of Beleriand, Dagor Nuin-Giliath, the Battle-under-Stars
Death of Fëanor
Maedhros captured by Morgoth

1498
Maedhros imprisoned upon Thangorodrim

1500
Creation of the new Moon and Sun for Valinórë
Ñoldor of Nolofinwë enter Beleriand

Time of the Trees ends

Time of the Sun and Moon begins

1
The Moon rises new in the heaven.
Fingolfin and the Ñoldor of Nolofinwë begin march into Middle-Earth.
The first Dawn of the Sun.
Men awake in Hildorien.
Fingolfin comes to the Gates of Angband.

2
Fingolfin departs from the Gates of Anband and comes at length to Hithlum.
There he makes his first camp, dwelling by the north-shore of Lake Mithrim.
The followers of Fëanor withdraw before Fingolfin and remove their dwelling to the
south-shore, and the Lake lay between the peoples.

5
Fingon rescuses Maedhros from Thangorodrim.

6
Angrod meets with Thingol in Doriath

7
Fingolfin is named overlord of the Exiles.
The Sons of Fëanor move eastward to the countries between Himring and Lake Helevorn under Mount Rerir.

20
Feast and councils of Mereth Aderthad, the Feast of Reuniting.

50
Finrod and Turgon recieve messages from Ulmo as they sleep on the banks of Sirion.

52
Thingol tells Finrod of the caves under the High Faroth on the west-bank of Narog.
Finrod goes to the Caverns of Narog and begins building Nargothrond.

53
Ulmo appears to Turgon upon the shores of Nivrost and and guides him to Tumalden.

60
The Third Battle in the Wars of Beleriand, Dagor Aglareb, the Glorious Battle.
The Siege of Angband.

64
Turgon goes secretly to Tumalden to begin the building of Gondolin.

65
The Havens at Falas are rebuilt and walled, and Barad Eithel is built.

66
Melian speaks to Galadriel and then to Thingol concerning the Silmarils and the coming of the Noldor.

67
Thingol learns of all the deeds of the Noldor ere they came to Beleriand.
Thingol bans the use of tongue of the Noldor in Doriath.

102
The building of Nargothrond is finished.

116
The building of Gondolin is finished and populated.

150
The people of Cranthir meet the Naugrim.

155
Morgoth sends Orcs against Fingolfin and the Orcs are driven into the sea.

260
Glaurung comes forth and is driven back into Angband.

316
Isfin the White, sister of Turgon leaves Gondolin and comes to Nan Elmoth and is taken by Eöl the Dark-Elf as his wife.

320
Maeglin is born of Eöl and Isfin.

370
Beor, eldest of the Fathers of Men of the West, is born.

388
Haleth the Hunter is born in Eriador.

390
Hador the Golden-haired is born in Eriador.

400
Isfin and Maeglin flee from Nan Elmoth to Gondolin, followed secretly by Eöl.
Eöl trys to kill Maeglin and instead kills Isfin.
Eöl is sentenced to death and cast from the high walls of Gondolin.
Finrod encounters Beor.
Bregolas son of Beor is born.

402
Orcs attempt to pierce the pass of Aglon.
Barahir son of Beor is born.

413
Hundor son of Haleth is born.

417
Galion the Tall, son of Hador, is born.

419
Gundor son of Hador is born.

420
Both Haleth the Hunter and Hador the Golden-haired come into Beleriand out of Eriador.
Hador goes to Hithlum and becomes a vassal of Fingolfin.
Thingol forbids that any man should come into Doriath.

422
Haleth's people are given leave to dwell in Brethil.

423
Hador's folk enter Dorlomin.

424
Baragund son of Bregolas son of Beor was born in Dorthonion.

428
Belegund, brother of Baragund is born.

432
Beren son of Barahir son of Beor is born in Dorthonion.

436
Hundor son of Haleth weds Glorwendil daughter of Hador.

441
Hurin the Steadfast son of Galion son of Hador is born in Hithlum.
Handir son of Hundor son of Haleth is born.

443
Morwen Eledwen, the Elf-sheen, is born, daughter of Baragund.

444
Huor brother of Hurin is born.

450
Rian daughter of Belegund, mother of Tuor the Blessed, is born.
Beor the Old, father of Men, dies of age.
Bregolas then rules the people of Beor.

This information is the work of Mhoram of the Barrowdowns.

 

[Maedhros]

455
The Fell Year.
The Fourth Battle in the Wars of Beleriand, Dagor Bragollach, the Battle of Sudden Flame.
Death of Angrod and Egnor, sons of Finrod.
Death of Bregolas.
Barahir saves Finrod and is given his ring.
Death of Hador, Gundor, and Gundor's youngest son.
Galion the Tall takes the lordship of the House of Hador.
At the bidding of Turgon, ships are built and are sent in search for Valinor.
Minas Tirith taken by Sauron to be a watch-tower for Morgoth.

456
Fingolfin challenges Morgoth before the Gates of Angband.
Fingolfin wounds Morgoth seven times before being killed.
Thorondor comes, clawing Morgoth's face and taking the corpse of Fingolfin.
Death of Rochallor.
Fingon takes the lordship of the house of Fingolfin and the kingdom of the Ñoldor.
[Late pencilled addition: But his young son (?Findor) [sic] Gilgalad he sent to the Havens.]

458
Hurin and Huor come to Gondolin.

459
Hurin and Huor leave Gondolin and return to thier kin in Brethil.

460
Barahir and his outlaws are found and slain.
Beren avenges his father and recovers Barahir's hand and ring.

462
Galion is slain in the siege of the fortress of Eithel Sirion.
Hurin then rules the House of Hador.

463
Swarthy Men come from Eriador and make alliance with Maedhros.

464
Beren leaves Dorthonion and passes into Doriath.
Hurin weds Morwen Elfsheen.
Turin son of Hurin is born in Dorlomin
Beren son of Barahir meets Luthien Thingol's daughter in the forest of Neldoreth.

465
Beren and Luthien fall in love and Thingol's bride price is set.
Finrod and Beren are waylaid by Sauron and cast into a pit in Tol-in-Gaurhoth.
Finrod dies saving Beren's life.
Luthien rescuses Beren from Tol-in-Gaurhoth.
Beren is smote by an arrow of Curufin.

466
Luthien heals Beren and they return to Doriath.
Beren leaves Luthien sleeping in Doriath and turns back towards Thangorodrim.
Luthien overtakes Beren upon the borders of the Anfauglith with the aid of Huan.
Beren and Luthien come to Angband and take a Silmaril from Morgoth's crown.
Carcharoth bites off the hand of Beren and swallows it with the Silmaril.
Thorondor carries Beren and Luthien back to Doriath.
Beren and Luthien are wed before the throne of Thingol.
Carcharoth comes to Doriath and is hunted.
Beren is mortally wounded by Carcharoth as is Huan as he kills Carcharoth.
Silmaril is regained from the belly of Carcharoth.
First death of Beren.

467
Luthein lays down her life and goes to Mandos.

468
Union of Maedhros begins.
Sometime between this year and 472 Haleth dies of age and Hundor his son rules his people.

469
Beren and Luthien return from Mandos to live out a mortal life.

470
Birth of Dior, son of Beren and Luthien, heir of Thingol.

472
Year of Lamentation.
Huor weds Rian daughter of Belegund.
Fifth Battle in the Wars of Beleriand, Nirnaeth Arnediad, Unnumbered Tears.
Death of Gelmir son of Guilin.
Gwindor Guilin's son taken captive.
Death of Hundor son of Haleth.
Maglor slays Uldor the Accursed.
Bor and his sons slay Ulfast and Ulwarth ere they themselves were slain.
Death of Azaghal of Belegost.
Death of Fingon.
Hurin and Huor guard the retreat of Turgon to Gondolin.
Death of Huor.
Hurin slays 70 trolls before being taken captive.
Hurin the Steadfast brought before Morgoth.
Morgoth curses Hurin and his children and sets him in a chair of stone upon a high place of Thangorodrim.
The hill of Haud-ina-Nengin is made.
Rian bears Tuor son of Huor.
Tuor taken as foster son by Annael of the Grey-elves of Mithrim.
Rian goes to Haud-in-nDengin and dies.
Hador's daughter, dies of grief.
Morwen wife of Hurin abide in Hithlum, for she is with child.
Morwen sends Turin to live in Doriath.

473
Nienor daughter of Hurin and Morwen is born.
Turin arrives at Doriath and is taken by King Thingol to be a foster son.
Most of Cirdan's folk slain at Falas and the Havens are laid in ruin.
Cirdan takes his remnant by ship, and they sail to the Isle of Balar.

481
Turin becomes a companion in arms of Beleg the Bowman and dons the Dragon-helm of Galion.

484
Saeros falls to his death and Turin flees from Doriath.

487
Turin and Beleg meet again and renew their friendship in Dimbar.

488
Tuor son of Huor made captive and enslaved by Lorgan chief of the Easterlings.
Death of Haldir Orodreth's son of Nargothrond.

489
Gwindor Guilin's son escapes from Angband.
Turin is captured and Beleg left for dead by Orcs due to the treason of Blodren Ban's son.
Beleg is found by Thingol's messengers, and taken to Menegroth and healed by Melian.
Beleg sets forth in search of Turin bearing the Dragon-helm that Turin had left in Menegroth.
Beleg comes upon Gwindor in Taur-na-Fuin and together they pursued the captors of Turin.
Beleg and Gwindor rescue a sleeping Turin.
Turin wakes seizes Beleg's sword and slays him ere he knows him.
Gwindor buries Beleg, and leads Turin away, for a dumb madness of grief was on him.

490
Gwindor leads Turin to Nargothrond.

490
Turin lives in Nargothrond, taking the name Mormegil.
Finduilas and Turin fall in love, even though Finduilas had been betroved to Gwindor.

494
Morwen and Nienor flee from Dor Lomin and come to Doriath, seeking tidings of Turin.

495
Handir of Brethil is slain.
Glaurung assails Nargothrond.
Orodreth and Gwindor are slain and Nargothrond is sacked.
Believing Glaurungs lies Turin goes to save Morwen and Nienor.
Turin comes to his old home and finds it empty and then to the hall of Brodda.
From Airin Hurin's kinswoman Turin learns that Morwen and Nienor had fled to Doriath.
Glaurung's spell on Turin fades and he slays Brodda and other Easterlings there.
With some that remained of Hador's people Turin escapes through the falling snow and
came to an outlaws' refuge in the southern mountains of Dorlomin.
Tuor goes to Nivrost and finds the sword and armor left behind by Turgon at Ulmo's council.
Ulmo sends Voronwe to lead Tuor to Gondolin.
Tuor gives Turgon the council of Ulmo to leave Gondolin and go to the Sea.
Turgon refuses Ulmo's council and Tuor stays in Gondolin in honor.

496
Turin searches for Finduilas and learns from some Men of Brethil that she is slain.
Turin joins the woodmen, taking now the name Turambar.
Morwen and Nienor, with Mablung guarding them, go towards Nargothrond in search of Turin.
By works of Glaurung, Morwen is lost and Nienor is put in a spell of forgetfulness.
Mablung finds Nienor and leads her back towards Doriath.
Nienor flees and is lost when an Orc-band encounters Mablung and Nienor.
Turin Turambar finds Nienor though he knows her not and takes her in and names her Niniel.

497
Turin asks Niniel to marry him but she declines, for reasons she knows not.
Dior weds Nimloth in Ossiriand.

498
Turin asks again and this time Nineil accepts and they are wed happily.
Glaurung sends Orcs of his dominion against Brethil.

499
Niniel conceived in the spring of this year, and became wan and sad.
Turin goes to do battle with Glaurung, unknowingly followed far behind by Niniel.
Torbarth who was with Turin is killed by a falling rock.
Turin deals Glaurung a mortal wound and then falls unconcious for a time.
Niniel comes to Turins side and tends his small wound.
Before dying Glurung tells Niniel who she really is.
Glurung dies and Nienor Niniel remembers her full life.
In horror and angish casts herself into the gorge of Cabed-en-Aras and dies.
Turin wakes and returns to Nen Girith.
Brandir tells Turin that Niniel is dead and all that has happened.
Turin believes Brandir is lying and he curses and slays him.
Mablung comes upon Turin and tells the story of when Morwen and Nienor were lost.
Turin falls on his sword and dies at Cabed-en-Aras beside the Worm.

This information is the work of Mhoram of the Barrowdowns.

 

[Maedhros]

500
Birth of the twin sons of Dior, Elrun and Eldun.

501
Hurin is released from captivity.
He goes to Nargothrond and seizes the Nauglamir from the treasure of Glaurung.
He takes the Nauglamir to Menegroth and casts it at the feet of Thingol.

502
The Silmaril is set in the Nauglamir by Dwarves at the bidding of Thingol.
The Dwarves kill Thingol and leave Menegroth with the Nauglamir.
The Dwarves are overtaken and all but two slain.
The Nauglamir is brought back to Melian in Doriath.
The Girdle of Melian is withdrawn.
Melian leaves Middle-Earth.
Tuor weds Idril Celebrindal Turgon's daughter of Gondolin.

503
The Dwarves of Belegost and Nogrod invade Doriath.
Beren learns of this and he and Dior and many Green-elves leave Ossiriand to stop them.
Menegroth is ransacked and plundered by the Dwarves.
Mablung is slain before the doors of the treasury wherein lays the Nauglamir.
The Nauglamir is taken and the Dwarves leave Menegroth with diminished host.
The Dwarves are slain by Beren, Dior, and the Elves by Sarn Athrad.
Beren himself slays the Lord of Nogrod and takes back the Nauglamir.
Beren returns to Luthien with the Nauglamir.
Earendil Halfelven is born in Gondolin.
Elwing the White daughter of Dior born in Ossiriand.

504
Dior and Nimloth and their two sons and daughter leave Ossiriand and go to Doriath.
Beren and Luthien die.
A lord of the Green-elves comes to Menegroth and gives to King Dior a coffer.
Within the coffer was the Nauglamir and Dior knew that Beren and Luthien had died.

505-507
The Second Kinslaying.
Dior and Nimloth slain.
There fell also Celegorn (by Dior's hand) and Curufin and Cranthir.
Elrun and Eldun are lost in the woods and never heard from again
Elwing and a remnant of the people escape with the Nauglamir and Silmaril.

509
Maeglin is captured by spies of Melkor and betrays the location of Gondolin.
Maeglin is sent back to Gondolin.

510
Midsummer.
The Fall of Gondolin.
Death of Maeglin.
Tuor and Idril and some remnants of the people of Gondolin escape.
They are ambushed Orcs and a Balrog.
Glorofindel and the Balrog fall to ruin.
The eagles drive off the Orcs.
Elwing and company come to the New Havens at the mouths of Sirion with the Silmaril.

511
Tuor, Idril, Earendil &c. reach Sirion, which now prospers in the power of the Silmaril.

512
The remaining Sons of Fëanor where the Silmaril is held but Maedhros forswears his oath.

525
The Unquiet of Ulmo comes upon Tuor and he builds a ship and departs into the West with Idril and is heard of in no tale since.
Earendil weds Elwing and becomes Lord of the men of the Havens.

527
Torment falls upon Maedhros and his brethren because of their unfulfilled oath.

532
Elros and Elrond twin sons of Earendil born.

534
The voyages of Earendil begin.

538
The Third and Last Kinslaying.
The Havens of Sirion are destroyed.
Elwing carries away the Silmaril, and comes to Earendil in the likeness of a bird.
Elros and Elrond sons of Earendel are taken captive, but are fostered with care by Maglor.

542
Earendil comes to Valinor.

545
The coming of the host of the Valar.

545-587
The last war of the Elder Days, and the Great Battle, is begun.
Morgoth is at last utterly overcome, and Angband is unroofed and unmade.
Morgoth is bound, and the last two Silmarils are regained.
Ancalagon is cast down by Earendil and all save two of the Dragons are destroyed.

587
Maedhros and Maglor, last surviving sons of Fëanor, seize the Silmarils.
Maedhros perishes.
The Silmarils are lost in fire and sea.

590
Morgoth is thrust from Arda into the Outer Dark.

Here end the Elder Days with the passing of Melkor, according to the reckoning of most lore-masters; here ends also the First Age...


This information is the work of Mhoram of the Barrowdowns.

 

[Inderjit S]

Do you think I could *attempt* to do an alternate chronlogy involving Tolkien's latter sun and moon theory?

 

[Eol]

That looked a lot like the Chronology from The Complete Guide To Middle-earth by Robert Foster...Are you sure it wasn't done by him?

 

[Maedhros]

I would assume that the sources are the same. But I have revised them and they appear to be in order. I have not looked at R.F. book.

 

[Inderjit S]

Do you think I could *attempt* to do an alternate chronlogy involving Tolkien's latter sun and moon theory?

Thank god I didn't attempt THAT. Eugh.

Shouldn't this be stickied in the Silmarillion page? Because it is a pretty definitive and in depth round up of the T.O.Y for the Silmarillion.

 

[Walter]

Thank god I didn't attempt THAT. Eugh.

Indeed

 

[Maerbenn]

At least the first part ('Before Time', which is an unfitting name, by the way) already seems to be 'involving Tolkien's latter sun and moon theory', and as such does not fit the published Silmarillion. Or am I missing something here?

 

[Inderjit S]

We could explain the difference to the people beforehand, at the start of the post. IMO, it is a lot more detailed then other TOY's and contains a lot of information that is missing from most TOY's or a Published Silmarillion one.

 

[Thorin]

You can also find pretty much the same chronology in HoME X, "Morgoth's Ring". So this could be in the "HoME" section of the forum as well.

 

[Inderjit S]

And of course, HoME 11.

 

[Tar-Elenion]

At least the first part ('Before Time', which is an unfitting name, by the way) already seems to be 'involving Tolkien's latter sun and moon theory', and as such does not fit the published Silmarillion. Or am I missing something here?

It seems to be partially based on Saulotus' (what was he going under at Minas Tirith?) chronology/compilation as well.

 

[Ithrynluin]

1492
Morgoth slays Finwë and steals the Silmarils

1495
Morgoth destroys the Two Trees

I find this a little illogical. I was sure Morgoth slaying Finwë was mere hours away from his and Ungoliant's destruction of the Two Trees. After all, would Melkor have dared to linger in Aman inbetween these two horrible deeds, for three years!? And were the Valar really so incompetent that they couldn't seek out his hiding place in Aman during a period of three years!? After all, Aman is no Middle-Earth, size-wise! Besides, all of Aman would be in an uproar if Melko had slain Finwë first, and everyone would be on their guard. I doubt Morgoth could have walked into the vicinity of the Two Trees with ease!

I checked HoME X: Morgoth's Ring; The Annals of Aman and the entry for 1492 makes no mention of Morgoth slaying Finwë and stealing the Silmarils. Explanation?

 

[Arvedui]

I am pretty sure that I have read somewhere in The Lost Road that Finwë was murdered in 1495.
And also, if my mind is not completely disconnected, Finwë's murder was after the slaying of the Two Trees, right?

 

[Ithrynluin]

Well, in the Later Annals of Valinor (HoME V), Morgoth destroyed the Trees and slew Finwë both in the same year, which is Valian Year 2990, though a Valian Year amounts to 10 Years of the Sun. Hmm...