When was Beleriand destroyed?

[Quick Beam]

Did the Valar destoroy Beleriand with the War of Wrath, or did Eru destory Beleriand when he sunk Numenor?

 

[Gothmog]

Beleriand was destroyed during and after the War of Wrath. When the Numenorians returned to Middle-earth the Elf-Friends went to the havens of Mithlond which are also known as the Gray-havens.

I say "During and After" as I doubt that it all happened in one short period as this would have caused a far greater up-heaval of the world and the shock wave would have reached and caused destruction even to Aman.

 

[Quick Beam]

That is then impossible, before and after. It all happened at once, i just want to know when.

 

[Gothmog]

As I said. 'During and after' The destruction was started due to the War of Wrath. This would continue after the Valar had left and resulted in the loss of Beleriand. Had it happened 'All at Once' the resulting shock wave would have destroyed not only the lands between Ered Luin and Hithaeglir but also there would have been much damage to Aman.

The North around Angband no doubt was destroyed during the War, with the rest being submerged over a period of some years.

Another point is that had it all been destroyed at the same time then no Man or Elf would have survived. So Gil-galad and Cirdan would not have been around in the second age to fight Sauron the First time around.

 

[Quick Beam]

OKay, thank you, i understand that Beleriand was destroyed before and after, but when did it get submerged in water?

 

[Gothmog]

Okay. For the time when it happened I can only find this at the moment.

550-597. The dates of 'the last war of the Elder Days' were changed to 545-587, and after the last words of the original entry the following was added: 'Ancalagon is cast down by Earendil and all save two of the Dragons are destroyed.'

From the Tale of Years: The War of the Jewels.

And

The Second Age or the Black Years
reckoned from the overthrow of Morgoth
End of the Great Battle.
10. Foundation of the Havens, and the kingdom of Lindon.
50. Foundation of Numenor.

So I would say that the destruction of Beleriand started in 587 of the First Age. That is year 0 of the second and took between 5 and 8 years to submerge the land. This is just my oppinion based on allowing time for the Elves and Men of Beleriand to reach safe ground and to Found the Lindon.

 

[Quick Beam]

have you read teh silmarillion, i now think taht happneed when Eru destoryed Numenor, and then Manwe protected Earindel, Isildur, and teh other borther.

 

[Beleg]

Year
1. Foundation of Grey Heavens and Lindon
32. Edain reach numenor.

(These are taken from Tale of Years In Lord of Rings)

This tells us about too facts. Firstly, Lindon, Land west of Ered Luin was inhabited in the first year of the new age. And that Numenor was formed before 32 S.A. beacuse it would have taken some time for the island to be formed. Probably it was formed as soon as Manwe decided the fate of men. Besides it is said that During War of Wrath which was fought for 45? years, Many great chasms opened in Beleriand due to savage fighting of Maia's and Vanyar against melkor's spirits. Probably this would have caused some Plate effect, and the whole structure of Beleriand would have been destroyed but only slowly. There would have been signs first, probably the area around Neverast and Hithlum and the plain of Ard-Galen would have been the first to be effected for most of the war would be fought there. Who knows?