Arda, the world [1] in Tolkien's legendarium, is divided into two great continents, Aman in the West and Middle-earth in the East. Aman is the kingdom of the Valar, the Undying Lands, where the Elves sail when they leave Middle-earth. Meanwhile, Middle-earth is the land of the Children of Iluvatar, the kingdoms of Elves, and Men, with other beings such as Dwarves, Ents, etc.
From the Birth of Arda to the First Age
The Realm of Elves
Kingdoms of the Noldor
The Noldor returned to Middle-earth upon their departure and later banishment from Aman.- The Noldorin High King Fingolfin
- Hithlum, Mithrim, and Dor-lomin (later passed on to the men of the House of Hador)
- Nevrast is the kingdom of Turgon, son of Fingolfin. Eventually, they moved to Gondolin in the vale of Tumladen.
- The House of Feanor
- The House of Finarfin
- The domain of Finrod Felagund is the lands in West Beleriand (except the Falas from Ered Wethrin to the south Bay of Balar). Its borders are the River Sirion, the territories of Doriath, Brethil, and its capital city of Nargothrond.
- The domain of Orodreth - is in the middle of Echoriath and easter Ered Wethrin by the Fens of Serech. He occupied Minas Tirith and later moved to Nargothrond, governing as its lord, upon the death of Finrod.
- West Beleriand, (established since the beginning of the First Age) footnote]Key Events of the First Age.[/footnote]
- Aegnor and Angrod's land in north Dorthonion
- Dor-lomin, (established since the beginning of the First Age and passed on to Men in FA 400)
- Nargothrond (established in FA 50)
- Nevrast (established since the beginning of the First Age and endured until FA 104)
- Hithlum (established since the beginning of the First Age)
- Tol Sirion, (established at the beginning of the First Age)
- East Beleriand (established since the beginning of the First Age)
- Gondolin (established since FA 104 until FA 511)
- Dorthobion (established since the beginning of the First Age)
- Himlad (established since the beginning of the First Age)
- Thargelion (established since the beginning of the First Age)
- Maglor's Gap (established since the beginning of the First Age)
- March of Maedhros (established since the beginning of the First Age)
Sindarin Lands
- King Thingol's kingdom is the land covered by the magical barrier, Girdle of Melian. These are Neldoreth, certain areas of Nivrim, Forest of Region, and Menegroth, the center of his domain. His other territories outside the barrier are the Forest of Brethil and Nan Elmoth, where he permitted Eöl to occupy.
- Havens of the Falas governed by Cirdan, comprised of the cities of Eglarest and Brithombar (until FA 473)
- Ossiriand, or Land of the Seven Rivers, of the Laiquendi or Green-Elves. They remained isolated from the rest of the Middle-earth after the First Battle of Beleriand.
- The land of Eglador, which became Doriath afterward (until FA 510)
Land of the Nandorin and Avarin Elves
The Domain of Men
The Domain of the Edain
- The House of Beor was the first group of people who arrived in Beleriand. They initially briefly occupied Ossiriand, moved to Estolad, and then to Ladros.
- The Haladin or House of Haleth [2] were the second group of people that arrived in Middle-earth. They resided in Estolad and then migrated afterward to the Brethil forest.
- The House of Hador, also known as the clan of Marach, was the third arriving group of Edain. They have a strong alliance with the House of Fingolfin, and so they lived in Dor-lomin and southern Ered Wethrin.
Lands occupied by the Edain
- Estolad (until FA 450)
- Ladros (after FA 400)
- Brethil (after FA 400)
- Dor-lómin (inhabited by men FA 400)
The Dwelling of the Easterlings
The Easterlings arrived in two separate groups, one led by Bór and another by Ulfang. They had an alliance with the Sons of Feanor and remained in the Elves' lands.- The people of Bór resided with Maglor and Maedhros in Himring.
- The people of Ulfang dwelt with Amrod, Amras, and Caranthir in Amon Ereb.
The Domain of the Dwarves
The Dwarves lived in Belegost and Nogrod in the Blue Mountains, also called Ered Luin. Several resided and worked in Menegroth (the capital of the Elven realm of Doriath) and Amon Rudh (the dwelling of Mîm the Petty-dwarf).- Erebor is the kingdom of the Longbeards or Durin's folk (established four centuries before the creation of the Moon).
- Belegost is the kingdom of the Firebeards, established after the Elves' Great Journey and the founding of Erebor (also established four centuries before the creation of the Moon).
- Nogrod is the domain of the Broadbeams, founded at the same time as Belegost (destroyed in the War of Wrath).
The Domain of the Ents
- South Belerian Forest
- Eriador Forest
The Domain of Dark Creatures
Domain of Goblins
- Moria - Goblins occupied this fallen Dwarf kingdom
- Moria - Goblins occupied this fallen Dwarf kingdom
Domain of Orcs
Conclusion of the First Age
The realms of Middle-earth persisted in the First Age until their defeat from Morgoth's forces. Therefore, his forces occupied some of these lands. The Elves and Edain escaped to Arvernien, later named as the Havens of Sirion.Second Age
Kingdoms of Elves
Noldorin Domain
- Lindon
- Eregion (up to SA 1697)
Sindarin Kingdom
- Mirkwood, the Kingdom of Oropher
Kingdoms of Men
- Númenor (established in SA 32 and up to SA 3319)
- Lond Daer (a forest settlement that started in SA 1000)
- Arnor (inhabited in SA 800, built by Elendil in SA 3320)
- Gondor (populated in SA 1100, founded by Elendil in SA 3320 )
- Umbar (settled in SA 1100, established by Black Númenóreans in SA 3220 )
Kingdoms of Dwarves
- Erebor
- Belegost (partly destroyed during the Second Age)
The Domain of the Ents
Third Age
Kingdoms of Elves
Noldorin, Sindarin, and Sindarin-Nandorin Kingdoms
- Rivendell
- Lothlórien (since TA 1400)
- Mirkwood of King Thranduil
- Lindon
The Nandorin and Avarin Kingdom
- Dorwinion
Kingdoms of Men
Kingdoms of the Dunedain
- Gondor
- Umbar (TA 943 to TA 1447 and TA 1810 to TA 1944)
- Dol Amroth (feudal territory)
- Arnor (separated in TA 861)
- Arthedain (up to TA 1975)
- Cardolan (up to TA 1410)
- Rhudaur (up to TA 1409)
Kingdoms of the Allies of Dunedain
Other Mannish Realms
- Harad
- Dunlendings
- Umbar (referenced in the years 943, 1447, 1810, and 1944 later arose the Corsairs of Umbar)
- Lossoth
- Dorwinion (later in the Third Age)
- Khand
- Drughu
- Rhûn
Kingdom of Dwarves
- Erebor (TA 1999 to TA 2210, re-settled TA 2570 to TA 2770, reclaimed 2941)
- Iron Hills (established 2589)
- Belegost (partly destroyed, inhabited by Durin's folk in TA 2770)
The Domain of the Ents
- Fangorn Forest
Fourth Age
The Domain of the Elves
- Lórien on both sides of Anduin
- Mirkwood
- The remaining Elves in Lindon
- The remaining Elves in Ithilien
Kingdom of Men
- The Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor
Kingdom of the Dwarves
- Glittering Caves
- Iron Hills
