The Rings of Power: Understanding the Timeline of Tolkien's Universe

“There was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Ilúvatar; and he first created the Ainur, the Holy Ones.”. Before devoting himself to the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, JRR Tolkien spent years creating a mythology to bring his Middle-earth to life. The author, driven by his passion for languages, wrote down — as early as 1917 — certain elements of context and stories that evolve in his marvelous universe. Dwarves, Elves, Men and evil beings rub shoulders in these writings, which were later compiled by his son Christopher to bring out The Silmarillion And Unfinished Tales and Legends For example.

These works are the bible of Middle-earth, a golden opportunity to gain insight into the events leading up to the destruction of the One Ring. The Prime Video series draws on this literature to bring out its narrative, it is the Second Age that is evoked through the various episodes. But for those who have not read the entire Lord of the Ringsof Hobbit and their appendices, finding your way around is a real headache. Back to the Chronology of the literary universe.

Ainulindalë – The Creation

It is with this story that opens The Silmarillion. First called The Music of the Ainur, the text traces the creation of Eä. It is in this fictional world that all the heroes of his novels and short stories evolve. In the beginning, there was only Eru, who is called Ilúvatar in Arda. This divine figure will give birth to Ainur, Saints, to whom he will teach a musical theme so that they can sing it in chorus. From this music will be born life, “the music, and the echo of the music, spread throughout the Void, and it was no longer empty.”

If the Ainur sang in harmony for “a long time”one of them began to interweave ideas of his own invention. Melkor sought to magnify the power and glory of the part assigned to him, he was the one who had the greatest powers. After a discord, a third musical theme blossomed and it is from this that Men and Elves will be born, “The Firstborn and the Next.” Melkor was sent to Earth and decided to work to enslave the beings who would soon populate these lands. A long battle then began between Melkor and the other Valar. Melkor became the first Dark Lord.

• Creation of the Ainur
• The Ainurs sing to create Arda
• Melkor tries to corrupt the theme

The Beginning – The Years of the Valar

Even before the full shaping of Arda, the First War broke out. For a long time, Melkor had the upper hand before the last Valar: Tulkas forced him to retreat. 200 years later, the Valar settled in Almaren and created two lamps to light the world, taller than mountains. Melkor, who had taken refuge in Utumno, went there and destroyed the lights without the Valar being able to prevent this fall. This event would have many consequences, including the creation of the seas and the continents.

After this second war, the Valar, all except Melkor, leave Almaren to go to Valinor and give birth to two Trees, one golden and one silver. They must replace the Lamps of the Valar and enlighten the world. We can see them in the series The Rings of Powerwhen Galadriel traces the history of Arda.

• The Valar descend upon Arda (Year 1 of the Age of the Valar)
• A First War rages between the Valar and Melkor (3400)
• Melkor takes refuge in Utumno
• Lampfall (3450)

The Awakening of the First Elves – Years of the Trees

“For two long ages the Valar lived happily beyond the mountains of Aman, but all Middle-earth lay in darkness beneath the stars.”. 144 First Elves Awaken on the shores of Lake Cuiviénen. “First of all they looked at the stars in the firmament.”. Fifty years after these events, Melkor discovers the existence of the Elves and decides to engender the Orcs, Elves who from “slow and cruel artifices” were corrupted and enslaved.

During the time of the Trees, the Elf Fëanor creates the Silmarils from the light of the Trees. These jewels are a symbol of power and are coveted by Morgoth. The Dark Lord manages to steal them after killing the Trees. He flees to Middle-earth where the appearance of the Moon and the Sun gives birth to the race of Men.

• Birth of the Trees of Valinor (Year 1 of the Age of Trees)
• Awakening of the Elves (1050)
• Creation of the Orcs (1080)

First Age

After the appearance of the Moon and the Sun, Melkor who now calls himself Morgoth is at war with the Elves, the Men in Beleriand. This is what is called the War of the Great Wrath and it is the greatest battle ever fought in Middle-earth.

From this clash will result the submersion of Beleriand.. The two Silmarils disappear, one in the fire of the Earth and the other in the Waters. Morgoth is defeated, he is thrown into the void and his disciple Sauron undertakes to follow in his footsteps.

• Awakening of Men (Year 1 of the First Age)
• War of the Great Wrath (545)
• Morgoth is thrown into the void (587)

Second Age

This is the period in which the series takes place. The Rings of Power. After the Fall of Morgoth, Sauron mysteriously disappears and peace seems to reign over Middle-earth. But the Elves do not want to leave Middle-earth, they monitor the resurgence of evil. The human kingdom of Númenor rises from Earthits population is made up of exiles from Arnor and Gondor.

The series took liberties regarding chronologyby giving birth to Elendil and Isildur before the forging of the Rings of PowerIn Tolkien's works, Aragorn's distant ancestors only come into the world in 3119 and 3209, while Celebrimbor completes the Three Rings of the Elves in 1590. The Second Age is marked by a perpetual struggle of Men and Elves against Sauron.

Several events will punctuate this confrontation, from the creation of the One Ring around 1600 to the submersion of Númenor in 3319, through the founding of Rivendell in 1697. It is not until the defeat of Sauron, which will cost the lives of Elendil and Gil-galad, that the Second Age ends. When Isildur, now orphaned, seizes the One Ring, Sauron's physical form is destroyed.

• Founding of Númenor (32 of the Second Age)
• Sauron emerges again (c. 500)
• Forge of the Three Rings of the Elves (1590)
• Sauron's physical form is destroyed

Third Age

This is the penultimate period mentioned in Tolkien's works. After the fall of Sauron, The One Ring is lost in the waters of AnduinThe events depicted in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings all take place at this time, with Bilbo Baggins being born in 2890 and his nephew being born in 2968. The Third Age spans over 3000 yearsits conclusion will be addressed through The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King. It is only when Bilbo and Frodo leave Middle-earth to go to Valinor that the Fourth Age will begin. We only know little of the Fourth Ageexcept that it was a time of Men's domination of Arda.

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