THE THIRD AGE OF THE SUN After Isildur cut off Sauron's finger that had on it the One Ring, he was himself corrupted by its power and was unable to destroy it. In year 2 of the Third Age, Isildur, together with his three sons, passed through the Vale of Anduin. There they were set upon by Orcs in the Battle of Gladden Fields. Isildur and his three sons were killed and the One Ring fell to the bed of the River Anduin.

The consequence of this was that Sauron could not be brought under control without the destruction of the One Ring; at the same time, the kingdom of the Dunedain was split into two separate ones, Arnor and Gondor. Only with the destruction of the One Ring could a legitimate heir to the combined kingdom of the Dunedain be countenanced. By the ninth century Gondor was the more powerful of the two kingdoms, with a mighty navy and an impressive army. During this time Arnor fared well enough, but did not expand its boundaries past Eriador. Two centuries later, Gondor was at the height of its power.

During the twelfth century Sauron reappeared in Middle Earth in the form of an evil eye surrounded by flames, and started to draw the forces of darkness to him. Following his reappearance, Arnor's powers were weakened by internal warring and natural disasters. Foremost amongst its troubles was Sauron's principal servant, the Lord of the Ringwraiths, also known as the Witch King, who waged war over five centuries against the Kings of Arnor.

In 1974 Arnor ceased to exist as a kingdom and the tribal chiefs were left to carry on the bloodline of the Dunedain. In 2000 the Witch King turned his attention to Gondor and secured the Tower of Minas Ithil, renaming it Minas Morgul. Fifty years later he killed the 31st King of Gondor, leaving it without an heir.

Also during this time, Sauron succeeded in awakening the Balrogs, Dragons, Wolves and Wargs, together with the Uruk-hai, the Olog-hai and the half-Orcs. The gathering legion of evil beings soon came to recognise Sauron as their master. During the one thousand years that followed, Suaron's power increased while that of the Dunedain diminished, culminating in the War of the Ring in the years 3018 and 3019.

The Third Age came to an end when the One Ring, Sauron and Saruman were finally destroyed, and Aragorn was crowned High King Elessar of the Reunited Kingdom of the Dunedain. Following the restoration of peace and prosperity to Middle Earth, it was decreed that the last of the Elves should leave the mortal realm and sail over the Straight Road westward to the Undying Lands.

• 3019 25/2 First Battle of the Fords of Isen

• 3019 2/3 Second Battle of the Fords of Isen

• 3019 2/3 March of the Ents on Isengard

• 3019 3/3 Battle of Hornburg

• 3019 11/3 Invasion of East Rohan

• 3019 11/3 First assault on Lorien

• 3019 13/3 Battle of ships at Pelagir

• 3019 15/3 Battle of Pelennor Fields

• 3019 15/3 Battle under the Trees in Mirkwood

• 3019 15/3 Second assault on Lorien

• 3019 17/3 Battle of Dale

• 3019 17/3 Siege of Erebor

• 3019 22/3 Third assault on Lorien

• 3019 25/3 Battle before the Black Gate of Mordor

• 3019 25/3 One Ring destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom

• 3019 25/3 Downfall of Sauron and Mordor

• 3019 27/3 Breaking of the Siege of Erebor

• 3019 28/3 Destruction of Dol Guldur in Mirkwood

• 3019 1/5 Crowning of King Elessar

• 3019 3/11 Battle of Bywater in the Shire

• 3019 3/11 Final downfall of Saruman

Tolkien’s great passion and focused ambition was to create an entire mythological system for the English people. No one can possibly doubt that he achieved that ambition. In next month's issue......"The Third Age of the Sun "....to learn more about the Valar, click on the left button below; for a comprehensive (but unfinished) encyclopedic reference to Tolkien, click on the ARDA button the right.