Tolkien Timeline - Book of Lost Tales, earliest writings

This is a very sketchy Timeline. Suggestions are welcome. BTW, I took some liberties in naming The Age of the Valar and The Age of the Trees ; I don't think those names were given by Tolkien until latter.

When it comes to Gilfanon's Tale, this timeline follows Outlines A and B, while the latter timeline follows Outlines C and D. The Tale of Eärendel follows Scheme B [in Notebook C, date: 1916-1917], with additions from the latter schemes that do not contradict it.

The History of Eriol is taken from Christopher Tolkien's reconstruction (page 292s of BoLT2), except that I weigh it towards Outline A

Timeline Neighbourhood Table

This Timeline Book of Lost Tales, latter texts, until the Tale of Eärendil
Book of Lost Tales, latter texts, after the Tale of Eärendil
Before Time

  • Music of the Ainur

    Age of the Valar

  • The Valar, and some other spirits, come to the World

  • Melko is brought to judgement, and Tulkas gives him a blow with his fist

  • Ulmo leaves to the Outermost Seas

    Year 500 of the Valar (***)

  • Melko makes two mighty pillars of Ice

  • Aule makes two Lamps, that are placed over the pillars

  • The Ice of the pillars melt, and the Lamps fall

  • The Valar retreat to Valinor

    Year 1000 of the Valar

  • The Valar make the Two Trees, in Valinor

    Year 1700 of the Valar ??? (***)

  • The Valar make war on Melko

  • Melko shuts the Gates of Utumna

  • The Valar capture Melko with deceit. Melko is chained, and brought to Valinor

    Year 2000 of the Valar

  • Three Ages since the Chaining of Melko

  • Awakening of the Elves, at Koivië-néni

  • Varda makes many stars, including the Seven Stars

  • The Elven embassadors, Isil Inwë, Finwë Nólemë, and Tinwë Lintö, go to Valinor

    2000 - 2100

  • Migration of the Teleri and Noldoli to Valinor

    2100 - 2200

  • Ossë (Falman), against the will of Ulmo, chains Tol Eressëa to the bottom of the Sea

  • The Solosimpi come to Valinor

    Year 2500 of the Valar

  • Fëanor makes the Three Silmarils

    (probably one age later)

  • Tû the wizard, a fay, finds the Ilkorins, and establishes a Kingdom in Palisor

  • Nuin, an Ilkorin, finds the Men, while they were sleeping

    2900 - 3000

  • Melko's servitude in Tulkas's house is softened

  • Melko spreads lies among the Elves

  • Melko, helped by some corrupted spirits from Mandos, slays Bruitwir go-Maidros, father of Fëanor, and steals the gems

  • Melko steals Oromë's horses

  • Tulkas slays the herald of Melko

  • Fëanor speaks to the Noldoli (Gnomes) about leaving Valinor and going to the World

  • Melko and Unwë Lianti slay the Two Trees

    2991

  • Fëanor convinces the Noldoli to return to the world; Nólemë is opposed, but cooperates

    2992

  • The Noldoli steal, without slaying, the ships of the Solosimpi

    2993

  • A herald of Vefántur (Mandos) speaks the Prophecies of Amnos

    2994 - 2995

  • The ships are abandoned, and the Crossing of Helkaraksë is done

    Some time before the Sun appears

  • Nuin wakes Ermon and Elmir

    Year 1

  • The Sun and the Moon are made

  • Ermon and Elmir are the only men to see the Sun rise in the West

  • Men awakes

  • The Hiding of Valinor

  • The Gnomes come to Hisilómë; they have problem with the Shadow Folk, a race of fays

    ???

  • The Úvanimor and the Orcs appear; Túvo protects Men from them

  • Fúkil or Fangli, a servant of Melko, comes to Men and perverts them

  • Battle of Palisor: Men fell treacherously upon the Ilkorin, but the people of Ermon fought with Nuin

    ??? - may be simultaneous with the events above

  • The Gnomes encamp at the Waters of Asgon. Counting of the Folk. Turgon, son of Nólemë, is born with prophecies

  • Nólemë dies

  • The Gnomes leave Asgon, pass the Bitter Hills, and fight their first battle against the Orcs in the foothills of the Iron Mountains

    ???

  • The Gnomes encamp by Sirion, where they meet the Ilkorins and hear about Men and the Battle of Palisor

  • Fëanor, guided by Ilkorins, attacks the Iron Hills. He is captured, tortured, and maimed

  • The Seven Sons of Fëanor swear the Oath

  • Melko attacks; the Gnomes flee south, and dwell at Gorfalon, where they meet Men (good and bad). Embassies are sent to Túvo, Tinwelint and Ermon

    Year 72 of the Sun [???] (****)

  • The Terrible Battle of Unnumbered Tears

  • The Sons of Úrin fight to the last

  • Turgon escapes, and founds Gondolin

  • Men is shut in Hisilómë

  • The survivors swear allegiance with Melko, and are subject to the Spell of Bottomless Dread

  • Fengel , ancestor of Tuor, comes to Hisilómë after the Battle of Unnumbered Tears (TSoMe, page 4)

    after the Battle of Unnumbered Tears

  • Events of the Tale of Tinúviel (Beren is a Man, akin to Mavwin. This tale is lost, erased by Tolkien - See BoLT2, page 139)

    after rumours of the deeds of Beren and Tinuviel Luthien reach Dor Lómin

  • Turin (7 years old), son of Mavwin and Úrin, moves to Tinwelint's Halls

    12 years after Túrin left his mother

  • Túrin kills Orgof and is exiled from Tinwelint's Kingdom. Nienóri is 12 years old (this implies that the Tale of Tinúviel was instantaneous)

  • Túrin and Beleg the huntsman do many adventures

  • Túrin kills Beleg. Flinding bo-Dhuilin brings Túrin to the Rodothlim

    probably 17 years after Túrin left his mother

  • When Nienóri was in the threshold of womanhood , she and her mother Mavwin go to Tinwelint's Halls

    probably when Túrin was 25 years old (*)

  • Orcs and Glorund destroy the Rodothlim. Túrin goes to Dor-Lómin and finds his mother's house empty. Túrin slays Brodda

  • Tinwelint sends a force against Glorund the Foalókë. Mavwin and Nienóri go with them. They are enchanted.

  • Túrin saves Nienóri from the Orcs. They dwell in the house of Bethos

  • Bethos dies, and Turambar/Túrin becomes the chief of the woodmen, in preference to Tamar Lamefoot, Bethos's son and half-elf

    probably when Túrin was 28 years old (*)

  • Turambar/Túrin marries Níniel/Nienóri. She conceives. Turambar/Túrin kills Glorund. Níniel/Nienóri and Turambar/Túrin suicide

  • Melko releases Úrin.

  • Úrin gathers a band of men . They go to the caves of the Rodothlim, slay Mîm, and bring the treasure to Tinwelint's Halls. Úrin's band is slain by the elves , but Urin escapes, cursing the gold

  • Úrin returns to Hisílomë and dies

    after the slaughter in Tinwelint's Halls

  • Ufedhin passes seven months as a hostage

  • Nauglath from Nogrod pass three months working as slaves. The Nauglamir is made. Tinwelint betrays the dwarves

  • War of the Dwarves and Elves: Tinwelint is slain, and Artanor is sacked by Dwarves and Orcs

  • Beren and some elves ambush Naugladur at Sarnathrod

  • Tinúviel fades; Beren disappears; and Dior the Elf rules in Hisilómë

    probably a long time after Dior got the Nauglafring

  • Tuor son of Peleg son of Indor son of Fengel, with the help of Voronwë/Bronweg, moves from Dor Lómin to Gondolin

  • After some years, Tuor marries Idril, daughter of Turgon. She gives birth to Earendil

    when Earendil was 1 year old

  • Meglin is captured by Orcs, and betrays Gondolin to Melko

  • Around this time, Curufin goes to Dior and requests the Silmaril

    Seven years after Maglin's treason

  • The Fall of Gondolin

  • The Seven Sons of Fëanor (Maidros, Maglor, Dinithel, Damrod, Celegorm, Cranthor and Curufin) attack Hithlum and slay Dior. Elwing, with the Nauglafring, escapes.

    One year after the Fall of Gondolin and the Death of Dior

  • The exiles from Gondolin come to the Land of Willows

  • Eärendel and Elwing meet, as boy and girl, and fall in love

    When Tuor is old

  • Tuor sails in secret in the ship Swanwing

  • Eärendel sails to the North, is wrecked, meets Ulmo, that bids him to seek Kôr

    Scheme B, Part 3

  • Eärendel sails again with Voronwë, is wrecked (**), is saved by the Oarni [mermaids], and returns by land to Sirion

  • Idril sets sail at night and vanishes

  • Building of Wingilot

    Scheme B, Part 4

  • Eärendel with Voronwë sail again in Wingilot, in search for Valinor. His wanderings take many years

  • They go south, meet dark regions, fire mountains, tree-men, pygmies, sarqindi [cannibal-ogres]

  • They go west. Eärendel slays Ungweliantë

  • They pass by the Magic Isles, the Twilit Isles. Littleheart [query: how did Voronwë's son happen to be here?] plays a gong and awakes the Sleeper in the Tower of Pearl

    Scheme B, Part 5

  • The birds of Gondolin come to Kôr with tidings

  • Palúrien gives a magic seed to the Inwir

  • The Inwir, Teleri and Solosimpi march to the world. Inwë dies (probably in the trip)

  • Melko's Orcs attacks Sirion and capture Elwing

  • The Gods, angry at the elves, drop a veil between Valmar and Kôr

  • The Eldar, with Noldorin/Salmar (twin-brother of Ómar/Amillo) and Tulkas, come. They emcamp at Tasarinan, the Land of Willows

  • Battle of Tasarinan: Melko's goblins attack the Land of Willows. Valwë is captured, Noldorin barely escapes [or is captured, see page 280]

  • Tulkas defeats Melko in the Battle of the Silent Pools [the Pools of Twilight]. Melko is bound in Lumbi and guarded by Gorgumoth the hound of Mandos

  • The Noldoli are released

    Scheme B, Part 5 (cont)

  • The Eldar have wars with Men. They return to the Lonely Isle. Elwing sinks, but becomes a Seabird

  • In Tol Eressëa, Ingil son of Ingwë builds the Tower of Koromas in the town of Kortirion

  • The magic seed is forgotten, cast in the garden of Gilfanon. A mighty pine arises, that reaches to Ilwë and the stars

    Scheme B, Part 6

  • Eärendel comes to Kôr and finds it empty. He is covered by diamond dust.

  • He goes East, and finds the deserts and red places where the Sun dwells

  • He returns to Sirion, but finds it empty, too. He goes to Gondolin, where he hears tidings. He sails to Tol Eressëa, and to the Isle of Seabirds

    21 years after Eärendil comes to the Isle of Seabirds

  • Eärendel travels to the firmament and becomes Planet Venus

    After Great Ages

  • Men spread and thrive, while Elves fade

  • Tevildo, after long ages gnawing the chains, releases Melko

  • Melko goes to Tol Eressëa. The Elves ask help from Valinor. Tulkas sends his son Telimektar

  • Telimektar and Ingil wound Melko. He climbs the Pine of Tavrobel

  • Melko attacks the Sun, and slays Urwendi, the Maiden of the Sun

  • The Pine of Tavrobel is cut down

  • Melko is trapped in the sky; he can now only work evil through Men

    After Great Ages

  • Eoh, a man, is slain by his brother Beorn.

  • Eoh's son, Ottor Wæ'fre [Wáefre; there's no html symbol to a+e+'] settles in Heligoland in the North Sea, where he marries Cwen. They have two sons: Hengest and Horsa

  • (Hengest and Horsa are the names of real-world Jute conquerors of Kent; check in Year 449 in the Timeline of Britain )

  • Cwen dies while Hengest and Horsa are young. Otto Wæ'fre sets sail to the West

  • Ottor Wæ'fre comes to Tol Eressëa ; he is named Eriol or Angol by the Elves

    At least six months after Eriol comes to Tol Eressëa

  • Eriol visits Gilfanon [the eldest elf in the world], where he drinks limpë [this, apparently, causes rejuvenation]

  • Eriol marries the elf-maid Naimi [Éadgifu], niece of Vairë. They have a son, Heorrenda

    The Faring Forth

  • The Lost Elves of the Great Lands [Ilkorins?] rise against the servants of Melko

  • Ulmo and Uin [the great Whale] uproot Tol Eressëa, and bring it close to the Great Lands, at the promontory of Rôs [Brittany?]

  • Ossë tries to bring it back, and Tol Eressëa breaks. The smaller part becomes Íverin

  • Battle of Rôs: the elves from Tol Eressëa and the Lost Elves fight against Nautar, Gongs, Orcs and evil Men. The elves lose and retreat to Tol Eressëa

  • Evil Men, with Orcs et al, enter Tol Eressëa

  • Battle of the Heath of the Sky-roof [Ladwen-na-Dhaideloth], not far from Tavrobel. The Elves and the Children [???] flee over Gruir and Aros. Eriol witnesses this battle

  • The Elves fade

  • The sons of Eriol [Hengest, Horsa and Heorrenda] conquer the bigger part of Tol Eressëa, and it becomes England [the smaller part, Íverin, becomes Ireland]

  • Hengest dwells in Kortirion, renamed Warwick. Horsa dwells in Taruithorn (Oxford). Heorrenda dwells in Tavrobel (Great Haywood)

    (*) These numbers are more-or-less based on the Chronology of Turin's Age, given by Christopher Tolkien, on page 142 of _The Book of Lost Tales II_

    (**) All those wrecks don't mean that Eärendel was an incompetent mariner. Ossë, the rebel vassal of Ulmo that had suzeranity of the Inner Seas, didn't like him [or maybe he didn't like any Gnome...] and played the Seas against him

    (***) The Valian Years are taken from pages 263ss of The Shaping of Middle-earth . One Valian Year corresponds to 10 Sun Years. The captivity of Melko is shifted three ages back from the TSoMe chronology

    (****) The Date of the Battle of Unnumbered Tears was arbritarely set at Year 72 after the Sun, since

    Return to Alberto Monteiro's Home Page

    Return to Alberto Monteiro's Tolkien Page

    Return to Tolkien Timelines' Page

    This page was visited times

    Please send any comments to [email protected]

    This page was created in 1997.

    This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page
    Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

    1