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At the end of the Ages of Starlight the following realms were already in existence: the Sindarin kingdom of Doriath, the Dwarvish kingdoms of Khazâd-Dûm (Moria), Belegost, and Nogrod, and Melkor's kingdom of Angband. Doriath would fall at the end of the First Age, Belegost and Nogrod would be flooded in Second Age 40 with the sinking of Beleriand, and Angband would survive to the end of the First Age. Before the events of the First Age the Petty-Dwarves carved out the caverns of Nargothrond before Finrod settled in Nargothrond in FA 50. Silvan Elves lived in Greenwood the Great.

- First Age -

The First Years of the First Age

Galadriel and Celeborn met in Doriath during the First Age. At one point, Celeborn was the grandson of Thingol's younger brother, Elmo. Elmo was "beloved of Elwë with whom he remained". So Elmo would have lived in Doriath. Elmo had a son, Galadhon (as in Caras Galadhon, the main dwelling-place of the Elves in Lothlórien ? Caras Galadhon also means "The City of the Trees"). Galadhon's sons were Celeborn and Galathil. Galathil was the father of Nimloth. Nimloth was the wife of Dior and the mother of Elwing. Galadriel and Celeborn were presumably present at the fall of Doriath and helped Elwing escape.

[Perhaps the variant stories about Celeborn could be combined to say that Celeborn was a grandson of Elmo. Elmo was a younger brother of Olwë of Alqualondë. Unlike Elmo and his father, Celeborn continued on to Aman where he lived with Olwë of Alqualondë, his great-uncle. He met Galadriel in Alqualondë. Celeborn and Galadriel set sail in Celeborn's ship and arrived in Círdan's harbor before the coming of Fingolfin. They went to Doriath and joined Celeborn's grandfather, Elmo and Galadhon, Celeborn's father. Celeborn and Galadriel were married in Doriath after a long betrothal. When they moved to Lothlórien they named the main residence Caras Galadhon after Celeborn's father, Galadhon, son of Elmo.]

Lórien may have been the Nandorin land known as Lórinand during the First Age. Its earliest name was Lindórinand, "Vale of the Land of the Singers." In some versions, the name only became Lórinand after Galadriel introduced the mallorn trees. Treebeard said the earliest name for the land was Laurelindórinan or "Valley of Singing Gold". The Quenya form of "Valley of gold" would be Laurenandë.

Tyrn Gorthad (the Barrow Downs) became a burial ground for Edain chiefs during the First Age. It was settled before the Edain crossed the Blue Mountains and entered Beleriand.

It is not known when Dale was founded as a city-kingdom but the people of Dale were related to the Edain of the First Age, like all Northmen.

The Pukel Men, the ancestors of the Woses, lived in the south.

FA 1 (30th Valarian Age ) The Moon rose and the First Age started as Fingolfin, the second son of Finwë, crossed over from Helcaraxë and set foot on Middle Earth. Fingolfin was seeking to avenge Morgoth's murder of his father, Finwë. Finwë had been the High King of the Noldor in Aman. Morgoth had killed Finwë at Formenos when Morgoth took the three Silmarils. The Silmarils held the light of the Trees of the Valar. Fingolfin became the High King of the Noldor in FA 1 since Fëanor had already died in the Battle Under the Stars (Dagor-nuin-Giliath), which took place at the end of the Ages of Starlight. Fingolfin's wife was Anairë, a Noldorin Elf who refused to leave Aman. She was great friends with Eärwen, the Telerin wife (daughter of Olwë) of the Noldorin Finarfin.

FA 2 to FA 20 Various Noldorin kingdoms in Beleriand were founded from FA 2 to FA 20. Fingolfin settled in Hithlum. He kept Morgoth's forces largely confined to Angband until FA 455 and the Battle of Sudden Flame.

Dor-lómin was the kindgom of Fingon, the eldest son of Fingolfin. Fingon was also born in the Ages of Starlight in Eldamar. He was Turgon's elder brother. Hador, founder of the Third House of the Edain, was the lord of Dor-lómin and a vassal of Fingolfin.

Turgon originally held Nevrast (south of Hithlum) before going on to Gondolin. Turgon was the second son of Fingolfin and was born in the Ages of Starlight in Eldamar.

At some point, Melian the Maia protected the woodland kingdom of Doriath with a great spell that kept all evil out. Doriath then became known as the Hidden Kingdom.

FA 21 The great Feast of Reuniting was held by Fingolfin in FA 21 at Eithel Ivrin. It was for all Eldar of Middle Earth, both Noldor and Sindar. Eithel Ivrin was a spring and cataract in the southern part of the Ered Wethrin or Shadowy Mountains. It was the source of the river Narog. Eithel Ivrin was also called the Falls or Pools of Ivrin. The eastern part of the Shadowy Mountains was the source of the river Sirion.

Founding of Tol Sirion, and Nargothrond, and Gondolin

Before FA 50 Finrod (eldest son of Finarfin) built the fortress of Minas Tirith on the green island of Tol Sirion. Orodreth, the second son of Finarfin, was its warden for a time (perhaps after his brother, Finrod, left for Nargothrond around FA 50). Tol Sirion guarded the northern reaches of the Sirion River and the Pass of Sirion. From the fortress, Finrod's forces were able to keep an eye on Morgoth. The Sirion River was the most important one in Beleriand. It lay in central Beleriand and it led into the Bay of Balar. Its major tributaries included the Narog (home of Nargothrond) and the Esgalduin (home of Menegroth).

FA 50 Finrod founded Nargothrond, which was the largest of the Noldorin kingdoms in Beleriand. The underground caverns of Nargothrond were first carved by the Petty-Dwarves, who were the original inhabitants. Thingol told his kin, Finrod and Finrod's sister Galadriel, about the caverns of Nargothrond when Finrod and Galadriel were visiting him in Doriath. Finrod went to Nargothrond and under his leadership Noldorin Elves and Dwarves from the Blue Mountains expanded the caverns. Finrod modelled his kingdom on Menegroth. Finrod ruled much of West Beleriand from his base on the Narog River. The Elves of Nargothrond took part in many of the battles of Beleriand.

But Galadriel did not go with Finrod to Nargothrond. While she was in Doriath she met Celeborn of Doriath. Celeborn was a kinsman of Thingol. Galadriel married him and stayed in Doriath. In Doriath, Galadriel learned much from Melian the Maia. In another version of Galadriel and Celeborn's story, they lived in Lindon as husband and wife by the beginning of the Second Age.

FA 52 or 58 Turgon (the second son of Fingolfin) first saw the valley of Tumladen in the Echarioth or Encircling Mountains in FA 52. Some say he did not start work on Gondolin until FA 58. The valley was north of the already existing kingdom of Doriath. Over the next 50 years, the Noldor built the white stone city of Gondolin on the hill of Amon Gwareth. The name, Gondolin, means "hidden stone". Gondolin's high Elvish name was Ondolindë, which means "stone song". The city was modelled on Tirion of Eldamar. Gondolin was completed in FA 104. Alternatively, Turgon did not leave Vinyamar in Nevrast for Gondolin until FA 110.

Daglor Aglareb (the Glorious Battle) and the Long Peace

FA 56 The first and second battles of the Wars of Beleriand took place during the Ages of the Stars. The third battle of the Wars of Beleriand was the Dagor Aglareb in First Age 56. The Daglor Aglareb was called the Glorious Battle because the Orc legions were so decimated that the Elves were able to lay siege to Angband for 400 years after.

Fingon, Fingolfin's eldest son, lived at Dor-lómin until he ceded the land to some friendly Edain. Then he moved to Mithrim.

FA 104 Gondolin was completed. Other sources say Turgon did not leave Vinyamar in Nevrast for Gondolin until FA 110.

FA 160 Orcs raided Hithlum.

FA 260 Glaurung the Dragon attacked Beleriand. He was defeated by Fingon.

Before FA 305 Tyrn Gorthad (the Barrow Downs) became a burial ground for Edain chiefs during the First Age. It was settled before the Edain crossed the Blue Mountains and entered Beleriand.

FA 305 The first Men may have come to Beleriand. They meet Finrod, the son of Finarfin.

FA 300s (4th century) Men of the Three Houses of the Elf-friends, the Edain, moved west to Beleriand. The First House of the Edain and the first Edain to pass on to Beleriand was the kindred of Beor. Beor's people settled in Estolad. Beor the Old (or Balan) later served Finrod in Nargothrond. Beren was descended from the First House.

The Second House of the Edain were the Haladin. The Haladin were the least numerous of the three houses and were a solitary, forest-loving people. Their language was unrelated to that of the other two houses. They first stayed in Thargelion in Beleriand where the Noldor under Caranthir ignored them. The first chief of the Haladin, called Haldad, was killed by the Orcs, as were many of his people. Caranthir eventually came to their rescue. Haldad's daughter Haleth led the people to the Forest of Brethil, where they fought against Melkor's forces. They guarded Nargothrond's northern flank until they were defeated in FA 496. The Haladin suffered many losses and dwindled. The Haladin lived in peace with the Pukel Men. The Pukel Men later became the ancestors of the Woses of Druadan (Dru-adan).

The Third House of the Edain were the House of Hador. They were the last and largest group. Marach led them to Estolad, where their relatives already lived. They later went to Dorlomin under their lord, Hador. After Dorthonion fell, the Third House took in survivors from the First House.

Other Edain lived in Eriador and throughout Middle Earth. The Edain in Eriador were often under the sway of Morgoth.

FA 300s Beren was born in the fourth century of the First Age.

Dagor Bragollach (the Battle of Sudden Flame) and Tol Sirion

FA 455 Morgoth broke the Long Peace in FA 455 when Balrogs and fire-breathing dragons led legions of Orcs in the Fourth Battle, the Battle of Sudden Flame or Dagor Bragollach. This battle was a great victory for Morgoth. Fingolfin was so filled with despair and anger after this battle that he rode to Angband and challenged Morgoth to a duel. Fingolfin wounded Morgoth but Fingolfin was finally killed by Morgoth. His body was rescued by Thorondor the Eagle and he was buried in the Encircling Mountinas.

Fingon, the son of Fingolfin, now became the High King of the Noldor. Fingon was the father of Gil-galad (in the official version of the story). Hithlum survived the death of Fingolfin. Angrod and Aegnor, the sons of Finarfin, also died. Meanwhile, Finrod Felagund, the son of Finarfin (Finarfin was the brother of Fingolfin) was rescued by Barahir of the Edain during the Battle of Sudden Flame. Because Barahir rescued him, Finrod later helped Barahir's son, Beren, during his Quest of the Silmaril.

FA 457 Tol Sirion, which had housed Finrod's fortress of Minas Tirith and guarded the Sirion Pass against Morgoth, fell. The fortress was taken by Sauron and an army of werewolves. The island was called Tol-in-Gaurhoth, the "isle of Werewolves", thereafter. Orodreth, the second son of Finarfin, had been the warden of Tol Sirion. He now fled Tol Sirion and joined his brother Finrod in Nargothrond. Easterlings take Mithrim and Dor-lómin.

Beren and Lúthien

FA 465 Beren came to Doriath and fell in love with Lúthien, the daughter of Melian the Maia and Thingol, king of Doriath. Beren was born in the fourth century of the First Age (the 300s). He was the son of the mortal Barahir and Emeldir. Lúthien was born in the Ages of Starlight. Thingol refused to let Lúthien and Beren marry unless Beren brought him a Silmaril. This ultimately led to the death of Thingol and the destruction of Doriath.

FA 466 Finrod and Beren and Finrod began the Quest of the Silmaril. Beren and Finrod were captured by Sauron on the Isle of Werewolves and thrown into the dungeons.

FA 467 Finrod died saving Beren. Finrod Felagund was the son of Finarfin and brother of Galadriel.

FA 467 Orodreth, the brother of Finrod, succeeded Finrod as the king of Nargothrond.

FA 467 Lúthien and Huan the Wolfhound came to their defense some time around FA 467. Lúthien and Huan defeated Sauron and reclaimed the island, which again became known as Tol Sirion. Finrod was buried there.

Lúthien and Beren went to Angband and took a Silmaril from Morgoth. Lúthien sang a spell of enchantment and Beren cut a Silmaril jewel from Morgoth's crown. As they fled the Wolf of Angband bit off the Silmaril and Beren's hand and swallowed it. Beren and Lúthien then escaped to Doriath. Beren later killed the Wolf with the help of Huan. Beren gave the jewel to Thingol and then died. After his death Lúthien died of grief. She convinced Mandos, the Lord of the Dead, to let Beren and herself to return to Middle Earth. They were allowed to live a quiet life in Ossiriand until the beginning of the fifth century of the First Age.

FA 470 Birth of Dior, son of Lúthien and Beren, in Ossiriand.

Ninaeth Arnodiad (Battle of Unnumbered Tears), Hithlum, and the Falas

FA 473 (or 470) Morgoth was again victorious in the Fifth Battle, the Ninaeth Arnodiad or Battle of Unnumbered Tears, in FA 473 (or 470). Turgon and the Gondolindrim unexpectantly showed up and supported Fingon's forces at the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. Turgon was the younger brother of Fingon. The Elves of the Falas and a company from Nargothrond under Gwindor was also there as were the men of Dor-lómin, Húrin, Huor, and Haldir of Brethil. The Elvish host was only saved by the sacrifice of the Edain. When Fingon retreated, Haldir, the lord of the Haladin, died in rearguard action and most of the Men of Brethil fell with him. Fingon, the High King, was killed by a Balrog during the course of the battle. The sons of Ulfang went over to Morgoth and began to attack the sons of Fëanor. Maglor killed Uldor, the leader of the treason, but the Battle was won by Morgoth. The High King was dead and the Elves no longer trusted Men except for the three Houses of the Edain. A few of the Haladin under Handir, son of Haldir, returned to their woods but none of the House of Hador returned nor did Fingon's people return to Hithlum. Hithlum now fell to Morgoth. Many of the Elves fled to the Havens of Círdan.

FA 473 (or 470) Turgon, the second son of Fingolfin, now became the High King.

FA 473 Túrin Turambar, an Edain of Dor-lómin was sent to be raised by Thingol of Doriath. Túrin (born FA 465) was the son of Húrin and Morwen. Túrin and his Sindarin mentor, Beleg Strongbow, defended Doriath and the surrounding area beginning about FA 482.

FA 474 (or FA 471) The harbors of Círdan and the Falathrim lasted until FA 474 (or FA 471), when the Orcs overran the Falas. Círdan and his people retreated to the Isle of Balar. Gil-galad, Fingon's son and heir, goes with them.

The Battle of Tumhalad and the Fall of Nargothrond

FA 488 to FA 496 The mortal Túrin lived in Nargothrond and was called Mormegil the Black Sword. There he fell in love with Finduilas, the daughter of Orodreth. Orodreth, the second son of Finarfin, was king of Nargothrond after the death of his brother, Finrod, FA 467.

FA 496 The Battle of Tumhalad/Nargothrond was fought. Tumhalad was the valley between the Ginglith and Narog rivers. Túrin of the Edain fought in the Battle of Tumhalad. The Elves of Nargothrond were decimated by Glaurung the Dragon at the Battle of Tumhalad and were unable to defend their city. Glaurung promptly crossed the bridge and took the city at the Sack of Nargothrond in FA 496. Orodreth, the king of Nargothrond, was killed. The Orcs took their captives, including Finduilas, the daughter of Orodreth, to the Crossings of Teiglin. There they were waylaid by the Men of Brethil (of the House of Haladin) but the Orcs killed their captives. Finduilas was pinned to a tree by a spear. Her last words were of Túrin, "Tell the Mormegil that Finduilas is here". She was buried in the Mound of the Elf-maid. Some of the survivors of Nargothrond fled to Doriath.

Glaurung lived in the caverns of Nargothrond for five years. Túrin returned to Nargothrond and was bound by Glaurung's spell.

FA 496, Ulmo sent the mortal Tuor to Gondolin to warn Turgon to flee. Turgon refused to leave. Tuor promptly fell in love with Turgon's daughter, Idril Silverfoot. Idril's mother was Elenwë.

FA 500 Túrin married a "Haladin" maiden named "Níniel".

FA 501 Túrin killed Glaurung. The dying Glaurung told Túrin that Níniel was really Túrin's sister, Nienor. Túrin killed himself and Nienor/Níniel threw herself into the Teiglin river.

FA 501 Tuor and Idril married around FA 501.

FA 504 (or FA 502) Eärendil was born in Gondolin. He was the son of Tuor, an Edain lord, and Idril Celebrindal, the daughter of Turgon and Elenwë.

The Fall of Doriath/Menegroth

FA 505 The Dwarves were overcome with greed for the Silmaril. They killed Thingol, and stole the Nauglamir, the golden necklace the Dwarves of Nogrod had made for Thingol's Silmaril. The Dwarves were then killed and the necklace returned to Menegroth. Melian left Doriath after the death of her husband and took with her the spell of protection. Doriath was attacked by the Dwarves of Nogrod, who took the necklace.

Dior became the king of Doriath in FA 505 upon the death of his grandfather, Thingol. He rallied the Sindar, the Laiquendi, and the Ents. Dior, his father Beren, and the combined forces destroyed the Dwarvish army before they could reach Nogrod. The Elves again retook the necklace.

But Dior was also under the Curse of the Silmaril. Beren and Lúthien died in Ossiriand some time during the fifth century and Dior inherited the Nauglamir with the Silmaril.

FA 509 The sons of Fëanor attacked Menegroth and Dior and his wife Nimloth were killed by Noldorin Elves. The Elves of Doriath fled the land after the second sacking of Menegroth. Elwing, the daughter of Dior and Nimloth, was the only one of her family to survive the second sacking of Menegroth (Doriath). Elwing fled to the harbor of Arvernien with the Silmaril.

It is possible that Galadriel and Celeborn were present at Doriath's fall and helped Elwing escape. Somewhere there is a line that Celeborn "escaped the sack of Doriath". According to Unfinished Tales, one version of the stories said that Celeborn was the son of Galadhon and the grandson of Elmo. Elmo was the younger brother of Elwë (Thingol) and Olwë. Elmo stayed with Elwë and so would have lived in Doriath. At his death, Tolkien seems to have been thinking of making Celeborn a Telerin Elf of Aman rather than a Sindarin Elf of Beleriand but this version was not written down.

In one draft of the story there is the suggestion that Oropher, Legolas' grandfather, was one of the many refugees from the fall of Doriath (FA 509). Oropher ruled Greenwood the Great and ranged as far north as the woods around the Lonely Mountain and as far south as Lórien (they had been "neighbours" of their relatives in Lórien). If Oropher was a refugee from Doriath then he would not have ruled Greenwood the Great until after FA 509. Oropher came with only a few Sindarin Elves. Oropher's son, Thranduil, modelled his modest underground halls on Thingol's Menegroth. Thranduil did not reign until the Second Age.

The Fall of Gondolin

FA 511 (or FA 509) Gondolin, the last of the Elven kingdoms, fell. Morgoth had been seeking its locations for years. The city was attacked on the eve of the Gates of Summer, which was a great festival in Gondolin. Turgon died defending his city.

Eärendil, the young son of Tuor and Idril Celebrindal, the daughter of Turgon, survived the Sack of Gondolin and went to the Mouths of the Sirion. He would have been about 7. His parents, Tuor and Idril, also survived. Eärendil grew up in Arvernien. There he met and married Elwing, the daughter of Dior and Nimloth.

FA 555 Elrond and Elros were born to Eärendil and Elwing around FA 555.

FA 568 The remaining sons of Fëanor attacked the Havens of the Sirion and kidnapped Elrond and Elros around this time.

The War of Wrath or the Great Battle

FA 570 Eärendil went to Valinor to plead with the Valar to intervene in Middle Earth.

FA 601 (or FA 572) Morgoth had reigned supreme over Middle Earth for almost a century. But now the Valar and Maiar attacked Morgoth and his forces. This became known as the War of Wrath or the Great Battle. The Vanyar of Aman and the Noldor of Aman under Finarfin also fought (Finarfin, alone of all his brothers, had never left Aman). Morgoth brought out all his forces, including a legion of fire-breathing dragons, but the Valar prevailed. Angband was destroyed and Morgoth was thrown into the Void.

But Beleriand was ruined. The Iron and Blue Moutains had been broken and the waters of Belegaer or the Great Sea drowned Beleriand. Then Eönwë summoned the Elves of Beleriand to come to Aman. Many ships were built in the West and the Eldar left Middle Earth. The Elves of Beleriand then settled in Tol Eressëa and were pardoned by the Valar. But some, such as Círdan, Galadriel and Celeborn, Gil-galad, and Elrond, stayed in Middle Earth.

- Sources -

Appendices of the Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien.

The Atlas of Middle-Earth, Karen Wynn Fonstad, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1973, 1991.

The Complete Guide to Middle Earth: Tolkien's World From A to Z, Robert Foster, New York: Ballantine, 1978, 2001.

The Complete Tolkien Companion, by J. E. A. Tyler, New York: Thomas Dunne Books, 1976, 1979, 2004 (3rd edition).

The Silmarillion, J.R.R. Tolkien.

Tolkien: The Illustrated Encyclopedia, David Day, New York: Fireside/Simon and Schuster, 1991.

Unfinished Tales: The Lost Lore of Middle-Earth, JRR and Christopher Tolkien, New York: Ballantine Books, 1980, 1988.

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