Second Age

   The Age of Númenor.

   Beginning in about the 584th year since the Return of the Noldor to Middle-earth, the Second Age is the longest of the chronicled Ages. It began after the destruction of Beleriand in the War of Wrath, the founding of Lindon and the creation of Númenor.

   The Second Age was the Age of Númenor; the great island kingdom was created and peopled by the descendants of the Edain in the first years of the Age, and as the years passed, their power grew until it surpassed that of any nation of Men, before or since. They sailed east, exploring Middle-earth and founding great cities there. Eventually, their power and pride became so great that they challenged the Valar themselves, and were destroyed.

   The end of Númenor was not the end of the Second Age, though; a remnant of the Númenoreans led by Elendil escaped its wreck and founded kingdoms in Middle-earth; Arnor in the north and Gondor in the south. They formed a mighty alliance, the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, and marched on Sauron, who had grown great again, assailing the Dark Tower of Barad-dûr.

   With the first overthrow of Sauron by the Alliance, the Second Age came to its end.

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   Key Events of the Second Age:

   ♦ 1: Foundation of the Elven-kingdoms in the west of Middle-earth, Mithlond and Lindon.

   ♦ 32: Arrival of the Edain in Númenor. Elrond's brother Elros becames their first king, taking the name Tar-Minyatur.

   ♦ 600: The first ships of the Númenoreans return to Middle-earth.

   ♦ 1200: Sauron comes to the Elves of Eregion in a fair guise, and begins to teach them.

   ♦ c.1590: The smiths of Eregion complete the Three Rings of the Elves.

   ♦ c.1600: Sauron forges the One Ring in Orodruin, and so reveals his true purposes to the Elves.

   ♦ 1693: War begins between the Elves and Sauron.

   ♦ 1701: Sauron's forces, after taking much of Eriador, are driven back into the East by an army of Númenor.

   ♦ c.2250: First appearance of the Nazgûl.

   ♦ 3261: Ar-Pharazôn, last King of Númenor, usurps the throne.

   ♦ 3262: Ar-Pharazôn sails to Middle-earth and takes Sauron as prisoner back to Númenor. There, he begins to corrupt the Númenoreans.

   ♦ 3319: Ar-Pharazôn sails into the west to assail the Valar. The Downfall of Númenor.

   ♦ 3320: Arnor and Gondor are founded by Elendil and his sons Isildur and Anárion.

   ♦ 3430: Formation of the Last Alliance.

   ♦ 3441: Defeat of Sauron by the Last Alliance.