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The '''Fourth Age''' began after [[Sauron]] was finally defeated, when his [[One Ring|Ruling Ring]] was destroyed, and the Elves left Middle-earth for the [[Valinor|Uttermost West]].
{{History of Arda}}
The '''Fourth Age''' began after [[Sauron]] was finally defeated, when his [[The One Ring|Ruling Ring]] was destroyed, and the [[Keepers of the Three Rings]] left Middle-earth for the [[Valinor|Uttermost West]]
==Starting of the Fourth Age==
The [[Third Age]] was held to have ended when the Three Rings passed away in September, {{TA|3021}}.


Tolkien's writing does not provide information on more than the first few centuries of this age, so it is not known when it ended, if it ever did.  
In the records of [[Gondor]] Fo.A. 1 began on [[25 March]] {{TA|3021|n}}.<ref>{{App|A1}}</ref> This means a difference of 1420 years with the [[Shire Reckoning]].


This age was (presumably) marked by the recovery of the [[Númenor]]ean kingdoms in exile ([[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]), the final ascent of [[Men (Middle-earth)|Men]] and the total wane of the [[Elves (Middle-earth)|Elves]].
In the [[Shire]] however, the Fourth Age 1 was called {{SR|1422}}<ref>{{App|D}}</ref>, implying a difference of 1421 years and a continuation of {{FoA|1}} after {{TA|3021|n}}, instead of being the same.<ref>The discrepancy is noted in the [http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/f/fourthage.html Encyclopedia of Arda]</ref>


Tolkien said that he thought the distance between the end of the Third Age and the [[20th century]] <small>C.E.</small> was about 6000 years, and that in [[1958]] it should have been around the end of the Fifth Age if the Fourth and Fifth Ages were about the same length as the Second and Third Ages.  He said, however, in a letter written in 1958 that he believed the Ages had quickened and that it was about the end of the Sixth Age/beginning of the Seventh. (This letter is referred to in the "Fourth Age" article of ''The Encyclopedia of Arda'' as mentioned below.)
For example, [[Legolas]]'s and [[Gimli]]'s departure is given as {{FoA|120}}, {{TA}} 3141 and {{SR|1541}} (according to the latter system).


The following is mere speculation and unrelated to fantasy works:
==History==
That implies that maybe the fall of [[Nazi Germany]] ended the Sixth Age in [[1945]], as the other ages also ended with the downfalls of tyrants. The estimation of 6000 years would place the end of the Third Age and the start of the Fourth in the [[5th millennium BC]]. Since Tolkien was a devout [[Catholic]], it is speculated that he would have held the birth of [[Jesus]] to be the most important event of the era, and thus would be the most likely time for the start of the Fifth Age.
There is no information on more than the first few centuries of this age, so it is not known when it ended, if it ever did.  


Determining the epoch of a Fifth era is important for those who apply the Tolkien calendar to present dates.
This age was (presumably) marked by the recovery of the [[Númenor]]ean kingdoms in exile ([[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]), the final ascent of [[Men]] and the total waning of the [[Elves]].


For a complete list of events during the Fourth Age see the [[Timeline#Fourth Age]]
==Further future?==
Tolkien said that he thought the distance between the end of the Third Age and the 20th century A.D. was about 6000 years, and that in [[1958]] it should have been around the end of the Fifth Age if the Fourth and Fifth Ages were about the same length as the Second and Third Ages. He said, however, in a letter written in 1958 that he believed the Ages had quickened and that it was about the end of the Sixth Age/beginning of the Seventh.<ref name="Letter211">{{L|211}}.</ref>
 
For a complete list of events during the Fourth Age, see the [[Timeline#Fourth Age|Timeline]].
 
{{references}}
[[Category:Ages]]
[[de:Das Vierte Zeitalter]]
[[fr:encyclo/chronologie/quatrieme_age]]
[[fi:Neljäs Aika]]

Revision as of 13:28, 5 October 2014

History of Arda
Before the Creation
Before the Ages
Days before days
Years of the Trees (up to Y.T. 1050)
Ages of the Children of Ilúvatar
First Age (begins in Y.T. 1050
and overlaps with the Years of the Trees
up to Y.T. 1500
)
- Years of the Sun begin in F.A. 1
Second Age
- Arda made round in S.A. 3319
Third Age
Fourth Age
Later Ages (up to present day)
End of Arda
Timeline of Arda
(See: Round World version of the Silmarillion
for a later conception of Tolkien's cosmology)

The Fourth Age began after Sauron was finally defeated, when his Ruling Ring was destroyed, and the Keepers of the Three Rings left Middle-earth for the Uttermost West.

Starting of the Fourth Age

The Third Age was held to have ended when the Three Rings passed away in September, T.A. 3021.

In the records of Gondor Fo.A. 1 began on 25 March 3021.[1] This means a difference of 1420 years with the Shire Reckoning.

In the Shire however, the Fourth Age 1 was called S.R. 1422[2], implying a difference of 1421 years and a continuation of Fo.A. 1 after 3021, instead of being the same.[3]

For example, Legolas's and Gimli's departure is given as Fo.A. 120, T.A. 3141 and S.R. 1541 (according to the latter system).

History

There is no information on more than the first few centuries of this age, so it is not known when it ended, if it ever did.

This age was (presumably) marked by the recovery of the Númenorean kingdoms in exile (Arnor and Gondor), the final ascent of Men and the total waning of the Elves.

Further future?

Tolkien said that he thought the distance between the end of the Third Age and the 20th century A.D. was about 6000 years, and that in 1958 it should have been around the end of the Fifth Age if the Fourth and Fifth Ages were about the same length as the Second and Third Ages. He said, however, in a letter written in 1958 that he believed the Ages had quickened and that it was about the end of the Sixth Age/beginning of the Seventh.[4]

For a complete list of events during the Fourth Age, see the Timeline.

References