Fourth Age: Difference between revisions
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The [[Third Age]] was held to have ended when the Three Rings passed away in September, {{TA|3021}}. | The [[Third Age]] was held to have ended when the Three Rings passed away in September, {{TA|3021}}. | ||
In the records of [[Gondor]] Fo.A. 1 began on [[25 March]] {{TA|3021|n}}, that is, 6 months ''before'' the end of the previous Age.<ref>{{App|A1}}</ref> This also means a difference of 1420 years with the [[Shire Reckoning]]. | In the records of [[Gondor]] Fo.A. 1 began on [[25 March]] {{TA|3021|n}},<ref>{{App|Chief}}</ref> that is, 6 months ''before'' the end of the previous Age.<ref>{{App|A1}}</ref> This also means a difference of 1420 years with the [[Shire Reckoning]]. | ||
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> | In [[the Shire]] however, the Fourth Age 1 was called {{SR|1422}}<ref>{{App|Later}}</ref><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> | ||
For example, [[Legolas]]'s and [[Gimli]]'s departure is given as {{FoA|120}}, {{TA}} 3141 and {{SR|1541}} (according to the latter system). | For example, [[Legolas]]'s and [[Gimli]]'s departure is given as {{FoA|120}}, {{TA}} 3141 and {{SR|1541}} (according to the latter system). |
Revision as of 16:20, 30 September 2020
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] that is, 6 months before the end of the previous Age.[2] This also means a difference of 1420 years with the Shire Reckoning.
In the Shire however, the Fourth Age 1 was called S.R. 1422[3][4], implying a difference of 1421 years and a continuation of Fo.A. 1 after 3021, instead of being the same.[5]
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, although it was probably shorter than 3 millennia.[6]
This age was (presumably) marked by the recovery of the Númenorean kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor, and a flourishing of their subjects, including the Shire and the Hobbits, while the House of Durin retook Moria until the race of Dwarves failed.[7] Eventually that would lead to the final Dominion of Men over Arda, coming together with the total waning of the Elves and other dwindling races, such as the Ents and probably the Dwarves.
The Last Ship of the Elves, carrying Cirdan and Celeborn,[8] apparently sailed before 120[9]
In a 1972 letter concerning The New Shadow, Tolkien mentioned that Eldarion's reign would have lasted for about 100 years after the death of Aragorn.[10]
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.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Chief Days from the Fall of Barad-dûr to the End of the Third Age"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "Later Events Concerning the Members of the Fellowship of the Ring"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix D
- ↑ The discrepancy is noted in the Encyclopedia of Arda
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 211, (dated 14 October 1958).
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "Of Dwarves and Men"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "Prologue"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 338, (dated 6 June 1972)