THE LORD OF THE RINGS TIMELINE

Middle-earth Timeline

The ultimate chronological timeline for all Lord of the Rings related media

Ages

Searching the Red Book of Westmarch…
The Book of Lost Tales: Part I

Days before days - First Age

The Book of Lost Tales: Part I

Released October 1983

The Book of Lost Tales stands at the beginning of the entire conception of Middle-earth and Valinor

Books Tolkien timeline
The Silmarillion

Days before days - First Age

The Silmarillion

Released September 1977

The Silmarillion is an account of the Elder Days, of the First Age of Tolkien's world

Books Tolkien timeline
The Book of Lost Tales: Part II

First Age

The Book of Lost Tales: Part II

Released August 1984

The second of a two-book set that contains the early myths and legends which led to the writing of Tolkien’s epic tale of war, The Silmarillion.

Books Tolkien timeline
The Lays of Beleriand

First Age

The Lays of Beleriand

Released August 1985

The third volume that contains the early myths and legends which led to the writing of Tolkien's epic tale of war, The Silmarillion.

Books Tolkien timeline
The Shaping of Middle-earth

Days before days - First Age

The Shaping of Middle-earth

Released August 1986

The fourth volume that contains the early myths and legends which led to the writing of Tolkien’s epic tale of war, The Silmarillion.

Books Tolkien timeline
The Lost Road and Other Writings

Days before days - Second Age

The Lost Road and Other Writings

Released August 1987

The fifth volume of the History of Middle-earth, containing the early myths and legends which led to the writing of Tolkien’s epic tale of war, The Silmarillion.

Books Tolkien timeline
Morgoth’s Ring

Days before days - First Age

Morgoth’s Ring

Released September 1993

The first of two companion volumes which documents the later writing of The Silmarillion, Tolkien's epic tale of war.

Books Tolkien timeline
The War of the Jewels

First Age

The War of the Jewels

Released October 1994

The second of two companion volumes which documents the later writing of The Silmarillion, Tolkien’s epic tale of war.

Books Tolkien timeline
Beren and Lúthien

First Age

Beren and Lúthien

Released June 2017

The tale of Beren and Lúthien was, or became, an essential element in the evolution of The Silmarillion, the myths and legends of the First Age of the World conceived by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Books Tolkien timeline
The Children of Húrin

First Age

The Children of Húrin

Released April 2007

The Children of Húrin tells the tragic story of Túrin and Niënor, cursed by Morgoth, and their doomed fates in Middle-earth.

Books Tolkien timeline
Searching the Red Book of Westmarch…

Every Middle-earth story on one timeline: Tolkien's books, Peter Jackson's films, The Rings of Power, the animated films, the video games, the BBC radio drama and the stage musical. Sort them by in-universe date, by release date or alphabetically, and filter by media type.

Looking for something specific? See the Lord of the Rings watch order, the Tolkien books reading order, the games in chronological order, or where The Hunt for Gollum fits. You can also try to draw Frodo's road to Mordor.

Frequently asked questions

What is the chronological order of the Lord of the Rings stories?

The First Age tales (The Silmarillion, The Children of Húrin, Beren and Lúthien, The Fall of Gondolin) come first, then the Second Age (The Fall of Númenor, The Rings of Power). The Third Age follows with The War of the Rohirrim, The Hobbit and finally The Lord of the Rings.

When is The Hobbit set compared to The Lord of the Rings?

The Hobbit takes place in the year 2941 of the Third Age. Frodo leaves Bag End in 3018, 77 years later.

Does the timeline follow the books or the films?

Both. Each entry is placed at the in-universe date of its own story, and the films, series and games that do not follow Tolkien closely are grouped on a separate standalone timeline.

Searching the Red Book of Westmarch…