Black Years

The Black Years, a term of dread in the lore of Middle-earth, denote the period in the Second Age when the Dark Lord Sauron rose to his greatest power. It was an age of forging and domination, when the foundations of the War of the Ring were laid in shadow and fire. The memory of this time, preserved only by the lore-masters, casts a long shadow over the events of the Third Age, a constant reminder of the evil that once held sway and the peril that could return.

The Forging of the One Ring and the Corruption of Eregion

Central to the Black Years was Sauron's deception of the Elven-smiths of Eregion. In his guise, he was not yet evil to behold, and he aided them in their craft, learning all their secrets. The Elves, in their eagerness for knowledge, were ensnared. It was during this time that the Rings of Power were forged, including the Three Rings for the Elven-kings, which Celebrimbor made and hid from Sauron. But Sauron secretly forged the One Ring in the Mountain of Fire, Orodruin, to be their master. When he put on the One Ring, Celebrimbor was aware of him from afar and heard him speak the words of power: "One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them." This act of betrayal led to war, the laying waste of Eregion, and the shutting of the gate of Moria. The Black Years were thus born from a profound act of treachery that corrupted the very art of ring-making.

The Dominion of Sauron and the Rise of Mordor

With the One Ring, Sauron's power became immense. He established his stronghold in Mordor, rebuilding the Dark Tower of Barad-dûr. The Black Years saw the land of Mordor become a place of terror, a shadow that stretched out over Middle-earth. The Nine Rings were given to mortal Men, proud and great, who were ensnared and became the Ringwraiths, the Nazgûl, Sauron's most terrible servants. The Seven Rings were given to the Dwarf-lords, but they proved untameable by this means, though the Rings inflamed their hearts with greed. The Three Rings of the Elves were hidden from him. The Black Years were a time when Sauron's will was paramount, and the free peoples of Middle-earth lived under the threat of his dominion. The very words of the Ring-verse, which Gandalf later recited to Frodo, were first spoken in this age, a dark litany of power and binding.

The Overthrow and the Enduring Shadow

The Black Years came to an end with the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. Gil-galad, the Elven-king, and Elendil of Westernesse led the host against Sauron. In the final combat on the slopes of Orodruin, both Gil-galad and Elendil were slain, but Sauron was overthrown. Isildur, Elendil's son, cut the Ring from Sauron's hand and took it for his own. Sauron's spirit fled and was hidden for long years, but the Black Years left an indelible mark. The Dark Tower was broken, but its foundations were not removed, for they were made with the power of the Ring. The memory of the Black Years became a legend of fear, a shadow in the background of the memories of the Hobbits and all free peoples. The very name of Mordor was known only in such legends, a dark and ominous tale. The Black Years thus represent not just a past age of terror, but a persistent threat that could be reborn, a lesson in the corrupting nature of power that the Council of Elrond would later grapple with as they faced the return of the One Ring.