Second Age

The Second Age of Middle-earth is the epoch that bridges the ancient legends of the First Age and the familiar world of the Third Age in which The Lord of the Rings is set. It is a period of immense power, glory, and ultimate catastrophe, whose events—the forging of the Rings of Power, the rise and fall of Númenor, and the War of the Last Alliance—directly create the conditions for the War of the Ring. The history of this age is preserved in the lore of Elrond, the records of Gondor, and the traditions of the Wise, and it is recounted in part during the Council of Elrond to explain the nature of the One Ring and the peril it represents.

The Forging of the Rings and the Rise of Sauron

In the early centuries of the Second Age, the world was still recovering from the wars against Morgoth. Many of the High Elves remained in Middle-earth, and the great Elven-smiths of Eregion, led by Celebrimbor, reached the height of their craft. In this time of peace and eagerness for knowledge, Sauron, who had not yet revealed his evil nature, approached them. He instructed the Elven-smiths in secret arts, and under his guidance, the Rings of Power were forged. The Elves made many lesser rings as essays in the craft, but the greatest of them were the Rings of Power: the Three for the Elven-kings, the Seven for the Dwarf-lords, and the Nine for Mortal Men. Unbeknownst to them, Sauron secretly forged the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom in Mordor, intending it to be the Master-ring that would rule all the others. Celebrimbor became aware of Sauron's treachery and hid the Three Rings, which Sauron had never touched. War broke out between Sauron and the Elves. Eregion was laid waste, Celebrimbor was slain, and the gates of Moria were shut. Elrond retreated with the remnants of the Noldor and founded the refuge of Rivendell. Sauron's power grew, and he overran much of Eriador until a great navy from Númenor came to the aid of the Elves and defeated him, driving him back eastward.

The Glory and Downfall of Númenor

At the beginning of the Second Age, the Valar granted the Edain, the Men who had fought against Morgoth, a great island in the midst of the Sea, removed from the dangers of Middle-earth. This was Númenor, or Westernesse. Elros, the brother of Elrond, became its first king, Tar-Minyatur. The Númenóreans were granted long life and great wisdom, and they became mighty mariners and lords of many ships. For many centuries, they were friends to the Elves and enriched by their knowledge. However, a shadow fell upon them. They began to envy the immortality of the Eldar and to murmur against the Ban of the Valar, which forbade them to sail west out of sight of their own shores. As their power grew, their kings became greedy for wealth and dominion, and they began to establish fortresses and hold wide coastlands in Middle-earth in subjection. The shadow deepened, and the people became divided: the Kings and their followers, who were estranged from the Valar, and the Faithful, who remained loyal. The twentieth king, Ar-Adûnakhôr, began to persecute the Faithful. The final king, Ar-Pharazôn the Golden, was the proudest and most powerful of all. He sailed to Middle-earth with a great navy, and Sauron, seeing his might, humbled himself and was taken as a prisoner to Númenor. There, Sauron quickly bewitched the king and became his master, turning the hearts of all but the Faithful towards darkness. He lied to the king, declaring that everlasting life could be won by those who possessed the Undying Lands. Ar-Pharazôn, fearing death, broke the Ban of the Valar and set sail with a great armament to wrest immortality from the Lords of the West. When he set foot upon the shores of Aman, the Valar laid down their Guardianship and called upon the One, and the world was changed. Númenor was thrown down and swallowed by the Sea, and the Undying Lands were removed from the circles of the world forever.

The Realms in Exile and the Last Alliance

Elendil the Tall, the leader of the Faithful, and his sons, Isildur and Anárion, escaped the Downfall of Númenor with nine ships. They were cast upon the shores of Middle-earth, where they established the Númenórean realms in exile: Arnor in the North, with Elendil as High King dwelling at Annúminas, and Gondor in the South, ruled by his sons. They founded Osgiliath, Minas Ithil, and Minas Anor. Sauron, though his bodily form perished in the wreck of Númenor, also escaped as a spirit of hatred and returned to Mordor. He could no longer assume a fair form, but his power was still great. He made war upon the Exiles, and Orodruin burst into flame once more. In response, the Last Alliance of Elves and Men was formed. Gil-galad, the High King of the Elves, and Elendil marched east with a great host. They fought the Battle of Dagorlad and defeated Sauron's armies, then laid siege to Barad-dûr for seven years. At the end of the siege, Sauron himself came forth. Gil-galad and Elendil both perished in the final combat on the slopes of Orodruin, but Sauron was overthrown. Isildur cut the One Ring from Sauron's hand with the hilt-shard of his father's sword, Narsil. The Ring was not destroyed, however, and Isildur took it for his own. Sauron's spirit fled, and the Second Age ended. The Ring was soon lost when Isildur was ambushed and slain by Orcs at the Gladden Fields, passing out of knowledge for many centuries.