Timeline Event
Destruction of the One Ring: Overview
Event Type: General
Age: 3rd Age - Ring War
Date: March 25, 3019
Description:
An event in the Quest of the Ring; see that entry for an overview:
Table of Contents:
The Summary
The Combatants
— Attacking Forces
— Defensive Forces
The Timeline
The Prelude
The Destruction
The Aftermath
The Summary
The One Ring is destroyed and Sauron passes away forever.
The Combatants
The Combatants: Attacking Forces
'I was going to find a way into Mordor,' [Frodo] said faintly.... 'I must find the Mountain of Fire and cast the thing into the gulf of Doom. Gandalf said so. I do not think I shall ever get there.'
The Two Towers, LoTR Book 4, Ch 5, The Window on the West
So the desperate journey went on.... For [Frodo and Sam] each day, each mile, was more bitter than the one before, as their strength lessened and the land became more evil.
The Return of the King, LoTR Book 6, Ch 3, Mount Doom
The Combatants: Defensive Forces
Of all the slaves of the Dark Lord, only the Nazgûl could have warned him of the peril that crept, small but indomitable, into the very heart of his guarded realm. But the Nazgûl and their black wings were abroad on another errand: they were... shadowing the march of the Captains of the West, and thither the thought of the Dark Tower was turned.
The Return of the King, LoTR Book 6, Ch 3, Mount Doom
The Timeline
March [3019]
15
... Battle of the Pelennor.... Frodo and Samwise escape and begin their journey north along the Morgai....
[See: Sam scavenges in the Tower for Orc-gear to wear into Mordor]
[See: Frodo and Sam flee into the valley of the Morgai]
[See: Frodo and Sam journey north along the Morgai]
[See: Frodo casts away some orc-mail along the Morgai]
[See: Nazgûl brings news of the Witch-king's death to Sauron]
[See: Frodo and Sam strike the Orc-path to Isenmouthe]
[See: Frodo and Sam find water along the Orc-path]
[See: Sam takes hope from a star over the Ephel Dúath]
16
Debate of the commanders. Frodo from the Morgai looks out over the camp to Mount Doom.
[See: Frodo and Sam climb to the top of the Morgai]
[See: Frodo and Sam see the enemy's camp from the Morgai]
[See: Frodo and Sam learn of Gollum's pursuit from an Orc-quarrel]
[See: Frodo gives Sting and the Phial of Galadriel to Sam]
[16 - 19]
[See: Sauron musters his Mordor forces inside the Morannon]
17
Battle of Dale.... Shagrat brings Frodo's cloak, mail-shirt, and sword to Barad-dûr.
18
The Host of the West marches from Minas Tirith. Frodo comes in sight of the Isenmouthe; he is overtaken by Orcs on the road from Durthang to Udûn.
[See: Sam finds water and glimpses Gollum skulking]
[See: Frodo and Sam strike the Road from Durthang to Udûn]
[See: Orc-troops overtake Frodo and Sam on the Road to Udûn]
19
The Host comes to Morgul Vale. Frodo and Samwise escape and begin their journey along the road to the Barad-dûr.
[See: Gorgoroth emptied of Sauron's forces]
[See: Frodo and Sam escape the Orc-troops near Udûn]
[19 - 22]
[See: Frodo and Sam journey east along the Road to Barad-dûr]
[21]
[See: Sam finds water along the Road to Barad-dûr]
22
The dreadful nightfall. Frodo and Samwise leave the road and turn south to Mount Doom. Third assault on Lórien.
[See: Dreadful nightfall comes]
[22 - 23]
[See: Frodo and Sam journey south towards Mount Doom]
23
The Host passes out of Ithilien. Aragorn dismisses the faint-hearted. Frodo and Samwise cast away their arms and gear.
[See: Sam offers to carry the One Ring for Frodo]
[See: Frodo and Sam cast away their Orc-gear]
[See: Sam holds a debate with himself]
24
Frodo and Samwise make their last journey to the feet of Mount Doom. The Host camps in the Desolation of the Morannon.
[See: Frodo and Sam reach the foot of Mount Doom]
25
The Host is surrounded on the Slag-hills. Frodo and Samwise reach the Sammath Naur. Gollum seizes the Ring and falls in the Cracks of Doom. Downfall of Barad-dûr and passing of Sauron.
[See: Sam carries Frodo up the slopes of Mount Doom]
[See: Frodo glimpses the Eye from the slopes of Mount Doom]
[See: Gollum attacks Frodo on the slopes of Mount Doom]
[See: Frodo repels Gollum]
[See: Sam shows mercy to Gollum]
[See: Frodo and Sam reach the Sammath Naur]
[See: Frodo claims the One Ring for himself]
[See: Sauron summons the Nazgûl as Frodo claims the One Ring]
[See: Gollum attacks Frodo and Sam in the Sammath Naur]
[See: Gollum bites the One Ring from Frodo's hand]
[See: Gollum falls into the Cracks of Doom with the One Ring]
[See: Sam carries Frodo from the Sammath Naur]
[See: Sauron's forces scatter at the Destruction of the One Ring]
[See: Mount Doom erupts after the Destruction of the One Ring]
[See: Nazgûl destroyed in the eruption]
[See: Frodo and Sam take refuge from the eruption]
[See: Barad-dûr falls at the Destruction of the One Ring]
[See: Palantír of Minas Ithil presumed destroyed]
[See: Sauron passes]
[See: Gwaihir rescues Frodo and Sam]
[26 March - 8 April]
[See: Aragorn heals Frodo and Sam on the Field of Cormallen]
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, The Tale of Years: The Third Age
AprilThe Prelude
8.
The Ring-bearers are honoured on the Field of Cormallen.
[See: Frodo and Sam awaken on the Field of Cormallen]
[See: Ring-bearers honoured on the Field of Cormallen]
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, The Tale of Years: The Chief Days from the Fall of the Barad-dûr to the End of the Third Age
'I will take the Ring,' [Frodo] said, 'though I do not know the way.'....
[Elrond] said, 'I think that this task is appointed for you, Frodo; and that if you do not find a way, no one will. This is the hour of the Shire-folk, when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and counsels of the Great.'
The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 2, The Council of Elrond
'If [the Ring] is destroyed, then [Sauron] will fall; and his fall will be so low that none can foresee his arising ever again. For he will lose the best part of the strength that was native to him in his beginning, and all that was made or begun with that power will crumble, and he will be maimed for ever, becoming a mere spirit of malice that gnaws itself in the shadows, but cannot again grow or take shape. And so a great evil of this world will be removed.'
The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 9, The Last Debate
The Destruction
Yet in that hour was put to the proof that which Mithrandir had spoken, and help came from the hands of the weak when the Wise faltered. For, as many songs have since sung, it was the Periannath, the Little People, dwellers in hillsides and meadows, that brought them deliverance.
For Frodo the Halfling, it is said, at the bidding of Mithrandir took on himself the burden, and alone with his servant he passed through peril and darkness and came at last in Sauron's despite even to Mount Doom....
The Silmarillion, Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age
At that moment Gollum... comes up and treacherously tries to take Ring. They wrestle and Gollum takes Ring and falls into the Crack.
Sauron Defeated — The End of the Third Age, HoME Vol 9, Ch 1, The Story of Frodo and Sam in Mordor
... there into the Fire where it was wrought [was] cast the Great Ring of Power, and so at last it was unmade and its evil consumed.
Then Sauron failed, and he was utterly vanquished and passed away like a shadow of malice; and the towers of Barad-dûr crumbled in ruin, and at the rumour of their fall many lands trembled.
The Silmarillion, Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age
The Aftermath
After the fall of the Dark Tower and the passing of Sauron the Shadow was lifted from the hearts of all who opposed him, but fear and despair fell upon his servants and allies.
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, The Tale of Years: The Third Age
When the Great Ring was unmade and the Three were shorn of their power, then Elrond grew weary at last and forsook Middle-earth, never to return.
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, Annals of the Kings and Rulers: The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen
The... Fourth Age was not held to have begun until Master Elrond departed, and the time was come for the dominion of Men and the decline of all other 'speaking-peoples' in Middle-earth.
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, The Tale of Years
Contributors:
Moriel 2May03
Lyllyn 13May03
Elena Tiriel 28Aug06
