From The Lord of the Rings wiki
Second Age
The Second Age is a pivotal era in the history of Middle-earth, defined by the rise of Sauron, the forging of the Rings of Power, and the eventual downfall of the island kingdom of Numenor.
The Second Age began following the defeat of Morgoth at the end of the First Age and lasted for 3,441 years. This period saw the ascent of the Numenoreans, a race of Men gifted with long life, who established great coastal realms in Middle-earth. It was also during this time that Sauron, the lieutenant of Morgoth, returned to power and deceived the Elven-smiths into forging the Rings of Power, including the One Ring.
Key Events
- The forging of the Rings of Power by Celebrimbor.
- The corruption and destruction of Numenor by Eru Iluvatar.
- The founding of the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor by Elendil and his sons.
- The War of the Last Alliance, which concluded the age.
The era concluded when the Last Alliance of Elves and Men defeated Sauron, an event that shapes the world inherited by figures like Aragorn, Frodo Baggins, and Gandalf the Grey. Although the Third Age brought relative peace for a time, the legacy of the Second Age remained central to the conflict against the Dark Lord in the later journeys of the Fellowship, including Legolas Greenleaf, Gimli, and the hobbits Meriadoc Brandybuck, Peregrin Took, and Samwise Gamgee.
