Understanding the conclusion of the Third Age
To understand what year does the third age end, one must look beyond the immediate conclusion of the War of the Ring. While the defeat of Sauron in T.A. 3019 was the decisive moment that led to the end of the age, the transition was not instant. The Third Age, which had lasted for 3021 years, was officially concluded by a series of events that signified the waning of the Elves and the beginning of the Dominion of Men.
The two-year transition
For many, the confusion arises because the great final battle and the destruction of the One Ring happened two years before the end of the age was formally recorded.
- March 25, T.A. 3019: The One Ring is destroyed in Mount Doom. This is the key event that brings about Sauron's final downfall.
- May 1, T.A. 3019: Following Sauron's defeat, Aragorn is crowned King Elessar of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor.
- September 21, T.A. 3021: Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee set out from the Shire for the Grey Havens.
- September 29, T.A. 3021: The final departure of the Ring-bearers (Frodo, Bilbo) and the keepers of the Elven Rings (Gandalf, Elrond, Galadriel) from Middle-earth.
This specific act of the Elves leaving Middle-earth is the symbolic and official event that marks the passage from the Third Age to the Fourth. For the purposes of Gondorian records, the Fourth Age technically began on March 25, T.A. 3021, retroactively, but the popular reckoning follows the departure from the Grey Havens.
Why the age-ending wasn't immediate
The reason for the delay between the final battle and the end of the Third Age lies in the nature of the age itself. The Third Age is characterized by the slow fading of the Elves' influence and the gradual rise of Men. The destruction of the One Ring was a major milestone, but it also signaled the end of the Elven Rings' power, accelerating the Elves' inevitable departure. The final sailing from the Grey Havens represented the end of this long transition and the official commencement of the Age of Men.
Third Age vs. Fourth Age: A comparison of transitions
The transition between ages in Tolkien's lore is not always a clean break, but rather a process marked by symbolic and pivotal moments. The change from the Third to the Fourth Age provides a good contrast with the end of the Second Age.
| Aspect | End of the Third Age (T.A. 3021) | End of the Second Age (S.A. 3441) |
|---|---|---|
| Triggering Event | The destruction of the One Ring in Mount Doom, leading to Sauron's final defeat. | The defeat of Sauron by the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. |
| Defining Moment | The departure of the Elves and Ring-bearers from the Grey Havens. | Isildur cutting the One Ring from Sauron's hand. |
| Resulting Era | The Fourth Age, the era of the Dominion of Men. | The Third Age, a period of decline and slow recovery for Sauron. |
| Key Outcome | The passing of the Elves and the end of magic's direct influence in Middle-earth. | The loss of the One Ring, leaving Sauron's spirit to endure and recover. |
| Temporal Gap | Two years between Sauron's defeat (T.A. 3019) and the official age transition (T.A. 3021). | A new age begins immediately after Sauron's defeat, but his enduring spirit sows the seeds for future conflict. |
The legacy of the Third Age
The Third Age is widely considered the best-known era of Middle-earth, as it encompasses the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. It was an age defined by the rise and fall of the Númenorean kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor, the waning of the Elves, and the gradual re-emergence of Sauron as a threat. The final defeat of Sauron and the departure of the Elves paved the way for the new age, where the fate of Middle-earth would rest solely in the hands of Men.
The detailed timeline of this period is outlined in Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings, known as The Tale of Years. This text clarifies the precise sequence of events leading up to the final departure from the Grey Havens in T.A. 3021, which definitively marked the end of the age and the dawn of the Fourth Age. The Fourth Age is therefore known as the age of Men, who are now tasked with shaping the future of Middle-earth without the direct influence of the ancient powers that once guided them.
Conclusion: A symbolic end
The Third Age of Middle-earth ends in T.A. 3021 with the departure of key figures from the Grey Havens. Although the fate of Middle-earth was sealed two years earlier with the destruction of the One Ring in T.A. 3019, the age's conclusion is marked not by a single cataclysmic battle, but by a symbolic journey. This final sailing represented the passing of the Elves and the rise of Men to take dominion over the world, setting the stage for the Fourth Age and a new chapter in Middle-earth's history.
