A Chronology (to 7550)
While a longer history is being prepared for posting, we offer as an interim measure the following chronology. For events of 7550 and after, see the reports of the Councils-General.
1969-1970
Cadet John Houghton, now His Grace, the Duke of Númenor, founds "The Ancient and Honourable Order of St. King Edward the Confessor," and a College of Arms to supervise its heraldry, at Culver Military Academy, Culver, Indiana, USA.
Cadet Houghton and Cadet Lewis Kopp, now Sir Lewis Kopp, K.F.A., O.E., discuss mutual interests in J. R. R. Tolkien.
1970-1971
A group of Cadet Houghton's friends are formalized as "The Fellowship of the Galadhrim"
1971-1972
Houghton, as a Harvard undergradaute, meets John Lynch, now His Grace, the Duke of Anorien, Earl Marshal; the College of Arms is expanded; first talk of a Privy Council. Numeration of years of the Fourth Age is arbitrarily resumed at 7525, as from March of 1972.
7525
Basic principles of the restoration established--Gondor and Arnor to be restored as one modern monarchical state in the absence of the King. The office of Steward is not restored, but vested in a commission; the commission, in turn, delegates its authority to two Deputies-Regent--Houghton and Alan Goldman, another Harvard undergraduate, later to be His Highness, the Duke of Ithilien, Lord Great Steward. Houghton is Lord President of the Councils and Goldman, Lord Chancellor; they summon others to constitute the larger Privy Council.
The Deputies-Regent, on behalf of the Commission, create various peerages, taking territorial designations from Gondor and Arnor, with the exception of Houghton's two senior titles, which are taken from the former kingdom of Númenor and its sacred mountain, the Meneltarma. The Order of St. Edward is renamed the Most Noble Order of the Flame of Anor, and the Order of Knights-bachelor of the Realms of Middle-earth, now the Most Illustrious Order of Beren and Luthien, is founded.
7526
The first Council-General of the restoration meets on New Year's Day. It disbands the Armed Forces, suspends the summoning of representatives from the Elven kingdoms, and charters the Worshippfull Companie of Freemen of the Shire, granting the Companie authority to seek a further charter as a Harvard undergraduate organization.
The Companie holds its first Elessar Award contest, for a speech in defense of fantasy (one contestant is the disguised Dick Plotz, already famous in Tolkien fandom and later to become a Freeman of the Shire himself). Riddle Contest is held to choose the Mayor of the Shire.
After the First Council General: (l. to r.) The Duke of Anorien, Earl Marshal; The Duchess of Belfalas, Mistress of the Robes; The Duke of Ithilien, Lord Chancellor; The Duke of Númenor, Lord President; The Baron Min-Rimmon, Osgiliath Herald; Sir Alexander Cassel Dill, Bart., Lord Great Chamberlain.
7527
The second Council-General establishes the current form of Government. The Privy Council establishes the Administrative Areas and Palatine Duchies.
7528
The Regent, the Steward and their classmates are graduated from Harvard. Short-lived war, then short-lived treaty, with the East Kingdom of the Society for Creative Anachronism.
The Earl Marshal awaits opening of the Third Council-General.
7529
The Lord Great Steward founds the newsletter, Chronicles of the Restoration. First negotiations with the Sultan of Occussi-Ambeno.
7530
The Council-General passes the Omnibus Financial Act. Occussi-Ambeno Treaty signed.
7531
The Lord Great Chamberlain refuses to license Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings film for public performance.
7532
Negotiations begun by the Lord Great Chamberlain result in Numenor-Lassenor Compact of 7532, under which the Commonwealth of Esgaroth puts itself under H.A.M. Crown and protection. Adoption of the Human Rights Declaration of 7532, making human rights a cornerstone of the Kingdoms' and Commonwealth's foreign policy.
Mitchell Earleywine, Kurt Richter and Andrew Friedman obtain charter for Caras Anduinad, municipality (and later city) for H.A.M. subjects in the city and county of St. Louis, MO, USA.
7535
Relations with Occussi-Ambeno broken off in protest at activities of the Sultanate's Royal Hallucinogenic Mushroom Factory. Wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Ithilien.
7537
Treaty with the Kings of Rhovanion, led by Louis Epstein, Tar-Morondil
.
The Earl Marshal, as Cambridge King of Arms, reads the Writ of Summons at the Council-General of 7537; in the background, Captain Jefferson D. Mills
His Grace the Regent and the Thain of the Shire at the Council-General of 7538.
7541
Institution of the Starkhorn Bequest, in which Councillors-General make a contribution to some charity helping the poor of the area in which the Council is meeting.
7545
Legislative Sessions Act makes Council-General meetings biennial.
7546
The Secretary of State negotiates the Keble College Compact, providing for mutual recognition between the Council-General and the Grand Council of Forodrim (headquartered in Sweden), both of which claim to be the government of Gondor and Arnor until the King Return.
7549
His Highness the Lord Great Steward renounces that office and his several peerages, dignities and honors. Summoned by His Grace the Regent, the Council-General appoints the Duchess of Belfalas, Lady President, and Marquess of Mirkwood, Lord Chancellor, to serve as Lords Commissioners for the Office of Lord Great Steward until a special session of the Council-General, scheduled for 7550. His Grace and the M. Hon., The Thain of the Shire are appointed a Nominating Committee to recommend a new Lord Great Steward to the Council-General.