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.