Gandalf is a fictional character from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. He is a wizard who was sent to Middle-earth as part of a council developed to locate and fight against the villain Sauron.

Gandalf is one of five Istari, wizards who aid the peoples of Middle-earth sent by a race of demigods called the Maiar. Though there are five, only 2, Gandalf and Saruman, ever appear in theLord of the Rings films. A third Radagast, makes a brief appearance in the books. The other two, Alatar and Pallando, do not appear in the books or in the films, having ventured into the eastern lands and never returned. Though they bear a human appearance, they are far more. As Maia people, they possess great powers and immortality. Gandalf, however, proves to be the most important in the struggle against the evil Sauron who is himself descended from the Maia.

Though J.R.R Tolkien certainly never endorsed the theory, many believe Gandalf is a Christ-figure, noting various parallels to Jesus of Nazareth. Gandalf died protecting the Fellowship of the Ring from a Balrog, a demon who dwells in the mines of Moria. After that, he was resurrected, assuming the name Gandalf the White and shedding his old gray cloak for a white garb. This is often compared to the sacrifice of Jesus, who died to save humanity from its original sin and was resurrected three days later according to the Christian Bible.

• 1000: Arrives in Middle-earth

• 2063: Discovers and presence at Dol Guldur

• 2463: White Council is formed | Gandalf chooses membership over leadership

• 2850: Discovers Sauron at Dol Guldur | Receives map and key of Erebor from Thrain II

• 2851: Urges White Council to attack Sauron at Dol Guldur, overruled by Saruman

• March 15, 2941: Plots with Thorin Oakenshield to take the Lonely Mountain back from Smaug

• April 27, 2941: Convinces Bilbo Baggins to quest for the lost treasure of Erebor

• 2953: The White Council discusses emerging threat of Sauron, Saruman concludes the One Ring is lost

• 2956: Befriends Aragorn

• 3001: Questions the nature of Bilbo's magic ring

• 3017: Finds a scroll on the One Ring written by Isildur

• April 13, 3018: Confirms that the ring Frodo Baggins inherited from Bilbo is the One Ring

• June 30, 3018: Learns from Radagast the Brown that the Nazgul are searching for the ring

• July 10, 3018: Imprisoned by Saruman atop the Tower of Orthanc

• October 25, 3018: The Council of Elrond

• December 25, 3018: The Fellowship of the Ring departs from Rivendell

• January 15, 3019: Faces Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm

• January 25, 3019: Defeats Balrog | His body dies

• February 14, 3019: Resurrected by Iluvatar as Gandalf the White

• March 1, 3019: Reunited with Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli | Sets out for Rohan

• March 2, 3019: Heals King Théoden

• March 3, 3019: Advises Théoden to remove his people to Helm's Deep | Seeks help from Treebeard

• March 5, 3019: Casts Saruman from the Order of Wizards | Sets out for Minas Tirith

• March 6, 3019: Meets with Denethor

• March 7, 3019: Rescues Faramir from the winged Nazgul

• March 15, 3019: Battle of Pelennor Fields | Saves Faramir from Denethor's Funeral Pyre

• March 16, 3019: Advises troops to march into Mordor to give Frodo time to complete his task

• March 25, 3019: Rides Gwaihir to rescue Samwise Gamgee and Frodo Baggins from Mount Doom

• May 1, 3019: Crowns Aragorn King

• September 29, 3021: Sails to the Undying Lands