Elves of Mirkwood: Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
During the [[First Age]], the [[Valar]] summoned the first [[Elves]] to move with them to [[Valinor]]. There were three hosts that first set out to answer the call of the Valar. Of these, the largest host was that of the [[Teleri]]. They advanced very slowly, and would often lose sight of the other two, smaller hosts. There was a time, when they reached the river [[Anduin]], one smaller leader of that host, [[Lenwë]], wished to go no further, and he and his people began to live in the forests surrounding the Anduin Vale as the remaining Teleri continued their journey to [[Valinor]]. Their descendants were the Silvan elves of [[Lothlórien]] and Greenwood the Great. | During the [[First Age]], the [[Valar]] summoned the first [[Elves]] to move with them to [[Valinor]]. There were three hosts that first set out to answer the call of the Valar. Of these, the largest host was that of the [[Teleri]]. They advanced very slowly, and would often lose sight of the other two, smaller hosts. There was a time, when they reached the river [[Anduin]], one smaller leader of that host, [[Lenwë]], wished to go no further, and he and his people began to live in the forests surrounding the Anduin Vale as the remaining Teleri continued their journey to [[Valinor]]. Their descendants were the Silvan elves of [[Lothlórien]] and Greenwood the Great. | ||
===Second Age=== | |||
During the [[Second Age]], many [[Sindar]] survivors, who did not sail to the [[Valinor|West]], did not wish to stay with the [[Noldor]] in [[Lindon]] and be dominated by them. They travelled eastward from Lindon and eventually ended up in Greenwood the Great, where the Silvan Elves of [[Nandorin]] descent lived. The Silvan Elves were ''[[morbin]]''<ref>{{WJ|B}} (pp. 376-7, 380)</ref> but they shared the same Telerin ancestry, and the Sindar longed to experience a more "rustic" and "natural" way of life and fully embraced and adopted their culture and language. [[Oropher]], a Sinda, was taken by them as lord and founded the [[Woodland Realm]] with the capital at [[Amon Lanc]].<ref name="Princes">{{UT|6b}}</ref> | |||
The Silvan Elves originally lived in the south of Greenwood but over the course of the Age [[Sauron]] located to [[Mordor]] and started building [[Barad-dûr]] in circa {{SA|1000}}<ref name="Gladden">{{UT|Gladden}}, note 14</ref> while the [[Dwarves of Moria]] increased their power, and [[Galadriel]] and [[Celeborn]] came to [[Lothlórien|Lórien]]. Out of resentment, the Silvan Elves gradually moved north to live around the [[Emyn Duir]].<ref name="Princes"> | |||
Oropher joined the [[Last Alliance]] by summoning a great army which joined with [[Amdír]]'s smaller force of [[Galadhrim|Lórien Elves]] to create one large host of Silvan Elves; the Silvan Elves were strong and brave, but had poor armour and weapons in comparison with the [[Noldor]]. [[Amdír]] and Oropher were unwilling to submit to the supreme command of [[Gil-galad]], as such they suffered heavier losses in the [[War of the Last Alliance]]. In the very first assault upon [[Mordor]], Oropher and other brave and hasty Silvan Elves rushed forward before Gil-galad gave the signal to charge. Oropher was killed while 2/3 of the Woodland army also perished. <ref name="Princes" /> | |||
At the end of the war, after the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]] in {{SA|3441}} the remnants of the army returned to Greenwood under the command of Oropher's son, [[Thranduil] and he was crowned king. | |||
===Third Age=== | |||
With the return of [[Sauron]] around {{TA|1050}} southern Greenwood became dangerous and was renamed [[Mirkwood]]. Creatures like great spiders came to dwell in Mirkwood and Thranduil's folk retreated to the northeastern corner of Mirkwood, where they fortified themselves near the [[Forest River]]. | With the return of [[Sauron]] around {{TA|1050}} southern Greenwood became dangerous and was renamed [[Mirkwood]]. Creatures like great spiders came to dwell in Mirkwood and Thranduil's folk retreated to the northeastern corner of Mirkwood, where they fortified themselves near the [[Forest River]]. | ||
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The Elves of Mirkwood were Silvan Elves that lived in the Woodland Realm of northern Mirkwood, under the rule of Thranduil.
History
During the First Age, the Valar summoned the first Elves to move with them to Valinor. There were three hosts that first set out to answer the call of the Valar. Of these, the largest host was that of the Teleri. They advanced very slowly, and would often lose sight of the other two, smaller hosts. There was a time, when they reached the river Anduin, one smaller leader of that host, Lenwë, wished to go no further, and he and his people began to live in the forests surrounding the Anduin Vale as the remaining Teleri continued their journey to Valinor. Their descendants were the Silvan elves of Lothlórien and Greenwood the Great.
Second Age
During the Second Age, many Sindar survivors, who did not sail to the West, did not wish to stay with the Noldor in Lindon and be dominated by them. They travelled eastward from Lindon and eventually ended up in Greenwood the Great, where the Silvan Elves of Nandorin descent lived. The Silvan Elves were morbin[1] but they shared the same Telerin ancestry, and the Sindar longed to experience a more "rustic" and "natural" way of life and fully embraced and adopted their culture and language. Oropher, a Sinda, was taken by them as lord and founded the Woodland Realm with the capital at Amon Lanc.[2]
The Silvan Elves originally lived in the south of Greenwood but over the course of the Age Sauron located to Mordor and started building Barad-dûr in circa S.A. 1000[3] while the Dwarves of Moria increased their power, and Galadriel and Celeborn came to Lórien. Out of resentment, the Silvan Elves gradually moved north to live around the Emyn Duir.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag
On March 15, T.A. 3019, an army of Sauron from Dol Guldur, tasked with destroying the Woodland Realm, attacked Mirkwood. There was a long Battle Under Trees and the woods were set on fire. But in the end Thranduil defeated the invaders.
Because the Shadow over Mirkwood was lifted, Thranduil and Celeborn renamed it Eryn Lasgalen, the Wood of Greenleaves. They divided it up, so that Thranduil received the northern part as far as the Mountains, and Celeborn took the southern part below the Narrows, naming it East Lórien. The wide forest in-between was given to the Beornings and the Woodmen[4].
After the destruction of Dol Guldur and the cleansing of Mirkwood, Thranduil and the Wood-Elves remained untroubled for many years.
Legolas and the Wood-Elves later worked together with Gimli and the Dwarves to rebuild and improve Minas Tirith, capital city of Gondor, the realm of their mutual friend King Aragorn Elessar[4].
Language
The Elves of Mirkwood spoke Sindarin and/or Silvan Elvish. Sindarin was mainly spoken in Thranduil's house and family, but it eventually replaced Silvan altogether.[5][note 1]
See also
Notes
- ↑ Another note by Tolkien says that the Elves spoke a language or dialect related to Sindarin, perhaps referring to Doriathrin. See David Salo's A Gateway to Sindarin p. 13
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: B. Meanings and use of the various terms applied to the Elves and their varieties in Quenya, Telerin, and Sindarin" (pp. 376-7, 380)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", "Appendix B: The Sindarin Princes of the Silvan Elves"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields", note 14
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B: The Tale of Years (Chronology of the Westlands)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", "Appendix B: The Sindarin Princes of the Silvan Elves", pp. 256-7
