The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
The title seems to have dated back to about II 1000; Thranduil became Elvenking in II 3434;1 he continued to rule until the time of the War of the Ring and beyond
Location
Mirkwood; at the end of the Third Age, the Elvenking's realm was in the northwest of the Forest
Origins
The ruler of a realm established by Sindar among the Wood-elves of Mirkwood
Race
Division
Culture
Settlements
Title of
Thranduil (and presumably Oropher before him)

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About this entry:

  • Updated 8 January 2012
  • Updates planned: 1

The Elvenking

Ruler of the Woodland Realm

"The feast that they now saw was greater and more magnificent than before; and at the head of a long line of feasters sat a woodland king with a crown of leaves upon his golden hair..."
The Hobbit 8
Flies and Spiders
Oropher
Thranduil
the Elvenking
Legolas

A title used throughout The Hobbit for the ruler of the Woodland Realm, the country of the Silvan Elves who dwelt in the northeast of Mirkwood in the later Third Age. He is never given a name in that book, but we learn in The Lord of the Rings that he is Thranduil, the father of Legolas of the Nine Walkers.

The Elvenking had his halls underground, partly in memory (it was said) of the mighty but long-lost Menegroth of Doriath. He lived in attunement with nature, wearing a crown of flowers, or autumn berries, according to the season, and his banner was, naturally enough, green in colour. During Bilbo's journey to Erebor, his companion Dwarves were briefly held prisoner by the Elvenking, and Thranduil's people were later given custody of Gollum for a time, too (though these prisoners were all eventually able to escape).


Notes

1

The Woodland Realm was founded in about II 1000, with Thranduil's father Oropher presumably becoming the first Elvenking (though it should be said that he is never explicitly given the title). Both Oropher and Thranduil fought in the Battle of Dagorlad in II 3434; Oropher was slain in that battle, so that Thranduil became king of the Woodland Realm from that date.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 8 January 2012
  • Updates planned: 1

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