Thranduil
Lee Pace as Thranduil in The Hobbit movie
Thranduil was the King of the Elves of Mirkwood at the time of the Quest of Erebor and the War of the Ring. Thranduil was the father of Legolas. Thranduil was born to Oropher sometime in the Second Age. Oropher was slain in the War of the Last Alliance at the end of the Second Age. Oropher had settled his people in the Woodland Realm in northern Mirkwood. Thranduil ruled his people from Elvenking's Halls in Mirkwood. Their land was a dangerous one. Not only were there wild animals beyond count, but there were also Giant Spiders in some parts of Mirkwood that would kill people to eat.
The actions of the Wood-elves during the early Third Age are not known. At one point, Galadriel and Celeborn came to rule Lothlorien, a nearby woodland realm inhabited by Green-elves. It is possible that the Elves of Mirkwood had a good relationship with the Green-elves and with the Sindar who came to occupy Lothlorien. At some point in the Third Age, Thranduil had his son Legolas.
In 2941 of the Third Age, Thranduil's people were feasting in the woods. Thorin and his company of Dwarves were traveling through Mirkwood, and in desperation they approached the feast. When the Elves saw the Dwarves approaching, all of their feast lights went out. Thorin and Company only followed the Elves away. This happened once more. The third time it happened, the company of Elves captured Thorin and Company and brought them into the Elvenking's Halls before King Thranduil. Thranduil asked what business the Dwarves had in Mirkwood. Thorin did not answer. Thranduil thus imprisoned him and his company of Dwarves in his palace. Despite being prisoners, Thorin and Company were fed a great deal.
The Hobbit Bilbo Baggins was a member of the company of Dwarves, but he had used his invisibility ring to avoid imprisonment. Bilbo snuck into the palace and released the Dwarves. Bilbo and the Dwarves floated in barrels down Forest River.
Later that year, Smaug the great dragon who had been occupying the Lonely Mountain was slain by Bard, a man of Dale. After Smaug's demise, there was a debate between the men of Dale and the Dwarves of Thorin and Company over who would be given the riches from Smaug's hoard. Thranduil led a group of Elves to negotiate with Thorin and to help Bard receive a portion of the riches. Thorin claimed the entire hoard, while Bard and Thranduil wished to share the riches with him. Soon, an army of Mountain Orcs and Wargs came to attack, and the forces of Elves, Dwarves, and men were forced to unite. The Battle of Five Armies resulted in a loss for the Orcs and Wargs. Thorin died in battle and Thranduil lay Orcrist upon his tomb. Thranduil then returned to his woodland realm.
In March of 3018, Aragorn captured Gollum and brought him to Thranduil's kingdom in Mirkwood. Gollum was imprisoned in Thranduil's palace and was heavily guarded on a twenty-four hour basis. However, Gollum was pitied by the Elves and they let him climb a tree at night as long as he was guarded. In June of 3018, Gollum was being guarded around a tree when the Elven guards were attacked by Orcs, and Gollum managed to slip away in the pandemonium. Thranduil sent Legolas to the Council of Elrond in October to warn Elrond and others of Gollum's escape. Legolas was chosen as one of the nine members of the Fellowship of the Ring.
Thranduil's people were frequently attacked by the forces of Sauron from Dol Guldur during the War of the Ring. Sauron's forces frequently burned the woods. On March 15, 3019, Thranduil's Elves fought off a force from Dol Guldur that attacked Thranduil's palace. On April 6, after the destruction of the One Ring and the downfall of Sauron, Thranduil met with Celeborn of Lothlorien in the forest after Celeborn had captured Dol Guldur, and they agreed to divide Mirkwood into three parts. The northern part would remain the territory of the Wood-elves, the central part would be given to the Beornings and Woodmen, and the southern part would be given to the Elves of Lothlorien and would become East Lorien. The woods of Mirkwood were renamed Eryn Lasgalen, the Woods of the Green-elves.
The actions of the Wood-elves during the early Third Age are not known. At one point, Galadriel and Celeborn came to rule Lothlorien, a nearby woodland realm inhabited by Green-elves. It is possible that the Elves of Mirkwood had a good relationship with the Green-elves and with the Sindar who came to occupy Lothlorien. At some point in the Third Age, Thranduil had his son Legolas.
In 2941 of the Third Age, Thranduil's people were feasting in the woods. Thorin and his company of Dwarves were traveling through Mirkwood, and in desperation they approached the feast. When the Elves saw the Dwarves approaching, all of their feast lights went out. Thorin and Company only followed the Elves away. This happened once more. The third time it happened, the company of Elves captured Thorin and Company and brought them into the Elvenking's Halls before King Thranduil. Thranduil asked what business the Dwarves had in Mirkwood. Thorin did not answer. Thranduil thus imprisoned him and his company of Dwarves in his palace. Despite being prisoners, Thorin and Company were fed a great deal.
The Hobbit Bilbo Baggins was a member of the company of Dwarves, but he had used his invisibility ring to avoid imprisonment. Bilbo snuck into the palace and released the Dwarves. Bilbo and the Dwarves floated in barrels down Forest River.
Later that year, Smaug the great dragon who had been occupying the Lonely Mountain was slain by Bard, a man of Dale. After Smaug's demise, there was a debate between the men of Dale and the Dwarves of Thorin and Company over who would be given the riches from Smaug's hoard. Thranduil led a group of Elves to negotiate with Thorin and to help Bard receive a portion of the riches. Thorin claimed the entire hoard, while Bard and Thranduil wished to share the riches with him. Soon, an army of Mountain Orcs and Wargs came to attack, and the forces of Elves, Dwarves, and men were forced to unite. The Battle of Five Armies resulted in a loss for the Orcs and Wargs. Thorin died in battle and Thranduil lay Orcrist upon his tomb. Thranduil then returned to his woodland realm.
In March of 3018, Aragorn captured Gollum and brought him to Thranduil's kingdom in Mirkwood. Gollum was imprisoned in Thranduil's palace and was heavily guarded on a twenty-four hour basis. However, Gollum was pitied by the Elves and they let him climb a tree at night as long as he was guarded. In June of 3018, Gollum was being guarded around a tree when the Elven guards were attacked by Orcs, and Gollum managed to slip away in the pandemonium. Thranduil sent Legolas to the Council of Elrond in October to warn Elrond and others of Gollum's escape. Legolas was chosen as one of the nine members of the Fellowship of the Ring.
Thranduil's people were frequently attacked by the forces of Sauron from Dol Guldur during the War of the Ring. Sauron's forces frequently burned the woods. On March 15, 3019, Thranduil's Elves fought off a force from Dol Guldur that attacked Thranduil's palace. On April 6, after the destruction of the One Ring and the downfall of Sauron, Thranduil met with Celeborn of Lothlorien in the forest after Celeborn had captured Dol Guldur, and they agreed to divide Mirkwood into three parts. The northern part would remain the territory of the Wood-elves, the central part would be given to the Beornings and Woodmen, and the southern part would be given to the Elves of Lothlorien and would become East Lorien. The woods of Mirkwood were renamed Eryn Lasgalen, the Woods of the Green-elves.
Names & Meanings
Thranduil is Sindarin for "vigorous spring" and it is derived from tharan, "vigorous," and ethuil, "spring." Tolkien published this translation in Parma Eldalamberon 17 of The Unfinished Tales. Thranduil is only referenced as Elvenking in The Hobbit.
References
The Hobbit: "Flies and Spiders," pages 162-165, 178-181; "Barrels out of Bond," passim; "Fire and Water," pages 265-267; "The Gathering of the Clouds," pages 275-278; "A Thief in the Night," pages 282-284; "The Clouds Burst," pages 286, 291, 293-297; "The Return Journey," pages 303, 305, 306
The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Council of Elrond," pages 253, 268-269
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B: "The Tale of Years," pages 363, 366, 368, 372, 375
The Unfinished Tales: "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn, Appendix B: The Sindarin Princes of the Silvan Elves," pages 257-260
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies"
Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus by David Giraudeau
The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Council of Elrond," pages 253, 268-269
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B: "The Tale of Years," pages 363, 366, 368, 372, 375
The Unfinished Tales: "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn, Appendix B: The Sindarin Princes of the Silvan Elves," pages 257-260
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies"
Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus by David Giraudeau
All Pages Copyright © 2010, The Middle-Earth Encyclopedia