Doriath
Encyclopedia
In J. R. R. Tolkien
's fictional Middle-earth
, Doriath is the realm of the Sindar
, the Grey Elves
of King Thingol
in Beleriand
. Along with the other great forests of Tolkien's legendarium
such as Mirkwood
, Fangorn and Lothlórien it serves as the central stage in the theatre of its time, the First Age
. On this stage many of the notable characters and events appear such as: The Geste of Beren and Lúthien
from The Lays of Beleriand
, parts of The Children of Húrin
and, of course, The Silmarillion
. It is called the 'Fenced Land' because Melian
, the queen of that land, put a girdle of enchantment about it, so that none can enter without the leave of King Thingol.
forest, Nivrim, the West March, an oak
forest, Region the main forest, and Arthórien between Aros and Celon. Additionally, the forests of Brethil and Nan Elmoth
were held as part of Doriath, these last two lay outside the Girdle of Melian. Elu Thingol, lord of the Sindar, sees all of Beleriand as his realm, from the Gelion to Belegaer
. In the midmost part of Doriath is a natural feature, a vast hill with many caves. Towards the end of the Ages of Melkor's captivity, Melian counselled Thingol that the peace of his realm would not long endure and so with the aid of the Dwarves of Belegost he delved there the wondrous fortress called Menegroth, the Thousand Caves. It is said that of all Kingdoms of Beleriand in the legends "the most mighty and the longest free was Thingol of the Woods."
Long before, during the march of the Elves from Cuiviénen, the Vanyar
and the Noldor
passed through these woods on the Great Journey. Finwë
and the Noldor dwelt there for a time. But they were ferried across the Great Sea on Tol Eressëa
while the Teleri
yet searched for their lord, for Thingol was lost in Nan Elmoth, and when Ulmo
returned for them, a part of that people remained behind, and the Sea filled them with sorrow. They later become known as the Sindar, Elves of the Twilight, and when Thingol returned, revealed as a lord of great reverence, he became the lord of that people and ruled from his kingdom in Doriath.
Doriath was originally known as Eglador, meaning "Land of the Forsaken" for so those of the Teleri that remained in Beleriand called themselves. In the last years before the First Age
the Orcs
assailed the King of Doriath and after that Battle, the first of many in the Wars of Beleriand Melian fenced that realm, with unseen walls of shadow, the forests of Neldoreth, Region, and Nivrim. Thingol formed a defence of his realm with companies of archers that guarded the borders called March Wardens. With the help of Dwarven smiths, he built an army of Elves armed with axes, long spears and swords and armoured coats of scale-mail and shields. Thingol then summoned all the wandering Sindar
to Doriath, but many remained in the wild. After the First Battle of Beleriand
, many Laiquendi
, Green Elves or Nandor as well as some Avari
removed to Doriath, establishing themselves as the 'Guest Elves' of Arthórien.
The Dwarves
of Belegost and Nogrod were contracted to build the halls of Menegroth, which became Thingol's capital city and fortress. The gates of Menegroth were carved into a rocky hill alongside the Esgalduin river, and the vast caverns beneath were considered one of the finest works of the Elves of the Elder Days
in either Middle-earth or Valinor
. Dwarves were employed in its construction as they had far more experience in building underground. Its halls were carved to look like a beech forest, complete with birds and animals. The great tree Hirilorn, wherein Lúthien
was placed by Thingol to prevent her from meeting Beren, was outside the front entrance of Menegroth. A great stone bridge across the river Esgalduin was the only access to the gates. Both the river Sirion and its tributary Esgalduin were uncrossable, except by boat or bridge.
When the Noldor return to Middle-earth at the beginning of the First Age, the borders of Doriath are already closed for defence against Morgoth
and Thingol allows entry only to the children of Finarfin
, who are related to him through his brother Olwë.
When in later years Men
arrived in Beleriand, they are also refused passage through, but at Finrod's request the Haladin were allowed to live in Brethil as vassals to Thingol charged with the protection of the Crossings of Teiglin.
Beren
, son of Barahir
and lord of the First House of Men
, passes through the Girdle as Melian foretold, and arrives in Neldoreth. There Thingol's daughter Lúthien falls in love with him. After the Quest for the Silmaril
, the great Wolf, Carcharoth
, also breaches the Girdle, but Thingol, Beren, Huan the hound and Thingol's captains Beleg
and Mablung
hunt and kill the beast.
Túrin
, son of Húrin
and Morwen
, is sent to Doriath, and lives there until he comes of age, when he flees after a deadly quarrel with an elf called Saeros, a high councillor of Elu Thingol, King of Doriath. Later his mother and sister, Morwen and Nienor
are harboured there, until they leave to search for Túrin and are lost.
Húrin brings the treasure of Nargothrond
to Doriath after the fall of Finrod's realm, and Thingol engages the Dwarves of Nogrod to combine the Silmaril of Beren and Lúthien with the Nauglamír, the Dwarves' Necklace. The Dwarves, caught in a spell of lust for the necklace, murder Thingol, steal the necklace and flee. Most are slain and the necklace returned. Word is brought to the kin of the Dwarves and their army perpetrates the first Sack of Doriath. Doriath is briefly restored under Beren and Lúthien's son Dior, but he is attacked and killed by the sons of Fëanor
in the Second Kinslaying and second Sack of Doriath. Afterwards, Doriath remains abandoned until it is broken in the War of Wrath
and sinks along with much of the rest of Beleriand.
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
's fictional Middle-earth
Middle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
, Doriath is the realm of the Sindar
Sindar
In the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, the fictional Sindar are Elves of Telerin descent. They are also known as the Grey Elves. Their language is Sindarin...
, the Grey Elves
Elf (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Elves are one of the races that inhabit a fictional Earth, often called Middle-earth, and set in the remote past. They appear in The Hobbit and in The Lord of the Rings, but their complex history is described more fully in The Silmarillion...
of King Thingol
Thingol
Elu Thingol is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He appears in The Silmarillion, The Lays of Beleriand and Children of Húrin as well as in numerous stories in the many volumes of The History of Middle-earth...
in Beleriand
Beleriand
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional legendarium, Beleriand was a region in northwestern Middle-earth during the First Age. Events in Beleriand are described chiefly in his work The Silmarillion, which tells the story of the early ages of Middle-earth in a style similar to the epic hero tales of Nordic...
. Along with the other great forests of Tolkien's legendarium
Legendarium
Legendary may refer to:*A hagiography, or study of the lives of saints and other religious figures**The South English Legendary, a Middle English legendary*A legend-Entertainment:*Legendary, an album by Kaysha*Legendary...
such as Mirkwood
Mirkwood
Mirkwood is a name used for two distinct fictional forests in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. In the First Age, the highlands of Dorthonion north of Beleriand were known as Mirkwood after falling under Morgoth's control. During the Third Age, the large forest in Rhovanion, east of the Anduin in ...
, Fangorn and Lothlórien it serves as the central stage in the theatre of its time, the First Age
First Age
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the First Age, or First Age of the Children of Ilúvatar is the heroic period in which most of Tolkien's early legends are set...
. On this stage many of the notable characters and events appear such as: The Geste of Beren and Lúthien
The Tale of Beren and Lúthien
The Tale of Beren and Lúthien is the story of the love and adventures of the mortal Man Beren and the immortal Elf-maiden Lúthien, as told in several works of J. R. R. Tolkien. It takes place during the First Age of Middle-earth, about 6500 years before the events of his most famous book, The Lord...
from The Lays of Beleriand
The Lays of Beleriand
The Lays of Beleriand, published in 1985, is the third volume of Christopher Tolkien's 12-volume book series, The History of Middle-earth, in which he analyzes the unpublished manuscripts of his father J. R. R...
, parts of The Children of Húrin
The Children of Húrin
The Children of Húrin is an epic fantasy novel which forms the completion of a tale by J. R. R. Tolkien. He wrote the original version of the story in the late 1910s, revised it several times later, but did not complete it before his death in 1973...
and, of course, The Silmarillion
The Silmarillion
The Silmarillion is a collection of J. R. R. Tolkien's mythopoeic works, edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in 1977, with assistance from Guy Gavriel Kay, who later became a noted fantasy writer. The Silmarillion, along with J. R. R...
. It is called the 'Fenced Land' because Melian
Melian
Melian the Maia is a fictional character in the fantasy-world Middle-earth of the English author J. R. R. Tolkien. She appears in The Silmarillion, the epic poem The Lay of Leithian, The Children of Húrin, the Annals of Aman and the Grey Annals....
, the queen of that land, put a girdle of enchantment about it, so that none can enter without the leave of King Thingol.
Description
Doriath is a land of forests adjoining the great River Sirion and its eastern tributaries: Mindeb, Esgalduin, Celos, and Aros. Within it are the forests Neldoreth or Taur-na-Neldor, the northern beechBeech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
forest, Nivrim, the West March, an oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
forest, Region the main forest, and Arthórien between Aros and Celon. Additionally, the forests of Brethil and Nan Elmoth
Nan Elmoth
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Nan Elmoth was the forest in Beleriand east of Doriath and southeast of the River Celon. In Tolkien's legendarium it is the archetype for all the other enchanted forests such as the Old Forest, Mirkwood, Lothlórien and Fangorn.- History in the Tales :Melian and...
were held as part of Doriath, these last two lay outside the Girdle of Melian. Elu Thingol, lord of the Sindar, sees all of Beleriand as his realm, from the Gelion to Belegaer
Belegaer
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Belegaer, the Great Sea or the Sundering Seas, is the sea of Arda that is west of Middle-earth....
. In the midmost part of Doriath is a natural feature, a vast hill with many caves. Towards the end of the Ages of Melkor's captivity, Melian counselled Thingol that the peace of his realm would not long endure and so with the aid of the Dwarves of Belegost he delved there the wondrous fortress called Menegroth, the Thousand Caves. It is said that of all Kingdoms of Beleriand in the legends "the most mighty and the longest free was Thingol of the Woods."
Long before, during the march of the Elves from Cuiviénen, the Vanyar
Vanyar
In the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Vanyar are the fairest and most noble of the High Elves. They are the smallest of the three clans of the Eldar, and were the first to arrive in Aman. According to legend, the clan was founded by Imin, the first Elf to awake at Cuiviénen, his wife Iminyë, and...
and the Noldor
Noldor
In the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Noldor are Elves of the Second Clan who migrated to Valinor and lived in Eldamar. The Noldor are called Golodhrim or Gódhellim in Sindarin, and Goldoi by Teleri of Tol Eressëa. The singular form of the Quenya noun is Noldo and the adjective is Noldorin...
passed through these woods on the Great Journey. Finwë
Finwë
Finwë, sometimes surnamed Noldóran, is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He was the first High King of the Elven Noldor to lead his people on the journey from Middle-earth to Valinor in the blessed realm of Aman. He was a great friend of Elu Thingol, the King of Doriath...
and the Noldor dwelt there for a time. But they were ferried across the Great Sea on Tol Eressëa
Tol Eressëa
In early versions of J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium , Tol Eressëa was an island visited by the Anglo-Saxon traveller Ælfwine which provided a framework for the tales that later became The Silmarillion. The name is the Elvish for "Lonely Island"...
while the Teleri
Teleri
In the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Teleri, Those who come last in Quenya were the third of the Elf clans who came to Aman...
yet searched for their lord, for Thingol was lost in Nan Elmoth, and when Ulmo
Ulmo
Ulmo is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He first appears in The Silmarillion as a god or Vala of the Elven pantheon. Ulmo is a title, which means He who pours. He is also known as King of the Sea and Lord of Waters...
returned for them, a part of that people remained behind, and the Sea filled them with sorrow. They later become known as the Sindar, Elves of the Twilight, and when Thingol returned, revealed as a lord of great reverence, he became the lord of that people and ruled from his kingdom in Doriath.
Doriath was originally known as Eglador, meaning "Land of the Forsaken" for so those of the Teleri that remained in Beleriand called themselves. In the last years before the First Age
First Age
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the First Age, or First Age of the Children of Ilúvatar is the heroic period in which most of Tolkien's early legends are set...
the Orcs
Orc (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings, Orcs or Orks are a race of creatures who are used as soldiers and henchmen by both the greater and lesser villains of The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings — Morgoth, Sauron and Saruman...
assailed the King of Doriath and after that Battle, the first of many in the Wars of Beleriand Melian fenced that realm, with unseen walls of shadow, the forests of Neldoreth, Region, and Nivrim. Thingol formed a defence of his realm with companies of archers that guarded the borders called March Wardens. With the help of Dwarven smiths, he built an army of Elves armed with axes, long spears and swords and armoured coats of scale-mail and shields. Thingol then summoned all the wandering Sindar
Sindar
In the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, the fictional Sindar are Elves of Telerin descent. They are also known as the Grey Elves. Their language is Sindarin...
to Doriath, but many remained in the wild. After the First Battle of Beleriand
First Battle of Beleriand
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, the First Battle of Beleriand is the first battle of the Wars of Beleriand, fought by the Sindarin Elves, led by Elu Thingol, King of Doriath and Lord of Beleriand, against the armies of Morgoth, the Great Enemy, the Dark Lord.-History:Morgoth,...
, many Laiquendi
Laiquendi
In the fictional works of J. R. R. Tolkien the Laiquendi are an ethnic group of Elves, so named because their attire was often green.-History and origin:...
, Green Elves or Nandor as well as some Avari
Avari (Middle-earth)
In the fictional works of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Avari are an ethnic group of the Elves.- History of the Avari:Avari is a Quenya word meaning 'Refusers' or 'Recusants'. When the vala Oromë found the Elves who had awakened in Cuiviénen , he asked them to come with him to Valinor...
removed to Doriath, establishing themselves as the 'Guest Elves' of Arthórien.
The Dwarves
Dwarf (Middle-earth)
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Dwarves are a race inhabiting the world of Arda, a fictional prehistoric Earth which includes the continent Middle-earth....
of Belegost and Nogrod were contracted to build the halls of Menegroth, which became Thingol's capital city and fortress. The gates of Menegroth were carved into a rocky hill alongside the Esgalduin river, and the vast caverns beneath were considered one of the finest works of the Elves of the Elder Days
Elder Days
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Elder Days are the first Ages of Middle-earth.During the Second and Third Age, the term referred to the First Age and before, but in the Fourth Age the term began to be applied to all three ages which came before: a time before the dominance of Men and the...
in either Middle-earth or Valinor
Valinor
Valinor is a fictional location in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, the realm of the Valar in Aman. It was also known as the Undying Lands, along with Tol Eressëa and the outliers of Aman. This is something of a misnomer; only immortal beings were allowed to reside there, but the land itself,...
. Dwarves were employed in its construction as they had far more experience in building underground. Its halls were carved to look like a beech forest, complete with birds and animals. The great tree Hirilorn, wherein Lúthien
Lúthien
Lúthien Tinúviel is a fictional character in the fantasy-world Middle-earth of the English author J. R. R. Tolkien. She appears in The Silmarillion, the epic poem The Lay of Leithian, The Lord of the Rings and the Grey Annals, as well as in other material.-Character overview:Lúthien is a Telerin ...
was placed by Thingol to prevent her from meeting Beren, was outside the front entrance of Menegroth. A great stone bridge across the river Esgalduin was the only access to the gates. Both the river Sirion and its tributary Esgalduin were uncrossable, except by boat or bridge.
When the Noldor return to Middle-earth at the beginning of the First Age, the borders of Doriath are already closed for defence against Morgoth
Morgoth
Morgoth Bauglir is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium. He is the main antagonist of The Silmarillion, figures in The Children of Húrin, and is mentioned briefly in The Lord of the Rings.Melkor was the most powerful of the Ainur, but turned to darkness and became...
and Thingol allows entry only to the children of Finarfin
Finarfin
Finarfin is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, featured in The Silmarillion.-Personality:Unlike the warlike Fëanor and Fingolfin, Finarfin was something of a pacifist...
, who are related to him through his brother Olwë.
When in later years Men
Man (Middle-earth)
The race of Men in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth books, such as The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, refers to humanity and does not denote gender...
arrived in Beleriand, they are also refused passage through, but at Finrod's request the Haladin were allowed to live in Brethil as vassals to Thingol charged with the protection of the Crossings of Teiglin.
Beren
Beren
Beren is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He appears in The Silmarillion. Huan spoke to him.-Character overview:...
, son of Barahir
Barahir
Barahir is a fictional character in the fantasy-world Middle-earth of the English author J. R. R. Tolkien. He appears in The Silmarillion, the epic poem The Lay of Leithian and the Grey Annals.-Character overview:...
and lord of the First House of Men
House of Bëor
In J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, the House of Bëor were the family of Men who ruled over the eldest of the Three Houses of the Edain that had allied with the Elves in the First Age.-The Folk of Bëor:...
, passes through the Girdle as Melian foretold, and arrives in Neldoreth. There Thingol's daughter Lúthien falls in love with him. After the Quest for the Silmaril
Silmaril
The Silmarils are three brilliant jewels which contained the unmarred light of the Two Trees in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. The Silmarils were made out of the crystalline substance silima by Fëanor, a Noldorin Elf, in Valinor during the Years of the Trees...
, the great Wolf, Carcharoth
Carcharoth
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, Carcharoth , Sindarin for "The Red Maw", was the greatest werewolf that had ever lived. He was also called Anfauglir...
, also breaches the Girdle, but Thingol, Beren, Huan the hound and Thingol's captains Beleg
Beleg
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Beleg is a major character who appears in numerous books, tales and poems about the First Age of Middle-earth such as The Silmarillion, The Lays of Beleriand and the Children of Húrin.-Name:...
and Mablung
Mablung
Mablung is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium.Mablung was a Sindarin Elf who served in the army of King Elu Thingol of Doriath...
hunt and kill the beast.
Túrin
Turín
Turín is a municipality in the Ahuachapán department of El Salvador....
, son of Húrin
Húrin
Húrin is a fictional character in the Middle-earth legendarium of J. R. R. Tolkien. He is introduced in The Silmarillion as a hero of Men during the First Age, said to be the greatest warrior of both the Edain and all the other Men in Middle-earth...
and Morwen
Morwen
Morwen is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. She is featured in The Silmarillion, The Children of Húrin and The Wanderings of Húrin.-Character overview:...
, is sent to Doriath, and lives there until he comes of age, when he flees after a deadly quarrel with an elf called Saeros, a high councillor of Elu Thingol, King of Doriath. Later his mother and sister, Morwen and Nienor
Nienor
Niënor, also known as Níniel , is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, appearing in the Narn i Chîn Húrin told in full in The Children of Húrin and briefly in The Silmarillion...
are harboured there, until they leave to search for Túrin and are lost.
Húrin brings the treasure of Nargothrond
Nargothrond
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Nargothrond , called Nulukkhizdīn by the Dwarves, was the stronghold built by Finrod Felagund...
to Doriath after the fall of Finrod's realm, and Thingol engages the Dwarves of Nogrod to combine the Silmaril of Beren and Lúthien with the Nauglamír, the Dwarves' Necklace. The Dwarves, caught in a spell of lust for the necklace, murder Thingol, steal the necklace and flee. Most are slain and the necklace returned. Word is brought to the kin of the Dwarves and their army perpetrates the first Sack of Doriath. Doriath is briefly restored under Beren and Lúthien's son Dior, but he is attacked and killed by the sons of Fëanor
Sons of Fëanor
In J. R. R. Tolkien's world of Middle-earth, the seven sons of Fëanor, the eldest prince of the Noldor, led their people from Valinor to rule over kingdoms in the Northeast of Beleriand:...
in the Second Kinslaying and second Sack of Doriath. Afterwards, Doriath remains abandoned until it is broken in the War of Wrath
War of Wrath
The War of Wrath, or the Great Battle, is a key plot development in J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium, portraying the final war against Morgoth at the end of the First Age....
and sinks along with much of the rest of Beleriand.
External links
- Tolkien in the land of Arthur: the Old Forest episode from The Lord of the Rings. Mythopoeic Society, 2006. An article discussing the significance of forests in Tolkien's work, in particular, the Old ForestOld ForestIn J. R. R. Tolkien’s fictional universe of Middle-earth, the Old Forest is a small forested area which lies east of the Shire in Buckland....
with comparisons to other myths and romances. - Doriath at the Encyclopedia of Arda