DORIATH

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In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional world of Middle-earth, 'Doriath' is the realm of the Sindar, the Elves of king Thingol. It is called the Fenced Land (Dor-iath), because its queen, Melian, put a girdle of enchantment about it, so that none can enter without the leave of King Thingol.

''"A dark and hidden king did dwell,

''Lord of the forest and the fell;''

''And sharp his sword and high his helm,''

''The king of beech and oak and elm.''"^[1]

Doriath is 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 beech forest, ''Nivrim'', 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 King of Doriath, also High King 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. Thingol, with the aid of the Dwarves, builds this into a wondrous city and 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."^[2]
Long before, during the march of the Elves from Cuiviénen to Aman the Vanyar and Noldor pass through it on the Great Journey, Finwë and the Noldor dwell in it for a time, They are ferried across on Tol Eressëa by the time the Teleri arrive. Then their lord Thingol is lost in Nan Elmoth, and when Ulmo returns for them a part remains behind. They later become known as the Sindar, or Grey Elves, and when Thingol returns he becomes their king, ruling from Doriath.
Doriath is originally named 'Eglador', meaning either "Land of the Forsaken" or "Land of the Elves". In the last years before the First Age attacks by Melkor's creatures (Orcs) began to increase in Beleriand, and Melian fences with, a maze of mists, the forests of Neldoreth, Region, and Nivrim. Thingol forms a defense of his realm with companies of archers that guard the borders called March Wardens. With the help of Dwarven smiths, he builds an army of Elves armed with axes, long spears and swords and armoured coats of scale-mail and shields. Thingol then calls all the Sindar to Doriath, but many remain in the wild. After the First Battle of Beleriand, many Laiquendi, the Green Elves or Nandor as well as some Avari remove to Doriath establishing themselves as the 'Guest Elves' of Arthorien.
Eöl the Dark Elf, as a vassal, leases Nan Elmoth from Thingol, having paid the sword Anglachel for it.
The Dwarves of Belegost and Nogrod are contracted to build the halls of Menegroth, which became Thingol's capital city and fortress. The great tree Hirilorn, wherein Lúthien is placed by Thingol to prevent her from meeting Beren, was outside the front entrance of Menegroth. A great stone bridge across the river Esgalduin is the only access to the gates. Both the river Sirion and its tributary Esgalduin are uncrossable, except by boat or bridge.^[3]
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 later 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. 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 perpetuates 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.^[4]

Contents

References

References

1. ''Lay of Leithian''
2.
3. ;
4. Though this serves as a summary of these events, note that some editorial additions of the fall of Doriath in ''The Silmarillion'' constitute a very difficult issue with respect to the final intent of the author.