Today, on Nerd of the Rings we are talking about Thranduil, King of the Woodland Realm, Father
of Legolas. His origins begin much earlier than those
of his realm, however. He is born during the first age in the realm
of Doriath in Beleriand. We don’t know a specific date, but we know
he is born sometime prior to the year 507 and is the son of Oropher. His name means "vigorous spring" Thranduil and his father are among of the
Sindar or Grey Elves. To put it simply, the Sindar were Teleri who
accepted the invitation to travel to Valinor, but never set foot in Valinor - instead founding
the city of Menegroth and the realm of Doriath. So, we know that Thranduil and Oropher are
among the Sindarin elves. Living in Doriath, their realm is protected
by the Girdle of Melian - a fence of enchantment around their kingdom, set by Queen Melian
- who was a Maia - the same race of beings as the wizards, Sauron, and the balrogs. However, King Thingol is killed in a dispute
with the Dwarves of Nogrod. They fought over the Nauglamir, a great Necklace
that combined the craftsmanship of the dwarves with the greatest of the elves - a Silmaril
of Feanor. Rather than being a shining achievement of
their two races, it is fought over for years to come and the cause of much turmoil and
bloodshed. After Thingol is killed in 502FA, Melian departs
Middle-earth, causing her protection to vanish. 5 years later, Doriath is utterly destroyed
after the second kingslaying, in which the Sons of Feanor attack in an effort to take
the Silmaril by force. After Beleriand is destroyed during the War
of Wrath, most of the Noldor and the remaining Sindar retreat to Lindon. The valar reinvite these elves to come to
Aman, but Oropher and Thranduil - among others - are unwilling and remain in Middle-earth. Many of the Sindar leave Lindon and travel
eastward. Thranduil and his father arrive in Greenwood
the Great in 750 SA. There dwell the Silvan elves. These elves also originated from the Teleri,
though they lingered in the Vales of Anduin during the Great Journey. Oropher is taken by the Silvan elves as their
king and he founds the Woodland Realm. The few Sindar who came with him soon merged
with the Silvan elves, adopting their customs and language, and taking names of Silvan form
and style. It is said that Oropher’s household wishes
to return to a simple existence natural to the elves before they had been disturbed by
the Valar. Originally, Oropher’s realm includes the
south of Greenwood, including the capital of Amon Lanc. However, throughout the second age, he and
his people migrate north three times. The first movement is northward beyond the
Gladden Fields, as Oropher wishes to distance himself from the increasing encroachments
of the Dwarves of Khazad-dum and his resentment of the intrusions of Celeborn and Galadriel
in Lothlorien. Despite this, his people do remain in contact
with their kin west of the Anduin. Eventually, they come to live in the Dark
Mountains, in north-central Greenwood. Although Oropher sought to distance himself
and his people from the affairs of the rest of the world, he sees the danger that Sauron
poses and knows his defeat would bring about peace in Middle-earth. He, along with his son Thranduil, summon a
large army, which joins with a smaller force of King Amdir’s Elves of Lorien to create
a great host of Silvan Elves. The Silvan elves are described as being both
strong and brave. Despite having poor armor and weapons compared
with the Noldor, Amdir and Oropher are unwilling to submit to the supreme command of Gil-Galad. Due to this rashness, they suffer heavy losses
during the War of the Last Alliance. In the very first assault on Mordor in 3434
SA, Oropher and other brave and hasty Silvan Elves rush forward before Gil-galad gives
the signal to charge. Oropher is killed in this first battle and
Amdir and his troops are cut off and driven into the marshes where half the host is killed
- due to the thousands of bodies buried there, this area would later be known as the Dead
Marshes. In all, two thirds of Oropher’s army would
die during the course of the war with Sauron. After Sauron is defeated seven years later
in 3441, Thranduil leads the remainder of his people north, returning to the Woodland
Realm, where he is crowned King. Thranduil begins his reign as the Third Age
begins in Middle-earth. Over a thousand years later, the southern
Greenwood becomes increasingly dangerous. Sauron - disguised as the Necromancer - comes
to Amon Lanc, the former home of Oropher and Thranduil in 1050 TA by 1100, it is known
as Dol Guldur - Hill of Sorcery. Evil creatures such as great spiders come
to dwell there and the forest comes to be known as Mirkwood. In response to this threat, Thranduil leads
his people north of the Forest River. There, Thranduil’s halls are delved underground. It is said that his halls were fashioned partly
in memory of Menegroth of Doriath, the former First-age home to him and his father. Sauron flees to the East for a time in 2063,
when Gandalf first comes to Dol Guldur. After the “Watchful Peace” of nearly 400
years, Sauron returns to Dol Guldur in 2460 - 3 years before Gollum obtains the One Ring. As we know, Sauron would be expelled from
Dol Guldur by the White Council in 2941. The next we hear of Thranduil is during that
same year. As the king and his people are feasting in
the woods, they are repeatedly interrupted by a group of dwarves. After the third disturbance, the elves capture
Thorin, who refuses to reveal the reason for their journey through Mirkwood. After their battle with the spiders, the rest
of the company is also captured by the elves. Since they would not explain their presence
in Mirkwood, Thranduil inprisons all the dwarves. As we all know, however, Bilbo would help
the dwarves to escape. After the dwarves escape, Thranduil receives
word of what occurred from the raft-elves who return up the Forest River, as it was
their duty to transport goods via barrels between the Woodland Realm and Esgaroth. Now aware of the dwarves’ quest, Thranduil
states “no treasure will come back through Mirkwood without my having something to say
in the matter. But I expect they will all come to a bad end,
and serve them right!” Despite his belief that the dwarves were incapable
of slaying Smaug, he soon receives word from his messengers - including birds - that the
dragon had been killed and Laketown destroyed. Thranduil, knowing that Smaug had possessed
a massive treasure hoard, believing the dwarves to be dead, and desiring a share of the treasure,
sets out toward the Lonely Mountain with a company of elves. On their way, they come across messengers
from Bard - requesting aid for his destroyed town. Thranduil gives aid to these men, since they
had been friends with the wood-elves. He also leaves elven craftsmen to assist with
building huts to fortify the people of Laketown against the winter that was quickly approaching. Together, Thranduil and Bard lead their armies
to the Lonely Mountain. To their great surprise, they arrive to find
that Thorin and Company had indeed survived Smaug’s attacks and had taken possession
of the Mountain. Bard approaches the Mountain, seeking to parley
with Thorin. The dwarven king tells Bard “I will not
parley, as I have said, with armed men at my gate. Nor at all with the people of the Elvenking,
whom I remember with small kindness. In this debate they have no place. Begone now ere our arrows fly! And if you would speak with me again, first
dismiss the elvish host to the woods where it belongs, and then return, laying down your
arms before you approach the threshold.” In response to Thorin’s continued refusal,
Thranduil and Bard besiege the mountain. Beseige - surround a place with armed forces
in order to capture it or force its surrender. Thorin sends word to his kin in the Iron Hills
via raven messengers. Led by Dain Ironfoot, the dwarves begin their
journey to the mountain. Bilbo, wishing to avoid bloodshed, brings
to Thranduil and Bard the Arkenstone in hopes it would cause Thorin to reopen negotiations. The Elvenking looked at Bilbo with a new wonder. “Bilbo Baggins!” he said. “You are more worthy to wear the armour
of elf-princes than many that have looked more comely in it. But I wonder if Thorin Oakenshield will see
it so. I have more knowledge of dwarves in general
than you have perhaps. I advise you to remain with us, and here you
shall be honoured and thrice welcome.” Bilbo instead returns to his friends. The next morning, Thranduil and Bard enter
negotiations with Thorin. An angered Thorin agrees to pay 1/14th share
of the treasure in exchange for the stone. Thranduil is reluctant to start a war over
gold, but when the forces of Dain arrive the next day, before the trade for the Arkenstone
has been made, the dwarves proceed to attack. At that moment, the Orcs of the Misty Mountains
and Grey Mountains, accompanied by a cloud of great bats, marches on the Mountain. After skirmishing amongst themselves - the
three commanders agree with Gandalf that the goblins are the enemies of them all. They join forces and so begins the Battle
of Five Armies. Goblins and Wild Wolves against Elves, Men,
and Dwarves. Thranduil’s host is positioned on the southern
side of the mountain - and they are the first to charge. Many elves - as well as their allies - are
killed in the battle. Things are looking bleak, when Beorn and the
eagles arrive, turning the tide, and helping secure an ultimate victory. Thorin, having been wounded in battle, dies
shortly afterwards, having spoken his final words to his friend Bilbo Baggins. Thranduil takes the sword Orcrist - which
had been taken from Thorin during his imprisonment in Mirkwood - and places it on Thorin’s
tomb. It is said that from then on, it would glow
in warning when foes approached Erebor. The treasure is divided among the alliance. Bard gives Thranduil the emeralds of his ancestor,
Girion, the former lord of Dale. As Bilbo and Gandalf depart, the hobbit gives
Thranduil a necklace of silver and pearls. Thranduil gives Bilbo the title of Elf-friend
and returns with the survivors of his host to his home in Mirkwood. Later in the third age, on March 21, 3018,
Aragorn brings Gollum to Mirkwood, as he and Gandalf seek to interrogate him. After Gandalf questions Gollum, he is turned
over to Thranduil to be kept prisoner. After months of captivity, Gollum escapes. On June 20, Sauron orchestrates an attack
on the Woodland Realm by orcs. This raid was merely a ploy to provide a distraction
and allow Gollum to escape - in that, the attack is successful. Thranduil sends his son, Legolas to Rivendell
in order to inform Elrond of Gollum’s escape. As chance would have it, Legolas arrives in
time to take part in the Council of Elrond, where he is selected as one of the nine members
of the Fellowship of the Ring. Nearly a year later, on March 15, 3019, Gondor
is victorious in the Battle of Pelennor fields. Later that same day, Sauron’s army from
Dol Guldur attacks Mirkwood. It is a long battle and much is ruined in
a great fire, but in the end, Thranduil and the elves of Mirkwood are victorious. On March 25, the ring is destroyed. A few days later, (March 28) Celeborn and
Galadriel destroy Dol Guldur. On April 6, nearly a week later, Thranduil
and Celeborn meet in the forest and rename it Eryn Lasgalen “wood of green leaves”. They divide the woods between themselves and
the Beornings and Woodmen. Thranduil rules the re-established Woodland
Realm into the Fourth Age. Unfortunately, this is the last we hear of
Thranduil. Presumably, he goes on to rule the Woodland
Realm for some time. However, we don’t know if he eventually
sailed to Valinor, or continued to dwell in Middle-earth. One thing we do know, however, is that his
son Legolas would have a lasting impact on his people. It is said that the unprecedented friendship
between Legolas and Gimli helped to reconcile Thranduil’s people to the dwarves. For after the war of the Ring, both the Dwarves
of the Glittering Caves led by Gimli, and the Wood-elves of Mirkwood, led by Legolas
- came to Gondor - where they assisted King Elessar in rebuilding and restoring the city
of Minas Tirith. There, the Great Gate is remade in mithril
and steel, the streets are repaved with white marble, and gardens and trees are planted
all around the city, a shining achievement of their two races - as dwarves and elves
worked together - side by side. I want to say a huge thank you to all of my supporters who make these videos possible. Including wizard-level Patreon patrons TomDaBombadil19 and Skycarcass. If you want to learn how you can snag yourself some exclusive perks and support the channel, visit patreon.com/NerdoftheRings. Thank you so much for watching and we'll see you next time on Nerd of the Rings.
