Doriath was known as Artanor, meaning ‘The Land Beyond’ and it was the land of the Sindar. An Elven realm, it existed from the later part of the Years of the Trees to the most part of the First Age of the Sun. When it fell under the protection of King Thingol & his wife Melian the Maia, it was renamed Doriath. It was secluded from the world for a long time but because of the Oath of Feanor. Once King Thingol established his realm, it fell into war with Morgoth.
Description
The gigantic kingdom of King Thingol was one of the most prosperous forest kingdoms of the land of the Sindar. Located in Beleriand it basically comprises two parts, divided by the River Esgalduin. Neldoreth, the smaller region was located in the northwestern region of the forest & the bigger, Forest of Region included parts of the southern forests. Both these regions were surrounded by the Girdle of Melian which helped to protect the lands from their enemies. The Girdle also protected the oakwood forest of Nivrim, which was located on the southwestern side of the Forest of Region & the woodland of Arthorien which was situated along the mid-western side of the Forest, although they were not governed by King Thingol. The two kingdoms were independent but they helped out the wardens of Doriath in case of need. A Thousand Caves, [1] the Halls of Menegroth & the citadel of the king & queen were all located in the heart of Doriath. King Thingol was killed by the Dwarves while ruling Doriath for a long time. After his death, Dior Eluchil, his grandson, succeeded him & it was during his tenure that the kingdom was destroyed by the Sons of Feanor.
History
When the Noldor decided to settle down in the forests of Neldoreth, during the Great March, it was still long before the Region was yet to be called Doriath. They settled down in the forests & the area on the west. The settlements were quite scattered as the East Beleriand was still occupied by the Teleri, whose leader, Elwe, had a friend Finwe, who he went to meet regularly. One time on his way back, We got lost around Nan Elmoth. When Ulmo, the king of the seas, came back, the Teleri who remained behind came to be known as the Grey Elves or Sindar. King Thingol declared himself the king of the Elves & ruled over them from Doriath. He also befriended the Dwarves of Belegost, on the advice of Melian. This was certainly beneficial for him because the Dwarves carved the capital of the kingdom - caves of Menegroth for him. It was located underground along the south side of the River Esgalduin. They also made for him extremely powerful weapons that could even be used to protect his people from the Orcs of the North. It was at the same time when he had loaned Nan Elmoth to Eol, the Dark Elf in exchange for the sword Anglachel.
Year of the Trees
After the First Battle of Beleriand, in Y.T. 1497, a lot of Laiquendi people moved to Doriath. It was also because of this that the kingdom of Doriath was protected by the Girdle of Melian that acted as a natural boundary for the Forest Kingdom & also was enchanted by magic which made it almost impenetrable. The land of the Doriath, formerly known as Eglador, was protected by the Girdle & even beyond it, the King was considered as their leader by the native Elves of Beleriand - everyone from Gelion to Belegaer. The hunters of the Blue Mountains, the shipbuilders in the Falas & the Elves Beleriand all considered King Thingol as their King. Even the Teleri hailed him as their high-king in Beleriand. The praise of the kingdom went to all places.
But it was not long before that the kingdom was headed towards its doom. When Melkor attacked the Two Trees, with the help of Ungoliant & fled to Middle earth, the doom of Beleriand began. Initially, when Ungoliant fled, he was only controlled by Melian. But afterward, the army of Morgoth, earlier known as Melkor turned their attention from the recently destroyed Angband & launched an attack on Beleriand from both the eastern & western sides during the First Battle of Beleriand. While King Thingol tried to control the situation from the east, with the help of the Elves from Ossiriand, Denethor & Nandor.
They were able to defeat the Orcs. From the west, the army of Morgoth had heavily defeated the Falas. But it was quite clear that they needed to improve the condition of their safety. During the war, they lost Denethor and his people came to join the Elves of Sindarin to live under the rule of King Thingol. To ensure better protection of his kingdom, the King decided to relocate as many of his people as possible, to Neldoreth & Region & the Girdle of enchantment was cast by Melian. Until this time, the kingdom that was known as Eglador, formally came to be known as Doriath & included all the kingdoms situated within the Girdle & even included some of the neighboring ones. Fortunately, because of the Elves, who defended the kingdom of Doriath, The First Battle of Beleriand was the only one that King Thingol had to fight to defend his kingdom & his people. The Elves of Doriath were masters of warfare and took good care of their homes from thereon.
But it was not long before that the kingdom was headed towards its doom. When Melkor attacked the Two Trees, with the help of Ungoliant & fled to Middle earth, the doom of Beleriand began. Initially, when Ungoliant fled, he was only controlled by Melian. But afterward, the army of Morgoth, earlier known as Melkor turned their attention from the recently destroyed Angband & launched an attack on Beleriand from both the eastern & western sides during the First Battle of Beleriand. While King Thingol tried to control the situation from the east, with the help of the Elves from Ossiriand, Denethor & Nandor.
They were able to defeat the Orcs. From the west, the army of Morgoth had heavily defeated the Falas. But it was quite clear that they needed to improve the condition of their safety. During the war, they lost Denethor and his people came to join the Elves of Sindarin to live under the rule of King Thingol. To ensure better protection of his kingdom, the King decided to relocate as many of his people as possible, to Neldoreth & Region & the Girdle of enchantment was cast by Melian. Until this time, the kingdom that was known as Eglador, formally came to be known as Doriath & included all the kingdoms situated within the Girdle & even included some of the neighboring ones. Fortunately, because of the Elves, who defended the kingdom of Doriath, The First Battle of Beleriand was the only one that King Thingol had to fight to defend his kingdom & his people. The Elves of Doriath were masters of warfare and took good care of their homes from thereon.
First Age
King Thingol knew that as long as his own kingdom was protected he did not need to barge into the affairs or ongoings of other regions. So he tried to stay away from these as much as possible. The new lords in Middle earth were getting aggressive, which is why their relations with Noldor became more and more strained as time passed by. As a result of this King Thingol did not allow Noldor in Doriath. He however made an exception in the case of the children of Finarfin, who were related to his brother Olwe. When men came to Beleriand, King Thingol did not give them permission to settle in his kingdom.
But at the behest of Finrod, they were allowed to settle in Brethil. Although Brethil was not governed by King Thingol, it was one of their allies' kingdoms, which is why when they needed it, they were provided protection by the armies of Thingol. The Noldor were not very cooperative and throughout the First Age, fought a lot of wars. Even when they fought Morgoth, the Kingdom of Doriath wanted nothing to do with them. Thingol refused to participate in the war. But as was told in the Lay of Leithian, the King was doomed to fail when the son of Barahir, Beren, who was also the lord of the First House of Men, came to the kingdom & passed through the enchantment of the Girdle & arrived in Neldoreth. The King’s daughter, Luthien fell in love with Beren, and this was a chance for him to turn Beren over to his side. He proclaimed that if Beren wanted to marry his daughter, he would have to retrieve a Silmaril from the clutches of the Dark Lord Morgoth. Beren accomplished this task and married Luthien & the King ended up with one of the Simarils.
But seeing that the kingdom was actually penetrable, despite the enchanted Girdle others tried to attack it too. The Wolf Carcharoth [2] was able to enter the Girdle, but because of the valor of King Thingol, his captains Beleg & Mablung, & Beren, the beast was defeated & killed. After they got married, Beren & Luthien moved to Ossiriand. After several battles of the First Age, only three elven kingdoms were left: Gondolin, Nargothrond & Doriath.
Soon after the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Nargothrond fell too. Morwen was always concerned about the safety of her son Turin of Hithlum. To protect him from the cruelty of the Easterlings, she sent him to stay in Doriath, till the time he came of age. He fled from Doriath and later Morwen & her daughter Nienor lived in Doriath till their end. After the death of his son Turin, Hurin who had been captured at Nirnaeth was released from prison. After he was released he went on the quest for the Nauglamir from Nargothrond and was successful. He returned to Doriath and threw the Nauglamir at the foot of King Thingol in spite. Melian who also was a witness to this scolded him. That is when she realized that he had been infected with the madness of Morgoth. She treated him of his madness, and Hurin, on realizing his mistake, picked up the Nauglamir and presented it respectfully to the King. He left Doriath after this, never to return again.
But at the behest of Finrod, they were allowed to settle in Brethil. Although Brethil was not governed by King Thingol, it was one of their allies' kingdoms, which is why when they needed it, they were provided protection by the armies of Thingol. The Noldor were not very cooperative and throughout the First Age, fought a lot of wars. Even when they fought Morgoth, the Kingdom of Doriath wanted nothing to do with them. Thingol refused to participate in the war. But as was told in the Lay of Leithian, the King was doomed to fail when the son of Barahir, Beren, who was also the lord of the First House of Men, came to the kingdom & passed through the enchantment of the Girdle & arrived in Neldoreth. The King’s daughter, Luthien fell in love with Beren, and this was a chance for him to turn Beren over to his side. He proclaimed that if Beren wanted to marry his daughter, he would have to retrieve a Silmaril from the clutches of the Dark Lord Morgoth. Beren accomplished this task and married Luthien & the King ended up with one of the Simarils.
But seeing that the kingdom was actually penetrable, despite the enchanted Girdle others tried to attack it too. The Wolf Carcharoth [2] was able to enter the Girdle, but because of the valor of King Thingol, his captains Beleg & Mablung, & Beren, the beast was defeated & killed. After they got married, Beren & Luthien moved to Ossiriand. After several battles of the First Age, only three elven kingdoms were left: Gondolin, Nargothrond & Doriath.
Soon after the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Nargothrond fell too. Morwen was always concerned about the safety of her son Turin of Hithlum. To protect him from the cruelty of the Easterlings, she sent him to stay in Doriath, till the time he came of age. He fled from Doriath and later Morwen & her daughter Nienor lived in Doriath till their end. After the death of his son Turin, Hurin who had been captured at Nirnaeth was released from prison. After he was released he went on the quest for the Nauglamir from Nargothrond and was successful. He returned to Doriath and threw the Nauglamir at the foot of King Thingol in spite. Melian who also was a witness to this scolded him. That is when she realized that he had been infected with the madness of Morgoth. She treated him of his madness, and Hurin, on realizing his mistake, picked up the Nauglamir and presented it respectfully to the King. He left Doriath after this, never to return again.
Fall of Doriath
When King Thingol received the Nauglamir from Hurin, he commanded the Dwarves to combine it with the Silmaril into a necklace. He asked them to incorporate the Silmaril into the Nauglamir, which the Dwarves were able to do successfully. The incredibly powerful necklace was presented to King Thingol & one he put it one, the Dwarves demanded payment for the creation. King Thingol rebuked & demeaned them, following which the Dwarves slew him.
The kingdom fell into chaos, because of which Melian decided to leave Doriath. Along with her grief she also took away with her the enchantment that protected the Girdle. She asked Mablung to convey about her departure to Beren & moved to Valinor. Doriath was now easy prey to attackers. The Dwarves however were not satisfied by just killing King Thingol. They went back to their King in Nogrod & presented an exaggerated version of their story following which the king launched an attack on Doriath. After a battle with heavy losses on both sides, the Dwarves claimed victory over the kingdom.
They plundered Menegroth & took back with them, large amounts of their loots including the Silmaril. Tired by the war and plunder, when they faced the Green Elves led by Beren on their way at Sarn Athrad, they were not able to defend the Silmaril. Beren in possession of the Silmaril became a powerful man, and as the rightful heir to the kingdom of Doriath, came back to regain control with his wife & their two sons, Elured & Elurin & daughter Elwing. He tried to bring back the kingdom to its former glory & presented his wife with the Silmaril. However, when they died, the Silmaril & Nauglamir was brought to Dior. The Sons of Feanor went to Dior to demand the Silmaril & Nauglamir. But when they were refused, they attacked Doriath & killed Dior, Nimloth, Elured, Elurin, Celegorm, Curufin & Caranthir. After this, no one attempted to rebuild Doriath and the city was abandoned under it and was buried underwater.
The kingdom fell into chaos, because of which Melian decided to leave Doriath. Along with her grief she also took away with her the enchantment that protected the Girdle. She asked Mablung to convey about her departure to Beren & moved to Valinor. Doriath was now easy prey to attackers. The Dwarves however were not satisfied by just killing King Thingol. They went back to their King in Nogrod & presented an exaggerated version of their story following which the king launched an attack on Doriath. After a battle with heavy losses on both sides, the Dwarves claimed victory over the kingdom.
They plundered Menegroth & took back with them, large amounts of their loots including the Silmaril. Tired by the war and plunder, when they faced the Green Elves led by Beren on their way at Sarn Athrad, they were not able to defend the Silmaril. Beren in possession of the Silmaril became a powerful man, and as the rightful heir to the kingdom of Doriath, came back to regain control with his wife & their two sons, Elured & Elurin & daughter Elwing. He tried to bring back the kingdom to its former glory & presented his wife with the Silmaril. However, when they died, the Silmaril & Nauglamir was brought to Dior. The Sons of Feanor went to Dior to demand the Silmaril & Nauglamir. But when they were refused, they attacked Doriath & killed Dior, Nimloth, Elured, Elurin, Celegorm, Curufin & Caranthir. After this, no one attempted to rebuild Doriath and the city was abandoned under it and was buried underwater.
Etymology
Doriath was earlier known as Eglador which meant “Land of the Elves” or “Land of the Forsaken”. [3] The natives were known as “Eglath”. Later when it was renamed, Doriath which in Sindarin meant “Land of the fence” the High Elves called it the “Land of the Forsaken”.
