This refers to the cave-dwelling systems in the Northern regions of Mirkwood. It was the home of the Eldar King Thranduil and the fortress of his Elven nation for centuries of Third and Fourth Age.
Description
The halls served as a palace to King Thranduil, as a vault for his Kingdom's wealth and treasures. Thranduil's hall also served as the haven for Elves of Mirkwood in the event of war. The location of the hall was in the borders of Mirkwood to the East, and on the Forest River's North Bank. A few miles downstream was Esgaroth. The King's Halls were not restrictive as those of Goblins in Hithaeglir, rather they were spacious and comfortable with paths and large halls. There were Huge doors of stone at the port of the King's Hall. These doors were kept in place by Elves' magic. Thranduil's chamber in the cave had tall pillars made from living rocks. Its halls also had cavities for holding prisoners, criminals, and intruders. The lowest area of the caves had cellars with a stream flowing underneath it; the elves would drop empty barrels into the stream, so they could flow out to the Forest River from a portcullis gate.
History
After the first century of Third Age passed, Sauron's cloud began to cast its shadow on Greenwood, evil beings found it habitable and settled there. Greenwood became Mirkwood for the evil that filled it. Thranduil migrated with the Elves of his kingdom to the North-eastern edge of the forest. He then established a fortress and underground chambers to secure his people during an attack. Thranduil took inspiration for his hall from his encounter at Doriath. He said Thingol's halls of Menegroth. He admired the creation of the halls even though he could only make a smaller form of it with his resources. Dwarves had a history of excavations in the areas of the hall but may have stopped as their relationship with the Silvan Elves worsened over time.
The death of Thingol and the destruction of Doriath played a crucial role in their relationship afterward. Thorin Oakenshield and his companions encountered the Woodland Elves when they travelled through the region in 2941 TA, in autumn. The dwarves' company was starving as the food with them ran out. They found a gathering of Elves feasting and made attempts to take some food but failed. It did not take long before the elves captured the dwarves and took them to the king's hall. Thorin would not accept to be in need of Thranduil's help even when he did. In Thranduil's presence, Thorin did not comply as he desired, so the king ordered that he should be in one of his cells as a prisoner. The Silvan Elves later captured the rest of Thorin's company, except Bilbo, and took them to their king's hall for interrogation. They also did not comply as Thranduil desired, so he gave the order to keep them as prisoners.
Bilbo had Sauron's ring on his finger; he walked through the king's hall to help the dwarves find a way out. The Hobbit found the way out and also obtained the keys to their prison. Bilbo then freed the dwarves, and they all hid in empty barrels. Unsuspecting laborers came to roll the barrels away, helping them escape. In the early centuries of Third Age, Aragorn apprehended Gollum within the Dead Marshes and took him to the Silvan King's Hall. Gollum was imprisoned and kept under watch in the caves but was allowed access to a tree. Gollum escaped the following year when the Orcs attacked Mirkwood.
In 3019, a year after the attack of Orcs on Thranduil's hall, the forces of Dol-Guldur attacked the hall again; in a move during the War of the Ring. Silvan Elves overcame the occupying forces of Dol-Guldur. After the defeat of Sauron, Thranduil extended his realm to the Mountains of Mirkwood and changed the name. The region has a history of name changes. It was Greenland before the clouds of Sauron extended their Shadow to it and invited evil animals and orcs to live there; changing the name to Mirkwood. When Sauron fell in Black Gate from the destruction of his ring of power, Lady of Galadhrim went there to cleanse the region of its evil, changing its name to Eryn Lasgalen. [1]
The death of Thingol and the destruction of Doriath played a crucial role in their relationship afterward. Thorin Oakenshield and his companions encountered the Woodland Elves when they travelled through the region in 2941 TA, in autumn. The dwarves' company was starving as the food with them ran out. They found a gathering of Elves feasting and made attempts to take some food but failed. It did not take long before the elves captured the dwarves and took them to the king's hall. Thorin would not accept to be in need of Thranduil's help even when he did. In Thranduil's presence, Thorin did not comply as he desired, so the king ordered that he should be in one of his cells as a prisoner. The Silvan Elves later captured the rest of Thorin's company, except Bilbo, and took them to their king's hall for interrogation. They also did not comply as Thranduil desired, so he gave the order to keep them as prisoners.
Bilbo had Sauron's ring on his finger; he walked through the king's hall to help the dwarves find a way out. The Hobbit found the way out and also obtained the keys to their prison. Bilbo then freed the dwarves, and they all hid in empty barrels. Unsuspecting laborers came to roll the barrels away, helping them escape. In the early centuries of Third Age, Aragorn apprehended Gollum within the Dead Marshes and took him to the Silvan King's Hall. Gollum was imprisoned and kept under watch in the caves but was allowed access to a tree. Gollum escaped the following year when the Orcs attacked Mirkwood.
In 3019, a year after the attack of Orcs on Thranduil's hall, the forces of Dol-Guldur attacked the hall again; in a move during the War of the Ring. Silvan Elves overcame the occupying forces of Dol-Guldur. After the defeat of Sauron, Thranduil extended his realm to the Mountains of Mirkwood and changed the name. The region has a history of name changes. It was Greenland before the clouds of Sauron extended their Shadow to it and invited evil animals and orcs to live there; changing the name to Mirkwood. When Sauron fell in Black Gate from the destruction of his ring of power, Lady of Galadhrim went there to cleanse the region of its evil, changing its name to Eryn Lasgalen. [1]
References
Categories:
Caves
Cities
Elven Cities
Elven Realms
Halls
