Menegroth

Menegroth was the kingdom of Doriath's seat of power established in the First Age of the Sun. It was the realm of the Sindarin King Thingol and his wife, Melian. Menegroth was also the birthplace of their daughter Luthien, as well as the starting point of Beren and Luthien's quest for the Silmaril. Also known as The Caves of Menegroth or the Thousand Caves, Menegroth held the Halls of Thingol, the King's majestic throne room. Most historic events transpired in these halls, including the murder of Thingol by the Dwarfsmiths of Nogrod. Later on, the Sons of Feanor destroyed Menegroth in their search for the lost Silmaril procured from the Iron Crown of Morgoth. [1]

In the years following the War for the Sake of the Elves, the Teleri Elves dispersed. Their King Elwe went missing, and they sought refuge throughout the lands of Beleriand, in the Falas, as well as the forests of Neldoreth and Region. Elwe fell in love with Melian and together disappeared in the woods. Later on, Elwe and his wife emerged to establish a new realm, with Elwe using the new name Thingol. He sought the help of the Dwarves of Belegost to establish a new stronghold and dwelling for his citizens.

High above the River Esgalduin, they formed the city of Menegroth within a cliff, in the walls facing west. They placed the gates in front of a massive stone bridge spanning the river. It was a vast city, with an extensive amount of chambers and tunnels, artistically carved from the stones, and sculpted with elaborate designs of birds and beech trees. There were halls for residence, armory, gatherings, treasury, and more, all for the Elves as well as the Dwarves. The kingdom of Doriath enjoyed a lasting peace in the Year of the Trees as Thingol chose seclusion for the protection of his realm. He decreed his citizens to prevent any dealings with the Noldor because of their Kinslaying in Alqualonde and banned the Noldor's language of Quenya from his domain. They also did not participate in the Battles of Beleriand against the enemy of Middle-earth Morgoth.

In the First Age, Beren Erchamion asked King Thingol for permission to marry his daughter Luthien. Thingol required Beren to retrieve the Silmaril from Morgoth to gain his approval. And so Beren set out to Angband, Luthien joined to help him. Despite the risks, the lovers obtained the Silmaril. But as they left the watch in the entrance of Angband, the wolf beast Carcaroth devoured Beren's hand with the Silmaril on it. The wolf rampaged throughout the regions up to the borders of Menegroth. But the hound of Valinor named Huan fought and killed Carcaroth along the northeastern edge of the River Esgalduin. They retrieved the Silmaril from the carcass of the wolf, still within the hand of Beren, and finally presented it to Thingol.

After many years, Thingol received the renowned necklace Nauglamir as a gift from Hurin Thalion. He desired to place the Silmaril as a jewel in the Nauglamir. He called on the Dwarf Smiths of Nogrod to do this and promised a prize if they succeed in his design. But the Dwarves coveted the jewel and the necklace. Blinded by their greed for the Silmaril, they planned to take it for themselves. They finished the crafting of Thingol's design, killed the King Thingol, and escaped Menegroth with the stolen jewelry. Soon the offense of the Dwarves spread over Doriath, and the Elves pursued, retrieved the treasures, and killed them. However, two of the Dwarves managed to flee and reported a false witness to their Dwarf realm in Nogrod, narrating the deception of the Elves leading to the murder of his brethren. Because of this, the Dwarves of Nogrod sought vengeance, gathered their forces, and charged to Doriath.

With the death of Thingol, Melian's protection over Doriath fell, and so the kingdom was defenseless. The Dwarves attacked the kingdom and began the Battle of the Thousand Caves. Many of them perished, and Mablung, Doriath's captain of the guards, died protecting the treasury of Menegroth. The Dwarves took the Nauglamir with the set Silmaril jewel. But upon their escape, the Laiquendi's King Beren slaughtered them at Sarn Athrad, the rest of the Dwarves escaped but slain by the Ents. Hence, Beren retrieved the Silmaril and Naglamir.

The Lay of Leithian [2] is a lyrical poem of the story of Beren and Luthien, which included a detailed description of Menegroth. It described Menegroth as Beren walks through the place. It has winding, carved corridors illuminated by lanterns and burning torches in the form of stone dragons, with eyes of precious stones and teeth made of bone. The passages led underground until it opens into a wide entrance with clear sounds of merriment, musical ringing stones, and twittering birds. It reveals a great hall of arches, radiating with a light of an eternal day with the glowing luminescence of the bright stars. It was a great chamber with vaults made of stone sculpted as tree trunks, and they appear like magical trees thriving eternally. Its treetops were unending twists and turns of shimmering leaves that keep the light of the sun and moon, with jewels on them and stems made of gold. Fountains of water flow throughout the stone ground, while perpetual blossoms fill the place and nightingales linger in the arbor, singing over Melian. There lies the throne room of Thingol, and the King wore a silver and green crown. And there was a beautiful, adoring crowd gathered around him.

1. ^Iron Crown of Morgoth.
2. ^The Lay of Leithian.