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Book Home  Books Information Doriath
Doriath
In J. R. R. Tolkien's
fictional world of Middle-earth, Doriath was the land of the
Sindar. It was called the Fenced Land (Dor-iath), for its queen,
Melian, put a girdle of enchantment about it, so that nobody
could enter without King Thingol's permission.
Doriath was a realm of forests about the great
river Sirion, with in it the forests Neldoreth (also Taur-na-Neldor,
the northern beech forest), Nivrim (also West-march, an oak
forest), and Region (pronounced Reh-gi-on, the main forest).
Additionally, the forests of Brethil and Nan Elmoth were held
as part of Doriath, but these last two lay outside the Girdle
of Melian. King Elu Thingol of Doriath, also High King of the
Sindar, saw all of Beleriand as his realm, from the Gelion to
Belegaer.
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The Vanyar and Ñoldor had passed by it on the
Great Journey, and had been ferried across on Tol Eressëa by
the time the Teleri arrived. Then their lord Elwë was lost in
Nan Elmoth, and when Ulmo returned for them a part remained behind.
They became known as the Sindar or Grey Elves, and when Thingol returned
he became their king, ruling from Doriath.
Doriath was originally named Eglador, meaning either
"Land of the Forsaken" or "Land of the Elves",
but in the last years before the First Age attacks by Melkor's creatures
(Orcs) began to increase in Beleriand, and Melian fenced the forests
of Neldoreth, Region, and Nivrim. Thingol then called all the Sindar
to Doriath, but many remained in the wild. After the First Battle
of Beleriand, many Laiquendi removed to Doriath.
Eöl the Dark Elf leased Nan Elmoth from Thingol,
having paid the sword Anglachel for it.
The Dwarves of Belegost and Nogrod were contracted to
build the halls of Menegroth, which became Thingol's capital.
When the Ñoldor returned to Middle-earth at the
beginning of the First Age, Thingol refused to allow them in Doriath,
with the exception of the children of Finarfin, who were related to
him by his brother Olwë.
When later Men arrived in Beleriand, they were also
refused entry, but at Finrod's request the Haladin were allowed to
live in Brethil.
Beren, son of Barahir and lord of the First House of
Men, passed through the Girdle as Melian had foretold, and arrived
in Neldoreth. There Thingol's daughter Lúthien fell in love
with him. After the Quest for the Silmaril the Wolf Carcharoth also
breached the Girdle, but Thingol, Beren, and Thingol's captains Beleg
and Mablung hunted and killed the beast.
Túrin was sent to Doriath, and lived there until
he came of age, when he fled from the land. Later his mother and sister,
Morwen and Nienor lived there, until they were lost.
Húrin brought the treasure of Nargothrond to
Doriath after the fall of Finrod's realm, and Thingol enlisted the
Dwarves of Nogrod to combine the Silmaril of Beren and Lúthien
with the Nauglamir, the Dwarves' Necklace. The Dwarves then attacked
Thingol, and slew him, stealing the necklace, during the first Sack
of Doriath. Melian then left, and with her the protective Girdle.
Doriath was briefly restored under Beren and Lúthien's
son Dior, but he was attacked and killed by the sons of Fëanor
in the Second Kinslaying. Afterwards Doriath remained abandoned until
it was sunk along with most of the rest of Beleriand.
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