Summary
The Lord of the Ringsfans famously know of Legolas and his exploits, as they favor him above most other Elves from the hefty tomes. They’re also familiar with Elrond, Arwen, Galadriel, and Haldir. However, Thranduil, a lesser known Elf, plays a significant role in the lore ofThe Lord of the Rings.Peter Jackson’sThe Hobbittrilogy slightly exagerrates characteristics and actions of this great Elf King, introducing a mere facsimile of what he is in the books.
Despite J.R.R. Tolkien not naming Thranduil until writingThe Fellowship of the Ring, referring to him only as “Elvenking” in his first appearance inThe Hobbit, he has an extensive history that’s important to Middle-earth. His father founded the Elven kingdom that would end up residing in Mirkwood and play a role in theBattle of the Five Armiesduring the events ofThe Hobbitnovel.
Who is Thranduil?
Thranduil traveled with his father, Oropher, and a handful of Sindar to Greenwood the Great, which outsiders would come to know as Mirkwood, during the Second Age. It’s there that the Silvan Elves made Oropher their monarch. Thethrone would eventually pass to Thranduilafter Oropher falls in battle during the War of the Last Alliance.
Children
Legolas
Thranduil and the Elves ofMirkwood would seclude and insulate themselvesfrom the rest of Middle-earth, refusing to help most in need. However, the Woodland Elves and Men of Laketown remained in good standing as the Men helped the Elves over the years. When Bard of Lake-town sent messengers requesting aid to rebuild the destroyed Laketown, Thranduil sent Elven craftsmen to help fortify the town for the coming winter.
Thranduil only concerned himself with his realm and its borders. Unless there was a common enemy or a need for trade, he rarely even dealt with his kinsfolk in the South. He saw the beauty in nature, moreso than other Elves despite the growing darkness in Mirkwood. He addorned his head with a crown of woodland flowers and foliage, changing it with the season. His most prized possession was a collection of white gems, which he strived to acquire more throughout the years. As Tolkien’sThe Hobbitstates:
If the elf-king had a weakness it was for treasure, especially for silver and white gems; and though his hoard was rich, was eager for more, since he had not yet as great a treasure as other elf-lords of old.
Where was Thranduil During the War of the One Ring?
Throughout the Third Age, Thranduil conceded more and more land to the growing darkness in Mirkwood, fortifying the northeast region of Mirkwood near the Forest River as his stronghold. He had his craftsmen fashion a network of caverns under Mirkwood where he and his people resided until the Fourth Age. For a time, Mirkwood held Gollum captive thanks to Aragorn and Gandalf, but the corrupted creature managed to escape, prompting Thranduil to send his only son Legolas toRivendell and inform Elrond.
Legolas ended up joining the Fellowship of the Ring that sought to bring the One Ring to Mount Doom in Mordor, which eventually led him to the Battle of the Pelennor Field outside of Gondor. This caused him to miss Dol Guldur’s assault on the Woodland Realm that took place shortly after. A host of Orcs marched on both Lorien and Mirkwood and set the forests ablaze. The Orcs broke through Mirkwood’s defenses and brought the battle underground to Thranduil’s Halls. Luckily, the Elves of Mirkwood proved too much forDol Guldur’s forcesand claimed victory over the dark creatures.
What Happens to Thranduil After the War?
Dol Guldur attempted to sack Lothlórien multiple times, but failed all three times. This left Galadriel and Celeborn no choice but to bring the battle to Dol Guldur whereGaladriel used the power of her ringof power, Nenya, to utterly raze Sauron’s old stronghold. With Dol Guldur gone, Sauron had no remaining armies in all of Middle-earth.
Thranduil and Celeborn renamed Mirkwood to Eryn Lasgalen, Sindarin for “The Wood of the Greenleaves.” From there, Thranduil divided the great forest, gifting the southern region to Celeborn and Galadriel who renamed it East Lórien. Thranduil and his Elves retained the northern most reaches of Mirkwood and gave the central region to the Beornings and Woodmen.
Thranduil’s exploits after partitioning the great forest are unknown. Legolas traveled to Ithilien with otherElves of Mirkwoodwhere they helped Faramir settle the land, but the books never state whether Thranduil joined his son in this journey. Nor does it say the Elven King ever departed over the sea for the Grey Havens. Many believe he remained in the re-established Wood of the Greenleaves and ruled his kingdom well into the Fourth Age.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is one of the most iconic names in entertainment. The franchise started with novels from J. R. R. Tolkien before being adapted onto the big screen by Peter Jackson in one of the most critically-acclaimed film trilogies of all time. There have also been numerous The Lord of the Rings video games of varying quality.
MORE:The Hobbit: Why Do Thranduil And Bard Still Respect Thorin Despite His Dragon-Sickness Cruelty?
