An encyclopedia of Middle-earth and Numenor

Geography

History

Map of Mirkwood

Important Dates

Names & Etymology

Geography:

Mirkwood was the largest forest in Middle-earth in the Third Age. From north to south the forest covered approximately 425 miles. From east to west it was about 200 miles across at its widest point. On the southeastern side of the forest was the East Bight, a great clearing that cut into the woods. At this point the distance across Mirkwood was the shortest - about 75 miles - and it was known as the Narrows of the Forest.

Many of the trees of Mirkwood were ancient and very tall. The canopy of the forest was a thick tangle of branches that let in little light. Among the different kinds of trees were beeches and oaks. Fir trees grew on the slopes of the Mountains of Mirkwood in the northern part of the forest. There were also many dark fir trees in southern Mirkwood around the bare, stony hill called Amon Lanc.

The Forest River flowed through the northern part of Mirkwood from the Grey Mountains in the north to Long Lake east of the forest. The Enchanted Stream sprang from a source in the Mountains of Mirkwood and flowed north to join the Forest River. Another stream, whose name is not known, flowed east from the mountains into the River Running. The River Running passed through the easternmost edge of Mirkwood for a short distance.

The Old Forest Road was the main thoroughfare across Mirkwood from west to east. The road came down from the High Pass in the Misty Mountains and crossed the Anduin at the Old Ford before entering the forest. There was also an Elf-path farther north that could be entered through the Forest Gate on the western edge of Mirkwood.

Many animals lived in Mirkwood, including black squirrels and deer, some dark and some white. There were large black bats and dark-grey and black moths that were as big as a person's hand. Above the forest, black emperor butterflies lived in the treetops. Ordinary spiders also lived in the treetops, while down below dwelled the huge and terrifying Great Spiders who wove webs in the tree-branches and fed on warm blood.

History:

In ancient times when the Elves began their Great Journey westward to the Undying Lands, some of the Elves were reluctant to cross the Misty Mountains and decided to settle in the woods along the Anduin. These Elves were of the kindred called the Teleri, and those that remained in the woods came to be called Silvan Elves, or Wood-Elves.

The woodland Elves lived in small scattered communities at first. In the early part of the Second Age, the Woodland Realm was established in Greenwood the Great by a lord of the Sindarin Elves who had migrated eastward from Lindon. By some accounts, it was Thranduil who founded the Woodland Realm; by other accounts it was his father Oropher.

According to the latter accounts, Oropher and his people originally lived around the hill called Amon Lanc near the southwestern edge of Greenwood. But as Sauron grew in power in Mordor south of the forest, Oropher began to move his people northward. He may also have been trying to distance his realm from the realms of Lothlorien and Khazad-dum across the Anduin. The Wood-Elves settled in the fir-covered mountains north of the Old Forest Road. Their numbers increased and they roamed far and wide throughout the forest.

During the War of the Last Alliance at the end of the Second Age, Oropher and his son Thranduil led a great army to fight Sauron. Many Elves of Greenwood died in the war, for though they were courageous they were poorly equipped for battle and their forces remained independent of Gil-galad's supreme command. Oropher himself was slain during the assault on the gates of Mordor.

After Sauron's downfall, Thranduil returned to Greenwood with only a third of his army. For the first millennium of the Third Age, the Wood-Elves were at peace and their numbers grew again. During this time, the Northmen who lived east of Greenwood also increased and some made settlements in the eaves of the forest. The Men felled many trees to build their homes, creating the great clearing called the East Bight.

Around the year 1050 of the Third Age, Sauron came secretly to Greenwood and built a stronghold on Amon Lanc which became known as Dol Guldur, the Hill of Black Magic. A shadow fell on the forest at that time and it came to be called Mirkwood. It became dark and gloomy under the trees even in daytime, and the air was heavy and still. Evil creatures came to live in the woods, including the Great Spiders which were the spawn of Shelob, child of Ungoliant.

Thranduil and his people abandoned the Mountains of Mirkwood, which became infested with evil creatures. They moved northeast and built halls in a network of caves in the hills on the banks of the Forest River. A stream ran from the caves to join the Forest River and the Elves used it to transport goods to and from Long Lake and beyond.

The Northmen who lived east of Mirkwood were decimated by the Great Plague of 1636 and by the invasions of the Wainriders from Rhun in the East. Some of them moved to the town of Dale at the foot of the Lonely Mountain where the Dwarves had a prosperous kingdom not far from the Elvenking's Halls. In the latter part of the Third Age, some bold Men known as the Woodmen established settlements in the western eaves of the forest south of the Old Forest Road. Radagast the Wizard lived near the southwestern edge of the forest in Rhosgobel.

In the autumn of 2941, Bilbo Baggins came to Mirkwood with Thorin Oakenshield and twelve other Dwarves en route to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from Smaug the Dragon. They entered the Forest Gate and took the Elf-path eastward, travelling for many days through the gloomy forest. At night they saw the eyes of many strange creatures watching them.

When they came to the Enchanted Stream, they saw a boat on the far shore and were able to pull it across the stream using a rope and a hook. As they crossed, Bombur - the fattest Dwarf - fell into the stream. The enchanted waters caused Bombur to fall into a deep sleep for many days, and the others were forced to carry him.

Bilbo climbed to the top of an oak tree to see if he could determine how much farther they had to go. It seemed to Bilbo that the trees stretched endlessly in every direction, for he did not realize that his tree was at the bottom of a valley which prevented him from seeing the edge of the forest.

Bilbo and the Dwarves were drawn away from the Elf-path by the lights of the Wood-Elves, who were feasting in the forest, but each time they approached the lights went out and the Elves vanished. On the third occasion, Thorin was captured and was imprisoned when he refused to tell Thranduil why he was in Mirkwood.

Meanwhile, the other Dwarves became lost and were captured by Great Spiders, who wrapped them in webs and strung them in the trees. Bilbo killed many of the Great Spiders with his sword Sting and rescued the Dwarves, but the next day they were imprisoned by the Wood-Elves. Bilbo once again came to their rescue and the Dwarves escaped down the Forest River packed in empty barrels that had been used to transport wine and other goods.

Several weeks later, Thranduil heard of the death of Smaug and he led a group of Elves to the Lonely Mountain. They found that Lake-town had been destroyed and they provided the Lake-Men with food and shelter. Thranduil and Bard of Lake-town tried to negotiate with Thorin, who refused to listen. But then an army of Orcs and Wargs arrived and the Elves of Mirkwood fought side-by-side with the Dwarves and the Lake-Men in the Battle of the Five Armies.

Also in the autumn of 2941, Gandalf convinced the White Council to attack Saruon's stronghold at Dol Guldur in southwestern Mirkwood. Sauron was driven out of Mirkwood, but he was prepared and he went in secret to Mordor. In 2951, he sent Khamul the Easterling along with one or two other Nazgul to reoccupy Dol Guldur.

Gollum passed through Mirkwood during his search for Bilbo and the One Ring. He ate what animals he could catch, and it was said by the Woodmen that he sometimes stole infants from their cradles. Eventually he turned south and went to Mordor.

Many years later, Aragorn caught Gollum and brought him to Mirkwood on March 21, 3018. Gandalf came and questioned Gollum and Thranduil agreed to keep the creature imprisoned. But Sauron's servants in Dol Guldur became aware that Gollum was being held prisoner in the northern part of the forest. On June 20, Gollum was at the top of a tall tree that stood alone in a clearing which the Elves allowed him to climb. He refused to come down and suddenly the Elves were attacked by Orcs and Gollum escaped.

Thranduil sent his son Legolas to Rivendell to report Gollum's escape. Legolas became a member of the Fellowship of the Ring who accompanied Frodo Baggins on his quest. Legolas fought throughout the War of the Ring at the side of Aragorn, the heir to the throne of Gondor and Arnor.

The War also came to Mirkwood. In March of 3019, Sauron's forces caused great ruin and set the woods on fire, but Thranduil and his people defeated them. On March 25, the Ring was destroyed and Sauron was vanquished. On March 28, the Elves of Lothlorien came across the Anduin and took Dol Guldur, and Galadriel threw down its walls. The shadow was lifted from Mirkwood and the forest was cleansed of evil.

Thranduil met Celeborn of Lothlorien in the middle of the woods on April 6, the Elves' New Year. They renamed the forest the Wood of Greenleaves and they divided it between them. The Woodland Realm of Thranduil was the forest north of the fir-covered mountains. The southern part of the forest below the Narrows became East Lorien and was part of Celeborn's realm. The land between the two Elf realms was given to the Beornings and the Woodmen. The Elves and Men of the Wood of Greenleaves remained untroubled for many years.

Important Dates:
 

Note: There is no definitive chronology of the Years of the Trees. These dates are based on "The Annals of Aman" in The History of Middle-earth, vol. X, Morgoth's Ring.

Years of the Trees:

1115:
During the Great Journey, some of the Teleri decide to settle in the great forest along the Anduin.
 

Second Age:

Before 1000
The Woodland Realm is established in Greenwood by Oropher or Thranduil.

3434-3441
Elves of Greenwood fight in the War of the Last Alliance. Many including Oropher are slain. Thranduil returns to Greenwood after Sauron's defeat.
 

Third Age:

1050
Sauron secretly builds a stronghold at Dol Guldur. A shadow falls over Greenwood and it becomes known as Mirkwood.

2060
The Wise fear the power at Dol Guldur may be Sauron.

2063
Gandalf goes to Dol Guldur to investigate and Sauron flees to the East.

2460
Sauron returns with increased strength to Dol Guldur.

2850
Gandalf returns to Dol Guldur and learns that the evil presence is Sauron.

2941
Autumn: Bilbo and the Dwarves pass through Mirkwood and are imprisoned by Thranduil but escape. Meanwhile, Gandalf and the White Council attack Dol Guldur and Sauron flees. Thranduil leads a force from Mirkwood to the Lonely Mountain and they fight in the Battle of the Five Armies.

2951
Sauron sends Nazgul to reoccupy Dol Guldur.

3018
March 21: Gollum is brought to Mirkwood.
March 23: Gandalf arrives and begins to question Gollum.
March 29: Gandalf leaves Mirkwood.

June 20: Orcs attack the Elves of Mirkwood and Gollum escapes captivity.

October 25: Legolas of Mirkwood attends the Council of Elrond to report Gollum's escape.

December 18: Legolas becomes a member of the Fellowship of the Ring.

3019
March 15: Thranduil and his people repel an attack from Dol Guldur.
March 25: The Ring is destroyed and Sauron is defeated.
March 28: Elves of Lothlorien attack and destroy Dol Guldur. The shadow is lifted from Mirkwood.

April 6: Thranduil and Celeborn meet in the forest and rename it the Wood of Greenleaves. They divide the woods between them and give the middle part ot the Beornings and Woodmen.

Names & Etymology:

Mirkwood was called Taur-nu-Fuin or Taur-e-Ndaedelos in Sindarin. The forest was originally called Greenwood the Great or Eryn Galen. After the War of the Ring it was named Eryn Lasgalen, the Wood of Greenleaves, but it was also called Greenwood once more.

Mirkwood was so-called because of the murkiness of the forest - not merely darkness but a weighty, oppressive gloom. According to Tolkien, the name Mirkwood - or mirkiwidu - may have been used in Primitive Germanic to refer to the great mountainous forest regions south of the Germanic lands, particularly the boundary between the Goths and the Huns.

Taur-nu-Fuin means "forest under night" The word taur means "wood, forest"; nu means "down below, underneath"; and fuin means "gloom, darkness."

Taur-e-Ndaedelos means "forest of great fear." The word daedelos means "shadow of abomination" or "shadow of fear." The element dae means "shadow" and delos means "abhorrence, detestation, loathing" from dyel meaning "feel fear and disgust; abhor."

Eryn Galen means "green wood" from eryn meaning "wood" and galen meaning "green." Eryn Lasgalen means "wood of green leaves"; the word las means "leaf."

Sources:

The Hobbit: "Queer Lodgings," p. 142-50; "Flies and Spiders," passim; "Barrels out of Bond," passim; "Fire and Water," p. 265-67; "The Gathering of the Clouds," p. 275-78; "A Thief in the Night," p. 282-84; "The Clouds Burst," p. 286, 291, 293-97; "The Return Journey," p. 303, 305-6

The Fellowship of the Ring: "Prologue: Concerning Hobbits," p. 12; "The Shadow of the Past," p. 53, 57, 60-61, 65, 66-67; "The Council of Elrond," p. 253, 263, 267-69, 274; "The Ring Goes South," p. 286-87; "Lothlorien," p. 349; 353-53, 366; "The Breaking of the Fellowship," p. 416

The Two Towers: "Treebeard," p. 64-65, 76, 78; "The Road to Isengard," p. 152; "Shelob's Lair," p. 332

Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings: "The Tale of Years," p. 363, 365-66, 368-70, 372, 374-75

Appendix F of The Lord of the Rings: "On Translation," p. 412

Unfinished Tales: "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn - Appendix A: The Silvan Elves and Their Speech" p. 256-57 and "Appendix B: The Sindarin Princes of the Silvan Elves," p. 257-260; "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields," p. 280-81 notes 12 and 14; "Cirion and Eorl," p. 288-89, 310 note 3 and 13; "The Hunt for the Ring," p. 343-45

The Silmarilion: "Of the Coming of the Elves," p. 53-54; "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entries for calen (galen), dae, fuin, taur

The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entries for DYEL, LAS

The History of Middle-earth, vol. X, Morgoth's Ring: "The Annals of Aman," p. 82-83

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter #289 (origin of the name Mirkwood)

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