Definitions by andy
Doriath
Realm in Beleriand, featured in Tolkien's book The Silmarillion. Surrounded by a magical protective shield called the Girdle of Melian. It was the only Sindarin realm after the return of the Noldor to Middle Earth and was ruled by the Sindarin king Elwe, aka Elu Thingol. Consisting mostly of forests, the realm was populated by Sindar. The capital, Menegroth, was a cave fortress built by the dwarves.
It was formed when Elwe, originally of the Teleri, got lost in the woods and met the Maia Melian, after which he settled along with some followers and did not continue to Valinor.
Elwe's relation to the Noldor (particularly the sons of Feanor) was always tense, especially after he found out about the Kinslaying at Alqualonde, and even more so after the kidnapping of Elwe's daughter Luthien by Celegorm and Curufin. Doriath did not send a force to most of the major battles against Morgoth, and in particular was conspicuously absent at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, one reason for the elves' defeat.
Doriath was destroyed following the sack of Menegroth and the slaying of Elwe in clashes between the elves of Doriath and the dwarves of Nogrod over possession of the Nauglamir and the Silmaril which Elwe had placed within it. After Elwe was slain, Melian fled to Valinor and the surviving elves fled to Arvernien.
It was formed when Elwe, originally of the Teleri, got lost in the woods and met the Maia Melian, after which he settled along with some followers and did not continue to Valinor.
Elwe's relation to the Noldor (particularly the sons of Feanor) was always tense, especially after he found out about the Kinslaying at Alqualonde, and even more so after the kidnapping of Elwe's daughter Luthien by Celegorm and Curufin. Doriath did not send a force to most of the major battles against Morgoth, and in particular was conspicuously absent at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, one reason for the elves' defeat.
Doriath was destroyed following the sack of Menegroth and the slaying of Elwe in clashes between the elves of Doriath and the dwarves of Nogrod over possession of the Nauglamir and the Silmaril which Elwe had placed within it. After Elwe was slain, Melian fled to Valinor and the surviving elves fled to Arvernien.
Maedhros
The eldest of the seven sons of Feanor in Tolkien's book, The Silmarillion. He was also the lord of their armies after Feanor was slain.
He was captured by Morgoth shortly after his return to Middle-Earth and was held for a long time, chained by one arm to the wall of Angband, until rescued. He fought in various battles, including Nirnaeth Arnoediad and the attack on Elwing's forces, in an attempt to retrieve the Silmarils.
Eventually able to obtain one of the 2 jewels from Morgoth's crown, he found it unbearable to hold and ended up casting it into a volcano before killing himself.
He was captured by Morgoth shortly after his return to Middle-Earth and was held for a long time, chained by one arm to the wall of Angband, until rescued. He fought in various battles, including Nirnaeth Arnoediad and the attack on Elwing's forces, in an attempt to retrieve the Silmarils.
Eventually able to obtain one of the 2 jewels from Morgoth's crown, he found it unbearable to hold and ended up casting it into a volcano before killing himself.
Maglor
Second-eldest of the sons of Feanor, usually listed along with Maedhros in the text. Portrayed as doughty and strong, a great leader, but has little independent role in the book he appears in, Tolkien's Silmarillion.
One of the last two survivors from among the sons of Feanor, he like Maedhros ended up with a Silmaril, but apparently he threw it in the sea, and then wandered the shores singing mournfully.
One of the last two survivors from among the sons of Feanor, he like Maedhros ended up with a Silmaril, but apparently he threw it in the sea, and then wandered the shores singing mournfully.
Curufin
One of the seven sons of Feanor in Tolkien's The Silmarillion, he was involved in the exploits of his brother Celegorm and was the only other son of Feanor involved in the kidnapping of Luthien. He was slain along with Celegorm and Caranthir while battling Elwing's forces in Arvernien.
He was the official master of Huan the wolfhound, who followed him into exile. But Huan turned against him, helping Luthien to escape.
He was the official master of Huan the wolfhound, who followed him into exile. But Huan turned against him, helping Luthien to escape.
Caranthir
One of the seven sons of Feanor, a minor character in Tolkien's The Silmarillion. Often listed along with Celegorm and Curufin, but absent from the account of the kidnapping of Luthien, he died along with this pair while assailing Elwing's forces.
Nauglamir
Necklace given by the dwarves to Finrod in Tolkien's book, The Silmarillion. It was the most beautiful of all the treasures of Nargothrond. The name means "dwarf-jewel" in elvish.
It was kept by Glaurung after the sack of Nargothrond, and later retrieved from the ruins by Hurin, who fought and slew Mim at the gates. He then gave it to Elwe of Doriath for unspecified reasons. Elwe hired dwarves to have the Silmaril he had been given by Beren set into it, but the dwarves, overwhelmed with the beauty of the item, demanded it back, Silmaril and all. Elwe refused and they slew him, setting off a war in which Menegroth was sacked, Doriath destroyed and the dwarves mostly slaughtered.
It was retrieved by Elwing and carried into the west along with the Silmaril.
It was kept by Glaurung after the sack of Nargothrond, and later retrieved from the ruins by Hurin, who fought and slew Mim at the gates. He then gave it to Elwe of Doriath for unspecified reasons. Elwe hired dwarves to have the Silmaril he had been given by Beren set into it, but the dwarves, overwhelmed with the beauty of the item, demanded it back, Silmaril and all. Elwe refused and they slew him, setting off a war in which Menegroth was sacked, Doriath destroyed and the dwarves mostly slaughtered.
It was retrieved by Elwing and carried into the west along with the Silmaril.