The Encyclopedia of Arda - Queen of Doriath (original) (raw)

Dates Location Doriath, among the central forests of Beleriand Race Division Culture Title of Indexes: Ainur Alphabetical: D Alphabetical: Q About this entry: Updated 11 August 2007 This entry is complete Melian the Maia Known or likely Queens of Doriath are shown in bold text. Note that only Melian is explicitly referred to by this title, but as the consort of a ruling King of Doriath, Nimloth also had a reasonable claim on the title. In the long years before the beginning of the First Age, the Telerin lord Elwë Singollo came upon Melian the Maia in the woods of Nan Elmoth. So Melian became the first and only of the Ainur to wed one of the Children of Ilúvatar, and together Thingol (as Elwë became known) and Melian founded a kingdom among the forests in the heart of Beleriand, and ruled it as King and Queen. Throughout much of its existence, the forest-kingdom was known as Eglador. When Morgoth returned to Middle-earth, he sent his Orc-armies to ravage Beleriand. They were beaten back, but only at great cost, and so Melian put out her power to protect her country. She surrounded the forests of her home with a bewildering maze of powerful enchantments, the so-called Girdle of Melian. From that time, the land she ruled with Thingol was no longer known as Eglador, but took a new name, Doriath, the 'fenced land'. Melian and Thingol ruled in Doriath for some five centuries more. At last Thingol was slain, in his own treasuries by treacherous Dwarves of Nogrod. Melian in despair departed for her ancient home in the West of the World, and the Girdle that had protected Doriath was removed. Whether Melian was the last Queen of Doriath is open to question. Thingol's grandson Dior ruled for some years in Doriath after his grandfather's death, so Dior's spouse Nimloth might possibly have inherited Melian's title. There is, however, no direct evidence that Nimloth was ever referred to as the 'Queen of Doriath'. See also... Dark Elves, Eglath, Elu Thingol, Elves of Doriath, Elves of the Twilight, Elvish, Galadriel, Girdle of Melian, Guarded Realm, Hidden King, Lord of Beleriand, Maiar, Morgoth, Return of the Noldor, The Ever-young, [See the full list...]The Maia, Vána Indexes: Alphabetical: D Alphabetical: Q Ainur About this entry: Updated 11 August 2007 This entry is complete For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page. Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1998, 2001-2003, 2007. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ. Website services kindly sponsored by Discus from Axiom Software Ltd.Our free Complete Introduction to DISC shows how profiling can benefit you in recruitment, team building and more.