Thranduil is a powerful and mysterious Elven character in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium. As the King of the Woodland Realm in northern Mirkwood, Thranduil was a formidable figure in both the Third Age and War of the Ring. But did Thranduil leave Middle-earth? The answer to that question has been subject to debate by Tolkien scholars for decades.
Thranduil’s earliest appearances are during the War of the Last Alliance at the end of the Second Age, where he can be found leading his people in battle against Sauron’s forces. After Oropher – Thranduil’s father – was slain in that war, Thranduil settled his people in Mirkwood, ruling from his Elvenking Halls there. In present times, Thranduil is firt encountered fighting against Sauron’s forces during the last days of the War of the Ring.
So did Thranduil leave Middle-earth? Unfortunately, Tolkien never explicitly says whether he did or not – or if any of his people other than Legolas (his son) did either. There are several theories as to why he might have left or stayed behind, however.
One theory suggests that Thranduil and some of his people may have left Middle-earth when they were spiritually summoned by Valar (deities) who saw them as a race above all others and thought they would fare better living with them in Aman (the Blessed Realm). Another theory states that some Elves chose to stay behind out of their love for Middle-earth; this could explain why Legolas stayed with Aragorn throughout The Lord Of The Rings even though most Elves had already departed for Valinor by then.
Ultimately, we cannot definitively answer whether Thranduil left Middle-earth or not – but it is certainly an intriguing topic worthy of further exploration and debate!
Did the Wood Elves Depart from Middle-earth?
Yes, the wood Elves did leave Middle-earth. This was caused by the spiritual summons from the Valar, who saw the Elves as a race above all others. The Valar believed that the Elves would be better off living in Aman, also known as the Blessed Realm, with them. In order to answer this summons, many of the Elves chose to leave Middle-earth and sail westward across the sea to Aman. While some of them remained behind, many chose to follow this call in order to fulfill their destinies.
Thranduil’s Role in the Last Alliance
Thranduil, son of Oropher, was present during the War of the Last Alliance at the end of the Second Age. He had been leading his people in their settlement in the Woodland Realm, located in northern Mirkwood. During the war, Thranduil took command from his father’s Elvenking’s Halls which were also located in Mirkwood. His forces fought alogside those of Gil-galad and Elendil as they marched against Sauron and his forces. Unfortunately, Oropher was slain during this conflict. Despite this loss, Thranduil continued to lead his people until they eventually moved away from Mirkwood and established a new home in northern Rhovanion.
Thranduil’s Involvement in the War of the Last Alliance
Yes, Thranduil was present in the War of the Last Alliance. He is first mentioned in the histories of Middle-earth in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings as having been present during the Battle of Dagorlad and was also present during the Siege of Barad-dûr that followed it. During this time, he fought alongside Elendil and Isildur against Sauron and his forces in what would prove to be a decisive victory for the forces of good. Later on, he would become King of the Woodland Realm and fight against Sauron agin during the War of the Ring.
Did Thranduil Go to Valinor?
Tolkien never says whether Thranduil left for Valinor or not. He does tell us that Legolas left Middle-earth and sailed for the Undying Lands, but there is no mention of Thranduil’s fate.
One possibility is that Thranduil did in fact leave for Valinor. As King of the Woodland Realm, it is likely that he was a loyal follower of the Valar, and as such may have sought out the reward of being able to sail to Valinor at the end of his life. It also fits with his character as described in The Hobbit, where he is shown to be wise and noble.
On the other hand, it is also possible that Thranduil chose not to leave Middle-earth. He was an old elf by this point in time, and may have been content to remain in the lands he loved so much. It cold be argued that his desire to protect his people from Sauron’s forces was too strong for him to leave them behind; or perhaps he simply wanted to delay his departure until after Sauron’s defeat and thus witness Middle-earth’s peace with his own eyes before departing.
Ultimately we don’t know what happened to Thranduil after The Lord of the Rings; Tolkien does not provide any further information about him or his fate.
The Last Elf in Middle-earth
The last elf in Middle-earth was Círdan. He was a Telerin Elf of the Sindar, belonging to the House of Finarfin and one of the leaders of the Union of Maedhros. Círdan was born sometime between Y.T. 1050 and 1105, not long after the Awakening of the Elves at Cuiviénen.
Círdan was renowned for his wisdom and skill as a mariner, having lived in Falas since before the arrival of the Noldorin Elves in Beleriand during the First Age. He fought alongside both Elves and Men during The War of Wrath and later participated in The Last Alliance of Elves and Men against Sauron during The Second Age. In addition, he was one of the few to attend all three meetings held by the White Council during that age; whch included Elrond, Gandalf, Saruman, Galadriel, and others.
When it came time for Frodo Baggins to sail into the West at Grey Havens, Círdan accompanied him on his voyage along with Lord Elrond and Gandalf. This made him both one of the last Elves to leave Middle-earth as well as one of its oldest inhabitants; having served as Lord of Mithlond for over 6,000 years prior to this event.
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The Oldest Elf in Middle-earth
The oldest elf in Middle-earth is Celebrimbor, the son of Curufin and great-grandson of Fëanor. Celebrimbor lived during the Second and Third Ages of Middle-earth and is best known for forging the Rings of Power. Celebrimbor was also a master craftsman, a skilled musician and an accomplished warrior. He was instrumental in the defense of Eregion against Sauron’s forces and later lead the Elves in their struggle against Sauron’s forces during the War of the Last Alliance. He is estimated to have lived around 5,000 years before his death at the hands of Sauron.
The Absence of a Ring for Thranduil
Thranduil, the King of the Woodland Realm, did not get a ring of power because he was not seen as an important enough figure in the Elven Kingdom. The three Elven rings of power were created by the powerful Maiar Sauron and were given to Elrond, Galadriel, and Cirdan, who were all rulers of high standing in the Elven Kingdom. These rings were meant to represent teir authority and power and so were not given to any other ruler who was not of significant importance in Middle Earth. Thranduil was excluded from this list, as he was viewed as a lesser ruler by comparison.
The Fate of Thranduil After Legolas’ Departure
After Legolas left Middle-earth, Thranduil remained King of the Great Forest for a time. He was a strong leader and his realm flourished during this period. He is said to have guided his people through the transition from the Third Age to the Fourth Age, continuing to defend his borders against enemies and protect his land from evil forces.
During this period, he also maintained friendly relations with other rulers such as King Elessar of Gondor and King Aragorn of Rohan. After some time, it is believed that Thranduil chose to leave Middle-earth and journey to the Undying Lands. This departure may have been prompted by Legolas’s decision to leave Middle-earth, although tere is no definite answer as to why Thranduil chose to depart at this time.
No matter what motivated him, Thranduil’s legacy as a wise ruler who defended his kingdom throughout the ages lives on in Middle-earth’s history.
Comparing the Ranks of Elrond and Thranduil
In terms of the title of king, Thranduil has a stronger claim to the title than Elrond. Thranduil is the King of the Woodland Realm and is a direct descendant of Oropher, while Elrond is only related to him through his daughter Celebrían’s marriage to Elrond. Additionally, Thranduil was chosen by the Elves of Mirkwood as thir king, while Elrond was never elected as such. Therefore, Thranduil holds a higher position in terms of kingship than Elrond does. However, both Elrond and Galadriel have chosen not to pursue kingship and instead chose to be guardians and protectors of their lands.
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Is Thranduil Alive in The Lord of the Rings?
Yes, Thranduil is still alive in The Lord of the Rings. He is the Elvenking of Mirkwood, and he is a powerful leader who has been around for thousands of years. Thranduil was present at the Battle of Dagorlad in SA 3434, where his father Oropher was slain. After that, Thranduil led a large number of his people north back to the Woodland Realm, where he was crowned King. During the War of the Ring, Thranduil fought aginst Sauron’s forces and helped to drive away the enemy from his kingdom. By the end of The Lord of the Rings, Thranduil remained alive and returned to his home in Mirkwood with his son Legolas.
Did Thranduil Survive?
Yes, Thranduil survived the War of the Last Alliance. He was the son of Oropher, an Elven lord who went to war with two-thirds of his army and was slain in battle. Despite this tragic event, Thranduil managed to escape death and returned to rule his father’s woodland kingdom.
The Strength of Thranduil: Examining the Power of the Elven King
No, Thranduil is not necessarily the strongest elf. Although he was a powerful ruler and had a large army, many other elves were likely stronger than him in terms of physical prowess or magical ability. For example, Galadriel, an elf of the High Elves, was considered one of the most powerful beings in Middle Earth and had profound wisdom and knowledge. Elrond Half-elven was also considered wise and powerful; he was able to wield Vilya, one of the three Elven Rings of Power. In addition, Legolas Greenleaf was a master archer who could shoot arrows “as swift as the flowing wind” and Gimli son of Glóin was described as having unmatched skill with a axe. All these characters were likely more powerful than Thranduil in some way or another.
Did Thranduil Reclaim His Gems?
Yes, Thranduil did get his gems back in the end. After he agreed to help fight in the Battle of the Five Armies, Bard, who had been promised a fourteenth share of the treasure by Thorin, returned Thranduil’s jewels to him.
Thranduil’s Love Life
Thranduil was deeply in love with Calathiel, an Elf maiden from Mirkwood. She was the light of his life and brought him joy and happiness. He found himself completely entranced by her beauty, intelligence and wit. He would often write her poems and songs to express his undying love for her. Thranduil would do anything to make Calathiel happy and they shared a strong bond that could never be broken.
Thranduil’s Desired Gems
Thranduil was after a set of white gems known as the Lasgalen, which were sought out as a memorial to his beloved late wife. They included a necklace, as well as several other pieces of jewelry. Unfortunately, Thror refused to give the gems to Thranduil and this created a rift between the Elves and Dwarves. After Smaug’s demise at the hands of Bard, Thranduil wished to reclaim the Lasgalen jewels, but they were never returned to him.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Thranduil was an Elvenking of Mirkwood during the Third Age of Middle-earth. He was a valiant leader and warrior, leading his people in the War of the Last Alliance and later in the War of the Ring. Although it is unclear whether Thranduil himself left Middle-earth with the Elves at the end of the Third Age, it is certain that he was a beloved leader who will always be remembered for his courage and loyalty.
