Doriath

Doriath
J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium location
Other name(s)	The Guarded Realm, The Hidden Kingdom
Type	Elven kingdom Forest
Ruler	Thingol & Melian
Notable locations	Brethil, Hírilorn, Menegroth, Nan Elmoth, Neldoreth
Location	north central Beleriand
Founder	Sindar Elves of the First Age
Capital	Menegroth

In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, Doriath is a forest realm of the Sindar in Beleriand ruled by King Thingol and his queen Melian. It serves as a principal stage for the stories of the First Age, such as The Tale of Beren and Lúthien from The Lays of Beleriand, and parts of The Children of Húrin and The Silmarillion. It is called the "Fenced Land" because of a girdle of enchantment Melian put about it, allowing none to enter the kingdom without her leave or Thingol's.

Doriath (Dôr Iâth, meaning Land of the Fence) was a land of forests located in central Beleriand adjoining the great River Sirion and its eastern tributaries: Mindeb, Esgalduin, Celos, and Aros. It contained the forests Neldoreth or Taur-na-Neldor, the northern beech forest; Nivrim, the West March, an oak forest; Region, the main forest; and Arthórien between Aros and Celon. Additionally, the forests of Brethil and Nan Elmoth were considered part of Doriath, though these last two lay outside the Girdle of Melian.

Elu Thingol, lord of the Sindar, had claimed all of Beleriand from the Gelion to Belegaer as his realm, but after the return of the Noldor to Middle-Earth Doriath was the centre of his power. It is said that of all rulers of Beleriand in the legends "the most mighty and the longest free was Thingol of the Woods."

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Wikipedia