Silvan Elves
Before the First Age, the Silvan Elvies travelled westwardly throughout Middle-earth. Coming to Anduin and the peaks of the Misty Mountains, some of the Elves of the clan of the Teleri settled in the woodlands east of the Mountains. These were the original Silvan Elves. They lived on either side of Anduin. Some dwelled in Laurelindórenan which would later be called Lórien, and the others settled in the area of the far south of Mirkwood.
This time is the peroid in which the Silvan Elvish language appeared. Later on the Elves would move away from one another, so that the Silvan branch of Elvish would eventually become extinct. The ancient tongue survived in some well-known place-names and personal names, such as Caras Galadhon.
The Elves lived in their forest realms for many centuries, in the Second Age, however, the strength of Sauron began to devide them. Oropher was the ruler of the Elves who dwelt in Mirkwood, and he looked for safety by moving his people northwards, away from Amon Lanc.
West of Anduin: the Silvan Elves of Lórien
The Silvan Elves of Lothlórien remained in their land throughout their known history. After the fall of Eregion in the Second Age, many escaped through Khazad-dûm into the east, and joined the Silvan Elves of Lórien and mingled with them.
Amdír, lord of Lorien, died in the wars at the end of the Second Age. With the power of Sauron growing, many of Lórien's people fled into the south. Amroth himself was among them, and he was drowned in the Bay of Belfalas far from his kingdom. It was at this time, a little more than a thousand years before the War of the Ring, that Galadriel and Celeborn became the Lord and Lady of Lórien.
East of Anduin: the Silvan Elves of Mirkwood
The Elves of Mirkwood dwellings were in the far south of the forest. As Sauron's power grew, they gradually withdrew northward. Sauron chose to settle within the Forest itself, and in fact built his fortress of Dol Guldur on the hill of Amon Lanc, where the Silvan Elves had originally dwelt. Though his identity remained secret during this time (he was known simply as the 'Necromancer') he brought darkness and shadow to Greenwood the Great, and the Elves retreated farther still.
In the Third Age, King Thranduil (the son of Oropher) dwelt with his people in the far northeast of Mirkwood, in underground dwellings protected by magic. Their history of fleeing from Sauron's darkness had made them a suspicious and unwelcoming people, as Thorin and his companions discovered during the Quest of Erebor. It was from Thranduil's underground halls that his son Legolas journeyed at the end of the Third Age, to play a great part in the War of the Ring.
The end of Thrid age and the beginning of the Fourth Age
In the War of the Ring, Sauron's forces attacked both Silvan realms. By the power of Galadriel and her Ring, Lórien was protected against three waves of assault from Dol Guldur. Thranduil had no Ring to protect his realm - it was invaded and the trees of the northern forest set alight, though he was at last able to drive back the enemy.
With the fall of Sauron, Dol Guldur was destroyed, and Mirkwood renamed again: Eryn Lasgalen, the Wood of Greenleaves. Now the Silvan Elves once again dwelt in the south of the Wood, but these were not Thranduil's people, but Elves of Lórien, who crossed the Great River to live in a new land named East Lórien. Though the original land of Lórien faded after the passing of Galadriel and Celeborn, the Silvan Elves of the Wood lived peacefully under their trees for many long years.
Famous Silvan Elves
Oropher- the father of Thranduil and grandfather of Legolas, who ruled a great realm of Silvan Elves in Greenwood the Great (later to be called Mirkwood). He went to the War of the Last Alliance, where he was slain with two-thirds of his army, but his son Thranduil survived and returned to rule his father's woodland kingdom. Galadriel-Lady of the Goldenwood after Amorth died. She bore one of the Elven rings of power. Nenya the ring of adament. Celeborn-Lord of Lothlorien and husband to Lady Galadriel. Thranduil-Lord of Mirkwood and father to Legolas Greendleaf. He was the last of the true elven kings. Thranduil fought in the great war as well as the battle of the five armies. Legolas Greenleaf- -Son of Thranduil. Legolas was a member of the fellowship of the ring. He befriended Gimli, the dwarf and between them there was a great friendship. Legolas was a friend and companion to King Elessar. He wandered far with Gandalf, King Elessar, and the Ringbearer.
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