Elves of Mirkwood

In their great trek from the East to the sea and crossing to the BLESSED REALM , the Elves split into four distinct groups. The AVARI who did not answer the summons of the VALAR , the TELERI who came West reluctantly, the NOLDOR and the VANYAR which both lead the trek West.
When they reached the Misty Mountains the Vanyar and Noldor were uncaring about this great barrier, and crossed over. The Teleri were unsure, and after much debate they crossed, however about one third of their number stayed behind. These elves were the NANDOR or SILVAN ELVES . They settled in Mirkwood first known as Greenwood the Great. Here these elves found a great forest home. They were joined by some Avari who had wandered Westward.
The Teleri were not done splitting, and once more in BELERIAND , there another group decided not to cross over to the Blessed Realm. These remained behind and were known as the SINDAR . Following this split the Nandor had another split as DENETHOR lead a band out of ANDUIN into Beleriand, there they found that The Sindar had established a great kingdom DORIATH . These elves were knows as the LAUQUENDI or the GREEN ELVES .
One elf from the Laquendi was to survive the sack of Doriath by the Dwarves, and the SECOND KIN SLAYING . He would leave LINDOR early in the Second Age, and relocate to Greenwood the Great. Here he found the simple woodland elves that had remained behind those many years before. They took him, OROPHER , as their King. He created the WOODLAND REALM there in Wilderland, centered around the MOUNTAINS OF MIRKWOOD . He would rule until his death in the BATTLE OF DAGORLAD at the end of the Second Age. He was succeeded by his Son THRANDUIL .
Thranduil's reign has been marked by a growing darkness in the forest of Wilderland. Greenwood the Great has become Mirkwood. His realm has been reduced from the whole of the forest to it's Northern third. Abandoning their earlier keeps, the Elves built their new HALLS OF THE ELVENKING under ground on the FOREST RIVER in memory of the great palace of MENEGROTH in Doriath.