The Silvan Elves were originally a group of the Teleri who turned away from the Great Journey, deciding instead to settle in the lands east of the Misty Mountains, near the River Anduin.

At first, they all lived together, some settling in what would later become Lothlórien, others settling in the far south of Greenwood around the feet of Amon Lanc.

The Silvan Elves dwelt this way for long years, until the Second Age, when the growing power of Sauron sent those who made their homes around Amon Lanc to flee into the north of Greenwood and so farther from their kin across the River Anduin.

The Silvan Elves of Lórien

The Elves of Lothlórien remained pretty well settled in the same place throughout their known history. Little is known for certain about them at first, or their rulers, but we do know that after the destruction of Eregion in the middle of the Second Age, many of those who were then exiled, joined with these folk.

Some sources name a Sindarin Elf named Amdír as the Lord of Lórien during part of the Second Age, but when he was lost in the wars of the time, his son Amroth inherited that title.

During Amroth's time, Durins Bane was released from its long sleep in the depths of Khazad-dûm. Sauron's power was also increasing around Dol Guldur, so many of the Silvan Elves of that land fled south.

Amroth was one of those who left his home and we know that he was drowned in the Bay of Belfalas. It was apparently around that same time that Celeborn and Galadriel became the Lord and Lady of Lórien.

The Silvan Elves of Greenwood (Mirkwood)

Oropher is the first leader of the Silvan Elves of Greenwood that we have information about, and interestingly enough, he is also said to be a Sindarin Elf. He moved his people northward, away from the hill of Amon Lanc, when Sauron's power began to grow.

Later, when Sauron decided to make his stronghold upon Amon Lanc in Dol Guldur, he brought shadow and darkness to the forest and the Silvan Elves fled even farther into the north.

Oropher was slain in the War of the Last Alliance and his son Thranduil then became the lord where the Silvan Elves dwelt now far to the north of what was now called Mirkwood.

Their fear of Sauron made Thranduil and his folk weary of strangers, which may have led, in part, to their treatment of Thorin Oakenshield, Bilbo, and their companions during the Quest of Erebor.

From these folk came Legolas of the Fellowship, who fought alongside Aragorn during the War of the Ring.

The Silvan Elves in Later Years

During the War of the Ring, both of the realms of the Silvan Elves were assailed, but Lothlórien was protected by Galadriel and her Ring Nenya. Thranduil on the other hand was set upon by Sauron's servants, and the trees in the north were set alight, but at last his folk were able to push the enemy back.

After the War of the Ring, Dol Guldur was destroyed and the forest cleansed of all of Sauron's filth. It was renamed Eryn Lasgalen or 'Wood of Greenleaves' and to the south again came some Silvan Elves. They were not Thranduil's folk though. Instead they were from Lothlórien, having moved there after Galadriel and Celeborn left Lothlórien.

The new dwelling of Silvan Elves to the south of Eryn Lasgalen was named East Lórien. You can find its entry under Lórien (East Lórien).