Crown Wars The Crown Wars were a series of elven wars fought early in the history of Faerûn . Over a period of 3 , 000 years , the great elven kingdoms participated in five primary conflicts , leading to the near destruction of the elven race . First Crown War . When , in approximately - 14 , 700 DR the Vyshaan , ruling clan of the sun elf kingdom of Aryvandaar , discovered an alleged link between their family and the Olrythii , ruling family of dark and wood elves of Miyeritar , Coronal Ivosaar Vyshaan chose to make a claim toward the rulership of the latter kingdom . When peaceful overtures were rebuffed , the Aryvandaarans began raiding the borders of Miyeritar until war broke out in earnest in - 12 , 000 DR . By - 11 , 800 DR , Aryvandaar fully occupied Miyeritar , but the country did not come fully under Aryvandaaran control for another 500 years . The remaining elven kingdoms were both shocked and spurred by the aggressive war , and the Second Crown War broke out while the first was still being waged . Second Crown War . Ostensibly in support of their Miyeritar allies , the dark elf country of Ilythiir attacked the moon elf kingdom of Orishaar , then escalated the conflict to encompass Thearnytaar , Eillur , and Syorpiir , utterly destroying them . The brutality of these attacks led to the creation of the epithet " dhaerow " , meaning " traitor , " to describe the dark elves of Ilythiir . The Ilythiiri conflicts , which began in approximately - 11 , 700 DR , spanned over 1 , 200 years , and during the course of the savage war , the demon goddess Lolth took the opportunity to seduce the ruling families and powers in the kingdom further towards evil , assisted by a fiendish balor named Wendonai . Third Crown War . In about - 10 , 900 DR , Aryvandaar ( now known as the Vyshaantar Empire ) was aided by a fallen solar named Malkizid in invading the sun and moon elf kingdom of Shantel Othereier . The war waged for nearly 300 years until Shantel Othreir surrendered after the death of their coronal . Fourth Crown War . In - 10 , 500 DR , owing to destructive magics of Vyshaantar , the Dark Disaster occurred , and a magical storm turned Miyeritar into the wasteland now known as the High Moor . Enraged at the destruction of their dark - elf brothers ' land , Ilythiiri savagely attacked the Vyshaantar Empire . The Ilythiiri began to openly worship evil gods and commit such acts of atrocities that all the remaining elven kingdoms decided to expel the Ilythiiri dark elves from Corellon Larethian ' s grace . The most powerful mages and clerics succeeded in completing the ritual in about - 10 , 000 DR , though it had the adverse effect of corrupting all dark elves , not just the intended Ilythiirians . The dark elves were driven underground , and the epithet " dhaerow " would eventually change into " drow " . Fifth Crown War . The fragile peace was shattered in - 9 , 200 DR when the Corellon Larethian - mandated Elven Court decreed that the sun elf clan of Vyshaan was responsible for the thousands of years of war . The Vyshaantar Empire disputed the charges and madly declared war on everyone . Within 200 years , the ancient kingdom of Aryvandaar was no more .