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Oropher

Biographical information

Other names

Titles

Lord of Lórinand, Lord of Northern Mirkwood, King of the Silvan Elves, King of the Woodland Realm

Date of birth

First Age ?

Year ascended to the throne

Early Second Age

Date of death

SA 3434

Realms ruled

Woodland Realm

Spouse

Unnamed wife

Weapon

Sword, Bow

Physical description

Race

Elves

Culture

Sindar, Silvan Elves (Elves of Lórinand, Elves of Northern Mirkwood)

Gender

Male

Height

Hair color

Eye color

Peter Jackson's Film Trilogy

Actor

Voice

Character

Oropher was a Sindarin King of the Silvan Elves during the Second Age, father of Thranduil of Mirkwood and the grandsire of the elf Legolas.

BiographyEdit

Oropher was one of the Sindar of Doriath, but after the War of Wrath he declined to depart Middle-earth as many others did, and instead went over the Blue Mountains (Ered Luin) with his household. He eventually ended up in Greenwood the Great, where Silvan Elves of Nandorin descent lived, and he was taken by them as lord. His capital was at Amon Lanc.

West of Oropher's realm was the realm of Lórinand across Anduin, where Amdír, another Sindar ruled over Silvan Elves. When Sauron returned to Middle-earth from the Downfall of Númenor and began to grow in power, Oropher's folk retreated north of the old Dwarf-Road, and later again north of the Mountains of Mirkwood, where they fortified themselves.

Though he and his people had little to do with the other peoples of Middle-earth, Oropher understood that there could be no lasting peace until Sauron was defeated. Oropher answered the summons for the Last Alliance of Elves and Men but marched as an independent army with Amdír, or Malgalad the then King of Lórien. He joined with Gil-galad's forces as they marched down Anduin to Dagorlad. Oropher's company was lightly armed.

In the Battle of Dagorlad, Oropher's company fought valiantly but he was slain with the greater part of his people when he accidentally called an early charge upon the enemy, without orders from Gil-galad. After Sauron was defeated, Thranduil, Oropher's son and heir, returned with the remainder of his people north back to Mirkwood. While beaten, their army was still large enough that the orcs hiding in secret in the Misty Mountains did not dare attack them.

EtymologyEdit

The name probably means 'tall beech-tree' ^[1] from oro meaning 'high' and fêr meaning 'beech'.^[2]

ReferencesEdit

• Unfinished Tales: The History of Galadriel and Celeborn pgs. 258-59 & 280-81

External linkEdit

• Oropher at Tolkien Gateway