Oropher: Difference between revisions

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'''Oropher''' was a [[Sindarin]] lord of [[Elves]]. He 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 [[Ered Luin]] with his house-hold. He eventually ended up in [[Greenwood the Great]], where [[Silvan Elves]] of [[Nandor]]in descent lived, and he was taken by them as lord. His capital was at [[Amon Lanc]].
| image=[[File:Kimberly - Oropher.jpg|250px]]
| name=Oropher
| pronun=
| othernames=
| titles=King of the Silvan Elves
| position=
| location=[[Woodland Realm]]
| affiliation=[[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]]
| language=[[Sindarin]] and [[Silvan Elvish|Silvan]]
| birth=During {{FA}} or {{YT}}
| birthlocation=[[Middle-earth]]
| rule=unknown - {{SA|3434}}
| death={{SA|3434}}
| deathlocation=[[Battle of Dagorlad]]
| age=
| notablefor=
| house=
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=[[Thranduil]]
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}'''Oropher''' was a [[Sindar]]in [[Elves|Elf]] of [[Doriath]] who became the King of the [[Nandor|Silvan Elves]] of [[Mirkwood|Greenwood the Great]] (which would later come to be called Mirkwood) during the [[Second Age]]. He was killed during the [[Battle of Dagorlad]] and succeeded by his son, the Elvenking [[Thranduil]]. He was thus the grandfather of the only [[Elven]] member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]], [[Legolas]].  


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]] and southern Greenwood became dangerous and was renamed [[Mirkwood]],  Oropher's folk retreated north of the old Dwarf Road, and later again north of the Mountains of Mirkwood, where they fortified themselves.


Oropher answered the summons for the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]], and joined with [[Gil-galad]]'s forces as they marched down Anduin to [[Dagorlad]]. Oropher's army 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 grew hasty and called an early charge.  
==History==
Oropher was one of the [[Iathrim]] who spent his early life in Doriath. Following the destruction of [[Beleriand]] and the [[War of Wrath]], most of the [[Noldor]]in exiles and remnants of the Sindar retreated to [[Lindon]]. The [[Valar]] reinvited these Elves to [[Aman]], but Oropher, among many others, was unwilling and remained in Lindon.<ref name="Princes">{{UT|6b}}</ref>


After Sauron was defeated, [[Thranduil]], Oropher's son and heir, returned with the remainder of his people north back to Mirkwood. While one third of them survived, their army was still large enough that the [[Orcs]] hiding in secret in the [[Hithaeglir]] did not dare attack them.
===Move to Greenwood the Great===
Some of the Sindar of Lindon, not wishing to stay with the dominant Noldor under [[Gil-galad]], chose to go east and live with the [[Nandor]] with whom they shared the same [[Teleri]]n ancestry.<ref name="Sindar">{{S|Sindar}}</ref> Oropher with his people crossed the [[Misty Mountains]] and mingled with the [[Elves of Mirkwood|Silvan Elves]] of [[Mirkwood|Greenwood the Great]]. The Sindar adopted the language and wholly embraced the life of the Silvan Elves.<ref name="Princes" />
The Silvan Elves, who originally lived in the south of Greenwood, accepted Oropher as their King, who ruled from his capital on [[Amon Lanc]]. Over the course of the [[Second Age]] they gradually moved north to live around the [[Emyn Duir]].<ref name="Princes" />


===War of the Last Alliance===
Despite the Silvan Elves' hostility towards the [[Dwarves]] and the Noldor - and their desire to stay away from the affairs of the rest of the world - Oropher could see the danger that [[Sauron]] posed, and that his defeat would bring about peace in [[Middle-earth]]. He thus joined the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]], summoning a large army which joined with [[Amdír]]'s smaller force of [[Galadhrim|Lórien Elves]] to create a singular, great host of Silvan Elves.<ref name="Princes" />
The Silvan Elves were strong and brave, but despite having poor armour and weapons in comparison with the [[Noldor]], Amdír and Oropher were unwilling to submit to the supreme command of [[Gil-galad]] and as such they suffered heavy losses in the [[War of the Last Alliance]]. In the very first assault upon [[Mordor]] Oropher and other brave and hasty Elves rushed forward before Gil-galad gave the signal to charge. Oropher himself was killed soon afterwards, whilst two-thirds of his army perished throughout the course of the war. Upon Sauron's defeat the remnants of the army returned to Greenwood under the command of his son, Thranduil.<ref name="Princes" />
==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| ORO |ORO='''OROPHER'''<br/><small>''d. {{SA|3434}}''</small>}}
{{familytree| |!| |}}
{{familytree| THR |THR=[[Thranduil]]<br/><small>''Unknown''</small>}}
{{familytree| |!| |}}
{{familytree| LEG |LEG=[[Legolas]]<br/><small>''Sailed West {{FoA|120}}''</small>}}
{{familytree/end}}
==Etymology==
Oropher came from [[Doriath]] - indicating that the name could be [[Sindarin]] or [[Doriathrin]] dialect - but:
{{blockquote|Oropher had come among them with only a handful of Sindar, and they were soon merged with the Silvan Elves, adopting their language and taking names of Silvan form and style. This they did deliberately;|{{UT|Galadriel}}}}
The name probably means 'tall beech-tree'<ref name="EOA">[http://www.glyphweb.com/arda The Encyclopedia of Arda], "[http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/o/oropher.html Oropher]", dated 21 April 2003 (accessed [[13 January|January 13]], [[2011]])</ref> from '''oro''' meaning 'high' and '''fêr''' meaning 'beech'.<ref name="Thains">[http://www.tuckborough.net/ The Thain's Book], "[http://www.tuckborough.net/elves.html#Oropher Elves of Middle-earth#Oropher]" (accessed [[13 January|January 13]], [[2011]])</ref>
==See Also==
* [[Amdír]] (and his son [[Amroth]])
* [[Elves of Mirkwood]]
* [[Woodland Realm]]
{{references}}
All that is known about Oropher is mentioned only in the narrative of ''[[Galadriel and Celeborn]]''.
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=sindar}}
{{seq
| prev=Unknown
| list=King of the Silvan Elves
| dates=unknown - {{SA|3434}}
| next=[[Thranduil]]
}}
{{seq-end}}
[[Category:First Age characters]]
[[Category:Second Age characters]]
[[Category:Sindar]]
[[Category:Sindar]]
[[de:Oropher]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/elfes/teleri/sindar/oropher]]
[[fi:Oropher]]

Revision as of 15:43, 17 July 2015

Oropher
Sinda
Kimberly - Oropher.jpg
Biographical Information
TitlesKing of the Silvan Elves
LocationWoodland Realm
AffiliationLast Alliance of Elves and Men
LanguageSindarin and Silvan
BirthDuring F.A. or Y.T.
Middle-earth
Ruleunknown - S.A. 3434
DeathS.A. 3434
Battle of Dagorlad
Family
ChildrenThranduil
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Oropher

Oropher was a Sindarin Elf of Doriath who became the King of the Silvan Elves of Greenwood the Great (which would later come to be called Mirkwood) during the Second Age. He was killed during the Battle of Dagorlad and succeeded by his son, the Elvenking Thranduil. He was thus the grandfather of the only Elven member of the Fellowship of the Ring, Legolas.


History

Oropher was one of the Iathrim who spent his early life in Doriath. Following the destruction of Beleriand and the War of Wrath, most of the Noldorin exiles and remnants of the Sindar retreated to Lindon. The Valar reinvited these Elves to Aman, but Oropher, among many others, was unwilling and remained in Lindon.[1]

Move to Greenwood the Great

Some of the Sindar of Lindon, not wishing to stay with the dominant Noldor under Gil-galad, chose to go east and live with the Nandor with whom they shared the same Telerin ancestry.[2] Oropher with his people crossed the Misty Mountains and mingled with the Silvan Elves of Greenwood the Great. The Sindar adopted the language and wholly embraced the life of the Silvan Elves.[1]

The Silvan Elves, who originally lived in the south of Greenwood, accepted Oropher as their King, who ruled from his capital on Amon Lanc. Over the course of the Second Age they gradually moved north to live around the Emyn Duir.[1]

War of the Last Alliance

Despite the Silvan Elves' hostility towards the Dwarves and the Noldor - and their desire to stay away from the affairs of the rest of the world - Oropher could see the danger that Sauron posed, and that his defeat would bring about peace in Middle-earth. He thus joined the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, summoning a large army which joined with Amdír's smaller force of Lórien Elves to create a singular, great host of Silvan Elves.[1]

The Silvan Elves were strong and brave, but despite having poor armour and weapons in comparison with the Noldor, Amdír and Oropher were unwilling to submit to the supreme command of Gil-galad and as such they suffered heavy losses in the War of the Last Alliance. In the very first assault upon Mordor Oropher and other brave and hasty Elves rushed forward before Gil-galad gave the signal to charge. Oropher himself was killed soon afterwards, whilst two-thirds of his army perished throughout the course of the war. Upon Sauron's defeat the remnants of the army returned to Greenwood under the command of his son, Thranduil.[1]

Genealogy

OROPHER
d. S.A. 3434
 
 
 
 
Thranduil
Unknown
 
 
 
 
Legolas
Sailed West Fo.A. 120

Etymology

Oropher came from Doriath - indicating that the name could be Sindarin or Doriathrin dialect - but:

Oropher had come among them with only a handful of Sindar, and they were soon merged with the Silvan Elves, adopting their language and taking names of Silvan form and style. This they did deliberately;
—J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn"

The name probably means 'tall beech-tree'[3] from oro meaning 'high' and fêr meaning 'beech'.[4]

See Also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", "Appendix B: The Sindarin Princes of the Silvan Elves"
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Sindar"
  3. ↑ The Encyclopedia of Arda, "Oropher", dated 21 April 2003 (accessed January 13, 2011)
  4. ↑ The Thain's Book, "Elves of Middle-earth#Oropher" (accessed January 13, 2011)

All that is known about Oropher is mentioned only in the narrative of Galadriel and Celeborn.

Oropher
Preceded by:
Unknown		King of the Silvan Elves
unknown - S.A. 3434		Followed by:
Thranduil


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