Oropher: Difference between revisions

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{{sindar infobox
{{sindar infobox
| image=
| name=Oropher
| name=Oropher
| image=[[File:Kimberly - Oropher.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Oropher" by [[:Category:Images by Kimberly|Kimberly]]
| pronun=
| pronun=
| othernames=
| othernames=
| titles=King of the Silvan Elves
| titles=
| position=
| position=
| location=[[Woodland Realm]]
| location=[[Doriath]]<ref name="Princes">{{UT|6b}}</ref>, [[Woodland Realm]]
| affiliation=[[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]]
| affiliation=[[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]]
| language=[[Sindarin]] and [[Silvan Elvish|Silvan]]
| language=[[Silvan Elvish]], [[Sindarin]]
| birth=During {{FA}} or {{YT}}
| birth=Before {{FA|507}}<ref name="Princes"/>
| birthlocation=[[Middle-earth]]
| birthlocation=[[Doriath]]
| rule=unknown - {{SA|3434}}
| rule={{SA|750}} - {{SA|3434}}
| death={{SA|3434}}
| death={{SA|3434}}
| deathlocation=[[Battle of Dagorlad]]
| deathlocation=[[Battle of Dagorlad]]
| age=
| age=3101+
| notablefor=
| notablefor=Established the [[Woodland Realm]]
| house=
| house=
| parentage=
| parentage=
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| weapons=
| weapons=
| steed=
| steed=
}}'''Oropher''' was a [[Sindarin]] [[Elves|Elf]] of [[Doriath]] who became the King of the [[Nandor|Silvan Elves]] of [[Mirkwood|Greenwood the Great]] (Mirkwood) during the [[Second Age]]; he was killed during the [[Battle of Dagorlad]]. He was the father of the Elvenking of ''[[The Hobbit]]'', [[Thranduil]], and grandfather of the [[Elven]] member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]], [[Legolas]].  
}}
'''Oropher''' was one of the [[Iathrim]]<ref name="Princes"/>  who later established the [[Woodland Realm]] of the [[Silvan Elves]] of [[Greenwood the Great]] in the [[Second Age]]. He was killed at the [[Battle of Dagorlad]] and was succeeded by his son, [[Thranduil]]. Thus, he was the grandfather of [[Legolas]], a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]].


==History==
==History==
Oropher was a [[Sindar|Sinda]] from [[Doriath]] who, following the destruction of [[Beleriand]] and the [[War of Wrath]], was unwilling to leave [[Middle-earth]] for [[Aman]] (as were many other [[Elves]]).<ref name="Sindarin Princes">{{UT|Galadriel}}, "Appendix B: The Sindarin Princes of the Silvan Elves"</ref>  
===Early Life===
Oropher was one of the [[Iathrim]] who spent his early life in [[Doriath]]. Before the destruction of [[Doriath]], he had a son, [[Thranduil]], who would later succeed him to his kingship. Following the destruction of [[Beleriand]], Oropher would be among the many [[Sindar]] who decided to stay in [[Middle-earth]].<ref name="Princes"/>


===Move to Greenwood the Great===
===Move to Greenwood the Great===
In the [[Second Age]], Oropher - with a few other [[Sindar]] - chose to cross the [[Misty Mountains]] and mingle with [[Elves of Mirkwood|Silvan Elves]] of [[Mirkwood|Greenwood the Great]] as they were not dominated by [[Noldor]]in Exiles:<ref name="Sindarin Princes" /> the Elves of Doriath had no fondness for the Noldor with King [[Thingol]] banning the [[Quenya|Noldorin language]] and forbidding any Noldor from entering Doriath, except the children of [[Finarfin]] as they were related to Thingol (Finarfin's wife, [[Eärwen]] was Thingol's niece).<ref name="Return">{{S|Return}}</ref> The Silvan Elves shared common heritage with the Sindar as both the Silvan Elves (originally known as the ''[[Nandor]]'') and the Sindar were of the [[Teleri]] clan.<ref name="Sindar">{{S|Sindar}}</ref>
Among the wave of [[Sindar]] who left [[Lindon]] and travelled eastward, before the building of the [[Barad-dûr]] in {{SA|1000}},<ref name="AppB">{{App|B}}</ref> Oropher travelled to [[Greenwood the Great]], and it was in {{SA|750}} that he was taken up by the [[Elves of the Wood]] as their king and founded the [[Woodland Realm]].<ref name="Princes"/><ref name=foundation>{{PM|Second}}</ref>
 
The Sindar adopted the language of the Silvan Elves and wholly embraced the life of the Silvan Elves as the Sindar desired to experience a more "rustic" and "natural" way of life as was the case after their awakening in [[Cuiviénen]].<ref name="Sindarin Princes" /> The Silvan Elves accepted Oropher as their King.
The few [[Sindar]] who had come with him were soon merged with the [[Silvan Elves]], adopting their customs and language and taking names of [[Silvan Elvish|Silvan form and style]]. Oropher and his household wished to return to a simple existence natural to the [[Elves]] before they had been disturbed by the [[Valar]].<ref name="Princes"/>
 
Originally, Oropher's realm encompassed the south of [[Greenwood]], with dwellings about the hill of [[Amon Lanc]].<ref name="Note 14"/><ref name="Princes"/> However, throughout the [[Second Age]], he migrated north with his people three times.<ref name="Note 14">{{UT|Gladden}}, note 14</ref> According to one tradition, the first movement was northward beyond the [[Gladden Fields]], due to his desire to distance himself from the increasing encroachments of the [[Dwarves of Khazad-dûm]] and his resentment of the intrusions of [[Celeborn]] and [[Galadriel]] in [[Lothlórien]].<ref name="Princes"/>


Originally, the Silvan Elves lived in the south of [[Mirkwood|Greenwood the Great]], with [[Amon Lanc]] as Oropher's capital, but over the course of the [[Second Age]] they gradually moved north to live around the [[Emyn Duir]]. The reason for this migration is unclear, being explained with two different reasons: due to the threat of [[Sauron]] from the south (who located to [[Mordor]] and started building [[Barad-dûr]] in circa {{SA|1000}});<ref name="Gladden">{{UT|Gladden}}, note 14</ref> or, due to both the increasing power of [[Dwarves]] of [[Moria]] and out of resentment towards to the intrusions of [[Galadriel]] and [[Celeborn]] into [[Lothlórien|Lórien]].<ref name="Sindarin Princes" />
Oropher was also disturbed by the reports of [[Sauron]]'s rising power and by the end of the [[Second Age]], he dwelt in the western glens of the [[Mountains of Mirkwood|Emyn Duir]] and his numerous people lived and roamed in the woods and vales westward as far as [[Anduin]], north of the ancient [[Men-i-Naugrim|Dwarf-Road]].<ref name="Note 14"/>


===War of the Last Alliance===
===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]], so he joined the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]]. Oropher summoned a great army which joined with [[Amdír]]'s smaller force of [[Galadhrim|Lórien Elves]] to create one large host of Silvan Elves; the Silvan Elves were strong and brave, but had poor armour and weapons in comparison with the [[Noldor]].<ref name="Sindarin Princes" />
Although Oropher's desire was to distance himself and his people from the affairs of the rest of the world, he could see the danger that [[Sauron]] posed, and that his defeat would bring about peace in [[Middle-earth]]. Thus, he joined the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]], summoning a large army which joined with [[Amdír]]'s smaller force of [[Elves of Lórien]] to create a 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 Silvan 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" />
 
==Etymology==
The name '''''Oropher''''' 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>
 
Oropher hailed from [[Doriath]] indicating his name could be [[Sindarin]] ([[Doriathrin]] specifically) but upon merging with the [[Elves of the Wood]], the [[Sindar]] of his household adopted their language and took names of [[Silvan Elvish|Silvan form and style]] so, it seems likely that his name is styled in [[Silvan Elvish]].<ref name="Princes" />
 
==Other versions of the legendarium==
The published [[Appendix B]] of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', as well as one of its drafts,<ref name=foundation>{{PM|Second}}</ref> mention only Oropher's son Thranduil as King of the Woodland realm, founded in {{SA|750}}, suggesting (but not explicitly mentioning) that he was possibly its founder and first king.


[[Amdír]] and Oropher were unwilling to submit to the supreme command of [[Gil-galad]], as such they suffered heavier losses in the [[War of the Last Alliance]]. Amdír, and half his forces, died in the [[Battle of Dagorlad]] as they were cut off in the [[Dead Marshes]] from the main force, whilst two-thirds of Oropher's army also perished. Oropher himself was killed in the very first assault upon [[Mordor]] as he and other brave and hasty Elves rushed forward before Gil-galad gave the signal to charge. At the end of the war the remnants of the army returned to [[Mirkwood|Greenwood]] under the command of Oropher's son, Thranduil.<ref name="Sindarin Princes" />
Oropher was invented later, while Tolkien was fleshing out the background of Thranduil and the history of the Silvan realms, excplicitly clarifying that Thranduil was not the founder of the realm. Oropher was not introduced in more "canonical" narratives, and the drafts exploring his origins were published in ''[[Unfinished Tales]]''.


==In Other Publications==
The first name of Oropher was ''Rogner'', such as revealed in [[The Nature of Middle-earth]] <ref>{{NM|P3xvii}}, p. 365, n. 8</ref>.
Despite Oropher's relationship to two key characters from both ''[[The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' ([[Thranduil]] and [[Legolas]] respectively) no mention of Oropher is made in any other [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] publication beyond ''[[Unfinished Tales]]''.


==Genealogy==
==Genealogy==
Line 56: Line 70:
{{familytree| LEG |LEG=[[Legolas]]<br/><small>''Sailed West {{FoA|120}}''</small>}}
{{familytree| LEG |LEG=[[Legolas]]<br/><small>''Sailed West {{FoA|120}}''</small>}}
{{familytree/end}}
{{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==
 
==See Also==
* [[Amdír]] (and his son [[Amroth]])
* [[Amdír]] (and his son [[Amroth]])
* [[Elves of Mirkwood]]
* [[Elves of Mirkwood]]
Line 70: Line 78:
{{references}}
{{references}}


 
[[Category:First Age characters]]
{{seq-start}}
[[Category:Rulers in Middle-earth]]
{{seq-head
[[Category:Second Age characters]]
| race=sindar}}
{{seq
| prev=Unknown
| list=King of the Silvan Elves
| dates=unknown - {{SA|3434}}
| next=[[Thranduil]]
}}
{{seq-end}}
 
[[Category:Sindar]]
[[Category:Sindar]]
[[de:Oropher]]
[[de:Oropher]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/elfes/teleri/sindar/oropher]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/elfes/teleri/sindar/oropher]]
[[fi:Oropher]]
[[fi:Oropher]]

Revision as of 21:13, 22 October 2021

Oropher
Sinda
Kimberly - Oropher.jpg
"Oropher" by Kimberly
Biographical Information
LocationDoriath[1], Woodland Realm
AffiliationLast Alliance of Elves and Men
LanguageSilvan Elvish, Sindarin
BirthBefore F.A. 507[1]
Doriath
RuleS.A. 750 - S.A. 3434
DeathS.A. 3434 (aged 3101+)
Battle of Dagorlad
Notable forEstablished the Woodland Realm
Family
ChildrenThranduil
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Oropher

Oropher was one of the Iathrim[1] who later established the Woodland Realm of the Silvan Elves of Greenwood the Great in the Second Age. He was killed at the Battle of Dagorlad and was succeeded by his son, Thranduil. Thus, he was the grandfather of Legolas, a member of the Fellowship of the Ring.

History

Early Life

Oropher was one of the Iathrim who spent his early life in Doriath. Before the destruction of Doriath, he had a son, Thranduil, who would later succeed him to his kingship. Following the destruction of Beleriand, Oropher would be among the many Sindar who decided to stay in Middle-earth.[1]

Move to Greenwood the Great

Among the wave of Sindar who left Lindon and travelled eastward, before the building of the Barad-dûr in S.A. 1000,[2] Oropher travelled to Greenwood the Great, and it was in S.A. 750 that he was taken up by the Elves of the Wood as their king and founded the Woodland Realm.[1][3]

The few Sindar who had come with him were soon merged with the Silvan Elves, adopting their customs and language and taking names of Silvan form and style. Oropher and his household wished to return to a simple existence natural to the Elves before they had been disturbed by the Valar.[1]

Originally, Oropher's realm encompassed the south of Greenwood, with dwellings about the hill of Amon Lanc.[4][1] However, throughout the Second Age, he migrated north with his people three times.[4] According to one tradition, the first movement was northward beyond the Gladden Fields, due to his desire to distance himself from the increasing encroachments of the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm and his resentment of the intrusions of Celeborn and Galadriel in Lothlórien.[1]

Oropher was also disturbed by the reports of Sauron's rising power and by the end of the Second Age, he dwelt in the western glens of the Emyn Duir and his numerous people lived and roamed in the woods and vales westward as far as Anduin, north of the ancient Dwarf-Road.[4]

War of the Last Alliance

Although Oropher's desire was to distance himself and his people from the affairs of the rest of the world, he could see the danger that Sauron posed, and that his defeat would bring about peace in Middle-earth. Thus, he joined the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, summoning a large army which joined with Amdír's smaller force of Elves of Lórien to create a 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 Silvan 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]

Etymology

The name Oropher probably means 'tall beech-tree'[5] from oro meaning 'high' and fêr meaning 'beech'.[6]

Oropher hailed from Doriath indicating his name could be Sindarin (Doriathrin specifically) but upon merging with the Elves of the Wood, the Sindar of his household adopted their language and took names of Silvan form and style so, it seems likely that his name is styled in Silvan Elvish.[1]

Other versions of the legendarium

The published Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings, as well as one of its drafts,[3] mention only Oropher's son Thranduil as King of the Woodland realm, founded in S.A. 750, suggesting (but not explicitly mentioning) that he was possibly its founder and first king.

Oropher was invented later, while Tolkien was fleshing out the background of Thranduil and the history of the Silvan realms, excplicitly clarifying that Thranduil was not the founder of the realm. Oropher was not introduced in more "canonical" narratives, and the drafts exploring his origins were published in Unfinished Tales.

The first name of Oropher was Rogner, such as revealed in The Nature of Middle-earth [7].

Genealogy

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


See also

References

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 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, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B: The Tale of Years (Chronology of the Westlands)
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VI. The Tale of Years of the Second Age"
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields", note 14
  5. The Encyclopedia of Arda, "Oropher", dated 21 April 2003 (accessed January 13, 2011)
  6. The Thain's Book, "Elves of Middle-earth#Oropher" (accessed January 13, 2011)
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part Three. The World, its Lands, and its Inhabitants: XVII. Silvan Elves and Silvan Elvish", p. 365, n. 8