Oropher
Father of King Thranduil and grandfather of Legolas; founder and earliest known King of the Woodland Realm. Orophor founded the Kingdom of Mirkwood in which many Wood-elves came to live. Oropher was a Sindarin Elf of Doriath, the Kingdom of Thingol in Beleriand. Oropher survived the War of Wrath and the destruction of Beleriand at the end of the First Age.
After Beleriand was destroyed, Oropher led a large group of Elves to a forest east of the Anduin called Greenwood the Great. There were many native Elves in this forest, and these Elves welcomed Oropher's people and taught them their own language. The Wood-elves named Oropher their King, and he ruled for many millennia.
The enemy Sauron's power began growing toward the end of the Second Age, and this made the Wood-elves feel threatened. They fled to northern Mirkwood, purposely keeping a distance from Dwarves and other Elves.
In 3434 of the Second Age, Oropher led a troop of Elves to fight in the Battle of Dagorlad, where most Elves were slain. During the War of the Last Alliance, Oropher led a strong group of Elves, but they were poorly armed for battle, and he and his entire force were killed or driven away by the forces of Sauron. Orophor's son Thranduil became King of Mirkwood after Oropher's death.
After Beleriand was destroyed, Oropher led a large group of Elves to a forest east of the Anduin called Greenwood the Great. There were many native Elves in this forest, and these Elves welcomed Oropher's people and taught them their own language. The Wood-elves named Oropher their King, and he ruled for many millennia.
The enemy Sauron's power began growing toward the end of the Second Age, and this made the Wood-elves feel threatened. They fled to northern Mirkwood, purposely keeping a distance from Dwarves and other Elves.
In 3434 of the Second Age, Oropher led a troop of Elves to fight in the Battle of Dagorlad, where most Elves were slain. During the War of the Last Alliance, Oropher led a strong group of Elves, but they were poorly armed for battle, and he and his entire force were killed or driven away by the forces of Sauron. Orophor's son Thranduil became King of Mirkwood after Oropher's death.
Names & Meanings
Oropher is Sindarin for "high beech" from oro meaning "high" and pher meaning "beech."
References
The Unfinished Tales: "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn - Appendix B: The Sindarin Princes of the Silvan Elves," pages 258-259; "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields," pages 280-281
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies"
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies"
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