Oropher: Biography

King of the Silvan Elves in Greenwood the Great, until he was slain in the War of the Last Alliance.
Oropher was of Sindarin origin. He and a small number of his people came from Doriath after its ruin (at the end of the First Age), not willing to leave Middle-earth nor become dominated by the Noldorin Exiles. Their wish was to return to a simple life and so they merged with the Silvan Elves, adopting their language and style.
To be free from the power of the Dwarves of Moria and because he resented the intrusions of Celeborn and Galadriel into Lórien, Oropher moved northwards beyond the Gladden Fields sometime during the Second Age. Still, contact with his kin across the River was held until the formation of the Last Alliance. When this had came to pass, Oropher gathered a strong army of his numerous and valiant people to join the smaller host of Malgalad of Lórien [probably another name for Amdír]. Unfortunately, his Silvan Elves were ill-equipped and not at all disposed to accept the command of High-king Gil-galad. Their losses were grievous. Oropher himself died in the first assault upon Mordor, leading his warriors forwards before Gil-galad had given the signal to advance.
He was the father of Thranduil.

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