Orodreth

(See also Orodreth of Gondor)

Orodreth (Years of the Trees – First Age 495) was an Elf of the First Age, the son of Angrod and nephew of Finrod Felagund. He has two children, Gil-galad and Finduilas. After the death of Finrod, he was ruler of Nargothrond.

His name in Quenya was Artaresto. Orodreth was born in Valinor to Angrod and Eldalôtë. Together with Turgon's daughter Idril he was one of the two Ñoldor in the third generation to come into exile. His father held Dorthonion, but Gil-galad was sent to the more safe Nargothrond with his uncle Finrod.

Orodreth held the isle of Minas Tirith in the vale of Sirion until Sauron overran the isle and turned it into Tol-in-Gaurhoth. Orodreth then fled south to Nargothrond.

When Beren came to Nargothrond, Finrod went with him on his quest for the Silmaril. However Celegorm and Curufin the Sons of Fëanor were also at Nargothrond, and forced Finrod to lay down his crown. Orodreth took it, ruling as regent, but the Sons of Fëanor held the real power. Curufin called him "a dullard slow" in the Lay of Leithian, and with his brother Celegorm plotted to take over Nargothrond if news came of Finrod's death.

When news came that Finrod had been killed and Sauron's isle destroyed, the Sons of Fëanor lost their power, for the people cried out that a maiden Luthien had done what the Sons of Fëanor had not (thrown down Sauron). Orodreth, who regained his power, spared their lives but expelled from Nargothrond, and became its leader.

When Túrin Turambar arrived in Nargothrond he gradually became its leader and Orodreth was lord only in name. He later died fighting the hosts of Morgoth and Glaurung the Dragon in the Battle of Tumhalad.

Geneology

          Finarfin = Eärwen
                   |
    _______________|___________________________
   |         |                    |            |
   |         |                    |            |
Finrod    Angrod = Eldalôtë     Aegnor     Galadriel
                 |
                 |
              ORODRETH
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          _______|________
         |                |
         |                |
      Gil-galad       Finduilas

Other Versions of the Legendarium

In earlier versions of the Silmarillion legendarium as detailed in the History of Middle-earth series, Orodreth was a more important character, and the original king of Nargothrond. However his importance diminished over time.

In the published Silmarillion, Orodreth is a son of Finarfin, with Quenya name Artanáro. This was an editorial decision by Christopher Tolkien, and an admitted mistake. Gil-galad, later High King of the Ñoldor, was his son, but in the published Silmarillion Gil-galad is made into Fingon's son instead. An earlier idea was that Orodreth's son was named Hallas, but Gil-galad replaced him.

In his last writings, Tolkien changed Orodreth's name to Artaher (Quenya) / Arothir (Sindarin), but it was never introduced in any narratives, so Christopher Tolkien left the name Orodreth unchanged. It is probable the Sindarin name Orodreth would have been retained nonetheless: Tolkien seldom changed names after they had long been used, even if only in unpublished writings.