Orodreth

(See also Orodreth of Gondor)

Orodreth
Noldo
Biographical Information
Titles	King of Nargothrond
Birth	YOTT, Tirion
Death	FA 495 (aged 550+)
Family
Parentage	Angrod + Eldalôtë
Spouse	Unknown
Children	Gil-galad, Finduilas
Physical Description
Gender	Male
Hair color	Dark
Gallery	Images of Orodreth

Orodreth was an Elf of the First Age, the son of Finarfin and younger brother of Finrod Felagund. Finduilas was his daughter, and Gil-galad his son. After the death of Finrod, he was ruler of Nargothrond.

His name in Quenya was Artaresto. Orodreth was born in Valinor.

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 help Beren alone,without his people. Orodreth took up the crown, 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 Orodreth's closest councillor.Turin forced Orodreth and the people of Nargothrond to abandon the secretive warfare and declare open war against Morgoth.However this led to the destruction of Nargothrond. He later died fighting the hosts of Morgoth and Glaurung the Dragon in the Battle of Tumhalad during the Sack of Nargothrond.

Genealogy

          Finarfin = Eärwen
                   |
    _______________|___________________________
   |         |             |         |         |
   |         |             |         |         |
Finrod   Orodreth       Angrod    Aegnor   Galadriel 
             |
       ______|________________   
      |                       |
  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. In the earlier version 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 The Children of Húrin Orodreth is once again the son of Finarfin, for reasons unstated. One can assume this was so as not to confuse readers already familiar with The Silmarillion.

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.