Orodreth

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This article is about the Lord of Nargothrond. For the the Steward of Gondor, see Orodreth.
Orodreth
Noldo
Marya Filatova - Artaresto.jpg
"Artaresto" by Marya Filatova
Biographical Information
PronunciationS, [oˈrodreθ]
Other namesArtaresto (Q, fn)
Artaher/Arothir (Q/S, fn)[1]
TitlesKing of Nargothrond
Lord of Narog[2][3]
PositionWarden of Minas Tirith
(F.A. 102 - 457)
LocationTirion; Minas Tirith; Nargothrond
LanguageQuenya and Sindarin
BirthBetween Y.T. 1300 & 1495
Tirion
RuleF.A. 465 - 495
DeathF.A. 495[4]
Battle of Tumhalad
Family
HouseHouse of Finarfin
ParentageAngrod & Eldalótë[1]
SpouseUnnamed Sindarin wife
ChildrenFinduilas & Gil-galad[1][5]NB
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Orodreth

Orodreth was a lord of the Noldor and a dynast of the House of Finarfin. He served as the warden of Minas Tirith under his uncle Finrod until the fortress was overrun by Sauron.

After Finrod’s death, Orodreth was proclaimed King of Nargothrond but was killed during the fall of the city. He was the son of the Noldorin lord Angrod and the father of Finduilas and Gil-galad.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

Early History[edit | edit source]

He was born in Valinor sometime during the Years of the Trees. His name in Quenya was Artaresto.[5]

During the Flight of the Noldor, Orodreth spoke softly and sought to calm the Noldor to reflect before taking the decision to leave Aman.[6] After the return of the Noldor to Middle-earth and the completion of Nargothrond, Orodreth's uncle Finrod gave the fortress of Minas Tirith to Orodreth's keeping.[7]

Orodreth held the fortress of Minas Tirith in the vale of Sirion until shortly after the Dagor Bragollach Sauron, lieutenant of Morgoth, overran the isle, took Minas Tirith by storm and turned it into Tol-in-Gaurhoth, the Isle of Werewolves, in F.A. 457. Orodreth had to flee from Minas Tirith south to Nargothrond.[8]

Arrival of Beren[edit | edit source]

King Orodreth by Ebe Kastein

When Beren, son of Barahir came to Nargothrond in F.A. 465, Finrod, the King of Nargothrond, decided to accompany him on his quest for the Silmaril, fulfilling his oath. However, Celegorm and Curufin, the Sons of Fëanor, were also at Nargothrond at the time, and persuaded almost all the people of Nargothrond to refuse to accompany Finrod on the quest for the Silmaril so that only Edrahil and ten companions agreed to go with Finrod and Beren. Finrod gave his crown to Orodreth to rule Nargothrond as a regent in his absence. When news came that Finrod had been killed and that Tol-in-Gaurhoth had been destroyed, the sons of Fëanor were shamed and fell from power, as the people cried out that the maiden Lúthien had done what the sons of Fëanor dared not. Orodreth returned to power and expelled Celegorm and Curufin from Nargothrond.[9]

Arrival of Túrin[edit | edit source]

Túrin in front of Orodreth by Alarie

In F.A. 490,[10] Gwindor, a prince of Nargothrond and an escaped thrall of Morgoth returning from his captivity in Angband, led Túrin son of Húrin, a Man of the House of Hador to Nargothrond. In Nargothrond, Túrin hid his name, calling himself Agarwaen, son of Úmarth ("Bloodstained, son of Ill-fate"). Finduilas, daughter of Orodreth, fell in love with him, but he avoided her because she had previously been the beloved of his friend Gwindor. Túrin declined to tell her his name, so that she called him Thurin ("The Secret"). He was also called Adanedhel ("Man-Elf") because he was so alike to an Elf, though he was a Man.[11][12][13]

His identity did not remain hidden for long. Gwindor revealed to Finduilas that 'Agarwaen' was in fact Túrin, and 'Úmarth' his famous father Húrin. When the news of this reached Finduilas' father, Orodreth, King of Nargothrond, Túrin was given great honor and standing, but the revelation of Túrin's identity would also bring Morgoth's curse with him.[11][12][13]

Fall of Nargothrond by Alan Lee

Túrin became a chief counselor of Orodreth, and was extremely influential in Nargothrond. He encouraged the people of Nargothrond to abandon their practice of secrecy, and they built a great bridge before the gates. Because of his prowess with Gurthang, his black sword, he himself became known as Mormegil ("Black Sword").[11][12][13]

However, sometime after, two messengers, named Gelmir and Arminas, sent there by Círdan, arrived to Nargothrond, delivering the message from Ulmo, Lord of Waters himself, to the King Orodreth, advising him to shut the doors of Nargothrond and destroy the bridge before its gates. At this time Orodreth relied upon the counsel of Túrin, who scorned the words of the messengers, for it was upon his advice that the bridge had been built and it was his policy for the King's forces to go forth openly to war, and sent them away.[11][12][14]

This would prove to be a fatal mistake, since in F.A. 495[15], Morgoth unleashed his forces at Nargothrond. Led by Glaurung the dragon, they devastated the army of Orodreth at the Battle of Tumhalad. In that battle Orodreth was slain, and after that the Fall of Nargothrond was inevitable, due to the bridge that allowed Glaurung and Morgoth's host to ravage the city, and most of its people were either enslaved or killed (including Orodreth's daughter Finduilas).[11][12][14]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Orodreth translates to "mountaineer".[16] Paul Strack suggests that it is a combination of orod ("mountain") and reth ("climber").[17]

His Quenya name was Artaresto (arta ("noble"); resto has an unclear meaning) which Sindarized to Rodreth and was further altered to Orodreth because of his love of the mountains.[5]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

Míriel
d. Y.T. 1170
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finwë
d. Y.T. 1495
 
Indis
b. Y.T.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Olwë
b. Y.T.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fëanor
Y.T. 1169 - 1497
 
Findis
b. Y.T.
 
Fingolfin
Y.T. 1190 - F.A. 456
 
Írimë
b. Y.T.
 
Finarfin
b. Y.T. 1230
 
Eärwen
b. Y.T.
 
unknown sons
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finrod
Y.T. 1300 - F.A. 465
 
Angrod
d. F.A. 455
 
Eldalótë
b. Y.T.
 
Aegnor
d. F.A. 455
 
Galadriel
b. Y.T. 1362
 
Celeborn
b. F.A.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ORODRETH
d. F.A. 495
 
 
 
 
 
Elrond
b. F.A. 532
 
Celebrían
b. S.A.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FinduilasNB
F.A. 272 - 495
 
Gil-galadNB
d. S.A. 3441
 
Elladan
b. T.A. 130
 
Elrohir
b. T.A. 130
 
Arwen
T.A. 241 - Fo.A. 121

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In earlier versions of the legendarium, Orodreth was a more important character, and the original king of Nargothrond. However, his importance diminished over time.

In one of the early versions, he had two sons whose names were translated as Ordhelm and Ordláf in Old English by Ælfwine, though the original Elvish names were lost to time.[18] In another version, his two sons were Haldir [< Halmir] who was slain after being trapped by Orcs and hung on a tree,[19]:112 and a younger son Orodlin.[20]:309

Though in the published version of The Silmarillion and in the published Unfinished Tales Orodreth is the son of Finarfin and younger brother of Finrod Felagund,[6][7][9][21][22] while Fingon is the father of Gil-galad,[8][23][24][25][26] in later writings by J.R.R. Tolkien Gil-galad was in fact Orodreth's son, but since this altered conception never touched the existing narratives, Christopher Tolkien decided not to change the text, believing that it was obviously impossible to introduce it into the published Silmarillion. However, later Christopher Tolkien pointed out it would have been much better if he had left the parentage of Gil-galad obscure in the published version of The Silmarillion.[5]

Nonetheless, Christopher Tolkien recognized that his father's last word and final intent on the subject of the parentage of Orodreth was that Orodreth was the son of Angrod. J.R.R. Tolkien actually did include this radical change of the parentage of Orodreth in his narratives before his death, striking out the character's name from the list of Finarfin's children already in the Later Quenta,[27] and thus Orodreth was finally ejected entirely from the third generation of the Noldorin princes.[28] Despite that, at the time when he worked compilating the published Silmarillion, Christopher considered the reason why his father moved Orodreth down the generation unknown to him, so he never incorporated this and associated genealogical change in the text.[29]

Prior to using Aratesto, Tolkien initially gave Orodreth the Quenya name Artanáro Rhodothir. In his last writings, Tolkien changed this again to Artaher (Quenya) / Arothir (Sindarin), both meaning "Noble Lord"; it was never introduced in any narratives however, so Christopher Tolkien left the name Orodreth unchanged.[5]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", "The names of Finwë's descendants", pp. 346-348, 364 (Note 47)
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Narn i Hîn Húrin (The Tale of the Children of Húrin)"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "The Land of Bow and Helm"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "The Grey Annals": §275
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", "The parentage of Gil-galad", p. 349-351
  6. 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Flight of the Noldor"
  7. 7.0 7.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beleriand and its Realms"
  8. 8.0 8.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin"
  9. 9.0 9.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beren and Lúthien"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "The Grey Annals": §267
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Túrin Turambar"
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Narn i Hîn Húrin (The Tale of the Children of Húrin)"
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "Túrin in Nargothrond"
  14. 14.0 14.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "The Fall of Nargothrond"
  15. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "The Grey Annals": §275
  16. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings: Eldarin Roots and Stems", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), root RETE, p. 182
  17. Paul Strack, "S. Orodreth m.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon (accessed 19 October 2022)
  18. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "III. The Quenta: Appendix 1: Fragments of a translation of The Quenta Noldorinwa into Old English, made by Ælfwine or Eriol; together with Old English equivalents of Elvish names", p. 213
  19. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part Two: Valinor and Middle-earth before The Lord of the Rings, III. The Later Annals of Beleriand"
  20. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Appendix: I. The Genealogies"
  21. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië"
  22. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Narn i Hîn Húrin (The Tale of the Children of Húrin)", "Appendix", much fuller account of the coming of the Elves Gelmir and Arminas to Nargothrond
  23. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad"
  24. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin"
  25. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
  26. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife"
  27. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (I) The First Phase: 5. Of Eldanor and the Princes of the Eldalië", p. 177
  28. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (I) The First Phase: 5. Of Eldanor and the Princes of the Eldalië", p. 182
  29. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", p. 255 note 20
Orodreth
House of Finarfin
Cadet branch of House of Finwë
Born: After Y.T. 1300 Died: F.A. 495
None
Position established
Warden of Minas Tirith
F.A. 102 - 457
None
Minas Tirith captuted by Gorthaur
Preceded by:
Finrod
2nd King of Nargothrond
F.A. 465495
None
Kingdom destroyed