Orodreth

Lineage

In The Silmarillion Orodreth is the second son of Finarfin and Eärwen, and the brother of Finrod, Angrod, Aegnor and Galadriel. He crossed the Helcaraxë with the host of Fingolfin and in Beleriand served his elder brother. His daughter was Finduilas, and according to a note in Unfinished Tales, which follows Tolkien's later thought, Gil-galad was his son rather than the son of Fingon; the published Silmarillion keeps Fingon as Gil-galad's father.

Tol Sirion

Finrod built the tower of Minas Tirith on the isle of Tol Sirion to watch the pass between the Ered Wethrin and the highlands of Dorthonion, and gave it to Orodreth to hold. He kept it through the long Siege of Angband, but two years after the Dagor Bragollach, in F.A. 457, Sauron came against it with a host of wolves and shadow. Orodreth could not hold the tower and fled south with those who escaped to Nargothrond. Tol Sirion became Tol-in-Gaurhoth, the Isle of Werewolves, and it was in its dungeons that Finrod died.

King of Nargothrond

When Finrod left on the quest of Beren in F.A. 465, he laid the rule of Nargothrond in Orodreth's hands. Celegorm and Curufin, who had turned the people against Finrod, plotted to take the city for themselves; but when news came of Finrod's death and of their treatment of Lúthien, the people turned against them, and Orodreth expelled the brothers from his realm, forbidding anyone to kill them but giving them no bread or lodging. He was a quieter king than Finrod, and he kept Nargothrond hidden and its warriors to ambush and secrecy, as Ulmo's counsel required.

Túrin and Tumhalad

That policy ended when Gwindor brought Túrin to Nargothrond in F.A. 490. The Man's counsel and his prowess with the black sword won over the king and the people, and against Gwindor's warnings Orodreth let Nargothrond go to open war. The Elves built a great bridge over the Narog before the Doors, so that their armies could march out swiftly, and for a time they cleared the lands about. Messengers from Ulmo, sent through Círdan, warned the king to throw down the bridge and shut the gates; Orodreth listened to Túrin instead. In F.A. 495 Glaurung came down from Angband with a great host of Orcs, and Orodreth led the army of Nargothrond out to meet them on the field of Tumhalad between the Ginglith and the Narog. The Elves were routed. Orodreth was killed in the forefront of the battle, Gwindor was mortally wounded, and Glaurung crossed the bridge into the city. Finduilas was carried off with the captives and died at the Crossings of Teiglin.

Legacy

Orodreth ruled for thirty years and lost his kingdom in a single season, and the Silmarillion judges him more weak than wicked; he was overborne by a stronger will, as Finrod had been by Celegorm's tongue. If the later account of Gil-galad's parentage is followed, he was the father of the last High King of the Noldor.

Slain at the battle of Tumhalad in F.A. 495, the year of the fall of Nargothrond.