This Wasn’t Even Mentioned in 'The Lord of the Rings': What Happened to the Father of Thranduil, the Elven King of Mirkwood

In The Hobbit, Thranduil is the stern, majestic king of Mirkwood who appears detached from the world. But behind this coldness lies a personal story: the pain of loss inherited from his father. Before Thranduil, the woodland elves were ruled by Oropher — a proud lord whose fate was far more tragic than it might seem. He was the first king of Greenwood the Great (later known as Mirkwood), and he died when he chose to go to war against Sauron.

Oropher: a noble elf who fled from ruins

Oropher was one of the Sindar — the 'grey' elves who once lived in the great kingdom of Doriath under King Thingol’s rule. It was there, in Beleriand, among enchanted forests and magical spells, that he spent his childhood and youth. But Doriath was destroyed twice — first by dwarves, then by the artifact-hungry Noldor elves. Oropher lost his homeland twice.

When all of Beleriand was wiped from the face of Middle-earth during the War of Wrath, Oropher didn’t sail to Aman like many others. He led the remnants of his people eastward, across the mountains, in search of a new home. There, in Greenwood the Great, he met the Silvan Elves — forest dwellers who lived more simply. Instead of conquering them, he offered an alliance. And so he became king of a new people.

A king without a crown: why Oropher turned away from civilisation

Although Oropher came from noble lineage, he rejected excess and titles. He left the southern part of the forest, where trade with the dwarves flourished, and resettled in the north. The reason — bitter memories. His kingdom had been destroyed by dwarves, and the Noldor — allies of the dwarves — had finished it off. He could trust neither. His path became isolation.

A fatal mistake: how Oropher died

When Sauron launched a new war, the elves of Middle-earth formed a Last Alliance. It was led by the Noldor king Gil-galad — the very people who had once attacked Oropher’s homeland. And yet, despite his resentment, the king of the Woodland Realm joined the campaign. The survival of all was at stake.

But on the battlefield, Oropher could not overcome his pride. He refused to wait for orders and charged into battle without allied support. His army was surrounded. He fell, slain by orcs — along with half of all the Silvan Elves. It was a cruel and senseless loss, caused not by evil, but by stubbornness.

Legacy: how Thranduil carried on

Oropher’s son, Thranduil, survived and became the new king. He inherited his father’s caution and love for solitude. But he was more flexible — Thranduil found ways to establish dialogue with dwarves and other elves. He became wiser, preserving the kingdom while remembering the cost of past mistakes.

Oropher is a rare character in Tolkien’s world — one who shows that even the immortal can fall victim to all-too-human emotions. And it’s heroes like these — with pain, doubts, and flaws — that make The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings great not only as fairy tales, but as parables about power, honour, and choice.