Lore ·
Who Is Anduin Lothar? The Lion of Azeroth and First Commander of the Alliance
Anduin Lothar, the "Lion of Azeroth," was Stormwind's champion in the First War and the Supreme Commander of the Alliance of Lordaeron in the Second War, where he died at the foot of Blackrock Spire. He is long dead in World of Warcraft: Forever (WoW Forever), set in the first year of World of Warcraft (year 25 after the Dark Portal), but his name survives in the child king Anduin Wrynn, named after him.
Quick answer: Lothar was the last of the Arathi bloodline in the Eastern Kingdoms. He led the refugees of fallen Stormwind across the sea to Lordaeron, helped form the Alliance and commanded it until Orgrim Doomhammer killed him. His second-in-command, Turalyon, took up his sword and won the war.
Some heroes fall in the shadow of mountains. Lothar fell at the foot of Blackrock, and his story is still told in the lands he lost and the lands he saved.
Key facts
- Title: the "Lion of Azeroth" (Warcraft Wiki, Engadget) and Supreme Commander of the Alliance (Warcraft Wiki, Vanilla WoW fan wiki)
- Bloodline: last descendant of the Arathi in the Eastern Kingdoms (Warcraft Wiki, Vanilla WoW fan wiki)
- Childhood friends: Llane Wrynn and Medivh (Warcraft Wiki, Vanilla WoW fan wiki, Engadget)
- Prisoner: held for twenty months after the Deadmines rescue mission (Warcraft Wiki, Vanilla WoW fan wiki)
- Second-in-command: Turalyon, who took up his sword after his death (Warcraft Wiki, Vanilla WoW fan wiki)
- Namesake: Anduin Wrynn, Varian's son (Warcraft Wiki, Engadget, Giant Bomb)
Who was Anduin Lothar before the Alliance?
Before the wars there was a boy in Stormwind with a king's son and a future guardian for friends. Warcraft Wiki and the Vanilla WoW fan wiki say Lothar grew up with Llane Wrynn and Medivh, and rose to lead Stormwind's armies. The fan wiki says he led a mission into the Deadmines to recover the stolen Tome of Divinity, and Warcraft Wiki, the fan wiki and Engadget all say he was imprisoned there for twenty months. Read the Deadmines guide for the dungeon itself.
According to both wikis, Lothar led the assault on Karazhan in which Medivh was killed. When Stormwind fell, Engadget's Know Your Lore says, Lothar evacuated the population by boat, and Warcraft Wiki says he led the survivors to Lordaeron. That exodus is why Stormwind's story continues in the history of Stormwind.
How did Lothar create the Alliance?
An army needs more than courage, and Lothar brought a plea. The Vanilla WoW fan wiki says he pleaded Stormwind's case in Lordaeron and helped create the Alliance, and Warcraft Wiki says his pleas led to the council in which King Terenas's politics created it. Both say he was named Supreme Commander, with Turalyon second in command; Warcraft Wiki says he was chosen partly because the northern kings saw him as neutral. Warcraft Wiki adds that Khadgar and Daelin Proudmoore were among his lieutenants. For the realm that raised the Alliance, read Lordaeron explained.
How did Anduin Lothar die?
The Alliance pushed the Horde back toward Blackrock Mountain. Warcraft Wiki says Lothar was killed at the foot of Blackrock Spire, separated from his troops after an ambush, in single combat with Orgrim Doomhammer. The Vanilla WoW fan wiki says accounts differ: some call it a fair duel, others an ambush. Both say Turalyon took up his sword and shield and led the Alliance to victory, and the fan wiki adds that Khadgar later destroyed the Dark Portal.
What does Lothar's legacy look like in WoW Forever's era?
Heroes leave their names behind them. Engadget, Giant Bomb and Warcraft Wiki all say Varian Wrynn named his son Anduin after Lothar. Warcraft Wiki says a large statue of Lothar stands at Black Tooth Hovel in the Burning Steppes, sword raised toward Blackrock Mountain, and the fan wiki says it faces Blackrock Spire. Warcraft Wiki's Ashkandi page calls it speculation, not official lore, that Ashkandi, Greatsword of the Brotherhood, was his sword. Both the statue and the sword appear on the vanilla-WoW fan wiki. Read Who Is Varian Wrynn? for the son and the king.
The free Lore Forever add-on shows readable zone and quest background as you play, and the optional Willo voice companion lets you ask lore questions by voice. Both are fan-made.
What is not confirmed yet
- The sources read do not say whether Forever places Lothar's statue or any Lothar quest in the game.
- Sources differ on whether his death was a fair duel or an ambush.
- Ashkandi as Lothar's sword is speculation, not official lore, according to Warcraft Wiki.
- Warcraft Wiki and the fan wiki differ on whether the Burning Steppes statue faces Blackrock Mountain or Blackrock Spire.
- Lothar's later appearances, visions and descendants belong to later expansions and are outside WoW Forever.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Anduin Lothar in World of Warcraft?
Anduin Lothar is Stormwind's champion and the first Supreme Commander of the Alliance of Lordaeron. He is called the Lion of Azeroth and died fighting Orgrim Doomhammer at Blackrock Spire.
How did Anduin Lothar die?
Anduin Lothar was killed at the foot of Blackrock Spire by Orgrim Doomhammer. Warcraft Wiki describes an ambush on his troops and then single combat with Doomhammer, while the Vanilla WoW fan wiki says accounts differ.
Is Anduin Lothar alive in WoW Forever?
No. WoW Forever is set in the first year of World of Warcraft, years after the Second War, and Lothar died in that war.
Who took command of the Alliance after Lothar?
Turalyon, his second-in-command, took up his sword and shield and led the Alliance to victory, according to Warcraft Wiki and the Vanilla WoW fan wiki.
Why is Anduin Wrynn named Anduin?
Varian Wrynn named his son after Anduin Lothar, who led Stormwind's survivors to Lordaeron, according to Engadget, Giant Bomb and Warcraft Wiki.
Sources
Reviewed October 24, 2026. This article covers history before Forever's setting and does not treat later events as Forever canon. Lore Forever and Willo are fan-made and are not affiliated with Blizzard Entertainment.