Lore ·
Who Was King Terenas Menethil? The Last King of Lordaeron
King Terenas Menethil II was the ruler of Lordaeron, the father of Prince Arthas and a founder of the Alliance of Lordaeron, and he died in his own throne room when Arthas killed him with Frostmourne. In World of Warcraft: Forever (WoW Forever), set in the first year of World of Warcraft, Terenas is long dead and his kingdom is a ruin where the Forsaken have made their home.
Quick answer: Terenas hosted the refugees of Stormwind, joined with Anduin Lothar to form the Alliance of Lordaeron and ruled the strongest human kingdom. In the Third War his son Arthas returned from Northrend and murdered him, and the Scourge then overran Lordaeron.
A crown can sit lightly on a king who thinks diplomacy is enough. For years Lordaeron's court was a place of councils and envoys, and it was there that the survivors of a burned city came asking for help.
Key facts
- Realm: Lordaeron, the strongest human kingdom and seat of the Alliance (Warcraft Wiki, Engadget)
- Son: Prince Arthas Menethil, trained in the Light by Uther (Warcraft Wiki, Blizzard Watch)
- Alliance of Lordaeron: formed through Terenas's diplomacy and Anduin Lothar's military leadership (Warcraft Wiki, Engadget)
- Death: murdered by Arthas with Frostmourne in the throne room (Warcraft Wiki, Engadget, Blizzard Watch)
- Ashes: the urn that held them was guarded by Uther near Andorhal (Warcraft Wiki, Blizzard Watch, Engadget)
- Legacy: the Alliance of Lordaeron ended as an institution when Arthas destroyed the kingdom (Engadget)
How did Terenas found the Alliance of Lordaeron?
After Stormwind fell, Engadget says Anduin Lothar led the survivors on a desperate journey to Terenas's court, carrying the young Varian Wrynn. Warcraft Wiki says the refugees warned Terenas about the orcs, and he summoned the neighboring human kings. Engadget's Alliance column says the Alliance was born of Terenas's statecraft and Lothar's command, and that dwarves, gnomes and high elves joined it. Read The Story of Anduin Lothar and Lordaeron: What Happened? for the wider story.
What did Terenas do in the Second War?
Warcraft Wiki says Terenas organized the defense of the capital, and that after the Alliance won, the surviving orcs were interned. Engadget's Second War column says Orgrim Doomhammer was taken in chains. Engadget's Alliance column cites Alterac as the clearest example of the Alliance's lack of unity. Read The Orcs of Azeroth for the camps.
How did King Terenas die?
Warcraft Wiki says Terenas refused to quarantine Lordaeron against the plague. Engadget's Arthas column says that when Arthas returned from Northrend he was hailed as a hero, and that while kneeling at his father's throne he drew Frostmourne and killed him. Blizzard Watch describes Arthas drawing the blade and running his father through. Uther took the urn with the king's ashes to protect it, and Arthas later killed Uther. Read Who Was Uther the Lightbringer? for that duel.
Where can you see Terenas's legacy in WoW Forever?
Blizzard Watch says the bloody trail left by Arthas's crown is still visible in the ruins of the throne room. Engadget says Arthas destroyed Lordaeron, ending the Alliance of Lordaeron as it stood, and Blizzard Watch says the Forsaken reclaimed the capital to a degree and built a citadel beneath it in the old catacombs. The Forever dungeon Ruins of Lordaeron is set in that ruined city, and the Forsaken are described in The Forsaken Explained. The free Lore Forever add-on shows readable zone and quest background as you play, and the optional Willo voice companion can answer lore questions. Both are fan-made.
What is not confirmed yet
- Blizzard has not published a list of Forever quests about Terenas, so this article describes the king, not new content.
- Warcraft Wiki dates his death to year 20 after the Dark Portal, and Lore Forever found no second source for the year, so the year is left out of the body.
- Warcraft Wiki describes an empty tomb behind the throne room in the ruins, and Lore Forever has not found a second source for it.
- Later events, including Terenas's spirit in Northrend, are outside WoW Forever.
Frequently asked questions
Who was King Terenas Menethil?
King Terenas Menethil II was the ruler of Lordaeron, father of Arthas and a founder of the Alliance of Lordaeron. Arthas killed him in the Third War.
Who killed King Terenas?
His son, Prince Arthas Menethil, killed Terenas with the runeblade Frostmourne while kneeling at the throne after returning from Northrend.
Is Terenas the same as Arthas's father?
Yes. Terenas Menethil II was Arthas's father and Lordaeron's king. Warcraft Wiki says he summoned the human kings who formed the Alliance of Lordaeron.
What happened to Terenas's ashes?
Uther took the urn holding the king's ashes to keep them from Arthas, and Arthas killed Uther at Andorhal and took it.
Who rules Lordaeron in WoW Forever?
Blizzard Watch says the Forsaken reclaimed Lordaeron's capital to a degree and built a citadel beneath it. The human kingdom of Lordaeron ended when Arthas destroyed it.
Is Terenas alive in WoW Forever?
No. Terenas died in the Third War, before the start of WoW Forever's setting.
Sources
Reviewed October 25, 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.