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===Flight from Valinor===
===Flight from Valinor===
After the [[Darkening of Valinor]], [[Fëanor]] rebelled against the [[Valar]], and set out from [[Aman]] with most of his fellow [[Noldor]]. His aim was to make war on [[Morgoth|Melkor]] for the recovery of the stolen [[Silmarils]], and his hatred and pride were so great that he swore an [[Oath of Fëanor|Oath]] that bound himself and his sons to destroy any who held them from their goal.  
After the [[Darkening of Valinor]] and the murder of [[Finwë]] by [[Morgoth|Melkor]], [[Fëanor]] rebelled against the [[Valar]], and set out from [[Aman]] with most of his fellow [[Noldor]]. His aim was to make war on Melkor for the recovery of the stolen [[Silmarils]], and his hatred and pride were so great that he swore an [[Oath of Fëanor|Oath]] that bound himself and his sons to destroy any who held them from their goal.  


From this Oath stemmed the [[Kinslaying at Alqualondë|Kinslaying]] at [[Alqualondë]], and aboard the stolen ships of the [[Teleri]] Fëanor and his sons set out to gain their vengeance in [[Middle-earth]]. Left behind by Fëanor, [[Fingolfin]] and his people had to make their way into [[Middle-earth]] across the treacherous wastes of the [[Helcaraxë]]. The Valar allowed them to depart, but closed their land against any return, making them exiles from Aman. After long ages, the exile was relaxed, and the Noldor were allowed to return to the [[Blessed Realm]]. Among the last of these was [[Galadriel]], who had been part of the ancient rebellion, but was forgiven at last because of her actions in the [[War of the Ring]].
From this Oath stemmed the [[Kinslaying at Alqualondë|Kinslaying]] at [[Alqualondë]], and aboard the stolen ships of the [[Teleri]] Fëanor and his sons set out to gain their vengeance in [[Middle-earth]]. Left behind by Fëanor, [[Fingolfin]] and his people had to make their way into [[Middle-earth]] across the treacherous wastes of the [[Helcaraxë]]. The Valar allowed them to depart, but closed their land against any return, making them exiles from Aman. After long ages, the exile was relaxed, and the Noldor were allowed to return to the [[Blessed Realm]]. Among the last of these was [[Galadriel]], who had been part of the ancient rebellion, but was forgiven at last because of her actions in the [[War of the Ring]].

Revision as of 18:20, 13 September 2021

The name Exiles refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Exiles (disambiguation).
Ted Nasmith - Fingolfin Leads the Host Across the Helcaraxë.jpg
Exile of the Noldor
Event
Other namesFlight of the Noldor
LocationAlqualondë, Helcaraxë, Beleriand
DateY.T. 1495[1] to Y.T. 1500[2]
ResultThe Noldor reach Middle-earth and settle in Beleriand
Part ofFall of the Noldor
ParticipantsNoldor (excluding Finarfin and others)

The Exile of the Noldor, also known as the Flight of the Noldor, refers to the historical period near the end of the First Age[3] when many of the Noldor, seeking revenge, departed from Valinor to Middle-earth.

History

Prelude to Exile

Melkor had previously been taken to Aman following his defeat in the Battle of the Powers. Following three ages of imprisonment, he was released but forced to stay within Valinor on probation. During this time, he began to stir the hearts of the Noldor against the Valar, especially targeting the Noldo known as Fëanor due to his firey spirit. Melkor lied to them, saying the Valar were afraid of the Noldor and wished to have them remain there so Middle-earth would be ruled by Men, who were supposedly much easier for the Valar to control. He quietly succeeded in turning the Noldor against the Valar, though until the Darkening of Valinor the Noldor did not openly rebel against the Valar.

Flight from Valinor

After the Darkening of Valinor and the murder of Finwë by Melkor, Fëanor rebelled against the Valar, and set out from Aman with most of his fellow Noldor. His aim was to make war on Melkor for the recovery of the stolen Silmarils, and his hatred and pride were so great that he swore an Oath that bound himself and his sons to destroy any who held them from their goal.

From this Oath stemmed the Kinslaying at Alqualondë, and aboard the stolen ships of the Teleri Fëanor and his sons set out to gain their vengeance in Middle-earth. Left behind by Fëanor, Fingolfin and his people had to make their way into Middle-earth across the treacherous wastes of the Helcaraxë. The Valar allowed them to depart, but closed their land against any return, making them exiles from Aman. After long ages, the exile was relaxed, and the Noldor were allowed to return to the Blessed Realm. Among the last of these was Galadriel, who had been part of the ancient rebellion, but was forgiven at last because of her actions in the War of the Ring.

Other names

The Noldor who left Aman called themselves the Etyañgoldi ("Exiled Ñoldor") in Quenya, or simply the "Noldor" because few of their clan chose to remain in Aman. Although the exiled Noldor claimed that they were Amanyar ("Those of Aman"), in practice the term Amanyar came to refer to only those Elves who remained in Aman.[4] But unlike all other Elves of Middle-earth (except Thingol), the Exiles were counted among the Kalaquendi ("Light-elves") because they had experienced the light of the Two Trees of Valinor.[5]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "The Annals of Aman": §129-150
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "The Grey Annals": §52
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings (50th Anniv. Ed.), Appendix F, "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age", "Of the Elves", p. 1128
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: B. Meanings and use of the various terms applied to the Elves and their varieties in Quenya, Telerin, and Sindarin", pp. 374-375
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: B. Meanings and use of the various terms applied to the Elves and their varieties in Quenya, Telerin, and Sindarin", p. 373