Fingon

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Fingon
Noldo
Anna Lee - Fingon.jpg
"Fingon" by Anna Lee
Biographical Information
Other namesFindekáno (Q, fn)
TitlesHigh King of the Noldor
LocationTirion; Dor-lómin
LanguageQuenya and Sindarin
Birthbetween Y.T. 1190 and 1300
Tirion
RuleF.A. 456 - 472
DeathF.A. 472
Anfauglith in Nirnaeth Arnoediad
Family
HouseHouse of Fingolfin
ParentageFingolfin & Anairë
SiblingsTurgon, Aredhel and Argon
Physical Description
GenderMale
Hair colorDark
WeaponryBow
GalleryImages of Fingon
" Of all the children of Finwe he is justly most renowned: for his valour was as a fire and yet as steadfast as the hills of stone; wise he was and skilled in voice and hand; truth and justice he loved and bore good will to all, both Elves and Men, hating Morgoth only; he sought not his own, neither power nor glory, and death was his reward."
The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Quenta Silmarillion"

Fingon (S, pron. [ˈfiŋɡon]; Years of the TreesFirst Age 472), called 'the Valiant' by Maedhros, was a High King of the Noldor in Beleriand during the First Age. He was the eldest son of Fingolfin, older brother of Turgon, Aredhel, and Argon.[note 1]

History

Fingon went with his father and people from Aman to Beleriand at the beginning of the First Age. Eldest of the sons of Fingolfin, he was already of high repute among the Noldor, being dubbed "The Valiant" by his half first cousin and friend Maedhros before the war against Morgoth had begun. Despite the protests of Maedhros he was left behind with the rest of Fingolfin and Finarfin's people when Feanor returned to Middle-Earth. With his people he passed the Helcaraxë and came to Middle-Earth himself. It was Fingon who restored the relationship among the houses of the Noldor; hearing of Maedhros's imprisonment he went alone to Thangorodrim to search for him. In defiance of Morgoth he played his harp and sang a song of Valinor, finding Maedhros when the latter sang in response. With Thorondor he rescued Maedhros and achieved great renown. Fingolfin gave Fingon a domain in Dor-lómin, in the west of Hithlum, where he did good service during the Siege of Angband; defeating Orcs that attempted to go around to the north and attack Hithlum from the west, and then later the first to fight against the Dragon Glaurung when he first came forth from Angband.

Fingon became High King when Fingolfin died fighting Morgoth after the Dagor Bragollach ("Battle of Sudden Flame"). Seven years later, Morgoth's forces invaded Hithlum, and Fingon was hard-pressed and outnumbered, but rescued by Círdan and his people of the Falas, who came up the Firth of Drengist in their ships. During this time Fingon's people became closely allied with the Men of the house of Hador.

In the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Fingon was nearly victorious; but in the end he was finally defeated, and then killed by Gothmog, lord of Balrogs with an axe after another Balrog bound him with its whip.

Etymology

Fingon is the Sindarized version of his Quenya father-name, Findekáno. The latter consists of findë ("hair") + káno ("commander").[1][2]

Other Versions of the Legendarium

In the published The Silmarillion Fingon was the father of Gil-galad, but this was an editorial mistake by Christopher Tolkien, and is said "to have no wife or children". Argon does not appear in the published Silmarillion at all.

Genealogy

Míriel
d. Y.T. 1170
 
Finwë
d. Y.T. 1495
 
Indis
b. Y.T.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fëanor
Y.T. 1169 - 1497
 
Findis
b. Y.T.
 
Fingolfin
Y.T. 1190 - F.A. 456
 
Anairë
b. Y.T.
 
Írimë
b. Y.T.
 
Finarfin
b. Y.T. 1230
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FINGON
d. F.A. 472
 
Turgon
Y.T. 1300 - F.A. 510
 
Elenwë
d. Y.T. 1500
 
Aredhel
Y.T. 1362 - F.A. 400
 
Eöl
d. F.A. 400
 
Argon
d. F.A. 1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tuor
b. F.A. 472
 
Idril
b. Y.T.
 
 
 
 
 
Maeglin
F.A. 320 - 510
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eärendil
b. F.A. 503
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fingon
House of Fingolfin
Born: during the Years of the Trees Died: F.A. 472
Preceded by:
Fingolfin
High King of the Noldor
F.A. 456472
Followed by:
Turgon


Notes

  1. Argon only appears in very late writings by Tolkien as published in The History of Middle-earth, and is left out of the published The Silmarillion.

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", "The names of Finwë's descendants", p. 345
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 113