Fingon

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Fingon
Noldo
Anna Lee - Fingon.jpg
Biographical Information
Other namesFindekáno (Q, fn)
TitlesHigh King of the Noldor
LocationTirion; Dor-lómin
LanguageQuenya and Sindarin
BirthDuring Years of the Trees
Tirion
RuleF.A. 455 - 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
Fingon
Tengwar, Mode of Beleriand

Fingon (S, pron. [ˈfiŋɡon]; Years of the Trees 1280 – First Age 472, aged approx. 2,580 years), 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 Middle-earth at the beginning of the First Age. He achieved renown soon after for his daring rescue of Maedhros from Thangorodrim. 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.

In the complex Nirnaeth Arnoediad ("Battle of Unnumbered Tears"), Fingon was nearly victorious; but in the end he was finally defeated, and then killed by Gothmog, lord of Balrogs.

Turgon became by right the High King of the Noldor, although after the battle he returned to the secrecy of Gondolin.

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
 
Finwë
 
Indis
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fëanor
 
Findis
 
Fingolfin
 
Anairë
 
Írimë
 
Finarfin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FINGON
 
Turgon
 
Elenwë
 
Aredhel
 
Eöl
 
Argon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tuor
 
Idril
 
 
 
 
 
Maeglin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eärendil
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Preceded by:
Fingolfin
4th High King of the Noldor
I 455 – 472
Followed by:
Turgon

See Also

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