High King of the Noldor: Difference between revisions

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'''High King of the Noldor''' was the title given to the head of the [[House of Finwë]] in [[Middle-earth]], having overlordship over all the [[Noldor]]in realms. The title was mostly nominal; the [[House of Fëanor]], in particular, while they acknowledged the Kingship, paid its bearer little heed, following their own agenda under the general leadership of [[Maedhros]].
'''High King of the Noldor''' was the title given to the head of the [[House of Finwë]] in [[Middle-earth]], having overlordship over all the [[Noldor]]in realms. The title was mostly nominal; the [[House of Fëanor]], in particular, while they acknowledged the Kingship, paid its bearer little heed, following their own agenda under the general leadership of [[Maedhros]].


==History==
==Earlier Kings==
===Earlier Kings===
{{main|King of the Noldor}}
[[File:Jenny Dolfen - The Rescue of Maedhros.jpg|thumb|''The Rescue of Maedhros'' by [[Jenny Dolfen]]]]
[[File:Jenny Dolfen - The Rescue of Maedhros.jpg|thumb|''The Rescue of Maedhros'' by [[Jenny Dolfen]]]]
The forefather of the [[House of Finwë]], and first '''[[King of the Noldor]]''' was [[Finwë]], the first lord of the [[Tatyar]] who led his people in the [[Great Journey]] from [[Cuiviénen]] into [[Aman|the West]] to dwell in [[Valinor]]. He was slain by [[Morgoth]] at [[Formenos]].  
The forefather of the [[House of Finwë]], and first '''[[King of the Noldor]]''' was [[Finwë]], the first lord of the [[Tatyar]] who led his people in the [[Great Journey]] from [[Cuiviénen]] into [[Aman|the West]] to dwell in [[Valinor]]. He was slain by [[Morgoth]] at [[Formenos]].  
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After [[Fingon]] saved his life, in gratitude (and regretting that his father had abandoned the other Noldor in [[Araman]]) Maedhros passed his titles to Fingon's father, Fingolfin, saying: "''If there lay no grievance between us, lord, still the kingship would rightly come to you, the eldest here of the house of Finwë, and not the least wise.''" Thus the Kingship passed from the [[House of Fëanor]] to the [[House of Fingolfin]] (fulfilling the [[Doom of Mandos]] that the [[Sons of Fëanor]] would become the ''Dispossessed'') and the two Houses made peace. However, not all of the seven brothers accepted this in their hearts.<ref>{{S|Return}}</ref>
After [[Fingon]] saved his life, in gratitude (and regretting that his father had abandoned the other Noldor in [[Araman]]) Maedhros passed his titles to Fingon's father, Fingolfin, saying: "''If there lay no grievance between us, lord, still the kingship would rightly come to you, the eldest here of the house of Finwë, and not the least wise.''" Thus the Kingship passed from the [[House of Fëanor]] to the [[House of Fingolfin]] (fulfilling the [[Doom of Mandos]] that the [[Sons of Fëanor]] would become the ''Dispossessed'') and the two Houses made peace. However, not all of the seven brothers accepted this in their hearts.<ref>{{S|Return}}</ref>


===High Kingship in Middle-earth===
==History==
====In Beleriand====
===In Beleriand===
'''[[Fingolfin]]''' became the first High King of the Noldor, ruling from [[Hithlum]] with his [[Fingon|son]], mostly during the [[Siege of Angband]]. When Morgoth broke the leaguer in the [[Dagor Bragollach]], he rode in anger to the gates of [[Angband]] and died in single combat with Morgoth.  
'''[[Fingolfin]]''' became the first High King of the Noldor, ruling from [[Hithlum]], mostly during the [[Siege of Angband]] as the "King of the North". When Morgoth broke the leaguer in the [[Dagor Bragollach]], he rode in anger to the gates of [[Angband]] and died in single combat with Morgoth.<ref name=Ruin>{{S|18}}</ref>


Fingolfin was succeeded by his eldest son '''[[Fingon]]''' who reigned during an endless war. With Maedhros, he [[Union of Maedhros|prepared]] a [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad|final assault]] on Morgoth, which ended in disaster for the Noldor and Fingon's own death, after a short rule.  
Fingolfin was succeeded by his eldest son '''[[Fingon]]''' who reigned during an endless war. With Maedhros, he [[Union of Maedhros|prepared]] a [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad|final assault]] on Morgoth, which ended in disaster for the Noldor and Fingon's own death, after a short rule.  
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Following Turgon's death in the [[Fall of Gondolin]], there were no more extant Noldorin realms in Beleriand; the Kingship passed to the [[House of Finarfin]]. The son of [[Orodreth]], the young '''[[Gil-galad|Ereinon Gil-galad]]''', was named High King at the [[Havens of Sirion]] once news of Turgon's death had spread.<ref>{{S|23}}</ref> Seeing the end of the [[War of the Jewels]], Gil-galad held the Kingship throughout the [[Second Age]], longer than any of his forebears.  
Following Turgon's death in the [[Fall of Gondolin]], there were no more extant Noldorin realms in Beleriand; the Kingship passed to the [[House of Finarfin]]. The son of [[Orodreth]], the young '''[[Gil-galad|Ereinon Gil-galad]]''', was named High King at the [[Havens of Sirion]] once news of Turgon's death had spread.<ref>{{S|23}}</ref> Seeing the end of the [[War of the Jewels]], Gil-galad held the Kingship throughout the [[Second Age]], longer than any of his forebears.  


====In the Westlands====
===In the Westlands===
After the cataclysmic [[War of Wrath]] that ended the [[First Age]], the surviving [[Noldor]] who did not depart for the [[Undying Lands]] established the realms of [[Lindon]] and later [[Eregion]] in northwestern Middle-earth. In Lindon, Gil-galad was acknowledged as the "High King of the Elves of the West".<ref>{{App|B}}</ref> He was the chief enemy of [[Sauron]] in the [[Dark Years]], at the end of which he appointed Elrond as his vice-regent in [[Eriador]].<ref>{{UT|Galadriel}}</ref> He formed the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]] with [[Elendil]], being the commander of almost all of the Elven forces who fought in that [[War of the Last Alliance|War]].<ref>{{UT|6b}}</ref> and died during the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]] at the end of the [[Second Age]].  
After the cataclysmic [[War of Wrath]] that ended the [[First Age]], the surviving [[Noldor]] who did not depart for the [[Undying Lands]] established the realms of [[Lindon]] and later [[Eregion]] in northwestern Middle-earth. In Lindon, Gil-galad was acknowledged as the "High King of the Elves of the West".<ref>{{App|B}}</ref> He was the chief enemy of [[Sauron]] in the [[Dark Years]], at the end of which he appointed Elrond as his vice-regent in [[Eriador]].<ref>{{UT|Galadriel}}</ref> He formed the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]] with [[Elendil]], being the commander of almost all of the Elven forces who fought in that [[War of the Last Alliance|War]].<ref>{{UT|6b}}</ref> and died during the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]] at the end of the [[Second Age]].  


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==List of High Kings==
==List of High Kings==
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#'''[[Fingolfin]]''' (ruled from {{FA|7}} - {{FA|456|n}})
#'''[[Fingolfin]]''' (ruled from {{FA|7}} - {{FA|456|n}})
# '''[[Fingon]]''' (ruled from {{FA|456}} - {{FA|472|n}})
# '''[[Fingon]]''' (ruled from {{FA|456}} - {{FA|472|n}})

Revision as of 21:05, 30 November 2020

The name High King refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see High King (disambiguation).
The Realms of the Noldor and the Sindar by Christopher Tolkien

High King of the Noldor was the title given to the head of the House of Finwë in Middle-earth, having overlordship over all the Noldorin realms. The title was mostly nominal; the House of Fëanor, in particular, while they acknowledged the Kingship, paid its bearer little heed, following their own agenda under the general leadership of Maedhros.

Earlier Kings

Main article: King of the Noldor
The Rescue of Maedhros by Jenny Dolfen

The forefather of the House of Finwë, and first King of the Noldor was Finwë, the first lord of the Tatyar who led his people in the Great Journey from Cuiviénen into the West to dwell in Valinor. He was slain by Morgoth at Formenos.

His eldest son Fëanor succeeded to the kingship and led the Rebellion of the Noldor back to Middle-earth to avenge his father's death and recover the Silmarils from Morgoth.[1] Fëanor died before establishing a realm and the Kingship by right belonged to his eldest son Maedhros who was captured by Morgoth.

After Fingon saved his life, in gratitude (and regretting that his father had abandoned the other Noldor in Araman) Maedhros passed his titles to Fingon's father, Fingolfin, saying: "If there lay no grievance between us, lord, still the kingship would rightly come to you, the eldest here of the house of Finwë, and not the least wise." Thus the Kingship passed from the House of Fëanor to the House of Fingolfin (fulfilling the Doom of Mandos that the Sons of Fëanor would become the Dispossessed) and the two Houses made peace. However, not all of the seven brothers accepted this in their hearts.[2]

History

In Beleriand

Fingolfin became the first High King of the Noldor, ruling from Hithlum, mostly during the Siege of Angband as the "King of the North". When Morgoth broke the leaguer in the Dagor Bragollach, he rode in anger to the gates of Angband and died in single combat with Morgoth.[3]

Fingolfin was succeeded by his eldest son Fingon who reigned during an endless war. With Maedhros, he prepared a final assault on Morgoth, which ended in disaster for the Noldor and Fingon's own death, after a short rule.

Fingon's brother Turgon succeeded Fingon nominally, but his kingship was titular at the least, as it was not possible for the "Hidden King" to rule from his Hidden City, the location of which was unknown by even his own kin. That was until Gondolin's location was discovered by Morgoth through the treachery of Maeglin.

Following Turgon's death in the Fall of Gondolin, there were no more extant Noldorin realms in Beleriand; the Kingship passed to the House of Finarfin. The son of Orodreth, the young Ereinon Gil-galad, was named High King at the Havens of Sirion once news of Turgon's death had spread.[4] Seeing the end of the War of the Jewels, Gil-galad held the Kingship throughout the Second Age, longer than any of his forebears.

In the Westlands

After the cataclysmic War of Wrath that ended the First Age, the surviving Noldor who did not depart for the Undying Lands established the realms of Lindon and later Eregion in northwestern Middle-earth. In Lindon, Gil-galad was acknowledged as the "High King of the Elves of the West".[5] He was the chief enemy of Sauron in the Dark Years, at the end of which he appointed Elrond as his vice-regent in Eriador.[6] He formed the Last Alliance with Elendil, being the commander of almost all of the Elven forces who fought in that War.[7] and died during the Siege of Barad-dûr at the end of the Second Age.

Gil-galad was the last High King for he fathered no children; however, the line of the High-elven kings, including the High Kingship of the Noldor, was alone preserved in the descendants of Elros and Elrond.[8]

List of High Kings

  1. Fingolfin (ruled from F.A. 7 - 456)
  2. Fingon (ruled from F.A. 456 - 472)
  3. Turgon (ruled from F.A. 472 - 510)
  4. Ereinion Gil-galad (ruled from F.A. 510 - S.A. 3441)

Other versions of the legendarium

In the published version of The Silmarillion, Gil-galad is said to be the son of Fingon.[9] However, in some of Tolkien's later notes, Gil-galad is said to be the son of Orodreth and thus a junior member of the House of Finarfin,[10] and Turgon's closest living relative in the male line (excluding the dispossessed House of Fëanor). Turgon's claim to the title of High King would be problematic if Gil-galad were descended from Fingon, but the issue is resolved through descent from Orodreth, which may explain the change.

See also

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Darkening of Valinor"
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Return of the Noldor"
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin"
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin"
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B: The Tale of Years (Chronology of the Westlands)
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn"
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", "Appendix B: The Sindarin Princes of the Silvan Elves"
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Númenor"
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin"
  10. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", "The parentage of Gil-galad"
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