Sons of Fëanor

From Tolkien Gateway
Sons of Feanor by Tuuliky

The Sons of Fëanor were the seven Noldorin Elves Maedhros, Maglor, Celegorm, Caranthir, Curufin, Amrod and Amras.[1] They took the Oath of Fëanor with their father,[2] and pursued it after his death in the Dagor-nuin-Giliath.[3] They led a scarce part of the exiled Noldor and held lands in East Beleriand, with Maedhros and Maglor holding the immediate passes south of Lothlann, and the other brothers ruling lands behind their guard to the south. Their Sindarin names are the ones usually given.

History[edit | edit source]

After the Darkening of Valinor, Fëanor and his sons swore the terrible Oath of Fëanor, vowing to retrieve the Silmarils from anyone that would withhold them. The Sons of Fëanor followed their father out of Valinor and into Middle-earth along with their following of Noldor.[2] They took part in the Dagor-nuin-Giliath, in which Fëanor was mortally wounded. Soon after, Maedhros was captured by Morgoth. Following his rescue by Fingon, Maedhros waived his claim to kingship over the Noldor, and it passed to the House of Fingolfin. Thereafter the House of Fëanor was called the Dispossessed, as Mandos had predicted.[3]

The Sons of Fëanor and their followers settled in East Beleriand defending the open region which was named the March of Maedhros. Maedhros made his fortress upon Himring, Celegorm and Curufin held the Pass of Aglon, Maglor defended the land between the northern arms of Gelion, Caranthir and his folk moved to Thargelion which was thenceforth also called Dor Caranthir and Amrod and Amras dwelt in the woods south of the March.[4] Fëanor's sons were in general allied with the other Elves of Beleriand against the power of Morgoth and helped besiege Angband until the Dagor Bragollach.

After the recovery of one of the Great Jewels by Beren and Lúthien the Oath of their father came into action. Maedhros saw that Morgoth was indeed assailable, and set out to unite the peoples of Beleriand under the Union of Maedhros. Little aid came from Doriath and Nargothrond because of the earlier deeds of the Sons of Fëanor The Union was ended in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, leaving the Sons of Fëanor scattered and defeated.[5]

The Oath of Fëanor was roused once more when the Fëanorians learned that the Silmaril of Beren and Lúthien was now in the possession of their son Dior. They attacked Dior in Doriath, and Celegorm, Curufin, and Caranthir were slain in the conflict, but they gained not the Silmaril, for Elwing escaped with it and fled to the Mouths of Sirion.[6] After a time, tidings of Elwing's dwelling reached Maedhros, and, tormented by their Oath, he and his remaining brothers sent messages to the Havens requesting the Silmaril. But Elwing refused to surrender the Jewel, and the Sons of Fëanor attacked her and the Elves of Sirion. Maedhros and Maglor had the victory, but both Amrod and Amras were slain. Elwing flung herself into the Sea with the Silmaril and brought it to Eärendil, who bore it into the West. The sons of Eärendil and Elwing, Elros and Elrond, were captured by the two brothers but Maglor grew to love them and fostered them.[7]

At the time of the War of Wrath, only Maedhros and Maglor remained. They stole the last two Silmarils from the camp of Eönwë, but their evil deeds in recovering them meant that the hallowed Jewels rejected their claimants, and their hands were burned. Maedhros in anguish threw himself into a fiery fissure, and Maglor in despair cast his Jewel into the Great Sea.[7]

The Sons[edit | edit source]

Feanor and his family by Lída Holubová
  1. Maedhros the Tall - his father-name was Nelyafinwë ("Finwë the Third") and his mother-name was Maitimo ("Well-shaped One"). He gave up the High Kingship because of his rescue by Fingon son of Fingolfin.
  2. Maglor the Minstrel - his father-name was Kanafinwë ("Strong-voiced Finwë") and his mother-name was Makalaurë ("Forging Gold" meant in the poetic sense).
  3. Celegorm the Fair - his father-name was Turcafinwë ("Strong Bodied Finwë") and his mother-name was Tyelcormo ("Hasty-Riser").
  4. Caranthir the Dark - his father-name was Morifinwë ("Dark[-haired] Finwë") because of his dark hair, and his mother name was Carnistir ("Red-faced") because of his ruddy complexion.
  5. Curufin the Crafty - his father-name was Curufinwë ("Skillful Finwë"), the same name as Fëanor. His mother-name was Atarinkë ("Little Father"). He was the father of Celebrimbor, maker of the Rings of Power.
  6. Amrod - his father-name was Pityafinwë ("Little Finwë") and his mother name was Ambarussa ("Top-russet").
  7. Amras - his father-name was Telufinwë ("Last Finwë") and though his mother-name was originally Ambarussa, his father insisted on naming him seperately. His mother gave him the name Umbarto ("The Fated"), but Fëanor changed it to Ambarto ("Upwards-exalted"), disturbed by the ominous name.

Birth and presentation order[edit | edit source]

Source Order Specified?
The Silmarillion, pp. 97, 131 Maedhros, Maglor, Celegorm, Caranthir, Curufin, Amrod, Amras Amrod and Amras youngest and twins
The Silmarillion, Index of Names Maedhros, Maglor, Celegorm, Caranthir, Curufin, Amrod, Amras Specific birth order specified as listed
The Book of Lost Tales: Part Two, p. 317 Maidros, Maglor, Dinithel, Damrod, Celegorm, Cranthor, Curufin No
Lays of Beleriand, p. 124 Curufin, Celegorm, Damrod, Díriel, Cranthir, Maglor, Maidros Maidros as the eldest
Lays of Beleriand, p. 191 Curufin, Celegorm, Damrod, Díriel, Cranthir, Maidros, Maglor No
The Shaping of Middle-earth, p. 13 Maidros, Maglor, Curufin, Celegorm, Cranthir, Damrod, Díriel No
The Shaping of Middle-earth, p. 17 Maidros, Maglor, Celegorm, Curufin, Damrod, Díriel, Cranthir Maidros as the eldest
The Shaping of Middle-earth, p. 54 Maidros, Maglor, Celegorm, Curufin, Cranthir, Damrod, Díriel Damrod and Díriel as last
The Lost Road, p. 102 Maidros, Maglor, Celegorm, Curufin, Cranthir, Damrod, Díriel No
The Lost Road, p. 177 Maidros, Maglor, Celegorn, Cranthir, Curufin, Damrod, Díriel, Damrod and Díriel are twins and the youngest
Morgoth's Ring, p. 159 Maidros, Maglor, Celegorn, Curufin, Cranthir, Damrod, Díriel No
Morgoth's Ring, p. 244 Maidros, Maglor, Celegorn, Cranthir, Curufin, Damrod, Díriel Damrod and Díriel are the youngest
The Peoples of Middle-earth, p. 435 Maedros, Maglor, Celegorm, Curufin, Caranthir, Amrod, Amras Curufin specified as being the fourth son (p. 442)

Amrod and Amras as youngest and twins

See also[edit | edit source]

References