He was the first High King
of the Noldor in Beleriand. Refusing to abandon his people, he would
lead them through one of the most perilous journeys in history. His story would come
to a dramatic conclusion when he challenges Morgoth to single combat - striking fear
into the very heart of the dark lord. Today, on Nerd of the Rings, we cover
the life and travels of Fingolfin. In the Year of the Trees 1190, Fingolfin
is born to Finwe, the King of the Noldor, and his second wife Indis, their second child
and first son. In Noldorin, the name Fingolfin is said to mean “Magical Skill.” With his
first wife, Finwe had another son, Feanor. While Fingolfin would be the strongest and most
valiant of Finwe’s sons, Feanor was the greatest of all the Noldor, unmatched in his craftsmanship.
He was also greatly favored by their father. What began as a mere lack of a bond between the
brothers would become a heated rivalry. In the days of the two trees, as Melkor lives freely in
Valinor, he begins to sew lies among the Noldor. In addition to his lies to the elves in general
that the Valar were unjustly preventing them from traveling back to Middle-earth,
he also tells both Fingolfin and Feanor that the other was planning on driving
them from the elven city of Tirion. As Feanor begins to speak against the Valar,
Finwe calls a meeting to address the issue. As Fingolfin is attempting to convince his father
to restrain Feanor, the elder brother arrives… But even as Fingolfin spoke, Fëanor strode into
the chamber, and he was fully armed: his high helm upon his head, and at his side a mighty
sword. Then turning upon Fingolfin he drew his sword,
crying: ‘Get thee gone, and take thy due place!’ Feanor threatens the unarmed
Fingolfin, who bows to his father and makes to leave, only to be pursued by Feanor. Once again, Feanor threatens his brother,
placing his sword to Fingolfin’s chest. The valar attempt to make amends between the
brothers. While Fingolfin offers forgiveness for his brother, Feanor leaves without a word.
For his deeds, Feanor is banished to Formenos. Going with him are not only his family, but his
father as well. Thus Fingolfin rules over the Noldor remaining in Tirion during the coming
years. With the deception of Melkor revealed, the dark lord disappears from the realm -
traveling South to enlist the help of Ungoliant. In 1495, the Valar seek once again
to reconcile the brothers, as well as settle the festering hostility between
the elves and valar which Melkor had sowed. he met Fingolfin before the throne of
Manwë, and was reconciled, in word; and Fingolfin set at naught the unsheathing of the
sword. For Fingolfin held forth his hand, saying: Then Fëanor took his hand in silence; but Fingolfin said: In an effort to maintain peace among his people,
Fingolfin acknowledges Feanor as the heir of the Noldor and eldest of their family. During this
very feast, Melkor and Ungoliant destroy the two trees and travel to Formenos, where the
dark lord kills Finwe and steals Feanor’s silmarils. As they escape to the lands of
Beleriand, Valinor is covered in darkness. Hearing this news, Feanor gives an
impassioned speech, which reaps the lies Melkor had sewn - that the valar were holding them
back from lands of their own and that they should pursue Melkor across the world. The majority
of the Noldor are swayed by Feanor’s speech, and wish to cross the sea to Middle-earth.
Though Fingolfin believes this to be unwise, he also decides to leave - not out of a
desire to go, but rather for love of his people - for he would not abandon them
to the leadership and whims of Feanor. Feanor and his group of Noldor come to the
haven of Alqualonde, where they demand the Teleri elves to give them their ships. When the
Teleri refuse, Feanor and his people attack. Thus began the first kinslaying of elves killing
their fellow elves. While Feanor’s Noldor and the Teleri were pretty evenly matched,
the host of Fingolfin arrive at the havens and, misinterpreting the situation,
join the fight on the side of Feanor. With the Noldor having routed the Teleri,
Feanor and his people take the ships, sailing to Middle-earth, as Fingolfin’s host
waits for the ships to be returned for their use. Feanor’s eldest son Maedhros asks which
ships and rowers they would send back… Then Fëanor laughed as one fey, and he cried: This greatly troubles Maedhros, as he was close
friends with Fingolfin’s son, Fingon. Because the world is flat at this time, Fingolfin’s host
sees the flames from the burning of the ships. They now realize they are stranded, and
if they are to make it to Middle-earth, they must cross the great land bridge at
the north of the world - the Helcaraxe. Fingolfin takes on the leadership of this large
group of Noldor, which also includes his four children and the house of his younger brother
Finarfin, and his children Finrod, Angrod, Aegnor, and Galadriel. The journey
across the grinding ice was long and perilous. Many elves died in the passage,
including the wife of Fingolfin’s son Turgon. In the midst of the journey, the Valar create
the sun and the moon. At their first sight of the moon, the Noldor are filled with hope.
Little did they realize that by this time, Feanor is dead at the hands of Morgoth’s
balrogs, and the kingship has passed to Medhros. And as the sun rises for the first time (in
the west), Fingolfin’s host comes to the gate of Angband, Morgoth’s great fortress.
However, Morgoth stays hidden inside. Realizing they could not defeat
the Dark Lord in this manner, they track back to the west, coming to
the northern shores of Lake Mithrim. Learning that Maedhros had been captured by
Morgoth, Fingon sets out to rescue his cousin. With Thorondor, the lord of the great eagles,
they bear Maedhros from the place where he hung on the precipice of Thangorodrim. At a subsequent
council of the Noldor in Mithrim, and despite the objections of his brothers, Maedhros waives his
claim to the kingship. Thus Fingolfin becomes the first High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth.
He and his people settle in the lands of Hithlum, becoming a major force against
Morgoth in the north of Beleriand. In 60 FA, Morgoth launches an offensive, hoping
to catch the elves off guard as they are still settling in their new lands. However, the
elves were far more vigilant than Morgoth’s spies were led to believe. Fingolfin attacks
from the west and Maedhros from the east, and the orcs of Morgoth are utterly destroyed
in the Dagor Aglareb - the Glorious Battle. For the next 400 years of his rule, there would
be a great peace - the likes of which would never again come in the lands of Beleriand. In 422
FA, Fingolfin ponders a new assault upon Angband in effort to truly defeat Morgoth. However, most
of the Noldor, including the Sons of Feanor, were content with the state of siege and
hesitant about the cost of such an attack. Then, one winter’s night in 455 SA,
Morgoth sends out rivers of flame, consuming the lands of Ar-galen. Elves stationed
throughout the great plain were killed as the flame and smoke causes mass confusion.
From Angband, Morgoth sends out his forces, led by the first dragon Glaurung, and the fearsome
balrogs. Dorthonion is overrun, Fingolfin’s nephews, and Galadriel’s brothers Angrod and
Aegnor are killed along with a great many elves. Fingolfin and Finrod had marched with
a host to aid the elves of Dorthonion, but were driven back with heavy casualties. Now news came to Hithlum that Dorthonion was
lost and the sons of Finarfin overthrown, and that the sons of Fëanor were driven from
their lands. Then Fingolfin beheld (as it seemed to him) the utter ruin of the Noldor, and
the defeat beyond redress of all their houses; and filled with wrath and despair he mounted upon
Rochallor his great horse and rode forth alone, and none might restrain him. He passed over
Dor-nu-Fauglith like a wind amid the dust, and all that beheld his onset fled in
amaze, thinking that Oromë himself was come: for a great madness of rage was upon him, so
that his eyes shone like the eyes of the Valar. Thus he came alone to Angband’s gates, and he
sounded his horn, and smote once more upon the brazen doors, and challenged Morgoth to come
forth to single combat. And Morgoth came. Morgoth did not come willingly. He alone
of all the valar knew fear and this would be the last time he would issue forth from
his own gates. For he could not deny the challenge in front of his captains, and
is forced to answer Fingolfin’s call. Therefore Morgoth... issued forth clad in black
armour; and he stood before the King like a tower, iron-crowned, and his vast shield, sable
unblazoned, cast a shadow over him like a stormcloud. But Fingolfin gleamed beneath it as
a star; for his mail was overlaid with silver, and his blue shield was set with crystals; and he
drew his sword Ringil, that glittered like ice. Then Morgoth hurled aloft Grond, the Hammer of
the Underworld, and swung it down like a bolt of thunder. But Fingolfin sprang aside, and
Grond rent a mighty pit in the earth.... Many times Morgoth essayed to smite him,
and each time Fingolfin leaped away...; and he wounded Morgoth with seven wounds, and
seven times Morgoth gave a cry of anguish, whereat the hosts of Angband fell upon their faces
in dismay, and the cries echoed in the Northlands. But at the last the King grew weary, and
Morgoth bore down his shield upon him. Thrice he was crushed to his knees, and thrice
arose again and bore up his broken shield and stricken helm. But the earth was all...
pitted about him, and he stumbled and fell backward before the feet of Morgoth; and
Morgoth set his left foot upon his neck.... Yet with his last and desperate stroke
Fingolfin hewed the foot with Ringil, and the blood gushed forth black and
smoking and filled the pits of Grond. Thus died Fingolfin, High King of the Noldor, most proud and valiant of the Elven-kings of old.
The Orcs made no boast of that duel at the gate; neither do the Elves sing of it,
for their sorrow is too deep. Fingolfin falls at the hands of the dark lord, yet
he would leave great wounds upon Morgoth’s foot that would never heal. From that day forward, the
dark lord would limp because of the High King. While Morgoth would surely have
desecrated the body of Fingolfin, he was not given the chance. Thorondor
comes again to the dark fortress, scratching Morgoth across the face
as he rescues Fingolfin’s body. He bears the high king to the secret
city of his son Turgon. And there, upon a Mountaintop overlooking Gondolin, Turgon raises a cairn over the body of the
most valiant of the elven-kings of old. as always i want to say a huge thank you to my
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