Curufin

From Tolkien Gateway
Curufin
Noldo
File:Alan Michael - His Father's Son.jpg
Biographical Information
TitlesA lord of Himlad (under Celegorm his brother)
BirthSometime during YOTT, Tirion
DeathFA 505 (aged 650+)
Family
ParentageFëanor + Nerdanel
SpouseUnknown
ChildrenCelebrimbor
Physical Description
GenderMale
Hair colorBlack
GalleryImages of Curufin

Curufin (Years of the TreesFirst Age 505) was the fifth of the seven sons of Fëanor and Nerdanel. Curufin was Fëanor's favorite and much like him in appearance, temperament, and skill. Curufin was also the father of Celebrimbor, master jewel-smith of Eregion, who forged the three Elvish Rings of Power.

History

Flight of the Noldor

As with the other Sons of Fëanor, Curufin was bound by an oath to recover his father's Silmarils, which had been stolen by the Dark Lord Morgoth. The Oath took him and his brothers to Middle-earth during the First Age where they established realms in exile, waged war against the armies of Morgoth, fought their own Elvish kind, and eventually brought ruin upon themselves.

In Beleriand

He dwelt with his brother Celegorm in Himlad, a pass that led into Kingdom of Doriath, which the two brothers fortified and held until the Dagor Bragollach. Following the battle, the two brothers were defeated and had to flee with their people to Nargothrond, where their cousin Finrod welcomed them.

Shortly after, Beren also came to Nargothrond to collect on an oath Finrod had made to his ancestor. Finrod decided to help Beren, but Celegorm and Curufin, remembering their own oath, persuaded the people of Nargothrond not to follow him, and not to wage open war against Morgoth, making them fearful.

Finrod therefore had to leave with a handful of warriors, including Beren, and later died. His nephew Orodreth was made to rule in his stead.

Fall into Wickedness

Later, Curufin and Celegorm went hunting with Celegorm's hound Huan and found Lúthien, daughter of Thingol, searching for Beren. Feigning to help her, they took her captive and brought her to Nargothrond, for Celegorm had become enamoured and would have Thingol give him her hand. However Huan helped Lúthien to flee, and they freed Beren and other thralls from Sauron. As these thralls returned, the people of Nargothrond perceived the two brother's treachery, and though Orodreth would not let them be slain, he cast them from Nargothrond.

The two brothers met Lúthien and Beren as they fled, and Curufin fought with the latter. Defeated, he had to flee with Celegorm, but sought to slay Lúthien even as he did, and shot Beren instead.

Because of Celegorm and Curufin's wicked deeds, Thingol and Orodreth would not lend join the Union of Maedhros against Morgoth.

Death

Curufin fell in the Second Kinslaying, when the Sons of Fëanor attacked Doriath to seize a Silmaril in the possession of the King Dior the Beautiful. As is perhaps fitting, his brother Celegorm died with him during the assault.

Etymology

Curufin's father-name was Curufinwë ("Skillful [son of] Finwë"), the same father-name given to Fëanor. Because Curufin was Fëanor's favorite son, he chose to give him the same name. His mother-name was Atarinkë ("Little Father"), choosen because of his physical resemblance to his father. The name Curufin is the Sindarin version of his father-name. It is stated in The Shibboleth of Fëanor that of all the Sons of Fëanor only Curufin did not prefer to use his mother-name.

Genealogy

           Finwë = Míriel
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              Fëanor = Nerdanel
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    _________________|________________________________________________
   |          |          |           |           |          |         |
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Maedhros    Maglor   Celegorm    Caranthir    CURUFIN     Amrod     Amras
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                                            Celebrimbor