Fingolfin

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Fingolfin
Noldo
Jenny Dolfen - The Coming of Fingolfin.jpg
Biographical Information
TitlesHigh King of the Noldor
Birthc. Y.T. 1190, Tirion
DeathF.A. 456, the year after Dagor Bragollach (aged 3,400+)
Family
ParentageFinwë and Indis
SpouseAnairë
ChildrenFingon, Turgon, Aredhel, Argon
Physical Description
GenderMale
Hair colorDark
GalleryImages of Fingolfin

Fingolfin (S, pron. [fiŋˈɡolfin]) was a High King of the Noldor in Beleriand, eldest son of Finwë and Indis, younger brother of Findis, older brother of Irimë and Finarfin, and the younger half-brother of Fëanor. His wife was Anairë and his children were Fingon, Turgon, Aredhel, and Argon.

History

Fingolfin led the largest host of the Ñoldor when they fled Aman for Middle-earth, even though he thought this unwise; he did not want to abandon his people to Fëanor. He was the one who took them across the ice of the Helcaraxë, and soon after, at the rising of the Sun, he came to the Gates of Angband and smote upon them, but Morgoth stayed hidden inside. Fingolfin and the Noldor then came to the northern shores of Lake Mithrim, from which the Fëanorian part of the host had withdrawn.

His son Fingon rescued Maedhros, son of Fëanor, who consequently waived his claim to kingship. Thus Fingolfin became High-King of the Noldor. He ruled from Hithlum, by the northern shores of Lake Mithrim.

After defeating the Orcs in the Dagor Aglareb ("Glorious Battle"), Fingolfin maintained the Siege of Angband for nearly four hundred years. But the Siege was ended by the sudden assaults of Morgoth in the Dagor Bragollach ("Battle of Sudden Flame"), and many peoples of Beleriand fled. In the end Fingolfin rode to Angband alone to challenge Morgoth to single combat, and there died after a mighty duel, wounding Morgoth seven times with his sword Ringil. Thorondor the King of Eagles then brought Fingolfin's body to a mountaintop overlooking Gondolin, and Turgon built a cairn over the remains of his father.

"In that vast shadow once of yore
Fingolfin stood: his shield he bore
with field of heaven’s blue and star
of crystal shining pale afar.
In overmastering wrath and hate
desperate he smote upon that gate,
the Gnomish king, there standing lone,
while endless fortresses of stone
engulfed the thin clear ringing keen
of silver horn and baldric green.
"
Lay of Leithian, Canto XII, lines 3538-3547

Fingon then became High King of the Noldor.

Etymology

Fingolfin's father-name was Ñolofinwë (Q: "Wise Finwë", pron. N [ˌŋoloˈfinwe], V [ˌŋoloˈɸinwe], TA Exilic [ˌnoloˈfinwe]). His mother-name was Aracáno ("High Chieftain", pron. [ˌaraˈkaːno]). Fingolfin is the Sindarin form of his father-name, with the word Finwë added to the beginning. The addition was done by Fingolfin himself in pursuance of his claim to be High King of the Noldor after his father's death [1]

Genealogy


 
Míriel
 
 
 
Finwë
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Indis
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fëanor
 
Findis
 
 
 
 
 
Irimë
 
Finarfin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FINGOLFIN
 
 
 
Anairë
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fingon
 
Elenwë
 
Turgon
 
Aredhel
 
Eöl
 
Argon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tuor
 
Idril
 
 
 
 
 
Maeglin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eärendil
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Inflection

Template:Qya-decl-e Template:Qya-decl-o
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See Also

Preceded by:
Fëanor
3rd High King of the Noldor
I 1 – 456
Followed by:
Fingon

References

  1. The History of Middle-earth XII: The Peoples of Middle-earth, "The Shibboleth of Fëanor"