Fingon: Difference between revisions

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m (Discussion of the three groups of the Nolder, and Finarfin's return)
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The history of Fingon is tightly interwoven with the events surrounding the murder of his father Finwë King by Melkor and the theft of the Silmarils. As a result of Melkor's taking the Silmarils, after leading the evil spider-being Ungoliant to kill the Two Trees of Valinor, Fëanor roused the Noldor to leave Aman and pursue Melkor to recover the stolen jewels.  Fëanor's hasty and ill-conceived plans were the result of his personal rage and loss, as was the terrible Oath of Feanor taken by him and his seven sons to revenge the taking of the Silmarils and to kill any who would withhold them from Fëanor, or his progeny, regardless their status, motives, or intentions.
The history of Fingon is tightly interwoven with the events surrounding the murder of his father Finwë King by Melkor and the theft of the Silmarils. As a result of Melkor's taking the Silmarils, after leading the evil spider-being Ungoliant to kill the Two Trees of Valinor, Fëanor roused the Noldor to leave Aman and pursue Melkor to recover the stolen jewels.  Fëanor's hasty and ill-conceived plans were the result of his personal rage and loss, as was the terrible Oath of Feanor taken by him and his seven sons to revenge the taking of the Silmarils and to kill any who would withhold them from Fëanor, or his progeny, regardless their status, motives, or intentions.


Fingon and Galadriel swore no Oath, but followed Fëanor in the march to Middle-earth for their own purposes, though they had little love for the Sons of Míriel; but desired to have their own domains to rule and enjoy as they saw fit.
Fingon and [[Galadriel]] swore no Oath, but followed Fëanor in the march to Middle-earth for their own purposes, though they had little love for the Sons of Míriel; but desired to have their own domains to rule and enjoy as they saw fit.


The House of Fingolfin, of which Fingon was the Elder Prince, had its own interests to protect, as the majority of the Nolder were in agreement to follow Fëanor to Middle-earth, they did not wish to follow Fëanor as their king. Many of the Noldor cared little for a blind, obsessed, pursuit of stolen jewels that were claimed by one who would only hide them away for his own keeping; and simply wanted to explore new lands and experience the wider World beyond the borders of Aman.  These Nolder held loyalty to Fingon, Fingolfin, Turgon, Finarfin, and others who had spoken out urging reflection, consideration, and discussion before taking such a sudden and percipitious course.  Their wise words fell on deaf ears and in the heat of the moment, fearing that to allow the time for due consideration would result in a different outcome, the emotional storm of Fëanor's anger and purpose won the day and the March of the Nolder began.
The House of Fingolfin, of which Fingon was the Elder Prince, had its own interests to protect, as the majority of the Nolder were in agreement to follow Fëanor to Middle-earth, they did not wish to follow Fëanor as their king. Many of the Noldor cared little for a blind, obsessed, pursuit of stolen jewels that were claimed by one who would only hide them away for his own keeping; and simply wanted to explore new lands and experience the wider World beyond the borders of Aman.  These Nolder held loyalty to Fingon, Fingolfin, Turgon, Finarfin, and others who had spoken out urging reflection, consideration, and discussion before taking such a sudden and percipitious course.  Their wise words fell on deaf ears and in the heat of the moment, fearing that to allow the time for due consideration would result in a different outcome, the emotional storm of Fëanor's anger and purpose won the day and the March of the Nolder began.


Fingon went with his uncle, Fëanor, and many of the Noldor from [[Aman]] to [[Middle-earth]] at the beginning of the [[First Age]]. When the Noldor decided to leave Aman under the heated urging of Fëanor they marched forth in three groups, the first group was led by Feanor with his kin and his closest friends and followers. Fingon led the second group, together with his two brothers, and the host mainly loyal to the House of Fingolfin. The third group followed some distance behind and included many Princes and leaders of the Noldor, including Galadriel, primarily those who followed Turgon.
Fingon went with his uncle, Fëanor, and many of the Noldor from [[Aman]] to [[Middle-earth]] at the beginning of the [[First Age]]. When the Noldor decided to leave Aman under the heated urging of Fëanor. They marched forth in three groups, the first group was led by Feanor with his kin and his closest friends and followers who made all haste, never looking back, in pursuit of Melkor, now named Morgoth by Fëanor after the murder of his father and the theft of the Silmarils.


A part of the latter groups, the members and followers of Finarfin, abandoned the march entirely and returned from whence they came, disenchanted with the foundering and hasty decision based on dubious motives and questionable goals.
Fingon led the second group, together with his two nephews, and the host mainly loyal to the House of Fingolfin. The third group followed some distance behind, led by [[Turgon]] and [[Finarfin]], and included many Princes and leaders of the Noldor, including Galadriel.
 
A part of the last group, the members and followers of Finarfin, abandoned the march entirely and returned from whence they came, disenchanted with the foundering and hasty decision based on dubious motives and questionable goals after coming upon the terrible kinslaying of the Teleri at Alqualondë.


Desiring a realm of her own, Galadriel continued with the third host to Middle-earth.
Desiring a realm of her own, Galadriel continued with the third host to Middle-earth.
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When the second group, with Fingon at its head, arrived in Alqualondë, the battle that was to be called the [[First Kinslaying]] had already been joined.
When the second group, with Fingon at its head, arrived in Alqualondë, the battle that was to be called the [[First Kinslaying]] had already been joined.


The armed vanguard of the second group of Noldor, led by Fingon, were faced with a situation of uncertain cause; regardless, their kin were engaged in a fierce fight and in need of aid, which Fingon, his brothers [[Angrod]] and [[Aegnor]], and his men-at-arms provided, enabling the Nolder to successfully steal the Teleri ships and make way for Middle-earth. Fingon's group, and the third and last group that arrived soon after (that included Galadriel) were soon to see their loyalty and valour betrayed by Feanor when the Swan Ships were set alight upon reaching Middle-earth rather than being sent back for those Noldor of the House of Fingolfin.  Feanor deemed those who had just saved him and his people from being slain as "useless".
The armed vanguard of the second group of Noldor, led by Fingon, were faced with a situation of uncertain cause; regardless, their kin were engaged in a fierce fight and in need of aid, which Fingon, his nephews [[Angrod]] and [[Aegnor]] the Sons of Finarfin, and his men-at-arms provided, enabling the Nolder to successfully steal the Teleri ships and make way for Middle-earth. Fingon's group, and the third and last group that arrived soon after (that included Galadriel, Finarfin's daughter and Fingon's neice) were soon to see their loyalty and valour betrayed by Feanor when the Swan Ships were set alight upon reaching Middle-earth rather than being sent back for those Noldor of the House of Fingolfin.  Feanor deemed those who had just saved him and his people from being slain as "useless".


Stung by Feanor's betrayal, the Curse of the Noldor, and the anger towards the Valar for pronouncing that Curse, the remaining two groups of Noldor elected to proceed northwards and cross the ice bridge to Middle-earth rather than return to Tirion in disgrace and defeat.  The fact that they were the recipients of many blessings and gifts from the Valar were far from their minds, now filled with pride and rivalry by Melkor's flagitious lies.
Stung by Feanor's betrayal, the Curse of the Noldor, and the anger towards the Valar for pronouncing that Curse, the remaining two groups of Noldor elected to proceed northwards and cross the ice bridge to Middle-earth rather than return to Tirion in disgrace and defeat.  The fact that they were the recipients of many blessings and gifts from the Valar were far from their minds, now filled with pride and rivalry by Melkor's flagitious lies.

Revision as of 21:48, 29 March 2018

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Fingon
Noldo
Anna Lee - Fingon.jpg
"Fingon" by Anna Lee
Biographical Information
Other namesFindekáno (Q, fn)
TitlesHigh King of the Noldor
LocationTirion; Dor-lómin
LanguageQuenya and Sindarin
Birthbetween Y.T. 1190 and 1300
Tirion
RuleF.A. 456 - 472
DeathF.A. 472
Anfauglith in Nirnaeth Arnoediad
Family
HouseHouse of Fingolfin
ParentageFingolfin & Anairë
SiblingsTurgon, Aredhel and Argon
Physical Description
GenderMale
Hair colorDark
WeaponryBow
GalleryImages of Fingon
" Of all the children of Finwe he is justly most renowned: for his valour was as a fire and yet as steadfast as the hills of stone; wise he was and skilled in voice and hand; truth and justice he loved and bore good will to all, both Elves and Men, hating Morgoth only; he sought not his own, neither power nor glory, and death was his reward."
The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Quenta Silmarillion"

Fingon (S, pron. [ˈfiŋɡon]; Years of the TreesFirst Age 472), called 'the Valiant' by Maedhros, was a High King of the Noldor in Beleriand during the First Age. He was the eldest son of Fingolfin, older brother of Turgon, Aredhel, and Argon.[note 1]

History

The history of Fingon is tightly interwoven with the events surrounding the murder of his father Finwë King by Melkor and the theft of the Silmarils. As a result of Melkor's taking the Silmarils, after leading the evil spider-being Ungoliant to kill the Two Trees of Valinor, Fëanor roused the Noldor to leave Aman and pursue Melkor to recover the stolen jewels. Fëanor's hasty and ill-conceived plans were the result of his personal rage and loss, as was the terrible Oath of Feanor taken by him and his seven sons to revenge the taking of the Silmarils and to kill any who would withhold them from Fëanor, or his progeny, regardless their status, motives, or intentions.

Fingon and Galadriel swore no Oath, but followed Fëanor in the march to Middle-earth for their own purposes, though they had little love for the Sons of Míriel; but desired to have their own domains to rule and enjoy as they saw fit.

The House of Fingolfin, of which Fingon was the Elder Prince, had its own interests to protect, as the majority of the Nolder were in agreement to follow Fëanor to Middle-earth, they did not wish to follow Fëanor as their king. Many of the Noldor cared little for a blind, obsessed, pursuit of stolen jewels that were claimed by one who would only hide them away for his own keeping; and simply wanted to explore new lands and experience the wider World beyond the borders of Aman. These Nolder held loyalty to Fingon, Fingolfin, Turgon, Finarfin, and others who had spoken out urging reflection, consideration, and discussion before taking such a sudden and percipitious course. Their wise words fell on deaf ears and in the heat of the moment, fearing that to allow the time for due consideration would result in a different outcome, the emotional storm of Fëanor's anger and purpose won the day and the March of the Nolder began.

Fingon went with his uncle, Fëanor, and many of the Noldor from Aman to Middle-earth at the beginning of the First Age. When the Noldor decided to leave Aman under the heated urging of Fëanor. They marched forth in three groups, the first group was led by Feanor with his kin and his closest friends and followers who made all haste, never looking back, in pursuit of Melkor, now named Morgoth by Fëanor after the murder of his father and the theft of the Silmarils.

Fingon led the second group, together with his two nephews, and the host mainly loyal to the House of Fingolfin. The third group followed some distance behind, led by Turgon and Finarfin, and included many Princes and leaders of the Noldor, including Galadriel.

A part of the last group, the members and followers of Finarfin, abandoned the march entirely and returned from whence they came, disenchanted with the foundering and hasty decision based on dubious motives and questionable goals after coming upon the terrible kinslaying of the Teleri at Alqualondë.

Desiring a realm of her own, Galadriel continued with the third host to Middle-earth.

When the second group, with Fingon at its head, arrived in Alqualondë, the battle that was to be called the First Kinslaying had already been joined.

The armed vanguard of the second group of Noldor, led by Fingon, were faced with a situation of uncertain cause; regardless, their kin were engaged in a fierce fight and in need of aid, which Fingon, his nephews Angrod and Aegnor the Sons of Finarfin, and his men-at-arms provided, enabling the Nolder to successfully steal the Teleri ships and make way for Middle-earth. Fingon's group, and the third and last group that arrived soon after (that included Galadriel, Finarfin's daughter and Fingon's neice) were soon to see their loyalty and valour betrayed by Feanor when the Swan Ships were set alight upon reaching Middle-earth rather than being sent back for those Noldor of the House of Fingolfin. Feanor deemed those who had just saved him and his people from being slain as "useless".

Stung by Feanor's betrayal, the Curse of the Noldor, and the anger towards the Valar for pronouncing that Curse, the remaining two groups of Noldor elected to proceed northwards and cross the ice bridge to Middle-earth rather than return to Tirion in disgrace and defeat. The fact that they were the recipients of many blessings and gifts from the Valar were far from their minds, now filled with pride and rivalry by Melkor's flagitious lies.

Fingon achieved renown soon after for his daring rescue of Maedhros from Thangorodrim. Fingolfin gave Fingon a domain in Dor-lómin, in the west of Hithlum, where he did good service during the Siege of Angband; defeating Orcs that attempted to go around to the north and attack Hithlum from the west, and then later the first to fight against the Dragon Glaurung when he first came forth from Angband.

Fingon became High King when Fingolfin died fighting Morgoth after the Dagor Bragollach ("Battle of Sudden Flame"). Seven years later, Morgoth's forces invaded Hithlum, and Fingon was hard-pressed and outnumbered, but rescued by Círdan and his people of the Falas, who came up the Firth of Drengist in their ships.

"Fingon and Gothmog" by Ted Nasmith

In the complex Nirnaeth Arnoediad ("Battle of Unnumbered Tears"), Fingon was nearly victorious; but in the end he was finally defeated, and then killed by Gothmog, lord of Balrogs with an axe after another Balrog bound him with its whip. So hated was he by Gothmog and his Dark Master that his body was entirely desecrated and, together with the blue and white flag of his House, was crushed into the earth where he had fallen until no trace save a bloody stain remained.

Turgon became by right the High King of the Noldor, although after the battle he returned to the secrecy of Gondolin.

Etymology

Fingon is the Sindarized version of his Quenya father-name, Findekáno. The latter consists of findë ("hair") + káno ("commander").[1][2]

Other Versions of the Legendarium

In the published The Silmarillion Fingon was the father of Gil-galad, but this was an editorial mistake by Christopher Tolkien, and is said "to have no wife or children". Argon does not appear in the published Silmarillion at all.

Genealogy

Míriel
d. Y.T. 1170
 
Finwë
d. Y.T. 1495
 
Indis
b. Y.T.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fëanor
Y.T. 1169 - 1497
 
Findis
b. Y.T.
 
Fingolfin
Y.T. 1190 - F.A. 456
 
Anairë
b. Y.T.
 
Írimë
b. Y.T.
 
Finarfin
b. Y.T. 1230
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FINGON
d. F.A. 472
 
Turgon
Y.T. 1300 - F.A. 510
 
Elenwë
d. Y.T. 1500
 
Aredhel
Y.T. 1362 - F.A. 400
 
Eöl
d. F.A. 400
 
Argon
d. F.A. 1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tuor
b. F.A. 472
 
Idril
b. Y.T.
 
 
 
 
 
Maeglin
F.A. 320 - 510
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eärendil
b. F.A. 503
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fingon
House of Fingolfin
Born: during the Years of the Trees Died: F.A. 472
Preceded by:
Fingolfin
High King of the Noldor
F.A. 456472
Followed by:
Turgon


Notes

  1. Argon only appears in very late writings by Tolkien as published in The History of Middle-earth, and is left out of the published The Silmarillion.

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", "The names of Finwë's descendants", p. 345
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 113