Fingon

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Fingon (Years of the Trees – First Age 472) 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 Argon¹.

History

Alone he set forth by Jenny Dolfen

Fingon went with his father and people from Aman to Middle-earth at the beginning of the First Age. He 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.

In the Nirnaeth Arnoediad ("Battle of Unnumbered Tears"), Fingon was nearly victorious; but at the end he was killed by Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs.

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

Other Versions of the Legendarium

In the published 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.

Etymology

Fingon's father-name was Findekáno (Quenya for "Skilled Hero"). Fingon is the Sindarin version of his father-name.

Genealogy

      Fingolfin = Anairë
                |
    ____________|_____________
   |        |        |        |
   |        |        |        |
FINGON   Turgon   Aredhel   Argon1

Preceded by: Fingolfin

High King of the Noldor I 456 – 472

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.