Finwë
| Finwë | |
|---|---|
| Noldo | |
| File:Finwe.jpg | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Titles | High King of the Noldor |
| Birth | Early Y.T., Cuiviénen |
| Death | c. Y.T. 1492, Formenos |
| Family | |
| Parentage | Firstborn |
| Spouse | Míriel Serindë, Indis |
| Children | Fëanor, Irimë, Fingolfin, Finarfin, Findis |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Hair color | Black |
| Gallery | Images of Finwë |
Finwë was the first High King of the Noldor (as such he is sometimes surnamed Noldóran) who led his Elven people on the journey from Middle-earth to Valinor in the blessed realm of Aman. He was a great friend of Elu Thingol, the King of Doriath.
History
Finwë had two wives. His first was Míriel, who passed away soon after bearing their only child, Fëanor. His second wife was Indis, of the Vanyar, who bore him two sons: Fingolfin and Finarfin, and two daughters: Findis and Irimë.
During Melkor's attempt to corrupt the Noldor, Finwë attempted to moderate his people and lead them back to the Valar. When Fëanor was exiled from Tirion, Finwë went with him to Formenos. There he was the first to be killed in Valinor when Melkor slew him at the doors of Formenos seeking the Silmarils. This act was the catalyst that led to the Revolt of the Ñoldor.
Etymology
Finwë's name is not clearly translated. The Appendix in The Silmarillion, part called "Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names", translates fin as "hair". In the The Lost Road and Other Writings, chapter The Etymologies, phin it is translated as "nimbleness" or "skill". To either of these two, the suffix -wë is added. Used generaly for male names it is derived from the stem weg, meaning "manly vigour".
Noldóran, as Finwë was also called, means "King of the Noldor". It is formed by the union of Noldor and aran, a Sindarin noun which means "king".
Other Versions of the Legendarium
In the first drafts of the genealogy, Finwë had four sons: the youngest was named Finrun, but he was dropped after that, thus Finrod (later Finarfin) was Finwë's youngest son from then on.
In a later version Finwë had three daughters added by Indis, Findis (as their first child) Faniel (as their third), and Finvain (as their youngest). In yet later versions, Faniel was apparently dropped, while Findis and Finvain were kept. Finvain (renamed Irimë) was moved to after Fingolfin, thus Finarfin was once again the youngest child of Finwë.
Genealogy
| Míriel | FINWË | Indis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fëanor | Findis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fingolfin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Irimë | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finarfin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References
- The Silmarillion, Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor
- The Silmarillion, Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië
- The Silmarillion, Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor
- The Silmarillion, Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor
- The Silmarillion, Of the Darkening of Valinor
- The Silmarillion, Of the Flight of the Noldor
- The Silmarillion, Index of Names
- The Silmarillion, Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names
- The Lost Road and Other Writings, The Etymologies
- The Peoples of Middle-earth, The Shibboleth of Feanor
| Preceded by: none |
1st High King of the Noldor c. YT 1102 – 1495 |
Followed by: Fëanor (in Middle-earth) Finarfin (in Valinor) |
