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The title of six Elf-lords of the [[Noldor]]. They held titular rulership over all the Noldor of [[Middle-earth]], though in practice circumstances prevented the effective use of this power until the time of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]]. The [[Sons of Fëanor]], in particular, while they acknowledged the Kingship, paid its bearer little heed; they preferred to follow their own policies under the general leadership of [[Maedhros]].
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{{disambig-more|High King|[[High King (disambiguation)]]}}


'''High King of the Noldor''' was the title of the head of the [[House of Finwë]] in [[Beleriand]] and [[Middle-earth]], having overlordship over all the [[Noldor]]in realms. The title was mostly nominal; the [[Sons of Fëanor]], in particular, while they acknowledged the Kingship, paid its bearer little heed, following their own agenda under the general leadership of [[Maedhros]].
==History==
The forefather of the House of Finwë, and first [[King of the Noldor]] was [[Finwë]], the first lord of the [[Tatyar]] who led his people in the [[Great Journey]] from [[Cuiviénen]] into [[Aman|the West]] to dwell in [[Valinor]]. He was slain by [[Morgoth]] at [[Formenos]]. His eldest son [[Fëanor]] claimed the kingship, but led a [[Rebellion of the Noldor]] back to Middle-earth to avenge his father's death and recover the [[Silmarils]] from Morgoth, but died before establishing a realm.<ref>{{S|Return}}</ref> After his death, the Kingship by right belonged to his eldest son [[Maedhros]], but he refused it and the succession passed instead to [[Fëanor]]'s half-brother, Fingolfin.<ref>{{S|Darkening}}</ref>
===High Kingship in Beleriand===
'''Fingolfin''' became the first High King of the Noldor, ruling from the northwest of [[Beleriand]] with his sons, mostly during the [[Siege of Angband]]. When Morgoth broke the leaguer in the [[Dagor Bragollach]], he rode in anger to the gates of Angband and died in single combat with Morgoth. He was succeeded by his eldest son '''[[Fingon]]''' who reigned during an endless war. With Maedhros, he [[Union of Maedhros|prepared]] a [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad|final assault]] on Morgoth, which ended in disaster for the Noldor and Fingon's own death, after a short rule.


# '''[[Finwë]]''' (ruled c. 9,000 years before the beginning of the [[First Age]])<br>The first lord of the Noldor awoke at [[Cuiviénen]] and led his people into the [[West]] to dwell in [[Valinor]]. He was slain by [[Morgoth]] at [[Formenos]], and succeeded by his eldest son.<br><br>
Fingon's brother '''[[Turgon]]''' succeeded Fingon nominally, but his kingship was titular at the least, as it was not possible for the "Hidden King" to rule from his [[Gondolin|Hidden City]], the location of which was unknown by even his own kin. That was until Gondolin's location was discovered by Morgoth through the treachery of [[Maeglin]].
# '''[[Fëanor]]''' (ruled briefly during First Age year 1)<br>He led the host of the Noldor back to Middle-earth1 to avenge his father's death and recover the [[Silmarils]] from Morgoth. He was slain in his assault on [[Angband]]. After his death, the Kingship by right belonged to his eldest son Maedhros, but he refused it and the succession passed instead to [[Fëanor]]'s half-brother.<br><br>
# '''[[Fingolfin]]''' (ruled 454 years to First Age 455)<br>He dwelt to the northwest of [[Beleriand]] with his sons, and ruled the Noldor during the [[Siege of Angband]]. When Morgoth broke the leaguer in the [[Dagor Bragollach]], he rode in anger to the gates of Angband and died in single combat with Morgoth. He was succeeded by his eldest son.<br><br>
# '''[[Fingon]]''' (ruled 16 years to First Age 471)<br>His short reign was one of endless war with the forces of Morgoth. With Maedhros, he prepared a final assault on Morgoth, the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]], which ended in disaster for the Noldor and Fingon's own death. He was succeeded by his brother.<br><br>
# '''[[Turgon of Gondolin|Turgon]]''' (ruled 39 years to First Age 510)<br>Turgon's kingship was titular indeed, for even his own kin did not know the location of his [[Hidden City]] of [[Gondolin]]. Gondolin's location was discovered by Morgoth through the treachery of Maeglin, and Turgon died in its Fall. After his death, the Kingship passed back to Fingon's line, to his only son.<br><br>
# '''[[Ereinion Gil-galad]]''' (ruled 3,514 years to [[Second Age]] 3441)<br>The last High King, Gil-galad held the Kingship longer than any of his forebears since [[Finwë]]. He formed the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]] with [[Elendil]], and died during the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]] at the end of the Second Age.  


Gil-galad was the last High King; after his time the title is never used. In order of succession, the Kingship would presumably have fallen on Turgon's descendants; [[Eärendil the Mariner|Eärendil]] (who was in the West and could not exercise it) or his eldest son [[Elrond]] (who never made claim to the Kingship).
Following Turgon's death in the [[Fall of Gondolin]], there were no more extant Noldorin realms in Beleriand; the Kingship passed to the [[House of Finarfin]], and the son of [[Orodreth]], the young '''[[Gil-galad|Ereinon Gil-galad]]''' was named High King once news of Turgon's death had spread.<ref>{{S|23}}</ref> Seeing the end of the [[War of the Jewels]], Gil-galad held the Kingship through the [[Second Age]], longer than any of his forebears ruling.
===In the [[Westlands]]===
After the cataclysmic [[War of Wrath]] that ended the First Age, the surviving Noldor who did not depart for the [[Undying Lands]] constituted the realms of [[Lindon]] and [[Eregion]] in northwestern Middle-earth. Gil-galad continued to reign as High King, though as in the First Age this title brought little real authority beyond the king's own direct realm.<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> He was the chief enemy of [[Sauron]] in the [[Dark Years]], at the end of which he formed the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]] with [[Elendil]], was the commander of almost all of the Elven forces who fought in the [[War of the Last Alliance]].<ref>{{UT|6b}}</ref> and died during the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]] at the end of the Second Age.
 
Gil-galad was the last High King; after his time the title is never used,<ref>{{App|A1i}}</ref> as he fathered no children and obviously no heirs of the House of Finwe remained in [[Middle-earth]]. [[Galadriel]] of the [[House of Finarfin]] perhaps could have some rights.<ref>{{HM|Guide}}, entry "High King of the Noldor"</ref> [[Elrond]] was a direct descendant of Turgon, but through his daughter [[Idril]]; he never made claim to the Kingship but ruled with all its authority.<ref>{{FR|II2}}</ref> The Noldorin population of Middle-earth was greatly diminished in the Third Age.
 
==List of High Kings==
<!--Please don't add Finwe and Feanor om this list; they aren't mentioned as "High Kings" in the published silmarillion. -->
#'''[[Fingolfin]]''' (ruled from {{FA|5}} - {{FA|456|n}})
# '''[[Fingon]]''' (ruled from {{FA|456}} - {{FA|472|n}})
# '''[[Turgon]]''' (ruled from {{FA|472}} - {{FA|510|n}})
# '''[[Gil-galad|Ereinion Gil-galad]]''' (ruled from {{FA|510}} - {{SA|3441}})
 
==See also==
For other and earlier rulers of the Noldor, see [[King of the Noldor]].
==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the published version of ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', Gil-galad is said to be the son of Fingon.<ref>{{S|18}}</ref> However, in some of Tolkien's later notes, published in ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'', Gil-galad is said to be the son of Orodreth and thus a junior member of the House of Finarfin,<ref>{{PM|XI5}}</ref> and Turgon's closest living relative in the male line (excluding the dispossessed House of Fëanor).
{{references}}
[[Category:Noldor]]
[[Category:Elven Titles]]
[[Category:Rulers of Middle-earth]]
[[Category:Rulers in Beleriand]]
[[de:Hoher König der Noldor]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/elfes/noldor/haut_roi_des_noldor]]
[[fi:Noldorin Korkea Kuningas]]

Revision as of 11:33, 19 January 2020

"Who told you, and who sent you?" — Gandalf
This article or section needs more/new/more-detailed sources to conform to a higher standard and to provide proof for claims made.
The name High King refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see High King (disambiguation).


High King of the Noldor was the title of the head of the House of Finwë in Beleriand and Middle-earth, having overlordship over all the Noldorin realms. The title was mostly nominal; the Sons of Fëanor, in particular, while they acknowledged the Kingship, paid its bearer little heed, following their own agenda under the general leadership of Maedhros.

History

The forefather of the House of Finwë, and first King of the Noldor was Finwë, the first lord of the Tatyar who led his people in the Great Journey from Cuiviénen into the West to dwell in Valinor. He was slain by Morgoth at Formenos. His eldest son Fëanor claimed the kingship, but led a Rebellion of the Noldor back to Middle-earth to avenge his father's death and recover the Silmarils from Morgoth, but died before establishing a realm.[1] After his death, the Kingship by right belonged to his eldest son Maedhros, but he refused it and the succession passed instead to Fëanor's half-brother, Fingolfin.[2]

High Kingship in Beleriand

Fingolfin became the first High King of the Noldor, ruling from the northwest of Beleriand with his sons, mostly during the Siege of Angband. When Morgoth broke the leaguer in the Dagor Bragollach, he rode in anger to the gates of Angband and died in single combat with Morgoth. He was succeeded by his eldest son Fingon who reigned during an endless war. With Maedhros, he prepared a final assault on Morgoth, which ended in disaster for the Noldor and Fingon's own death, after a short rule.

Fingon's brother Turgon succeeded Fingon nominally, but his kingship was titular at the least, as it was not possible for the "Hidden King" to rule from his Hidden City, the location of which was unknown by even his own kin. That was until Gondolin's location was discovered by Morgoth through the treachery of Maeglin.

Following Turgon's death in the Fall of Gondolin, there were no more extant Noldorin realms in Beleriand; the Kingship passed to the House of Finarfin, and the son of Orodreth, the young Ereinon Gil-galad was named High King once news of Turgon's death had spread.[3] Seeing the end of the War of the Jewels, Gil-galad held the Kingship through the Second Age, longer than any of his forebears ruling.

In the Westlands

After the cataclysmic War of Wrath that ended the First Age, the surviving Noldor who did not depart for the Undying Lands constituted the realms of Lindon and Eregion in northwestern Middle-earth. Gil-galad continued to reign as High King, though as in the First Age this title brought little real authority beyond the king's own direct realm.[4] He was the chief enemy of Sauron in the Dark Years, at the end of which he formed the Last Alliance with Elendil, was the commander of almost all of the Elven forces who fought in the War of the Last Alliance.[5] and died during the Siege of Barad-dûr at the end of the Second Age.

Gil-galad was the last High King; after his time the title is never used,[6] as he fathered no children and obviously no heirs of the House of Finwe remained in Middle-earth. Galadriel of the House of Finarfin perhaps could have some rights.[7] Elrond was a direct descendant of Turgon, but through his daughter Idril; he never made claim to the Kingship but ruled with all its authority.[8] The Noldorin population of Middle-earth was greatly diminished in the Third Age.

List of High Kings

  1. Fingolfin (ruled from F.A. 5 - 456)
  2. Fingon (ruled from F.A. 456 - 472)
  3. Turgon (ruled from F.A. 472 - 510)
  4. Ereinion Gil-galad (ruled from F.A. 510 - S.A. 3441)

See also

For other and earlier rulers of the Noldor, see King of the Noldor.

Other versions of the legendarium

In the published version of The Silmarillion, Gil-galad is said to be the son of Fingon.[9] However, in some of Tolkien's later notes, published in The History of Middle-earth, Gil-galad is said to be the son of Orodreth and thus a junior member of the House of Finarfin,[10] and Turgon's closest living relative in the male line (excluding the dispossessed House of Fëanor).

References