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Gil-galad

2013-01-12T10:38:37Z

89.214.153.125:

{{noldor infobox
| image=[[File:Soni Alcorn-Hender - Gil-galad at the Last Alliance.jpg|250px]]
| name=Gil-galad
| othernames=''Artanáro''/''Rodnor'' ([[Quenya|Q]]/[[Sindarin|S]], [[Father-name|fn]]), ''Ereinion'' ([[Sindarin|S]], [[Epessë|epessë]])
| titles=[[High King of the Noldor]]
| position=
| location=[[Havens of Sirion]]; [[Lindon]]
| affiliation=[[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]]
| language=[[Quenya]] and [[Sindarin]]
| birth=c. {{FA|450}}
| birthlocation=Presumably [[Nargothrond]]
| rule={{FA|510}} - {{SA|3441}}
| death={{SA|3441}}
| deathlocation=[[Siege of Barad-dûr]]
| age=c. 3581
| house=[[House of Finarfin]]
| parentage=[[Orodreth]]
| siblings=[[Finduilas]]
| spouse=
| children=
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=[[Aeglos]]
| steed=
}}
{{Pronounce|Ereinion Gil-galad.mp3|Ardamir}}
<center>{{quote|Gil-galad was an Elven-king Of him the harpers sadly sing The last whose realm was fair and free Between the Mountains and the Sea.|From [[The Fall of Gil-galad]], as translated by [[Bilbo Baggins]]}}</center>
'''Ereinion Gil-galad''' ([[Sindarin|S]], pron. {{IPA|[eˈreɪnjon ˈɡilɡalad]}}) was the sixth and last [[High King of the Noldor]]. He is the son of [[Orodreth]] (in the Silmarillion he is the son of [[Fingon]]), who was in turn the son of [[Angrod]] of [[Finarfin]]'s house.

Gil-galad was a descendant of the Noldor, [[Teleri]] and [[Vanyar]], for his great-grandmother [[Eärwen]], married with Finarfin, is the daughter of Olwë of the Teleri and his Great-Great-grandmother [[Indis]], married with Finwe, is of the Vanyar. Nonetheless, he is counted among the Noldor.

== History ==
===First Age===
The exact date and place of Gil-galad's birth is not given. His father Orodreth dwelt at [[Minas Tirith (Beleriand)|Minas Tirith]] upon [[Tol Sirion]], so he might either been born there or his granduncle's [[Finrod Felagund]] underground fortress [[Nargothrond]].

He was still a child at the time of the [[Dagor Bragollach]] when [[Morgoth]] broke the [[Siege of Angband]] and his grandfather [[Angrod]] was killed. As a result his father sent him (and his mother<ref name="Ruin">{{WJ|Ruin}}</ref>) to [[Círdan]] at the [[Havens of the Falas]] for safekeeping.<ref>{{S|Fingolfin}}</ref> After the fall of Minas Tirith, the [[Pass of Sirion]] was open to Morgoth's hosts although they were still kept at bay by the still mighty realm of [[Hithlum]] and also the power of Nargothrond. Hithlum was destroyed after the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]] and thus there was now power left that could withstand the enemies and the ports at the Falas were besieged and captured. Yet Círdan, Gil-galad and many other Elves could flee from death on ship and etablished a refuge upon the [[Isle of Balar]] and a small haven at the [[Mouths of Sirion]].<ref>{{S|Fifth}}</ref>

In the Nirnaeth Arnoediad [[Fingon]], High King of the Noldor, was slain, and the crown passed to his brother [[Turgon]] in Gondolin. When Gondolin was lost, Gil-galad received the Kingship of the Noldor, as his father had been killed in [[Battle of Tumhalad]] some years before and Turgon did not have a male descendant .<ref>{{S|Gondolin}}</ref> He and Círdan maintained the refuge upon Balar and the small port at the Sirion estuary until the [[War of Wrath]] and the end of the First Age.

===Second Age===
After the destruction of [[Beleriand]] during the [[War of Wrath]], Gil-galad founded a kingdom in [[Lindon]] in the far northwest of Middle-earth, roughly between the [[Blue Mountains]] and the [[Belegaer|Great Sea]] around the [[Gulf of Lhûn]] and the havens [[Forlond]], [[Harlond]] and [[Mithlond]] were founded.<ref name="Rings">{{S|Rings}}</ref> Many Elves, both [[Sindar]] and [[Noldor]] joined him. But soon there was again unrest among the Noldor, and many of them left Lindon and led by [[Celebrimbor]] founded the realm of [[Eregion]], probably also stirred up by the finding of [[Mithril]] in [[Khazad-dûm]]. Also some Sindar and many of the [[Nandor]] did not wish to live with the Noldor, who had done them [[Sack of Doriath|great evil]], and migrated eastwards to [[Lothlórien]] or [[Greenwood the Great]].

When Prince [[Aldarion]] of [[Númenor]] came to [[Middle-earth]], they established friendship with the [[Elves]]. In {{SA|882}} Gil-galad gave him a letter for his father, the [[King of Númenor]], [[Tar-Meneldur]]. He warned him that a new shadow was arisen in the [[East]] and beseeched him for aid.<ref>{{UT|Aldarion}}</ref>

[[File:Lelia - Gil-Galad.jpg|200px|thumb|left|'''Gil-galad''' by Lelia.]]Around the year 1000 of the Second Age, Sauron tried to make contact with the Elves under the name [[Annatar]], the "Lord of Gifts". But Gil-galad and Círdan did not trust him and rejected his proposals. Sauron though, was welcomed in Eregion and the [[Rings of Power]] were forged.<ref name="Rings"/> Around {{SA|1600}} Sauron had forged [[the One Ring]], and in 1695 he invaded [[Eriador]], the [[War of the Elves and Sauron]] began.<ref name="PM">{{PM|Second}}</ref> Celebrimbor had rescued the Three Rings of the Elves in time, sending [[Narya]] and [[Vilya]] to Gil-galad, while the third ring [[Nenya]] was given to [[Galadriel]].<ref name="Galadriel">{{UT|Galadriel}}</ref>

Sauron conquered [[Eregion]] quickly and the forces from Lindon that Gil-galad had sent under command of [[Elrond]] came too late and were too small and fled far north, where Elrond etablished the stronghold of [[Rivendell|Imladris]].<ref name="Galadriel"/>

The war lasted on, until a great fleet of the [[Númenóreans]] arrived at Lindon. With united forces, Sauron's army was driven back and defeated near [[Sarnford]] and withdrew to [[Tharbad]] were he was reinforced. But the Númenórean's Admiral [[Tar-Minastir]] had send a fleet up river Gwathló and Sauron's army was attacked in the rear and utterly defeated.<ref name="Galadriel"/> After this war, the Elves were not further troubled by Sauron for a long time. During this time, Gil-galad passed the rings Narya and Vilya to Círdan and Elrond.<ref name="Galadriel"/>

After the [[Downfall of Númenor]], [[Elendil]] and his sons came to Middle-earth and founded the realms of [[Gondor]] in the south and [[Arnor]] in the north. Gondor was soon attacked by Sauron and Elendil's son [[Isildur]] had to flee, and sailed north to his father, where the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] was formed with Gil-galad.

It took several years for the Allies to gather their forces but ultimately they marched on Mordor and defeated a great army in the [[Battle of Dagorlad]]. They broke through [[Cirith Gorgor]] and besieged [[Sauron]]'s [[Dark Tower]].

When the siege had lasted seven years, it became so pressing that Sauron himself sallied forth. By his power the siege was broken and his army advanced to the slopes of [[Orodruin]]. There he was engaged by Elendil and Gil-galad in single combat. Both Gil-galad and Elendil were killed by Sauron's hands.

According to the laws of succession, Elrond should have become the next High King of the Noldor, but he refused the crown{{fact}}, and Gil-galad became the last King of the Noldor in Middle-earth.<ref name="Rings"/>

Gil-galad's weapon was the spear [[Aeglos (spear)|Aeglos]].

== Other Versions of the Legendarium ==
Originally in early versions of ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', Gil-galad was the son of [[Finrod|Finrod Felagund]]. In the ''[[Grey Annals]]'', however, Felagund had no son, leaving his wife in [[Tirion]] at the [[Flight of the Noldor]]. Later writings, specifically the ''[[Shibboleth of Fëanor]]'', presents the fact that Gil-galad was the son of Orodreth, who was in fact the son of Angrod. In other early versions he was of the [[House of Fëanor]].

In the published ''[[The Silmarillion|Silmarillion]]'' and ''[[Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife|The Mariner's Wife]]'' Gil-galad is said to have been the son of [[Fingon]]. However, [[Christopher Tolkien]] later admitted that it was a rushed choice, and that Gil-galad was Orodreth's son in the original manuscripts written by his father.

== Etymology ==

''Gil-galad'' is a [[Sindarin]] name, meaning "Star of bright light". The name consists of the elements ''[[gil]]'' ("star") + ''[[galad]]'' ("radiance")<ref name=RGEO>{{RGEO|Notes}}, p. 73</ref>. According to a note this name was given to him because of the brightness of his eyes <ref name="Ruin"/>.

[[File:Shrunken Gil-galad.jpg|thumb|[[Mark Ferguson]] as Gil-galad in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]]]
''Gil-galad ''was his [[Amilessë|mother-name]], and it was his preferred name in his youth. His [[father-name]] was '''''Rodnor''''' (pron. {{IPA|[ˈrodnor]}}), or in [[Quenya]], '''''Artanáro''''' (pron. {{IPA|[ˌartaˈnaːro]}}).

As High King of the Noldor, his [[epessë]] was '''''Ereinion''''', "Scion of Kings" (from ''[[erain]]'' = "kings" and ''[[ion]]'' = "son").

== Genealogy ==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | ARF |y| EAR | | | | | | |ARF=[[Finarfin]]|EAR=[[Eärwen]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|^|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| |}}
{{familytree | FIN | | ANG |y| ELD | | AEG | | GAL |FIN=[[Finrod]]|ANG=[[Angrod]]|ELD=[[Eldalótë]]|AEG=[[Aegnor]]|GAL=[[Galadriel]] }}
{{familytree | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | ORO | | | | | | | | | | |ORO=[[Orodreth]]}}
{{familytree | | | | |,|-|-|^|-|-|.| | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | GIL | | | | FIN | | | | | | | |GIL='''GIL-GALAD'''|FIN=[[Finduilas]] }}
{{familytree/end}}

{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=noldor
| house=[[Finarfin|House of Finarfin]]
| born=c. {{FA|450}}
| died={{SA|3441}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=
| pvac=
| prev=[[Turgon]]
| list=6th [[High King of the Noldor]]
| dates={{FA|510}} - {{SA|3441}}
| next=Abandoned
| nvac=None
| nrow=
}}
{{seq-end}}

== Portrayals in adaptations==
'''2001''': ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:In the prologue, Gil-galad can be seen holding one of the three Elven rings. Later, he is seen wielding his spear Aeglos in the Battle of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]]. His death is not shown, and he does not take down Sauron. He is played by [[Mark Ferguson]].

== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Gil-galad|Images of Gil-galad]].
{{references}}
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:House of Finarfin]]
[[Category:House of Olwë]]
[[Category:amilessi]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Rulers in Beleriand]]
[[de:Gil-galad]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:elfes:noldor:gil-galad]]
[[fi:Gil-galad]]

Aredhel

2013-01-12T10:30:29Z

89.214.153.125:

{{noldor infobox
| image=[[File:Darcival - Aredhel.jpg|250px]]
| name=Aredhel
| othernames=''Írissë'', ''Ar-Feiniel'', "White Lady of the Noldor"
| titles=
| position=
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=
| language=[[Quenya]] and [[Sindarin]]
| birth={{YT|1362}}<ref name="Annal">{{MR|Annals}}, p. 102, notes 8 and 9</ref>
| birthlocation=[[Tirion]]
| rule=
| death={{FA|400}}
| deathlocation=[[Gondolin]]
| age=1,738 years<ref group="note">Years of the Sun. Each Year of the Tree is equal to 9.582 Years of the Sun, and the Years of the Trees ended in the year 1500. So, 400 + 9.582 x 138 = 1,777.</ref>
| house=[[House of Fingolfin]]
| parentage=[[Fingolfin]] and [[Anairë]]
| siblings=[[Fingon]], [[Turgon]] and [[Argon]]
| spouse=[[Eöl]]
| children=[[Maeglin]]
| gender=Female
| height=Tall<ref name="Princes">{{S|Princes}}</ref>
| hair=Dark<ref name="Princes"/>
| eyes=
| clothing=Silver and white<ref name="Princes"/>
| weapons=
| steed=
}}'''Aredhel''', also called '''Ar-Feiniel''', the White Lady of the [[Noldor]], was the daughter of High King [[Fingolfin]] and [[Anairë]], sister of [[Fingon]], [[Turgon]], and [[Argon]], and mother of [[Maeglin]].

She was tall and strong, fond of hunting and riding in the forests. Her skin was pale and her hair dark; she always wore silver and white. She was fond of the sons of [[Fëanor]], especially [[Celegorm]] and [[Curufin]].

==History==

After arriving in [[Middle-earth]], she dwelt in [[Nevrast]] with Turgon, and went with him to [[Gondolin]]. But after two hundred years the longing for the forests and wide lands overcame her, and she asked leave to depart. Turgon was unwilling, fearing the exposure of the [[Gondolin|Hidden Kingdom]], but eventually relented.

Riding with companions, they were denied entrance to [[Doriath]], it being closed to the [[Noldor|Ñoldor]], and so they went around to the north, where she was separated in the dangerous region of [[Nan Dungortheb]] and reported lost. But she reached [[Himlad]] safely, and waited there to meet [[Celegorm]] who was abroad, but eventually she wandered out of boredom, and became lost in the forest of [[Nan Elmoth]].
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Eöl Welcomes Aredhel.jpg|thumb|left|Aredhel meeting Eöl]]
[[Eöl]] the [[Dark Elf]] ruled those woods; they met, and he led to his home, where she stayed for many years, and were married. They had a son named Maeglin, and telling him of her former life and home, she desired to see them again, and left Nan Elmoth with Maeglin while Eöl was away. They reached Gondolin (not realizing that Eöl was following them all the while), and were received with rejoicing. Eöl was also discovered and brought before Turgon, but rather than accept Turgon's judgment, he attempted to kill his son. Aredhel stepped in front of the stab, but because it was a poisoned dart, she died that night from the wound.

Eöl was cast down from the city walls and died, while Maeglin became mighty in Gondolin and later betrayed it to [[Morgoth]].

==Etymology==

Aredhel's name in [[Valinor]] used to be '''''Írissë'''''. In [[Sindarin]] this name was ''Íreth''.<ref>{{PM|XI}}, p. 345</ref>

The name ''Aredhel'' means "Noble Elf" in [[Sindarin]],<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 139</ref> and is probably an [[epessë]] acquired later.{{fact}}

Note on pronunciation: Aredhel should be pronounced ''ar-eth-el'' (hard "th"), not ''ar-ed-hel''.

== Other Versions of the Legendarium ==
The names ''Aredhel'' and ''Ar-Feiniel'' ("noble white lady") were both originally intended to stand alone, and be used as the main name of Irissë. While preparing ''[[The Silmarillion]]'' for publication [[Christopher Tolkien]] could not discover which name was intended to be used as her final name, and he therefore chose to use both names: a decision he later stated in [[the History of Middle-earth]] series was possibly mistaken.

==Genealogy==
 
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| MIR |y|~|~|~|~| FIN |~|~|~|~|y| IND | | | | | | | |FIN=[[Finwë]]|IND=[[Indis]]|MIR=[[Míriel]]}}
{{familytree| | | |!| | | |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|^|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| | |}}
{{familytree| | | FEA | | FDS | | FNG |y| ANA | | IRM | | FIR | |FEA=[[Fëanor]]|FDS=[[Findis]]|FNG=[[Fingolfin]]|ANA=[[Anairë]]|IRM=[[Írimë]]|FIR=[[Finarfin]]}}
{{familytree| |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| |}}
{{familytree| FIN | | ELE |y| TUR | | ARE |y| EOL | | ARG |FIN=[[Fingon]]|ARE='''AREDHEL'''|TUR=[[Turgon]]|ELE=[[Elenwë]]|EOL=[[Eöl]]|ARG=[[Argon]]}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | TUO |y| IDR | | | | | | MAE | | | | | | |MAE=[[Maeglin]]|IDR=[[Idril]]|TUO=[[Tuor]]}}
{{familytree| | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | | | EAR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |EAR=[[Eärendil]]}}
{{familytree/end}}
 

==See Also==
* [[:Category:Images of Aredhel|Images of Aredhel]]
{{references|note}}

* {{S|Maeglin}}
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:House of Fingolfin]]

Aredhel

2013-01-12T10:27:17Z

89.214.153.125:

{{noldor infobox
| image=[[File:Darcival - Aredhel.jpg|250px]]
| name=Aredhel
| othernames=''Írissë'', ''Ar-Feiniel'', "White Lady of the Noldor"
| titles=
| position=
| location=[[Gondolin]]
| affiliation=
| language=[[Quenya]] and [[Sindarin]]
| birth={{YT|1362}}<ref name="Annal">{{MR|Annals}}, p. 102, notes 8 and 9</ref>
| birthlocation=[[Tirion]]
| rule=
| death={{FA|400}}
| deathlocation=[[Gondolin]]
| age=1,738 years<ref group="note">Years of the Sun. Each Year of the Tree is equal to 9.582 Years of the Sun, and the Years of the Trees ended in the year 1500. So, 400 + 9.582 x 138 = 1,777.</ref>
| house=[[House of Fingolfin]]
| parentage=[[Fingolfin]] and [[Anairë]]
| siblings=[[Fingon]], [[Turgon]] and [[Argon]]
| spouse=[[Eöl]]
| children=[[Maeglin]]
| gender=Female
| height=Tall<ref name="Princes">{{S|Princes}}</ref>
| hair=Dark<ref name="Princes"/>
| eyes=
| clothing=Silver and white<ref name="Princes"/>
| weapons=
| steed=
}}'''Aredhel''', also called '''Ar-Feiniel''', the White Lady of the [[Noldor]], was the daughter of High King [[Fingolfin]] and [[Anairë]], sister of [[Fingon]], [[Turgon]], and [[Argon]], and mother of [[Maeglin]].

She was tall and strong, fond of hunting and riding in the forests. Her skin was pale and her hair dark; she always wore silver and white. She was fond of the sons of [[Fëanor]], especially Celegorm and Curufin.

==History==

After arriving in [[Middle-earth]], she dwelt in [[Nevrast]] with Turgon, and went with him to [[Gondolin]]. But after two hundred years the longing for the forests and wide lands overcame her, and she asked leave to depart. Turgon was unwilling, fearing the exposure of the [[Gondolin|Hidden Kingdom]], but eventually relented.

Riding with companions, they were denied entrance to [[Doriath]], it being closed to the [[Noldor|Ñoldor]], and so they went around to the north, where she was separated in the dangerous region of [[Nan Dungortheb]] and reported lost. But she reached [[Himlad]] safely, and waited there to meet [[Celegorm]] who was abroad, but eventually she wandered out of boredom, and became lost in the forest of [[Nan Elmoth]].
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Eöl Welcomes Aredhel.jpg|thumb|left|Aredhel meeting Eöl]]
[[Eöl]] the [[Dark Elf]] ruled those woods; they met, and he led to his home, where she stayed for many years, and were married. They had a son named Maeglin, and telling him of her former life and home, she desired to see them again, and left Nan Elmoth with Maeglin while Eöl was away. They reached Gondolin (not realizing that Eöl was following them all the while), and were received with rejoicing. Eöl was also discovered and brought before Turgon, but rather than accept Turgon's judgment, he attempted to kill his son. Aredhel stepped in front of the stab, but because it was a poisoned dart, she died that night from the wound.

Eöl was cast down from the city walls and died, while Maeglin became mighty in Gondolin and later betrayed it to [[Morgoth]].

==Etymology==

Aredhel's name in [[Valinor]] used to be '''''Írissë'''''. In [[Sindarin]] this name was ''Íreth''.<ref>{{PM|XI}}, p. 345</ref>

The name ''Aredhel'' means "Noble Elf" in [[Sindarin]],<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 139</ref> and is probably an [[epessë]] acquired later.{{fact}}

Note on pronunciation: Aredhel should be pronounced ''ar-eth-el'' (hard "th"), not ''ar-ed-hel''.

== Other Versions of the Legendarium ==
The names ''Aredhel'' and ''Ar-Feiniel'' ("noble white lady") were both originally intended to stand alone, and be used as the main name of Irissë. While preparing ''[[The Silmarillion]]'' for publication [[Christopher Tolkien]] could not discover which name was intended to be used as her final name, and he therefore chose to use both names: a decision he later stated in [[the History of Middle-earth]] series was possibly mistaken.

==Genealogy==
 
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| MIR |y|~|~|~|~| FIN |~|~|~|~|y| IND | | | | | | | |FIN=[[Finwë]]|IND=[[Indis]]|MIR=[[Míriel]]}}
{{familytree| | | |!| | | |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|^|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| | |}}
{{familytree| | | FEA | | FDS | | FNG |y| ANA | | IRM | | FIR | |FEA=[[Fëanor]]|FDS=[[Findis]]|FNG=[[Fingolfin]]|ANA=[[Anairë]]|IRM=[[Írimë]]|FIR=[[Finarfin]]}}
{{familytree| |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| |}}
{{familytree| FIN | | ELE |y| TUR | | ARE |y| EOL | | ARG |FIN=[[Fingon]]|ARE='''AREDHEL'''|TUR=[[Turgon]]|ELE=[[Elenwë]]|EOL=[[Eöl]]|ARG=[[Argon]]}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | TUO |y| IDR | | | | | | MAE | | | | | | |MAE=[[Maeglin]]|IDR=[[Idril]]|TUO=[[Tuor]]}}
{{familytree| | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | | | EAR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |EAR=[[Eärendil]]}}
{{familytree/end}}
 

==See Also==
* [[:Category:Images of Aredhel|Images of Aredhel]]
{{references|note}}

* {{S|Maeglin}}
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:House of Fingolfin]]

Gil-galad

2013-01-12T09:51:37Z

89.214.153.125:

{{noldor infobox
| image=[[File:Soni Alcorn-Hender - Gil-galad at the Last Alliance.jpg|250px]]
| name=Gil-galad
| othernames=''Artanáro''/''Rodnor'' ([[Quenya|Q]]/[[Sindarin|S]], [[Father-name|fn]]), ''Ereinion'' ([[Sindarin|S]], [[Epessë|epessë]])
| titles=[[High King of the Noldor]]
| position=
| location=[[Havens of Sirion]]; [[Lindon]]
| affiliation=[[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]]
| language=[[Quenya]] and [[Sindarin]]
| birth=c. {{FA|450}}
| birthlocation=Presumably [[Nargothrond]]
| rule={{FA|510}} - {{SA|3441}}
| death={{SA|3441}}
| deathlocation=[[Siege of Barad-dûr]]
| age=c. 3581
| house=[[House of Finarfin]]
| parentage=[[Orodreth]]
| siblings=[[Finduilas]]
| spouse=
| children=
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=[[Aeglos]]
| steed=
}}
{{Pronounce|Ereinion Gil-galad.mp3|Ardamir}}
<center>{{quote|Gil-galad was an Elven-king Of him the harpers sadly sing The last whose realm was fair and free Between the Mountains and the Sea.|From [[The Fall of Gil-galad]], as translated by [[Bilbo Baggins]]}}</center>
'''Ereinion Gil-galad''' ([[Sindarin|S]], pron. {{IPA|[eˈreɪnjon ˈɡilɡalad]}}) was the sixth and last [[High King of the Noldor]]. He is the son of [[Orodreth]] (in the Silmarillion he is the son of [[Fingon]]), who was in turn the son of [[Angrod]] of [[Finarfin]]'s house.

Gil-galad was a descendant of the Noldor, [[Teleri]] and [[Vanyar]], for his great-grandmother [[Eärwen]], married with Finarfin, is the daughter of Olwë of the Teleri and his Great-Great-grandmother [[Indis]], married with Finwe, is of the Vanyar. Nonetheless, he is counted among the Noldor.

== History ==
===First Age===
The exact date and place of Gil-galad's birth is not given. His father Orodreth dwelt at [[Minas Tirith (Beleriand)|Minas Tirith]] upon [[Tol Sirion]], so he might either been born there or his granduncle's [[Finrod Felagund]] underground fortress [[Nargothrond]].

He was still a child at the time of the [[Dagor Bragollach]] when [[Morgoth]] broke the [[Siege of Angband]] and his grandfather [[Angrod]] was killed. As a result his father sent him (and his mother<ref name="Ruin">{{WJ|Ruin}}</ref>) to [[Círdan]] at the [[Havens of the Falas]] for safekeeping.<ref>{{S|Fingolfin}}</ref> After the fall of Minas Tirith, the [[Pass of Sirion]] was open to Morgoth's hosts although they were still kept at bay by the still mighty realm of [[Hithlum]] and also the power of Nargothrond. Hithlum was destroyed after the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]] and thus there was now power left that could withstand the enemies and the ports at the Falas were besieged and captured. Yet Círdan, Gil-galad and many other Elves could flee from death on ship and etablished a refuge upon the [[Isle of Balar]] and a small haven at the [[Mouths of Sirion]].<ref>{{S|Fifth}}</ref>

In the Nirnaeth Arnoediad [[Fingon]], High King of the Noldor, was slain, and the crown passed to his brother [[Turgon]] in Gondolin. When Gondolin was lost, Gil-galad received the Kingship of the Noldor, as his father had been killed in [[Battle of Tumhalad]] some years before and Turgon did not have a male descendant .<ref>{{S|Gondolin}}</ref> He and Círdan maintained the refuge upon Balar and the small port at the Sirion estuary until the [[War of Wrath]] and the end of the First Age.

===Second Age===
After the destruction of [[Beleriand]] during the [[War of Wrath]], Gil-galad founded a kingdom in [[Lindon]] in the far northwest of Middle-earth, roughly between the [[Blue Mountains]] and the [[Belegaer|Great Sea]] around the [[Gulf of Lhûn]] and the havens [[Forlond]], [[Harlond]] and [[Mithlond]] were founded.<ref name="Rings">{{S|Rings}}</ref> Many Elves, both [[Sindar]] and [[Noldor]] joined him. But soon there was again unrest among the Noldor, and many of them left Lindon and led by [[Celebrimbor]] founded the realm of [[Eregion]], probably also stirred up by the finding of [[Mithril]] in [[Khazad-dûm]]. Also some Sindar and many of the [[Nandor]] did not wish to live with the Noldor, who had done them [[Sack of Doriath|great evil]], and migrated eastwards to [[Lothlórien]] or [[Greenwood the Great]].

When Prince [[Aldarion]] of [[Númenor]] came to [[Middle-earth]], they established friendship with the [[Elves]]. In {{SA|882}} Gil-galad gave him a letter for his father, the [[King of Númenor]], [[Tar-Meneldur]]. He warned him that a new shadow was arisen in the [[East]] and beseeched him for aid.<ref>{{UT|Aldarion}}</ref>

[[File:Lelia - Gil-Galad.jpg|200px|thumb|left|'''Gil-galad''' by Lelia.]]Around the year 1000 of the Second Age, Sauron tried to make contact with the Elves under the name [[Annatar]], the "Lord of Gifts". But Gil-galad and Círdan did not trust him and rejected his proposals. Sauron though, was welcomed in Eregion and the [[Rings of Power]] were forged.<ref name="Rings"/> Around {{SA|1600}} Sauron had forged [[the One Ring]], and in 1695 he invaded [[Eriador]], the [[War of the Elves and Sauron]] began.<ref name="PM">{{PM|Second}}</ref> Celebrimbor had rescued the Three Rings of the Elves in time, sending [[Narya]] and [[Vilya]] to Gil-galad, while the third ring [[Nenya]] was given to [[Galadriel]].<ref name="Galadriel">{{UT|Galadriel}}</ref>

Sauron conquered [[Eregion]] quickly and the forces from Lindon that Gil-galad had sent under command of [[Elrond]] came too late and were too small and fled far north, where Elrond etablished the stronghold of [[Rivendell|Imladris]].<ref name="Galadriel"/>

The war lasted on, until a great fleet of the [[Númenóreans]] arrived at Lindon. With united forces, Sauron's army was driven back and defeated near [[Sarnford]] and withdrew to [[Tharbad]] were he was reinforced. But the Númenórean's Admiral [[Tar-Minastir]] had send a fleet up river Gwathló and Sauron's army was attacked in the rear and utterly defeated.<ref name="Galadriel"/> After this war, the Elves were not further troubled by Sauron for a long time. During this time, Gil-galad passed the rings Narya and Vilya to Círdan and Elrond.<ref name="Galadriel"/>

After the [[Downfall of Númenor]], [[Elendil]] and his sons came to Middle-earth and founded the realms of [[Gondor]] in the south and [[Arnor]] in the north. Gondor was soon attacked by Sauron and Elendil's son [[Isildur]] had to flee, and sailed north to his father, where the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] was formed with Gil-galad.

It took several years for the Allies to gather their forces but ultimately they marched on Mordor and defeated a great army in the [[Battle of Dagorlad]]. They broke through [[Cirith Gorgor]] and besieged [[Sauron]]'s [[Dark Tower]].

When the siege had lasted seven years, it became so pressing that Sauron himself sallied forth. By his power the siege was broken and his army advanced to the slopes of [[Orodruin]]. There he was engaged by Elendil and Gil-galad in single combat. Both Gil-galad and Elendil were killed by Sauron's hands.

According to the laws of succession, Elrond should have become the next High King of the Noldor, but he refused the crown{{fact}}, and Gil-galad became the last King of the Noldor in Middle-earth.<ref name="Rings"/>

Gil-galad's weapon was the spear [[Aeglos (spear)|Aeglos]].

== Other Versions of the Legendarium ==
Originally in early versions of ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', Gil-galad was the son of [[Finrod|Finrod Felagund]]. In other early versions he was said to be of the House of Fëanor. In the ''[[Grey Annals]]'', however, Felagund had no son, leaving his wife in [[Tirion]] at the [[Flight of the Noldor]]. Later writings, specifically the ''[[Shibboleth of Fëanor]]'', presents the fact that Gil-galad was the son of Orodreth, who was in fact the son of Angrod.

In the published ''[[The Silmarillion|Silmarillion]]'' and ''[[Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife|The Mariner's Wife]]'' Gil-galad is said to have been the son of [[Fingon]]. However, [[Christopher Tolkien]] later admitted that it was a rushed choice, and that Gil-galad was Orodreth's son in the original manuscripts written by his father.

== Etymology ==

''Gil-galad'' is a [[Sindarin]] name, meaning "Star of bright light". The name consists of the elements ''[[gil]]'' ("star") + ''[[galad]]'' ("radiance")<ref name=RGEO>{{RGEO|Notes}}, p. 73</ref>. According to a note this name was given to him because of the brightness of his eyes <ref name="Ruin"/>.

[[File:Shrunken Gil-galad.jpg|thumb|[[Mark Ferguson]] as Gil-galad in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]]]
''Gil-galad ''was his [[Amilessë|mother-name]], and it was his preferred name in his youth. His [[father-name]] was '''''Rodnor''''' (pron. {{IPA|[ˈrodnor]}}), or in [[Quenya]], '''''Artanáro''''' (pron. {{IPA|[ˌartaˈnaːro]}}).

As High King of the Noldor, his [[epessë]] was '''''Ereinion''''', "Scion of Kings" (from ''[[erain]]'' = "kings" and ''[[ion]]'' = "son").

== Genealogy ==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | ARF |y| EAR | | | | | | |ARF=[[Finarfin]]|EAR=[[Eärwen]]}}
{{familytree | |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|^|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| |}}
{{familytree | FIN | | ANG |y| ELD | | AEG | | GAL |FIN=[[Finrod]]|ANG=[[Angrod]]|ELD=[[Eldalótë]]|AEG=[[Aegnor]]|GAL=[[Galadriel]] }}
{{familytree | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | ORO | | | | | | | | | | |ORO=[[Orodreth]]}}
{{familytree | | | | |,|-|-|^|-|-|.| | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | GIL | | | | FIN | | | | | | | |GIL='''GIL-GALAD'''|FIN=[[Finduilas]] }}
{{familytree/end}}

{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=noldor
| house=[[Finarfin|House of Finarfin]]
| born=c. {{FA|450}}
| died={{SA|3441}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=
| pvac=
| prev=[[Turgon]]
| list=6th [[High King of the Noldor]]
| dates={{FA|510}} - {{SA|3441}}
| next=Abandoned
| nvac=None
| nrow=
}}
{{seq-end}}

== Portrayals in adaptations==
'''2001''': ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:In the prologue, Gil-galad can be seen holding one of the three Elven rings. Later, he is seen wielding his spear Aeglos in the Battle of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]]. His death is not shown, and he does not take down Sauron. He is played by [[Mark Ferguson]].

== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Gil-galad|Images of Gil-galad]].
{{references}}
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:House of Finarfin]]
[[Category:House of Olwë]]
[[Category:amilessi]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Rulers in Beleriand]]
[[de:Gil-galad]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:elfes:noldor:gil-galad]]
[[fi:Gil-galad]]