Fingolfin

From the One Wiki to Rule Them All, the Lord of the Rings Encyclopedia.

{{{image}}}

{{{caption}}}

Fingolfin stands against Morgoth

Fingolfin

Biographical information

Other names

Ñolofinwë

Titles

High King of the Ñoldor

Date of birth

YT ?

Year ascended to the throne

FA 5 ?

Date of death

FA 455

Realms ruled

Hithlum, in the Beleriand

Spouse

Anairë

Weapon

Ringil

Physical description

Race

Elf

Culture

Ñoldor (House of Finwë)

Gender

Male

Height

Hair color

Dark

Eye color

Peter Jackson's Film Trilogy

Actor

Voice

Character

In The Silmarillion, Fingolfin was a High King of the Ñoldor in Beleriand, the Ñoldor being one of the three branches of elves. He was the eldest son of Finwë and Indis, younger brother of Findis, older brother of Irimë and Finarfin, and the younger half-brother of Fëanor. He founded the House of Fingolfin which ruled the Ñoldor in Middle-earth. His wife was Anairë and his children were Fingon, Turgon, Aredhel, and Argon. Fingolfin was said to be the strongest, most steadfast, and most valiant of the Finwë's sons.

[edit] Life

Fingolfin led the largest host of the Ñoldor when they fled Aman for Middle-earth, even though he thought this unwise; he did not want to abandon his people to Fëanor. He was the one who took them across the ice of the Helcaraxë, and soon after, at the rising of the Sun, he came to the gates of Angband and smote upon them, but Morgoth stayed hidden inside. Fingolfin and the Ñoldor then came to the northern shores of Lake Mithrim, from which the Fëanorian part of the host had withdrawn.

His son Fingon rescued Maedhros, son of Fëanor, who consequently waived his claim to kingship: thus, Fingolfin became High King of the Ñoldor. He then ruled from Hithlum, by the northern shores of Lake Mithrim.

After defeating the orcs in the Dagor Aglareb, Fingolfin maintained the Siege of Angband for nearly four hundred years. But the Siege was ended by the sudden assaults of Morgoth in the Dagor Bragollach, and many peoples of Beleriand fled. In the end, a desperate Fingolfin rode alone to Angband to challenge Morgoth to single combat. Morgoth, not one to demonstrate weakness, met the challenge, and a mighty duel began outside the gates of Angband. Fingolfin wielded his sword Ringil and wounded Morgoth seven times. But a mere elf is no match for a Vala. Fingolfin was beaten down three times, yet he was able to rise after each time. Finally Morgoth was able to bear down upon Fingolfin with his strength, killing him. However, with one last, desperate stroke, Fingolfin lacerated Morgoth's heel, and Morgoth walked with a limp ever after. After killing him, Morgoth would have taken Fingolfin's body and fed it to his wolves, but Thorondor, the King of Eagles swept down on Morgoth and slashed at his face with his talons. While Morgoth reeled from this new assault, Thorondor retrieved the body, and brought it to a mountaintop overlooking Gondolin, and Turgon built a cairn over the remains of his father. Fingon then became the High King of the Ñoldor.

[edit] Etymology

The name Fingolfin is a Sindarin form of his name: in Valinor he was called by his Quenya name Ñolofinwë, or "wise Finwë".

[edit] Images

Fingolfin vs. Morgoth

Fingolfin on horseback

[edit] The House of Fingolfin

       Finwë = Indis
             |
    --------------------------
    |                        |
Fingolfin = Anairë       Finarfin
          |
      ----------------------------------------------
      |              |             |              |                     
    Fingon    Turgon = Elenwë   Aredhel = Eöl   Argon
      |               |                 |
Gil-Galad           Idril = Tuor      Maeglin
                          |
                       Eärendil