Fingolfin
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In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Fingolfin was a High King of the Noldor in Beleriand, second eldest son of Finwë, full brother of Finarfin, and half-brother of Fëanor, who was the eldest of Finwë's sons. He founded the House of Fingolfin which ruled the Noldor in Middle-earth. His wife was Anairë and his children were Fingon, Turgon, Aredhel and Argon[1]. Fingolfin was said to be the strongest, most steadfast, and most valiant of Finwë's sons, and some have named him as one of the greatest warriors of all the Children of Ilúvatar. His name in Quenya was Nolofinwë, or "wise Finwë."[citation needed]
Fingolfin led the largest host of the Noldor 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and the Noldor then came to the northern shores of Lake Mithrim, from which the Fëanorian part of the host had withdrawn.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 Noldor. 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. When Fingolfin learned of this, and received false report that his allies had been routed on all fronts, he became filled with wrath and despair. He immediately took his horse Rochallor and sword Ringil, and rode alone to Angband. All enemies fled from him, fearing his anger, and mistaking him in his fury for Oromë, the Valar patron of hunters.
He smote the gates of Angband and challenged Morgoth for single combat. Though Morgoth feared Fingolfin (of all the Valar, Morgoth was the only one to know fear), he had to accept the challenge — or face shame in the eyes of his servants. Seven times Fingolfin wounded Morgoth and seven times Morgoth cried in pain, but he could not be slain for he was one of the Valar. Wherever Morgoth attacked, Fingolfin would evade, avoiding Morgoth's weapon Grond as it would crack the ground. Eventually, however, Fingolfin grew weary and stumbled on a crater. Then Morgoth placed his foot upon Fingolfin and killed him, but not before the king, with his last act of defiance, hewed at Morgoth's foot. Morgoth, from thence forward, always walked with a limp. Thorondor flew down and raked Morgoth's eyes, and carried Fingolfin's body away to be placed on a cliff overlooking Gondolin. Later Turgon built a cairn over the remains of his father.
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- ^ 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.
| House of Fingolfin Cadet Branch of the House of Finwë Born: 4690 Years of the Trees Died: 455 First Age |
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|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Finwë |
King of Tirion | Succeeded by Fëanor |
| Preceded by Fëanor |
3rd High King of the Noldor | Succeeded by Fingon |
| King of Mithrim | ||
