Fingon

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Fingon
Noldo
Anna Lee - Fingon.jpg
Biographical Information
TitlesHigh King of the Noldor
Birth1280 YOTT in Tirion
DeathFirst Age 472 (aged 2580+)
Family
ParentageFingolfin + Anairë
SpouseNone
Physical Description
GenderMale
Hair colorDark
GalleryImages of Fingon
Fingon
Tengwar, Mode of Beleriand

Fingon (Years of the Trees 1280 – First Age 472, aged approx. 2,580 years), called 'the Valiant' by Maedhros, was a High King of the Noldor in Beleriand during the First Age. He was the eldest son of Fingolfin, older brother of Turgon, Aredhel, and Argon1.

History

Fingon went with his father and people from Aman to Middle-earth at the beginning of the First Age. He achieved renown soon after for his daring rescue of Maedhros from Thangorodrim. Fingolfin gave Fingon a domain in Dor-lómin, in the west of Hithlum, where he did good service during the Siege of Angband; defeating Orcs that attempted to go around to the north and attack Hithlum from the west, and then later the first to fight against the Dragon Glaurung when he first came forth from Angband.

Fingon became High King when Fingolfin died fighting Morgoth after the Dagor Bragollach ("Battle of Sudden Flame"). Seven years later, Morgoth's forces invaded Hithlum, and Fingon was hard-pressed and outnumbered, but rescued by Círdan and his people of the Falas, who came up the Firth of Drengist in their ships.

In the complex Nirnaeth Arnoediad ("Battle of Unnumbered Tears"), Fingon was nearly victorious; but in the end he was finally defeated, and then killed by Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs.

Turgon became by right the High King of the Noldor, although after the battle he returned to the secrecy of Gondolin.

Other Versions of the Legendarium

In the published The Silmarillion Fingon was the father of Gil-galad, but this was an editorial mistake by Christopher Tolkien, and is said "to have no wife or children". Argon does not appear in the published Silmarillion at all.

Etymology

Fingon's father-name was Findekáno (Quenya for "Skilled Hero"). Fingon is the Sindarin version of his father-name.

Genealogy

      Fingolfin = Anairë
                |
    ____________|_____________
   |        |        |        |
   |        |        |        |
FINGON   Turgon   Aredhel   Argon1

Preceded by:
Fingolfin
4th High King of the Noldor
I 456 – 472
Followed by:
Turgon

Notes

  1. 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.

See Also