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'''High King of the Noldor''' was 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)]]}}


# '''[[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.
'''High King of the Noldor''' was the title of the head of the [[House of Finwe]] in [[Beleriand]] and [[Middle-earth]]. It was held by Elf-lords of the [[Noldor]] who held rulership over all the Noldorin realms. The overlordship was mostly titular; 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]].
# '''[[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.
# '''[[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]] ("Battle of Sudden Flame"), he rode in anger to the gates of Angband and died in single combat with Morgoth. He was succeeded by his eldest son.
# '''[[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]] ("Battle of Unnumbered Tears"), which ended in disaster for the Noldor and Fingon's own death. He was succeeded by his brother.
# '''[[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.
# '''[[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).
The forefather of the House of Finwe 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]].<ref>{{S|Darkening}}</ref> His eldest son [[Fëanor]] led the host of the Noldor back to Middle-earth to avenge his father's death and recover the [[Silmarils]] from Morgoth. He was slain in his assault on [[Angband]].<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.


# '''[[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.
# '''[[Fingon]]''' (ruled 16 years to [[First Age 472]])<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.
# '''[[Turgon]]''' (ruled 39 years to [[First Age 510]])<br>Turgon's kingship was titular indeed, as it was not possible for him 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, and Turgon died in its Fall. After his death, the Kingship passed to the [[Finarfin]] line, with the son of [[Orodreth]].
# '''[[Gil-galad|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 ruling through the [[Second Age]]. 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]], 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, as obviously no heirs of the [[House of Feanor]] or [[House of Fingolfin]] 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; he never made claim to the Kingship but ruled with all its authority.
For other and earlier rulers of the Noldor, see [[King of the Noldor]].
{{references}}
[[Category:Noldor]]
[[Category:Noldor]]
[[Category:Titles]]
[[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 05:18, 25 February 2016

"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 Finwe in Beleriand and Middle-earth. It was held by Elf-lords of the Noldor who held rulership over all the Noldorin realms. The overlordship was mostly titular; 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.

The forefather of the House of Finwe 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.[1] His eldest son Fëanor led the host of the Noldor back to Middle-earth to avenge his father's death and recover the Silmarils from Morgoth. He was slain in his assault on Angband.[2] 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.

  1. Fingolfin (ruled 454 years to First Age 455)
    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.
  2. Fingon (ruled 16 years to First Age 472)
    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.
  3. Turgon (ruled 39 years to First Age 510)
    Turgon's kingship was titular indeed, as it was not possible for him 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, and Turgon died in its Fall. After his death, the Kingship passed to the Finarfin line, with the son of Orodreth.
  4. Ereinion Gil-galad (ruled 3,514 years to Second Age 3441)
    The last High King, Gil-galad held the Kingship longer than any of his forebears ruling through the Second Age. He was the chief enemy of Sauron in the Dark Years, at the end of which he formed the 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, as obviously no heirs of the House of Feanor or House of Fingolfin remained in Middle-earth. Galadriel of the House of Finarfin perhaps could have some rights.[3] Elrond was a direct descendant of Turgon; he never made claim to the Kingship but ruled with all its authority.

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

References