Talk:High King of the Noldor

Comparing this article against the entry of Robert Foster's Guide, I notice this significant difference: while this article includes Finwe and Feanor, implying that the High Kingship exists since the Sundering of the Elves, Foster specifically mentions the High Kingship in context of the realms of Noldor in Beleriand. Finwe is not mentioned, and "Feanor would be the first" if he had not died early. Thus the first High King is Fingolfin.

Foster's interpretation makes sense since strictly speaking, "High King" is an overlord over many realms. Before the flight of the Noldor there were no realms, only a single people under Finwe in Aman. The title of the High King would be meaningful only in Beleriand. Indeed, after a hasty scanning of the QS, the words "High King of the Noldor" aren't mentioned until a later chapter. Sage 12:12, 27 November 2013 (UTC)

And when the tidings came to Balar of the fall of Gondolin and the death of Turgon, Ereinion Gil-galad son of Fingon was named High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth
—J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin"

Our articles seem to be saying that there were two "High King of the Noldor" - one in Aman and one in Middle-earth - and I think quotes like the one above are being used to justify it (see the succession box in Finwë, for instance). I'd be interested to know if this is backed up by other information in The History of Middle-earth. --Mith (Talk/Contribs/Edits) 08:44, 1 December 2013 (UTC)

Regarding the above quote, I don't think it implies that there are two High Kings (one in M-e, one in Valinor) but rather that the Noldor exist both in M-e and in Valinor. Gil-galad might have been High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth, but the specification "in Middle-earth" is only to exclude the Noldor in Valinor, not necessarily to imply an equivalent counterpart in Valinor. Sage 16:02, 21 February 2014 (UTC)