Noldor

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Noldor
People
Jenny Dolfen - The Coming of Fingolfin.jpg
"The Coming of Fingolfin" by Jenny Dolfen
General Information
PronunciationQ, [ˈnoldor]/[ˈɲoldor]
Other namesTatyar (Q), Golodhrim (S), Nómin (T), Golug (BS), Deep Elves, Loremasters
LocationsTirion, Formenos, Nevrast, Hithlum, Gondolin, Nargothrond, Dorthonion, East Beleriand, Lindon, Eregion, Lothlórien, Imladris
AffiliationUnion of Maedhros, Host of the West, Last Alliance, Gwaith-i-Mirdain, White Council
LanguagesQuenya, Sindarin, Westron
MembersFinwë, Fëanor, Fingolfin, Finarfin, Maedhros, Fingon, Turgon, Finrod, Galadriel, Gil-galad, Celebrimbor
Physical Description
LifespanImmortal
DistinctionsGreat skill with metal and gems, deep knowledge, great warriors
Average heightTypically 7 feet[1]
Hair colorDark (very dark-brown or black), sometimes red (in the case of Míriel even silver
Skin colorFair
WeaponrySwords and shields
GalleryImages of Noldor
"Next came the Noldor, a name of wisdom, the people of Finwë. They are the Deep Elves, the friends of Aulë; and they are renowned in song, for they fought and laboured long and grievously in the northern lands of old."
Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor"

The Noldor or Ñoldor were those of the second clan of the Elves who came to Aman. They were highly skilled in crafts and gained much knowledge, which they passed on to Men after their Exile. Their King was originally Finwë, but he was slain by Morgoth, leading his son Fëanor to avenge him and the theft of his jewels by making war upon Morgoth in Middle-earth. The war of the Noldor against Morgoth comprises many of the tales of the First Age.

Origins[edit | edit source]

According to legend, the clan was founded by Tata, the second Elf to awake at Cuiviénen. With him were his spouse Tatië and their 54 companions, and this clan became known as the Tatyar. Finwë, the first Ñoldo to come to Valinor with Oromë, became their King, and led most of them to Valinor. Out of the original 56 Tatyar who awoke at Cuiviénen, 28 remained at the place of their awakening, becoming Avari, while the other original 28 and their offspring continued on their Great Journey.

History[edit | edit source]

Elder Days[edit | edit source]

In Valinor[edit | edit source]

A Noldorin Prince by Konstantin Zahariev

The Noldor were accounted the greatest of the Elves and all the peoples in Middle-earth in lore and crafts. In Valinor, their knowledge and skill became great, and they had always a strong desire for more knowledge and skill in art, surpassing even their teachers in many things. The Noldor had also a love for words, and were changeful in speech, endeavouring to find suitable names for all things. They were beloved of Aulë the Smith, and were the first to discover and carve gems. Their chief dwelling-place was the city of Tirion upon Túna.[2] Among the wisest of the Noldor was Rúmil, creator of the first writing system and author of many books of lore.[3] Fëanor, son of Finwë and Míriel, was the greatest of their craftsmen, "mightiest in skill of word and of hand",[2] and creator of the Silmarils.[4]

Melkor harboured a hatred for the Elves, despising their joy and blaming them for his downfall, and he sought to deceive them by feigning friendship. The Noldor, eager for knowledge, listened to him most readily of the kindreds. So he went often among them, offering counsel, and the Noldor hearkened to him.[3] During this time, Fëanor created the Silmarils, and Melkor, desiring them greatly, sought ever to spread ideas and rumours among the Noldor. But amid his seemingly good advice, Melkor sowed lies to turn one House of the Noldor against another, and in the end the peace in Tirion was poisoned. After threatening his half-brother Fingolfin, believing falsely that Fingolfin intended to usurp the throne, Fëanor was banished from Tirion by the Valar. With him went his seven sons, and his father Finwë, King of the Noldor. Fingolfin remained behind as the ruler of the Noldor of Tirion.[4]

But Melkor had yet other designs to accomplish. Soon after, with the aid of Ungoliant, he destroyed the Two Trees,[5] and coming to Formenos he killed Finwë, stole the Silmarils, and departed from Aman. Fëanor, driven by grief and desiring vengeance, rebelled against the Valar by coming back into Tirion and making a speech before the Noldor, in which he persuaded them to leave Valinor, follow Melkor to Middle-earth, and wage war against him for the recovery of the Silmarils. He swore a terrible oath, as did his sons, to pursue Melkor and reclaim the Silmarils at all costs. Fëanor then claimed the kingship of the Noldor since his father was dead. Although the greater part of the Noldor still held Fingolfin as their leader, they followed Fëanor into Exile.[6]

Exile[edit | edit source]

Main article: Exile of the Noldor

Fëanor led the Noldor from Tirion, his host in the front, followed by the hosts of Fingolfin and Finarfin. He led them to Alqualondë, seeking to persuade the Teleri to join with the Noldor in rebellion. But the Teleri did not wish to depart with the Noldor, nor aid them with the providing of ships. Angered, Fëanor assembled his host, and they took the ships by force, committing the first kinslaying. The host of Fingolfin, coming upon the battle and mistakenly believing the Teleri had attacked the Noldor, joined in the struggle, and many of the Teleri were slain. Taking the ships, the Noldor continued their journey northwards. A messenger from the Valar came later and delivered the Doom of Mandos, pronouncing judgement on the Noldor for the Kinslaying and rebellion and warning that if they proceeded their oath would betray them, and moreover they would be slain or tormented by grief. At this, some of the Noldor who had no hand in the Kinslaying, including Finarfin son of Finwë and Indis, returned to Valinor, and the Valar forgave them. Other Noldor led by Fingolfin remained determined to leave Valinor for Middle-earth, not desiring to be separated from their kin and fearing the Valar's judgement, for some among them had participated in the kinslaying. Among those that continued were Fingon, Turgon, Finrod, and Galadriel.[6]

The Noldor suffered greatly during the cold journey, and began to mutter against Fëanor. Fearing treachery, Fëanor took his sons and those he deemed loyal to him, departing in the ships and crossing the sea to Middle-earth. He left behind those led by Fingolfin, his half-brother. Upon his arrival in Middle-earth, Fëanor had the ships burned. When the Noldor led by Fingolfin discovered their betrayal, they went farther north and crossed the sea at the treacherous Helcaraxë, at the cost of many lives.[6]

In Middle-earth[edit | edit source]

Arrival[edit | edit source]

Fëanor's company encamped in the region of Mithrim and was soon attacked by the host of Morgoth. The battle became known as a Dagor-nuin-Giliath, and was a great victory for the Noldor. But Fëanor rode too far from his host during the battle, pursuing the remnant of the Orcs in a vengeful mood. Several Balrogs, including their Lord Gothmog, issued from Angband and fought him. Despite battling valiantly, Fëanor was mortally wounded and would have been captured and taken to Angband had it not been for the swift arrival of his sons. However, Fëanor died whilst being carried back to his own people.[7]

Because Fëanor had taken the ships and left the Noldor led by his half-brother on the west side of the sea, much enmity remained between the Houses of the Noldor. The feud was at last settled when Fingon, son of Fingolfin, saved Maedhros, Fëanor's son, from Morgoth's imprisonment. Maedhros was due to succeed Fëanor, but he regretted his part in the Kinslaying and waived his claim to the kingship of the Noldor to his uncle Fingolfin, who became the first High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth. The House of Fëanor became known as the Dispossessed after this.[7]

Kingdom of the Noldor[edit | edit source]
King Fingon and his lords by Mysilvergreen

In Beleriand, the Noldor made alliance with the Sindar[8] and later with the Edain.[9] Fingolfin reigned long in the land of Hithlum, and his younger son Turgon later ruled in his Hidden City of Gondolin. The Sons of Fëanor, under Maedhros, ruled the lands of East Beleriand, while Finrod Felagund, Finarfin's son, was the King of Nargothrond.[8]

Fingolfin's reign was marked by warfare against Morgoth and in F.A. 60, after their victory in Dagor Aglareb, the Noldor besieged Angband, the fortress of Morgoth.[10] Yet in F.A. 455,[11] the Siege was broken by Morgoth in the Dagor Bragollach, and many of the Noldor were slain or scattered. Fingolfin rode in despair to Angband and challenged Morgoth to single combat. He dealt Morgoth seven wounds but perished, and was succeeded by his eldest son Fingon, who became the second High King of the Noldor.[12]

Demise[edit | edit source]

In F.A. 472,[13] Maedhros organised an attack on Morgoth and this led to the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. Betrayed by the new-come Easterlings, the forces of the Noldor, Sindar and Edain were utterly defeated. Fingon the Valiant was slain; he was succeeded by his brother Turgon as the third High King of the Noldor.[14]

Morgoth scattered the remaining forces of the Sons of Fëanor, and in F.A. 495, Nargothrond was also defeated.[15] Turgon had withdrawn to Gondolin which was kept hidden from both Morgoth and other Elves.[14] In F.A. 510, Gondolin was betrayed by Maeglin and sacked.[16] During the attack, Turgon was killed; however, many of his people escaped and found their way to the Mouths of Sirion. Turgon was the last surviving male descendant of Fingolfin, so Gil-galad, great-grandson of Finarfin, became the fourth and last High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth.[17]

Finally, the Host of the West came down to Middle-earth and in F.A. 545 to 583, the War of Wrath was fought and Morgoth was cast into the Void.[18][19] As a result of the cataclysmic war, Beleriand sank into the sea, except for a part of Ossiriand (Lindon),[20] and a few islands.[21] The defeat of Morgoth marked the end of the First Age and the start of the Second.[18]

Second Age[edit | edit source]

Most of the Noldor sailed back to Tol Eressea at the end of the First Age; but some, like Galadriel daughter of Finarfin, or Celebrimbor, grandson of Fëanor, refused the pardon of the Valar and remained in Middle-earth. Gil-galad, last heir of the kings of the Noldor in exile, and acknowledged as "High King of the Elves of the West",[22] founded a new kingdom at Lindon, and ruled throughout the Second Age, longer than any of his predecessors.

Gil-galad's people were mainly Noldor[23] (especially from Gondolin, but also from the Houses of Finarfin and Fëanor); early in the Second Age, most of the Noldor that remained in Middle-earth lived in Lindon.[22] During this time, the few Exiles that remained also lived in Lindon.[24]

In S.A. 750, some Noldor learned that mithril was found in Moria under the Misty Mountains, so they went to Eregion. Because of their legacy as craftsmen, they were less unfriendly to the Dwarves than the Sindar. They became the Gwaith-i-Mírdain under Celebrimbor and formed the closest friendship ever between Elves and Dwarves.[22] Although war soon befell Eriador along with Celebrimbor's death, remnants of Eregion, including many Noldor, either followed Elrond to establish Imladris or fled to Lothlórien.

Gil-galad perished in the War of the Alliance at the end of the Second Age, and so ended the High Kingship of the Noldor. He fathered no children; however, the line of the High-elven kings, including the High Kingship of the Noldor, was alone preserved in the descendants of Elros and Elrond.[25]

Later history[edit | edit source]

After the fall of Gil-galad (during the time of the Kings of Arnor), there was still a remnant of the Noldor who dwelt at the Grey Havens of further inland in Lindon who constituted the largest population of Noldor remaining in Middle-earth.[26] However, in Eriador, the chief dwelling of the Noldor was Imladris.[27]

In the late Third Age, the Noldor in Middle-earth were greatly diminished, as most had passed over the Sea.[28][29] If any remained in the early Fourth Age, they were few.[26]

After the Dominion of Men was taken up by Aragorn II Elessar, the last of the Noldor set sail from Mithlond and left Middle-earth forever.[27]

Rulers[edit | edit source]

Main article: King of the Noldor
In Valinor

The first two kings were not distinguished as being in Valinor, since the entire population of the Noldor lived in Valinor at that time.

  1. Finwë, first King of the Noldor.
  2. Fëanor, first son of Finwë; claimed the title after his father's death.
Finarfin, third son of Finwë, remained in Aman after the Exile of the Noldor and ruled the remnant of his people in Tirion, although he never officialy claimed this title.
In Middle-earth
Fëanor nominally ruled in Middle-earth for a few months before his fall in the Dagor-nuin-Giliath, although he never established a realm.
  1. Fingolfin, second son of Finwë; held to be the first High King of the Noldor by the majority of the Noldor after Maedhros son of Fëanor gave up his claims.
  2. Fingon, first son of Fingolfin.
  3. Turgon, second son of Fingolfin.
  4. Gil-galad, great-grandson of Finarfin.

Characteristics[edit | edit source]

The Noldor were the Second Clan of the Elves in both order and size, the other clans being the Vanyar, a smaller group, and the Teleri, a much larger one. The Noldor typically had grey eyes and dark hair, save for the members of the golden-haired House of Finarfin.[30][31]

From their beginning the Noldor (meaning "Those who Know") were always distinguished, by their knowledge of the things that are and were in this world, and by their desire to learn more.[32] They were the most skillful of these Clans, and were specially loved by Aulë, from whom they learned many things, although less than they wanted to know. Their skills included the developing of their language, the building of great towers and halls, and gem extraction.[33] One of their most famous artefacts were the crystallic Fëanorian lamps; the craft to make them was lost to Middle-earth when they left.

The Noldor were the proudest of the Elves; in the words of the Sindar, they came to Middle-earth because "they needed room to quarrel in". It was this pride that Melkor used to turn the Houses of Fëanor and Fingolfin against each other. The pride of the Noldor also led to their Fall and Exile (and their continued quarrels in Middle-earth, as noted by the Sindar).

Of the three clans of the Eldar they are also the people who most favours swords and shields as their weapons.[34][35]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The singular form of the Quenya noun is Noldo and the adjective is Noldorin.

noldo is derived from the Elvish root NGOL.[36]

Other names[edit | edit source]

The Noldor were called Golodhrim (pron. [ɡoˈloðrim]) or Gódhellim ([ɡoˈðelːim]) by Sindarin-speakers and Goldoi by Falmari of Tol Eressëa;[37] they are also known as Deep Elves ("deep" as in "wise, learned"). Additionally, the Sindarin singular Golodh ([ˈɡoloð]) could be pluralized Golodhrim, Gelydh ([ˈɡelyð], later [ˈɡelið]) or more archaicly Gœlydh ([ˈɡølyð]).[source?][38]

The Noldor were known as the "Deep-elves".[39] Other names used for the Noldor included the Wise, the Golden, the Valiant, the Sword-elves, the Elves of the Earth, the Foes of Melkor, the Skilled of Hand, the Jewel-wrights, the Companions of Men, and the Followers of Finwë.[40] It is also told that the Noldor were often called the Lispers by other native speakers of Quenya (such as the Vanyar), since they retained the medial "th" in their speech.[41]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

Main article: Gnomes

In the earliest versions of Tolkien's Legendarium, the Noldor were called 'Noldoli' or 'Gnomes'. They were still called Gnomes in early editions of The Hobbit. They were also the ones who spoke the language that later became Sindarin (then called Gnomish or Noldorin).

The spelling Ñoldor rather than Noldor was used by Tolkien in his later writings (the character ñ signifying the velar nasal, the sound found in the English word "sing"), but even in earlier versions the name Ñoldo came from a Primitive Quendian stem *ñgolodō, which led to Ñoldo in Quenya and Golodh in Sindarin.

See also[edit | edit source]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "X. Of Dwarves and Men", "The Atani and their Languages"
  2. 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië"
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor"
  4. 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Darkening of Valinor"
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Flight of the Noldor"
  7. 7.0 7.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Return of the Noldor"
  8. 8.0 8.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beleriand and its Realms"
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of Men into the West"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "The Grey Annals": §78
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "The Grey Annals": §145
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin"
  13. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "The Grey Annals": §219
  14. 14.0 14.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad"
  15. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "The Grey Annals": §275
  16. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: V. The Tale of Years", p. 351
  17. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin"
  18. 18.0 18.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: V. The Tale of Years", p. 346
  19. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"
  20. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Akallabêth: The Downfall of Númenor"
  21. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Doriath"
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B: The Tale of Years (Chronology of the Westlands)
  23. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "X. Of Dwarves and Men", "Notes", Note 65
  24. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "II. The Appendix on Languages"
  25. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Númenor"
  26. 26.0 26.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur"
  27. 27.0 27.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
  28. J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 347, (dated 17 December 1972)
  29. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Shadow of the Past"
  30. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "On Translation"
  31. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), entry Q noldo, p. 125
  32. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Beren and Lúthien, "Beren and Lúthien: [Unnamed introduction]"
  33. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (I) The First Phase: 5. Of Eldanor and the Princes of the Eldalië", p. 176 (see also the commentary on §40, p. 181)
  34. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part Two: Valinor and Middle-earth before The Lord of the Rings, VI. Quenta Silmarillion", p. 215 footnote to §29
  35. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part Two: Valinor and Middle-earth before The Lord of the Rings, VI. Quenta Silmarillion", p. 228 footnote to §49
  36. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: C. The Clan-names, with notes on other names for divisions of the Eldar", p. 383
  37. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names", golodh
  38. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names", Golodhrim
  39. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Flies and Spiders"
  40. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (I) The First Phase: 3. Of the Coming of the Elves", p. 164
  41. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Quenya Phonology", in Parma Eldalamberon XIX (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 34
Elves
(Quendi · People of the Stars · Firstborn · Elder Kindred)
Three Kindreds:
(Eldar · Eldalië · Edhil)
 Vanyar (Fair-elves · Minyar) · Noldor (Deep-elves · Tatyar) · Teleri (Lindar · Nelyar)
Calaquendi:
(High-elves · Amanyar)
 Vanyar · Noldor · Falmari
Úmanyar:  Sindar (Grey-elves · Eglath · Falathrim) · Nandor (Green-elves · Silvan Elves)
 Moriquendi:  Úmanyar · Avari (Cuind · Hwenti · Kindi · Kinn-lai · Penni · Windan)
See also:  Awakening of the Elves · Sundering of the Elves · Great Journey