The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Fingolfin was born in the West during the Years of the Trees; his line survived into the Fourth Age
Origins
The descendants of Fingolfin, second son of Finwë
Race
Division
Culture
Settlements
Fingolfin ruled Hithlum from the fortress of Barad Eithel; his descendants dwelt in many places across Middle-earth
Pronunciation
Fingolfin is pronounced 'fingo'lfin'
Meaning
The meaning of Fingolfin is uncertain, but it can be interpreted as 'Finwë, wise (son of) Finwë'
Title
The elder line of the house represented the hereditary High Kings of the Noldor

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 5 July 1998
  • This entry is complete

House of Fingolfin

Royal house of the Noldor in Middle-earth

Fingolfin
Fingon
Turgon
Elenwë
Aredhel
Eöl
Gil-galad
Idril
Tuor
Maeglin
Eärendil
Elwing
Celebrían
Elrond
Elros
Elladan
Elrohir
Kings of Númenor
Lords of Andúnië
Kings of Arnor
Kings of Arthedain
Chieftains of the Dúnedain
Arwen
Aragorn

Names shown in bold were accounted High King of the Noldor. Not all those shown in this family tree were considered part of the House of Fingolfin - later generations are shown to illustrate the importance of this House in the history of Middle-earth.

The House of the descendants and followers of Fingolfin, second son of Finwë, who was accounted High King of the Noldor after the death of his half-brother Fëanor.

During the early years after the Return of the Noldor to Middle-earth, the House of Fingolfin held the lands to the northwest of Beleriand; Hithlum, Nevrast and Gondolin. Of these, the city of Gondolin held until I 510, but Hithlum was overrun by Morgoth in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, where Fingon was slain (Fingolfin had already met his end in the Dagor Bragollach). The remnant of the House, including Fingon's son Ereinion Gil-galad, were succoured by Círdan the Shipwright in the Havens.

After the Nirnaeth, Tuor son of Huor was sent as a messenger to Turgon in Gondolin, and there wedded Turgon's daughter Idril. Thus was the blood of Men introduced into the House, and the descendants of their line were named half-elven, given the choice of whether they were to considered Men or Elves. All these descendants chose to be considered among the Firstborn, except Elrond's brother Elros (who became the first King of Númenor and was a direct ancestor of Aragorn Elessar), and Elrond's daughter Arwen (Queen to Aragorn at the end of the Third Age).

After the Fall of Gondolin, the survivors of the House lived as exiles at the Mouths of Sirion or in the Falas, until Eärendil the Mariner, descendant of Fingolfin's second son Turgon, sailed into the West to seek the aid of the Valar, who overthrew Morgoth in the War of Wrath in I 590.

The last High King of the Noldor, Ereinion Gil-galad, remained in Middle-earth. He dwelt in Lindon with his great-nephew Elrond and Círdan the Shipwright, and marched with the Last Alliance to Mordor at the end of the Second Age. There he fell in the Siege of Barad-dûr, and the royal line of the House of Fingolfin came to an end in Middle-earth.


Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 5 July 1998
  • This entry is complete

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