High King Gil-galad

[Gil-Galad]

Gil-Galad’s biography



Ereinion, later called Gil-Galad, is the sixth and the last High King of Noldor in Middle-Earth. He is the High King who ruled over more than any other of his noble kin in Middle-Earth and no doubt Ereinion is the most famous and the greatest among all Noldor kings in Middle-Earth. He is a person who embodies all possible good features of Elves. Gil-Galad is a character who possesses great wisdom, perspicacity, an enterprising person who leads the desire for progress Elves have. And having in mind that from the coming of Elves in Middle-Earth they live in regress Gil-Galad manages to slacken its race. Ereinion becomes a symbol of all Noldor who want to stay in Middle-Earth, a symbol for Elven love towards the mortal lands. That is why after his death :

... they (elves) attempted nothing new, leaving in a memory of past

[ROTK]
and most of them returned to the Blessed Realms.

Probably the most interesting thing about Ereinion’s personality is the question of his parentage. In the published Silmarillion he is the only some of Fingon, of the house of Fingolfin, High King of the Noldor. Thus, according to the book, Gil-Galad is Galadriel’s second cousin, Idril’s first cousin, Earendil’s second cousin and third cousin to Elrond and Elros, that means he is a relative to Elendil and his sons in a way. But that’s all according to the published book.
Actually there are many different variants concerning the question “who is Gil-Galad’s daddy”. To find the true answer a serious research in all HoME books is required.
Here, I want to thank Inderjit S for his amazing analysis in the thread “Who’s Gil-Galad’s daddy?”, which clarifies this question :

Who's Gil-Galad's daddy?

Gil-Galad’s parentage was one of the most controversial, contradictory and changeable aspects of Tolkien’s work on the Silmarillion. We can see that in ‘The Return of The Shadow’ (HoME 6) that in early drafting’s Gil-Galad was a descendant of Feanor:

“ And he made an alliance with the elf king of those lands…Gilgalad…a descendant of Feanor..” - HoME 6;‘At Rivendell’

Of who he was descended from ,we don’t know, but Tolkien tells us that of all the sons of Feanor, only Caranthir, Maglor and Curufin (Father of Celebrimbor) were married, though I doubt whether the genealogies of the Finweans had been developed much at this point. (The early drafts of LoTR) At first I thought he may be a Feanorian because Tolkien wanted Gil-galad and Celebrimbor to be related, but in these versions, Celebrimbor is a descendant of Daeron, the Sindarin loremaster. (I’m unsure as to if he was a brother of Luthien here, as he was in BoLT.)

But Tolkien began to shift away from this and by the time of the end of LoTR he had been made into a son of Finrod. (Who here is known as Inglor or his later nickname Felagund)

“ But fearing now that all strong places were doomed to fall at last before the might of Morgoth, he (Finrod) sent away his wife Meril to her own folk in Eglorest, and with her went their son…Gilgalad starlight he was called…” - HoME 11;The Later Quenta Silmarillion.

We can see that this conception (that Gil-Galad was the son of Finrod) was unchanged for some time, as HoME 5 shows us:

“Bu Elrond the Half-Elven remained with Gilgalad son of Inglor Felagund…”

But when the story of Finrod and Amarie was developed (Grey Annals, HoME 11, also present in HoME 10), and her not being able to go with him into exile, a new story had to be developed.

So he was made into the son of Orodreth. Originally Orodreth was a son of Finarfin, but Unfinished Tales tells us that Tolkien wanted to put him down a generation:

“ For some reason unknown to me, my father displaced the second king of Nargothrond and made him a member of the same family in the next generation.” - Unfinished tales; Of Galadriel and Celeborn.

The parentage of Orodreth was also switched, but only twice. Firstly he was a son of Finrod, and his name was ‘Artanaro Rhodothir’ (HoME 12), but Tolkien ,realising his mistake, changed his parentage to Angrod. (Aegnor not being married, as he fell in love with Andreth, the Beorian wise-woman, so his parentage was assigned to the only son of Finarfin available.)

I’m going to side-track a bit here, if you don’t mind and discuss the idea that Fingon was the father of Gil-galad, which is stated in the Published Silmarillion:

“Fingon in sorrow took the lordship of house of Fingolfin; but his young son Ereinion ( who was after named Gil-Galad) he sent to the havens. “ -The Silmarillion; ‘Of the ruin of Beleriand’

And it seems this idea of Chris Tolkien was developed from this ephemeral (short-lived) idea in The Grey Annals:

“ But his young son Findor Gilgalad he sent to the havens” -HoME 11; The Grey Annals

But this, was though, a forgivable mistake by Chris Tolkien, since a lot of the published ‘Silmarillion’ is derived from the ‘Grey Annals’ it was a mistake that he would rue. (And not his only one in context of writing the Published Silmarillion. For any of you who would like to join in discussions to develop the Silmarillion as Professor Tolkien intended it, visit this link: http://forum.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bi...i?ubb=forum&f=8)

So, we can see that Tolkien’s last take on Gil-galad’s family tree is as follows:

“Finarfin-> Angrod -> Orodreth-> Gil-Galad and Finduilas.” (HoME 12; The Shibboleth of Feanor)

THAT is Tolkien’s final word on it. Gil-Galad IS NOT the son of Fingon, as the Published Silmarillion states, and so Gil-galad’s father is most defiantly Orodreth, son of Angrod.

[Gil-Galad]

Ereinion was born in fifth century of the First Age. There is not enough information about him and his actions before the War of Wrath and the end of First Age and what is more, some of this information is controversial because of Ereinion’s realtionship with Fingon as his son. During Dragor Bragollach Fingolfin was slain, Fingon became High King and Gil-Galad was sent to the Havens, under Cirdan’s safekeeping. From that time the strong friendship between the young elf and the most ancient from the Elven Lords was a fact. Since Gil-Galad dwelt with Cirdan from an early age, the Nodorin King must have been greatly influenced by Cirdan who was as brave as and valiant as any Elven king.

In 474 the Havens were attacked by Morgoth’s forces and those who survived escaped by sea and lead by Cirdan retreated to Balar and built the Havens of Sirion. At that time Gil-Galad was still a child. The life of the young elf was saved and a thousands of years later thanks to that Gil-Galad became the strongest stay for all elves in Middle-Earth.

22 years later, in 496 Glaurung invaded West Beleriant and in the battle of Tumhalad Nargothrond was destroyed Gil-Galad’s father - Orodreth and his sister Finduilas died. That was one of the worst moments for the young elf.

In the Midsummer of 511 Gondolin fell and Turgon was slain. Tuor, Idril and Earendil went to the Havens of Sirion searching for Cirdan and Gil-Galad’s protection. There, Ereinion Gil-Galad became the sixth High King of the Noldor in Middle-Earth - the last to hold this title:

and when the tidings came to Balar of the fall of Gondolin and the death of Turgon, Ereinion Gil-Galad, son of Fingon (it should be Orodreth) was named High King of the Noldor and the Middle-Earth.

[S]

But Morgoth thought that his triumph was fulfilled...and trouble it no more. If he knew of the dwelling by the waters of Sirion he gave no sign, building his time, and waiting upon the working of oath and lie. Yet by Sirion and the sea there grew up an Elven-folk, the gleanings of Doriath and Gondolin.

[S]

That gave a great chance to the young Elven king to gain some experience. Thus a great opportunity was provided to Ereinion to strengthen the weak Elven positions.

But the seeds of evil were growing, the sons of Feanor assaulted the exiles of Gondolin, at the Mouths of the Sirion. Gil-Galad and Cirdan sailed to help the exiles but were too late. There, Ereinion remained until the end of the First Age of the Sun:

Too late the ships of Cirdan and Gil-Galad the High King came hasting to the aid of the Elves of Sirion; and Elwing was gone, and her sons. Then such few of that people as did not perish in the assault joined themselves to Gil-Galad, and went with him to Balar....

[S]

Till the end of the First Age there isn’t any other pieces of information about the last High King and his actions but together with Elrond, Cirdan, Galadriel , Sauron, he played one of the main roles in the events of the Second Age of the Son.

[Gil-Galad]

Following the destruction of Beleriand in the War of Wrath, Gil-Galad remained in Middle-Earth (like Cirdan, Galadriel, Elrond, Celeborn) while many Elves sailed across the sea to Valinor. In year 1 of the Second Age Gil-Galad founded the Grey Havens and a kingdom in Lindon (between the Blue Mountains and the Sea). There the Elves prospered, if we can say so, under his guidance and leadership.

For about 700 years Gil-Galad’s kingdom was prospering and it seemed that the Shadow is defeated forever. During these Ereinion showed himself as a talented, wise, enterprising, politic king. He kept perfect relationships with Galadriel, the Dwarves from Moria. What is of greatest importance, he started contacts with Numenoreans and became close friends with Tar - Aldarion. Thus, two men, who can be said to be persons with progressive, renaissance, way of thinking, laid the foundation of the future Alliance between Men and Elves.

About 750 began the building of the chief city of Eregion, Ost-in-Edhil. Thanks to the last High King’s actions the city became a stronghold for Elves and everything good in Middle-Earth.
In 882 Tar - Aldarion returned to Numenor carrying a letter from the Noldor king. That letter embodies Gil-Galad’s wisdom and foresight. He felt that evil was not death and that it was arising. As a wise ruler he realized Elves couldn’t oppose it alone. That is why he asked Tar - Meneldur and his son for help:

When he (Sauron) felt himself to be secure he sent emissaries to Eriador, and finally, in about the year 1200 of the Second Age, came himself, wearing the fairest form that he could contrive.

[UT]

Sauron tried to gain Eldar’s trust but Gil-Galad, Cirdan, Elrond, Galadriel resisted his efforts to tempt them, for they saw him for his true self. But some were deceived. The wisdom of the Elven lords unmasked the Maia. After that Ereinion continued to repel all Sauron’s attempts to spread out his influence:

aOnly to Lindon he (Sauron) did not come, for Gil-Galad and Elrond doubted him and his fair - seeming, and though they knew not who in truth he was they would not admit him to that land.

[UT]

About 1500 the Rings of Power were forged, and the three Elven Rings were kept safe from Sauron’s influence and hidden in 1693. Nenya was gifted to Galadriel and she advised Celebrimbor to give Vilya and Narya to Gil-Galad. This fact shows the importance of the last High King. Even the wisest among Elves confessed that Ereinion’s authority, abilities and personal qualities were indisputable. Galadriel realized only the last High King was able to protect the other two rings.
Unfortunately:

...Sauron learned of the repentance and revolt of Celebrimbor his disguise fell and his wrath was revealed, and gathering a great force over Calenardhon (Rohan) to the invasion of Eriador in the year 1695.

[UT]

Thus the First War against Sauron began. Gil-Galad led the Elven forces. He sent on Elven army to Eregion under Elron’s command, but Sauron kept advancing and, though Celeborn joined his army to that of Elrond and though the dwarves from Moria helped too, Eregion was taken. Elrond had to retread with remnant of the Nolder and founded the refuge of Imladris in 1697. Two years later, in 1699, Sauron overran Eriador. The folk was shifted to Lindon.

Here we should notice that due to Gil-Galad indirect actions Elrond survived in Imladris, though besieged. The good relationships Erenion had with the dwarves from Moria and with Celeborn and Galadriel gave their fruits in the very last minute, and Elrond was able to retreat and what is more, Sauron’s armies were weakened in a way:

But his (Sauron) force was weakened by the necessity of leaving a strong detachment to contain Elrond.

[UT]

That all happened due to Gil-Galad’s long years of diplomacy and good relationships with other Elves and dwarves. And when everything seemed to be hopeless Gil-Galad turned to Numenor for help. The good relationships he had established during Tar - Aldarion’s reign, gave their fruits and Tar - Minyatur sent a great navy from Numenor to Lindon. Finally, with the aid of the Numenoreans, Eriador was freed in 1700 - 1701:

The army that was besieging Imladris was caught between Elrond and Gil-Galad, and utterly destroyed. Eriador was cleared of the enemy but lay largely in ruins.

Thus, once again Gil-Galad showed himself as ingenious, diplomatic and foreseeing ruler. Almost 1000 years earlier he had foreseen that only the Elven strength was not enough to oppose the evil that had been arising. That is why he had done everything possible for the good relationships with Numenoreans and in the very last moments they destroyed Sauron’s forces. Gil-Galad’s actions literally saved Middle-Earth. Something which previous Noldor High Kings hadn’t done.
After 1700 - 1701’s events the first White Council took place and Imladris was named as the Eastern stronghold.

At that also Gil-galad gave Nenya ,the Blue Ring to Elrond,and appointed him to be his vice-regent in Eriador;but the Red Ring he kept,until he gave it to Cirdan when he set out from Lindon in the fays of the Last Alliance.

Having in mind Ereinion's status as a High king and indisputable leader of Elves in Eriador it was possible he to have the final word about all question discussed at the White Council.It should be noticed the rightness of the decision Gil-Galad and co. took.Elrond had proved that he was a capable commander and Ereinion assessed his qualities.Probably the Last High king foresaw that someday Earendil's son would be the last opponent of the evil.Gil-Galad gave Vilya because he realized that would be better if the rings are divided,because it would be much more difficult for Sauron to take them from three different elven lords.What is more,Ereinion did not have even a grain of egoism in his heart.Absolutely correctly he gave Narya to Cirdan.He left the Ring of fire he had,because he realized that if he was slain the ring would be taken by Sauron.All these actions show Gil-Galad's greatness and glory.He did everything for his people and took decisions which other did not take later(for example Galadriel)The only thing he was living about was for the good and prosperity of his elves.

[Gil-Galad]

After the first war with Sauron,the Elven kingdom,under Gil-Galad's rule was left to develop in peace.For around 1600 it fluorished in Middle-earth,extending to the borders of Greenwood.At that time Sauron was buasy with Numenoreans.He caused their destruction,but:

..himself went down into the abyss.

But his spirit arose and fled back on a dark wind to Middle-earth,seeking a home.There he found that the power of Gil-Galad had grown great in the years of his absence,and it was spread now ever over wide regions of the north and west,and had passed beyond the Misty Mountains and the Great River even to the borders of Greenwood the Great ,and was drawing nigh,to the strong places where once he had dwelt secure.

[S]

Once again we see Gil-Galad as an emodiment of the progress of the Elven civilization.Although elves in Middle-earth were doomed,he managed to develop their civilization and years of prosperity came.

After the downfall of Numenor,Elendil fled and reached Lindon,being welcomed by Gil-Galad as a friend.The Elven king did not forget his friends despite the Shadow which had caused the destructio of Numenor.

It is said that the toweras of Emyl Beraid were not built indeed by the Exiles of Numenor,but were raised by Gil-Galad for Elendil,his friend.

[S]

However Sauron returned.

Then Sauron withdrew to his forttress in the Black Land and mediatated war.

[S]

Thus started the greatest war after the War of Wrath.A war in which Gil-Galad,together with Elendil and others did a real feat of arms.

[Gil-Galad]

The legend of Gil-galad and Elendil's war against Sauron at the end of the Second Age of Middle-earth has been the subject of much research and speculation among Tolkien's fans. As with all aspects of his mythology, the few mentions of this great struggle imply a depth which draws the imagination toward a fuller account which surely must have existed in the author's mind, if not in any of his extant writings. Most of us are familiar with the outline of the war, and many can sketch out the events in a general progression from the first assault on Minas Ithil to the final combat on Orodruin.

Some of what follows is necessarily speculative. It cannot be otherwise for there are gaps in the record. Yet Tolkien sprinkled here and there pieces of information concerning this great war in which:

all living things were divided...save the Elves only

[S]

First of all,during Sauron's absence in Middle-earth Gil-Galad had recovered hias ancient power.He managed to unite all the Elves in purpose and to strengthen them.What is more,Ereinion showed himself as a brialliant strategist and helped the Faithful to establish two kingdoms which though nutured by Gil-Galad's power provided Lindon with a stronger buffer against invasion that either Eregion ot Imladris ever had.

Ereinion;s actions and decisions were well-thought.As Elrond was his vice-regent in Eriador,he may have represented the High King of the Elves of the West in his dealings with other Elven lords.Thus even Oropher,an independent,strong-willed,unfriendly to both the Noldor and Dwarves joined the Alliance against Sauron,although he refused to march under Gil-Galad's banner.But is should be noticed that due to Ereinion's wise decision.making Elrond vice-regent,Oreopher was won over.

Another mighty ally was won over due to Gil-Galad's diplomacy and ability to establish good realtionships.That was Durin IV,Lord of Khazad-dum.

The actual was began in 3429.The next year:

Elendil and Gil-Galad took a council together,for they perceived that Sauron would grow too strong and would overcome all his enemies one by one,if they did not unite against him.Therefore they made that league which is called the Last Alliance...

Once again Gil-Galad showed himself as a great diplomat who was thinking about all negative possibilities that could happen.The council must have been quite a large gathering of lords from Arnor, Gondor, Lindon, and other lands. Besides Gil-galad and Elendil we can guess that Isildur and Cirdan were in attendance, and perhaps also Elrond, Celeborn, Galadriel, Gildor Inglorion, and Glorfindel. Isildur's sons Elendur, Aratan, and Ciryon might also have been in attendance; at the very least Elendur was probably there.

There may also have been emissaries from the Vales of Anduin (if not Durin IV, Oropher, and Amdir themselves). Possible emissaries from the Elves would include Thranduil and Amroth. However, it may be that the Alliance originally included only Lindon, Arnor, Gondor, and Imladris.

The fact how many lords of Middle-earth were there proves the seriousness of the situation and the highest status Gil-Galad had in Middle-earth.

Gil-galad and Cirdan marched east from Lindon in 3431 and stopped in Imladris for three years,apparently to train and equip their armies,and perhaps also to persuade Oropher,Amdir and Durin to join the Alliance,if they had not yet done so.Again a brilliant desicion,having in mind that the preparation for war is always of greatest importance for gaining victory.

There were two probable lines of march for the Alliance armies when they finally began to move in 3434.There were two possible routes for Gil-Galad and Elendil's army.Perhaps the crossed Anduin by the Men-I-Naugrim,using the fors where there had once been an ancient bridge,or they passed west of Lorinand toward Parth Celebrant.

Although we have no record of the Battle of Dagorlad itself, we can infer some probable alignments. Gil-galad, being the leader of the Alliance (or, more likely, the most senior of the four "equals"-Gil-Galad,Elendil,Durin,Oropher), probably commanded the center. Since Elrond was Gil-galad's herald in this campaign, it may be that Gil-galad's flanks were commanded by Celeborn and Cirdan (or Glorfindel or Gildor Inglorion may have commanded a "Noldorin" flank).

Gil-galad may have played a cautious strategy, holding back from assaulting Sauron's line.But since Sauron ultimately gave up the field, his right flank must have collapsed under the assault of the other Alliance armies,which were not destroyed as happened to more than half of Amdir's army.

Gil-galad and the Alliance broke into Mordor, pushing Sauron all the way out of Udun and into Barad-dur, where they took up the seven-year siege.

Sauron's defense of the Barad-dur was not passive. He sent out many sorties. The fortress itself used missile weapons to inflict great losses on the armies of the Alliance, including the taking of Anarion's life in 3440.


Elrond's brief description of the last struggle between Sauron and his foes implies that Gil-galad had taken up a position on Orodruin. This seems to be quite a distance from Barad-dur, but it may be that during the years of the siege Gil-galad had to contend with forces outside the Barad-dur in the lands to the east and south.

Gil-Galad was not only a great strategist,but also a great fighter:

His healm and mail,and his shield overlaid with silver and set with a device of white stars,shone from afar like a star in sunlight or moonlight,and could be seen by Evish eyes a great distance if they stood upon a height.

Against Aeglos the spear of Gil-Galad none could stand..

It thus seems that Sauron was either able to take Gil-galad by surprise or he led a last, massive charge against Orodruin. Once Sauron reached the slopes of the fiery mountain, only Elendil stood close enough to directly aid the Elf-king, though Elrond, Cirdan, and Isildur were closer than others. How did Sauron manage to get so close to Gil-galad? Did the Elven-king perhaps offer Sauron a challenge to single combat (like his grandfather Fingolfin had challenged Morgoth)? Did Sauron hope to murder Gil-galad and thus discourage his enemies?

In the event, Gil-galad fell before Sauron's assault and it was Elendil who struck the "mortal" blow that felled the Dark Lord. Sauron must nonetheless have retained enough strength and presence of mind to throw himself upon Elendil, since it was the heat of his body which killed the Dunadan king.

The final combat must have resulted in a near complete loss of will among the surviving Orcs and Trolls. If any Easterlings or Haradrim continued to exist outside Barad-dur, they either fled or fought until they were destroyed, as happened among Sauron's forces at the end of the Third Age. But the Barad-dur itself had to be razed, and fortresses were built in the Ephel Duath and Udun to maintain a watch on Mordor.

Most of the original leaders of the Alliance never saw the end they worked so hard to achieve: Gil-galad, Elendil, Oropher, Amdir, and Anarion all perished. The Elvish forces suffered grievous losses, as apparently did Arnor's host, too. Nothing is said of what happened to Khazad-dum's army and king.

Tolkien wrote that the Third Age was :

the fading years of the Eldar. For long they were at peace, wielding the Three Rings while Sauron slept and the One Ring was lost; but they attempted nothing new, living in memory of past.

and yes,he was right.Without their greatest king nothing was the same.There were nobody who could give them an impetus to continue their strive for progress.The High King who could do that was death.The symbol of love towards Middle-earth,the symbol of the Elven desire to stay in Middle-earth was slain............

[Gil-Galad]

The Fall of Gil-galad

translated into Sindarin by Ryszard Derdzinski

O Gil-galad i Edhelchír
dim linnar i thelegain:
Im Belegaer a Hithaeglir
Aran ardh vethed vain a lain.

Gariel maegech Gil-galad,
Thôl palan-gennen, ann-vegil;
A giliath arnoediad
Tann thann dîn be genedril.

Dan io-anann os si gwannant
A mas, ú-bedir ithronath;
An gîl dîn na-dúath di-dhant,
vi Mordor, ennas caeda gwath.

Word-for-word translation:

«Where [is] Gil-galad?» asked Merry; but Strider not-answered, and he seemed that [he] flowed in thoughts. Suddenly the voice low murmured:

About Gil-galad the Elven-king

sad sing [pl.] the harpers:

between Great-sea and Misty-mountains

king [of] reign last fair and free.



Holding sharp-spear [of] Gil-galad,

helm afar-seen, long-sword;

and stars unnumbered

show [the] shield his like [a] mirror.



But ago-long from now [he] passed

and where, not-say [pl.] loremasters;

for star his to-darkness down-fell,

in Mordor, there lays shadow.


and another version:

Gil-galad was an Elven-king.
Of him the harpers sadly sing:
the last whose realm was fair and free
between the Mountains and the Sea.

His sword was long, his lance was keen,
his shining helm afar was seen:
the countless stars of heaven's field
were mirrored in his silver shield.

But long ago he rode away,
and where he dwelleth none can say;
for into darkness fell his star
in Mordor where the shadows are.



************************************************** **
Used materials by:Michael Martinez

Rick House

Ryszard Derdzinski

Special thanks to:Inderjit S
Chavdar Gugov