The second son of Fingolfin, Turgon the Wise initially stood with the sons of Finarfin,
in Aman, who opposed following his uncle Feanor’s plan for the Noldor Elves to leave the undying
lands to pursue Morgoth and the stolen Silmaril jewels in Middle Earth.
However when his father made the decision to follow Feanor, Turgon, despite his reservations,
joined in the treacherous journey across the Helcaraxe mountains of the far North.
Ignoring the Doom of Mandos, a prophesy forewarning the Noldor that their journey to Middle Earth
would only end in suffering., they ventured forth, losing many along the way, including
Turgon’s wife Elenwe. When at last they arrived in Middle Earth,
Feanor, High King of the Noldor had already been slain in battle, as his forces approached
Angband. Fingolfin would soon become the new High King
reuniting his people and leading them found many great and powerful cities across Beleriand.
And so it would be in the year 50 of the First Age, that Turgon and his cousin Finrod, were
visited by the Vala Ulmo, Lord of Waters, in their dreams, and warned of the coming
dangers they would face against Morgoth. He instructed them to seek out a secret location
where they might build a new city, hidden away from the vast armies of the Dark Lord.
3 years later Turgon would discover the Valley of Tumlanden surrounded by the Encircling
Mountains, and there labored for over 60 years, building the city of Gondolin, modelling its
construction after the ancient city of Tirion, in Aman, the greatest city of the Noldor Elves.
When its construction was complete, Turgon began to lead many of his fellow elves, including
about 1/3 of the Noldor and ¾ of the Northern Sindar Elves to the city, utilizing secret
passages few would ever learn. Gondolin would become an isolated society,
largely staying out of the affairs and conflicts of rest of Beleriand, lest the enemy learn
of its secret location. For 500 years they would prosper, and became
the greatest Elven city in the Middle Earth. Yet outside of the peace and splendor of Gondolin,
terrible battles were being waged, as the forces of Morgoth continued to grow and attack
the Elves and their allies across Beleriand. After the battle of Dagor Bargolach, Turgon’s
father, the High King of the Noldor Fingolfin was slain in a duel with Morgoth himself.
The fate of Gondolin and its people would then become tied with a mortal man by the
name of Tuor, son of Huor. After escaping the bonds of slavery under the Easterlings,
he travelled throughout Beleriand until finding an Noldor Elf named Voronwe, who had survived
a ship wreck. The Vala Ulmo then appeared to them, instructing them to journey to Gondolin
and warn Turgon, reminding him of the Doom of Mandos prophecy, and instructing him to
lead his people across the sea, and return to the undying lands.
Yet when Tuor found his way to the Elven city, Turgon rejected the idea of fleeing, confident
in the secrecy of his kingdom and their defenses. Tuor however was honored as an Elf-Friend,
and made a Lord of the city, even marrying Turgon’s daughter Idris, and forming the
House of the Wing, one of the 12 great houses of Gondolin.
After the death of Fingolfin, his eldest son Fingon, Turgon’s older brother, would become
the new High King, and despite the isolation of Gondolin’s people, Turgon would raise
an army of ten thousand Elves, to join with the armies of Fingon and his cousin Maedhros,
at Nirnaith Arnoediand, the Battle of Unnumbered tears. Hoping to at last defeat Morgoth by
storming his fortress of Angband, the alliance of Elves and Men would be defeated,* and Fingon
killed in a duel with Gothmog, commander of the enemy forces. As the tide of battle turned
against the Elves, Turgon led his forces into retreat, able to keep their route hidden,
thanks to the efforts of their human allies in the House of Hador, who covered their retreat,
distracting enemy forces with their sacrifice.
Though the alliance of Elves and Men had prepared well for the battle, they were betrayed by
Ulfang and the Easterlings resulting in a disastrous defeat.
Though Turgon inherited the title of High King of the Noldor, he had seen enough death
and withdrew his efforts and support in the war, allowing for Morgoth to more easily conquer
what remained of the free peoples of Beleriand. And so it was that after the fall of the great
cities of the west, Gondolin was left as the only major power, that might stand against
the forces of darkness. And while the Noldor Elves of Gondolin were
fiersome warrior, protected by the encircling mountains, and the secrecy of their city,
this advantage would be negated, when Maeglin, nephew of Turgon, betrayed his people and
city. Maeglin was the nephew of Turgon, born to
the Ñoldor Aredhel and the Dark Elf Eöl. After the death of his parents, Maeglin was
raised by his uncle, and became a Lord of Gondolin.
In love with his first cousin, the daughter of Turgon, Idris, Maeglin was outraged when
she was given as a bride to Tuor, a mortal man. His jealousy and discontent only grew,
until he disobeyed the laws of Gondolin, leaving the city as he scavenged for metals. Once
outside he was captured by orcs and brought before Morgoth who promised him the Kingship
of Gondolin and Idris as his bride, if only he would betray Turgon, and kill Tuor.
Maeglin agreed to his terms, divulging the location of the secret city and offering details
of their defenses. Although some sources claim Morgoth’s spies had already informed him
of the location of the city, he was greatly interested in learning of their defenses and
so allowed Maeglin to return to Gondolin, where he began acting like a new Elf, laughing
and joking with his fellows, in the hopes of keeping his treachery secret.
Although the armies of Gondolin were preparing for battle, Morgoth cleverly withdrew his
spies and scouts, tricking Turgon into believing the Dark Lord had cancelled his plans for
invasion. And so it would be on a night of celebration, with the defenses of the city
reduced, and none expecting attack, that Morgoth would gather his mighty forces, and march
upon the Gondolin. The armies of Morgoth were vast, made up of
Orcs, trolls, Balrogs, dragons and new constructions known as Iron Monsters, crafted in the image
of Dragons, that might house his soldiers and protect them from danger until ready to
unleash them upon the enemy.
The forces of Gondolin, were led by the Patriarchs of 12 Major Houses and their armies.
There was Turgon and the House of the King;
Tuor and the House of the Wing; Maeglin and the House of the Mole;
Duilin and the House of the Swallow; Egalmoth and the House of the Heavenly Arch;
Penlod and the twin Houses of the Pillar and the Tower of Snow;
Galdor and the House of the Tree; Glorfindel and the House of the Golden Flower;
Ecthelion and the House of the Fountain; Salgant and the House of the Harp
And finally Rog from the House of the Hammer of Wrath.
Though the Elves fought valiantly and courageously, many refusing to flee, fighting and dying
to the last man, they could not best the terrible forces brought against them. One by one the
Houses fell and their leaders were killed. As the Elves of Gondolin died around them,
the Balrog commander Gothmog duelled Ecthelion of the House of the Fountain. Though Ecthelion
was all but deafeted, having lost the use of both his arms, he made one final charge,
stabbing Gothmog with the spike of his helm, driving the beast into a fountain, where they
both drowned.
In the midst of the raging battle, Maeglin set his betrayal in motion, leading his army
to the house of Tuor, where he planned to capture Idris and murder their son Earnedil.
However Tuor arrived just as Maeglin was preparing to act and the Houses of the Wing and Mole
went to war against each other, turning the invasion into a civil war. Tuor was able to
rescue his wife and child, killing Maeglin by tossing his body over the walls of the
city.
With the forces of Gondlin all but defeated, King Turgon instructed Tuor to lead a retreat,
while the King and his men held off the armies of Morgoth. As Tuor and Glorfindel led the
remnants of their houses and what others they could find, through a secret escape, constructed
by Tuor, who had feared this eventuality, Turgon climbed to the top of his mighty tower,
and in defiance of the armies destroying his city, he yelled out "Great is the victory
of the Ñoldoli!"
Though Turgon would die defending his kingdom, the sacrifice of his men allowed for Tuor
and his followers to escape the city, which was now burning behind them.
As they made their escape, they were confronted by a Balrog who sought to halt their retreat.
Glorfindel, one of the last living leaders of a great house, would then sacrifice himself,
using the weight of his body to drag the Balrog over a cliff, to his doom.
With this final and tragic death, the remnant of Gondolin escaped the slaughter, with Tuor
leading his followers to the Mouths of Sirion where they might take refuge.
But with the fall of Gondolin, last of the great Elven cities in the West, Tuor and Idris
knew it would only be a matter of time, before even the survivors of the war would be slaughtered.
And so the two set sail for the undying lands, determined to seek out the help of the Valar,
so they might at last defeat the forces of Morgoth who had all but completed their conquest of Beleriand.