He was a High King of the Noldor, known for one of the greatest deeds in rescuing his cousin. And
his early defeat of Morgoth’s invading orcs would lead to the creation of the dragons.
Today, on Nerd of the Rings, we cover the life of Fingon.
Fingon is born in the Years of the Trees 1260 in Tirion, the city of the elves in Valinor. He is
born to Fingolfin and his wife Anairë. 235 Years of the Trees later, that is 2232 of our own years,
Morgoth and Ungoliant destroy the Two Trees and steal the Silmarils. In his rage, Fëanor,
Fingon’s uncle, makes a great speech that moves the Noldor into exile to pursue
Morgoth. We are told that while Fingon does not support his uncle, he is moved by Fëanor’s
words and desires to see the wide lands of Middle-earth and rule a realm of his own.
As Fëanor leads the Noldor to the city of Alqualondë, he demands the Teleri elves give
them their ships. When the Teleri refuse, Fëanor’s people attack, resulting in the First Kinslaying,
where elves would kill their own kind. Now, there is some question as to whether Fingon
himself played a part in the kinslaying. In the published Silmarillion, we read:
Moreover Fingon and Turgon (Fingon’s brother) were bold and fiery of heart,
and loath to abandon any task to which they had put their hands until the bitter end, if
bitter it must be. So the main host held on, and swiftly the evil that was foretold began its work.
However, we see in Morgoth’s Ring (the 10th volume of the History of Middle-earth) that
Tolkien had at one point included an additional line in the text:
“Moreover Fingon and Turgon, though they had no part in that deed, were bold and fiery of heart”
There’s certainly a lot of fan discussion and debate around exactly who took part
in the kingslaying, but there is definitely the possibility that Fingon regrettably was
involved in this horrible event. After killing the Teleri and taking their ships, the group
travels north to Araman, where Feanor’s people secretly take the ships and sail to Middle-earth.
After arriving at the Firth of Drengist, Feanor’s son and Fingon’s cousin Maedhros,
with whom he is close, wishes to send the boats back for his cousin and the rest of the house
of Fingolfin. Feanor however, burns the ships rather than send them back. As the world is
flat at this time, Fingon and his people can see the ships burning across the sea,
and in this YT 1497, they have no choice but to traverse the
dangerous frozen crossing at the far north of the world - the Helcaraxe.
Fingon, along with elves such as his cousins Finrod and Galadriel,
would follow his father Fingolfin as they cross the grinding ice, a journey which would claim
many lives. While Fingolfin and all four of his children would make this exile to Middle-earth,
it’s notable that his wife Anaire does not. She would choose to remain behind in Aman.
The host would finally arrive in Middle-earth in YT 1500 - meaning their journey took over
28 actual years. With the coming of the sun and moon, the First Age dawns - and the scourge of
Morgoth first strikes the family of Fingon. The host of Fingolfin is attacked in the Battle of
the Lammoth, and while the elves would win the day, Fingon’s younger brother Argon is killed.
Having arrived in Middle-earth, Fingon learns of what has transpired with the House of Feanor.
Feanor himself had been killed in battle shortly after their arrival and his cousin Maedhros,
now in line to become High King of the Noldor, had been captured by Morgoth
and was now left to hang upon the precipice of Thangorodrim. In the 5th year of the First Age,
seeking to mend the relationship between their families, Fingon decides to take on
the task of rescuing Maedhros from the very land of Morgoth himself.
Fingon travels alone, through darkness and in secrecy, searching Thangorodrim for his cousin,
but he could not find him. In despair, yet also in defiance,
Fingon takes out his harp and begins to sing a fair song of Valinor.
Thus Fingon found what he sought. For suddenly above him far and faint his song was taken up,
and a voice answering called to him. Maedhros it was that sang amid his torment. But Fingon climbed
to the foot of the precipice where his kinsman hung, and then could go no further; and he wept
when he saw the cruel device of Morgoth. Maedhros therefore, being in anguish without hope, begged
Fingon to shoot him with his bow; and Fingon strung an arrow, and bent his bow. And seeing no
better hope he cried to Manwë, saying: ‘O King to whom all birds are dear, speed now this feathered
shaft, and recall some pity for the Noldor in their need!’ His prayer was answered swiftly.
Now, even as Fingon bent his bow, there flew down from the high airs Thorondor, King of Eagles,
mightiest of all birds that have ever been, whose outstretched wings spanned thirty fathoms;
and staying Fingon’s hand he took him up, and bore him to the face of the rock where Maedhros hung.
Fingon could not, however, break the hell-wrought bond and Maedhros again begs Fingon to kill
him. However, Fingon instead cuts off Maedhros’ hand, finally freeing him. Thorondor bears them
both back to Hithlum. Fingon’s deed is praised among the Noldor as one of their most mighty,
and for the most part, the grievance between the two houses is healed. In response to being saved,
Maedhros waives his right to the High Kingship of the Noldor and moves his people to the
Eastern lands of Beleriand. Thus, Fingon’s father Fingolfin becomes the High King of the Noldor.
Fingolfin’s people would live in the lands of Hithlum, and the king would build the fortress of
Barad Eithel on the Eastern borders to keep watch across the plains for attacks from Morgoth. As for
Fingon, he would rule over the lands of Dor-lomin in the southwest of Hithlum. In the year 60 FA,
the elves would secure a great victory over Morgoth in what is later known as
the Dagor Aglareb “the Glorious Battle”. This results in a 400-year Siege of Angband,
during which Morgoth’s attempts at attacking the elves would be minimal.
One such attack comes in 155 FA, when he sends a force along the coast to Drengist,
in an attempt to attack Hithlum from the west. However, the Noldor spot the orcs and Fingon’s
force crushes the host of Morgoth. It is in the wake of this battle that Morgoth decides orcs
alone will not be enough to match the strength of the elves. Thus, the dark lord begins devising
a new creature with which to wage war against his enemy - dragons. The first of their kind,
known as the father of dragons, is Glaurung. Like all early dragons, Glaurung is wingless,
though he is a fire-drake. In 260 FA, just over 100 years since Fingon’s victory,
Glaurung emerges from Angband against Morgoth’s wishes. At this time,
Glaurung is still considered young and is only half-grown. Still, he initially sees
success in driving off the elves laying siege to Angband, before the arrival of Fingon.
As Glaurung defiles the lands of Ard-galen, Fingon leads a troop of archers on horseback
to attack the beast. The half-grown dragon is unable to withstand the elven arrows and
is forced to flee back to Angband - the secret of his existence now revealed to the elves. In
the aftermath of Glaurung’s defeat, a dwarf smith in the east of Beleriand named Telchar
would craft a Dragon-helm, made in the likeness of Glaurung in defiance of Morgoth. Telchar,
who would also craft the legendary sword of the Second Age Narsil,
would present the helm to his lord Azaghal, who would in turn gift it to Maedhros. Maedhros
would then give the helm to Fingon, whose defeat of the dragon had inspired the helm.
For nearly 200 years, the elves would enjoy the Long Peace and their lands would grow in
prosperity without attacks from the Dark Lord. During this time, Fingolfin gives the lands of
Dor-lomin to their mannish allies - the House of Hador, the third house of the Edain. At this time,
Fingon gifts the Dragon-helm to Hador, which would become an heirloom of his house and is ever
after known as the Dragon-helm of Dor-lomin. While Fingon’s defeat of the dragon would be remembered
on the helm, and result in a Long Peace, Glaurung would return - fully grown and full of vengeance.
In 455 FA, Morgoth sends rivers of fire out from Angband, and Glaurung leads armies of
balrogs and orcs in the Battle of Sudden Flame, resulting in death and destruction across the
plains of Ard-galen. Seeing the fire and ruin, Fingolfin perceives the ruin of the Noldor,
and rides across the plains to challenge Morgoth to single combat. Their great battle,
told in full in elsewhere, results in the wounding of Morgoth and the death of the king. Thus,
Fingon, with the death of his father, becomes the new High King of the Noldor.
Ard-galen, once a beautiful green plain, is now a charred desert, and is renamed Anfauglith,
meaning “by gasping dust”. Seven years after his duel with Fingolfin (462 FA), Morgoth sends
an army of orcs to attack Fingon’s people in Hithlum. Galdor, the son of Hador of Dor-lomin,
dies defending Eithel Sirion, leaving his son Húrin to take the lordship and command of the men
loyal to Fingon. Húrin would lead valiantly, driving the orcs back across Anfauglith,
while Cirdan’s forces assist Fingon from the West. The elves and men are victorious, and a
great loyalty would continue to exist between the house of Fingon and the house of Hador.
The free peoples would be next to turn to the offensive. Emboldened by the success
of Beren and Luthien in retrieving a Silmaril from Morgoth’s crown,
the Sons of Feanor, Fingon, the men of Dor-Lomin, the Dwarves of Belegost,
and Easterlings unite in the Union of Maedhros - a great alliance to make war upon Angband.
As the western and eastern forces prepare to enact their plan,
Fingon’s brother Turgon arrives unlooked for with a force of 10,000 elves from
Gondolin. Upon seeing the arrival of his brother, Fingon filled with hope cries:
'Utúlie'n aurë! Aiya Eldalië ar Atanatári, utúlie'n aurë! The day has come! Behold,
people of the Eldar and Fathers of Men, the day has come!' And all those who heard
his great voice echo in the hills answered crying: 'Auta i lómë! The night is passing!'
The resulting battle would be both great and pivotal in the history of Middle-earth,
turning the tide of the entire First Age. At various points, the battle would sway between
victory and defeat for the Union of Maedhros. And while hope would be kindled when Fingon
and Turgon would finally see the banners of Maedhros, Morgoth would unleash his wolves,
dragons and balrogs, separating the armies and bringing wanton destruction. In this moment,
Gothmog, the Lord of Balrogs, high-captain of Angband, would set his sights upon Fingon.
Then he turned upon Fingon. That was a grim meeting. At last Fingon stood alone with his
guard dead about him; and he fought with Gothmog, until another Balrog came behind and cast a thong
of fire about him. Then Gothmog hewed him with his black axe, and a white flame sprang up from
the helm of Fingon as it was cloven. Thus fell the High King of the Noldor; and they beat him into
the dust with their maces, and his banner, blue and silver, they trod into the mire of his blood.
With the death of Fingon, the high kingship passes to his brother Turgon of Gondolin.
Seeing the certain defeat of their alliance, Húrin and his brother Huor tell Turgon to flee,
for Gondolin must stand as long as possible so that Morgoth would still know fear. The
men of Hithlum stand between Turgon and the forces of Morgoth, fighting to the death in
hopes that their sacrifice will someday bring about the end of the dark lord.
In an echo of Fingon’s earlier cry of “the day has come”, Húrin, each time he slays an orc or troll,
cries out “Aurë entuluva!” By the time he is buried under a mound of dead enemies and
captured, Húrin seventy times has declared: “Day shall come again!”
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