It is also written on the
tolkien gateway that
cirdan fought in the
war of the last alliance.
The War of the Last Alliance is not the War of Wrath. In
LotR,
Elrond tells
Frodo at the “
Council of Elrond” that he and
Círdan were with
Gil-galad at the penultimate battle on the slopes of Orodruin between
Sauron, Gil-galad, and
Elendil, while
Isildur was with Elendil.
I checked
Tolkien Gateway’s entry for Círdan and found this concerning Círdan and the War of Wrath.
After the War of Wrath, Círdan, heeding the bidding of the
Valar long ago, once more obediently abstained from finding his heart’s desire and going West, but with a small following remained in
Middle-earth.
I note that it does
not mention Círdan having fought in the War of Wrath.
Also, Cirdan is the first
elf to awaken in Middle-earth.
Citation, please. Círdan either “awoke” (which would make him one of the first Nelyar (“thirds”, the third tribe or clan, the forerunners of those who became the Teleri and
Sindar, the most numerous of the three tribes (or clans) of
Elves)) or was born (from Elven parents) at
Cuiviénen. Nowhere does Tolkien write or imply that, “Cirdan is the first elf to awaken in Middle-earth.” That would make him the leader of the Nelyar, and though he is regarded by the Sindar as one of their lords, one of the chief of the
Sindarin lords remaining in Middle-earth (
Celeborn and
Thranduil would be others), and there is reasonably good evidence that he is the oldest Elf (of the Elven nobility at any rate) remaining in Middle-earth, there is no evidence of which I am aware that he was the first Elf to awaken.
[Círdan’s] name is mentioned in all
wars in Middle-earth history except the
War of the Ring and
Dagor Bragollach. Why shouldn't such a character heed Eönwe's call for war?
Cirdan did answer to summons of GilGalad to go thousands of miles away from home. Why wouldn't he answer to summons of the chief demigod.
He always answered to summons. ...
Decent arguments, but contrary to the written material we have.
Silmarillion says (“Of the Voyage of
Eärendil and the War of Wrath”),
Of the march of the host of the Valar to the north of Middle-earth little is said in any tale; for
among them went none of those Elves who had dwelt and suffered in the Hither Lands, and who made the histories of those days that still are known; and tidings of these things they only learned long afterwards from their kinsfolk in
Aman. … [S]uch few as were left of the three houses of the
Elf-friends, Fathers of
Men, fought upon the part of the Valar…
“None of those Elves who had dwelt and suffered in” Middle-earth went with the Host of the Valar to the War of Wrath.
None of them. I do believe that includes Círdan. And in regards to a recent thread on this same matter regarding
Maedhros and
Maglor, that includes them, too, though they afterwards appeared in the Camp of the Host of the Valar, murdered the guards of the two Silmarilli, and subsequently took them from the camp.
The surviving
Edain, however,
did go to the war.
I disagree with you on this. Just because an elf isn't among the commanders doesn't mean he wasn't in that battle. So that's not all.
I agree with you that
absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, but I disagree with your conclusion that it justifies asserting that Círdan participated in the War of Wrath. He did not. Once again,
Silmarillion plainly tells us,
“None of those Elves who had dwelt and suffered in” Middle-earth went with the Host of the Valar to the War of Wrath. None of them. That includes Círdan. To the contrary: We have every indication he sat that one out.