Who Should Gil-galad's Father Be?

[Child of Varda]

I know this is a point of contention, so I figured there should be a thread about it. Before you ask, I know Orodreth reflects final intent and so can be considered "canon". However, although this is the case, especially since nothing was published on the topic in J. R. R. Tolkien's lifetime, who should Gil-galad's father be? Which does everyone prefer and why? As far as I can tell, Finrod, Fingon, and Orodreth were all considered in that order, but if you can think of any others or know of any others considered by Tolkien, feel free to name those too.

 

[Olorgando]

I was puzzled by your mention of Finrod, until I remembered (I hope) that Finrod was once the name of Finarfin, one of whose sons was named simply Felagund. The would have placed Gil-galad in the same "generation" with the seven sons of Fëanor, Fingon, Turgon and Aredhel children of Fingolfin, and the progeny of Finarfin ex Finrod. Maedhros, eldest son of Fëanor, ceded high kingship of the Noldor of Middle-earth to his uncle Fingolfin after having been rescued from Thangorodrim by the latter's eldest son Fingon, his first cousin (with non-trivial help from some really big eagle).

Turning Gil-galad into a grandson of Finarfin, and the former's father the second son of the latter (after the renamed Finrod Felagund), might conjure up problems with Celebrimbor, grandson of Fëanor through the latter's fifth son Celebrimbor Curufin. Maedhros had ceded to Fingolfin and his descendants, but the last male ones in the First Age were Elros and Elrond, the Half-Elven. Granted, the real nut-cases aka SSOF were all dead by then (except Maglor?), but Eldar of Fëanorian descent are rarely depicted as very rational on some topics.

That is why being the son of Fingon continues to make the most sense to me. Descended from Fingolfin. Compared to Turgon of Gondolin, his younger brother, Fingon remained a bit of a cipher. Changing his history from "he never wed" to that he did would have involved the least upheavals to the legendarium. That Gil-galad did not ascend to high kingship of the Noldor in the First Age can be explained away by his being given into the (precarious) care of Cirdan, then removed from those FA havens to an island when Morgoth attacked those havens. Turgon would then have been a regent far closer to the "action" ...

 

[Tar-Elenion]

When first invented Tolkien had Gil-galad as a descendant of Feanor.
Here is an essay I did a couple decades ago (so it has not been updated with anything from NoMe or later VT or PE publications):

This is intended to be a 'primary world' history of the parentage of Orodreth and Gil-galad and related matters.
It seems that Orodreth is the son of Finarfin (who was earlier named Finrod), third son (and fifth child) of Finwe, up through 1958. He appears as such in the 'Annals of Aman' (HoME 10), the 'Later Quenta Silmarillion (I)' (HoME 10 and 11), and the 'Grey Annals' (HoME 11). These were initially written in ca. 1950-1952. Corrections and emendations were made to these manuscripts and amanuensis typescripts, including these changes, were made in 1958. Finarfin in these typescripts is still called Finrod and his son Finrod Felagund is named Inglor. Later JRRT begins to emend these typescripts with changes including the names of Finrod and Inglor to Finarfin and Finrod and indications of the removal of Orodreth from among Finarfin's children. Finarfin is named Arafinwe in the earlier versions of 'Finwe and Miriel' which are dated to 1958 or earlier. The first unaltered appearence of the name: Finarfin (or Finarphin) is in the later versions of 'Finwe and Miriel' and the 'Later Quenta Silmarillion (II)' dated to 1959 (or later); while Finrod (for previously Inglor) is in the 'Athrabeth' also dated to 1959 (or later). In the 'Elessar' essay (UT) Galadriel refers to herself as the last of Finrod's children, and names Angrod, Aegnor and Felagund as the others but fails to mention Orodreth, who CT notes was removed and placed a generation down.

Gil-galad first appears as a Feanorian (of unknown descent) in the Fall of Numenor (II) (HoME 5). This is dated to not later than 1937. In the original (I) versions of Many Meetings/Council of Elrond (At Rivendell, HoME VI), dated to December 1938, Elrond states that Gil-galad is a descendant of Feanor (which ties in with the original FNII). On an 'isolated' sheet associated with (III) version Gil-galad is said to be son of 'Fin...' where the writing is illegible (CT notes that the fourth letter is _possibly_ an 'r' but the name is definitely not Finrod), this is struck out and 'Inglor?' is written in, this possibly dates to 1939 or early 1940 (HoME VII). Though marked with a query this agrees with the (III) version which has Gil-galad as son of Felagund seemingly through its association with the new ending to the Fall of Numenor II which was revised at the time of the writing of the third version of the Council of Elrond. In an early alteration to the Quenta Silmarillion text of HoME V, Felagund is mentioned as having a wife (Meril) and their son is Gil-galad. In the T3 version of the Tale of Years (of the Second Age) Gil-galad is the son of Felagund and this is also the case with 'Of the Rings of Power'. 'RoP' was extant (in versions) by 1948 (L. 115), while the 'T3' version is no later than August of '50 and was likely written in 1949 (PoME).

At this point it seems that we have Orodreth as the son of Finarfin (or rather Finrod) through 1958. Gil-galad is a Feanorian from ca. 1937 through ca. 1939. Gil-galad is the son of Finrod (or rather Inglor) Felagund from ca. 1940 until ca. 1949.

In the Grey Annals it is said that Felagund had no wife and this is consistant with Annals of Aman and the Later Quenta Silmarillion. That Felagund had no wife is maintained up until Dec. 1959.

In a 'pencilled note' on the amanuensis typescript of the Grey Annals Fingon is noted as the father of Gil-galad.

In a note (likely dated to Dec. 1959) to the genealogies (Finrod) Felagund is again given a son, Artanaro Rhodothir, otherwise known as Orodreth father of Finduilas. Later JRRT noted that Finrod had no child and had left his wife in Aman. At this point Orodreth is now made the son of Angrod (and renamed Artaresto) (PoME).

Now referring back to the 'Elessar' essay which must date from the time before 'Inglor' became 'Finrod' as Finrod (ie Finarfin) is Galadriel's father but after or about the time Orodreth is made her nephew. That would tend to date the Elessar essay to late 1959 or 1960 (which may indicate that the 'Athrabeth' should be dated into 1960 as it seems that name Finrod was not given to Inglor until after Orodreth had been removed as his brother).

In 'Aldarion and Erendis' Gil-galad is named 'Finellach Gil-galad of the House of Finarfin'. In UT CT dates this work to 1965, though in PoME he says this might be dated to 1960. JRRT notes this work as 'nearly complete' in September of 1965 (L. 276). It seems that this must be later than the 'Elessar' story (as Finarfin is used for Finrod). But it is not impossible that Finarfin maintained the name Finrod for a time as well before it was decided that Felagund should receive it. Gil-galad is also called Finellach the 'Description of the Island of Numenor'.

It is not noted what parentage Gil-galad had as 'Finellach', though CT notes this preceded by some time the making of Gil-galad into the son of Orodreth, which happened in August of 1965 when 'scribbled at great speed' a note, suggesting that Gil-galad (here named Rodnor/Artanaro) should be the son Orodreth (Artaresto), son of Angrod, was written.

In the Elessar essay Celebrimbor is noted as a jewel smith of Gondolin, though in a note JRRT wrote against that essay he says it would be better to make Celebrimbor a descendant of Feanor (PoME). This happened with the Second Edition of RotK (1966). JRRT noted in one of his copies of this edition that Celebrimbor had grown to love Finrod and his (unnamed) wife while dwelling as a refugee in Nargothrond.

In the 1968 Shibboleth of Feanor, Orodreth is noted as 'Artaher' the son of Angarato (Angrod) and Eldalote. Gil-galad (Ereinion) is referred to with the Finarfinians and in a footnote is said to be the son of Artaher.

Orodreth is son of Finarfin until (it seems) 1959. Towards the end of 1959 he is made the son of Finrod Felagund. But this is then emended to the son of Angrod, since Finrod had no wife. However in an undated note on a 1966 copy of RotK Finrod is said to have a wife (in Nargothrond). In the Shibboleth there is no mention of his having a wife. Through the 1950's Gil-galad was no longer Finrod's son as Finrod had no wife, and he was noted as the son of Fingon on the 1958 typescript. Gil-galad returns to being a Finarfinian in the '60's (possibly as late as 1965 or as early as 1960). But who was his father considered to be in the Aldarion and Erendis essay, before he was made the son of Orodreth? We only have him being of the 'House of Finarfin'. When was the note made on the Second Edition of RotK that suggests Finrod did have a wife in exile? What was Gil-galad's lineage when he was descended from Feanor?

 

[Elbereth Vala Varda]

Orodreth seems the most in canon. That's what I've always heard. I'd be curious: Where do the Fingon and Finrod theories come from?

As far as I can tell, neither of them were married nor had children.

 

[Tar-Elenion]

Orodreth seems the most in canon. That's what I've always heard. I'd be curious: Where do the Fingon and Finrod theories come from?

As far as I can tell, neither of them were married nor had children.

Gil-galad as son of (Finrod) Felagund comes from initial drafts of LotR (as laid out in my post above), and Galadriel is Gil-galad's sister. Tolkien went back and forth on (Finrod) Felagund having a wife.
Gil-galad as son of Fingon comes from a note on the Grey Annals. In earlier Silmarillion material, Fingon had two or three children.

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

So I was wondering,which one do you think makes more sense?
I personally imagine him as Fingon's son
My reasoning is that if he belonged to house of Finarfin then Celebrimbor had more claim to be the king than Gil-Galad,he was older and born in Valinor and also belonged to the house of Fëanor

 

[Elassar]

I have not thought of this often but I have always assumed Fingon. Finrod Felagund was unmarried and childless. Also it doesn't make sense for Orodreth to be his farther as there is no mention of him in the Children Of Hurin but there is of his daughter Finduilas. Surely a great warrior like Gil-galad would have some influence in the fall of Narthongrond. This family tree seems correct:

 

[Elthir]

I think the silver-haired Gil-galad (see Hair, the 1969 text, The Nature of Middle-Earth) "should"
be Arothir's son (Orodreth). And then I think Tolkien should have rewritten any relevant parts of the "Silmarillion story" with this, his last known idea here, in mind. . .

. . . and then I think JRRT should have painted a few images in the margins of a new, updated, fall of Nargothrond story (with Gil-galad as Arothir's son in mind again, of course, whether or not Gil-galad was present in Nargothrond when Túrin arrived). . .

. . . and then, in my opinion, Tolkien should have sent all these papers to me

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

I have no dog in this fight-- I'm just popping in to say I miss Child of Varda, who was here with us for all too short a time. 😔

 

[Fingon_Findekáno]

Personally, I am also of the mind that Gil-Galad (Ereinion) is the son of Fingon. For one, that’s what it said in the Silmarillion. Two, it just makes more sense lineage-wise, since he eventually becomes the (last) high king of the Noldor. Being that the line of Fingolfin became the bloodline of kings after Maedhros passed it over, starting with Fingolfin and moving down to Fingon and then Turgon, it makes more sense that a son of Fingon would inherit the title next, rather than some descendant from the line of Finarfin.

I like what Olorgando said above, about how Ereinion didn’t immediately succeed Fingon because he had been sent away into Círdan’s care for his protection, and Turgon was the natural next choice for the kingship, since he was already a part of all the action in the north. Most Noldor would have known about Turgon and probably readily looked to him as their king after Fingon’s tragic demise in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, despite the fact that Turgon had been hiding away in the Hidden Kingdom for so long up until that point, where as Ereinion was probably just a boy when Fingon sent him away, so he wouldn’t have built up that respect and reputation among them yet. Once Turgon fell, it would be natural to then seek out Fingon’s son and crown him as king, at least with the way I see it.

In other related news, I also consider Orodreth to be the second son of Finarfin and brother of Finrod, and (since Tar-Elenion mentioned something of it above) Celebrimbor to be the son of Curufin and grandson of Fëanor.

 

[Elthir]

Personally, I am also of the mind that Gil-Galad (Ereinion) is the son of Fingon. For one, that’s what it said in the Silmarillion.

Indeed that's in Christopher Tolkien's constructed Silmarillion, although even he later said
(The History of Middle-Earth series) that it would have been better to have left Gil-galad's
parentage obscure in that book (as he did in his subsequent, constructed Children of Húrin interestingly).

Two, it just makes more sense lineage-wise, since he eventually becomes the (last) high king of the Noldor. Being that the line of Fingolfin became the bloodline of kings after Maedhros passed it over, starting with Fingolfin and moving down to Fingon and then Turgon, it makes more sense that a son of Fingon would inherit the title next, rather than some descendant from the line of Finarfin.

It might depend upon the system, considering Elves being long-lived. In the old days (before the publication of The Nature of Middle-Earth), William Hicklin ("Solicitr") proposed a system with
Gil-galad being a Finarfinian:

(...) I think that may be it precisely: seniority in age was what mattered, rather than line of descent. G-G was older than Earendil. After all, the Elves' quasi-immortality poses a real problem for the traditional Mannish system of lineal primogeniture- there's always a chance that a child from a senior line to the reigning King could pop up.

(...) Perhaps the law was simply "the eldest male member of the Royal House in Middle-earth." Elves didn't have to worry about an older generation being short-lived! Therefore Turgon would come before GG, no matter who GG's father was, and GG would then be senior to Earendil.'

Solicitr

William also wrote:

"I think it's possible to argue that among the Noldor, being indefinitely longeval, they didn't think of succession as being a matter of direct lineage, but rather "The eldest surviving (male) member of the House of Finwe." This really makes more sense- and also explains why Turgon would be his brother's heir no matter whose son Gil-Galad was. And it would really explain why Gil-Galad became High King on Turgon's death, even though Turgon's lineal heir was Earendil (acknowledged as ruler of the Havens, and his descent was definitely in the female line). In fact, inheritance through (rather than to) a female seems to have been fine among the Elves: Maeglin thought to become Turgon's heir by marrying Idril; and Dior succeeded in right of his mother Lúthien."

"If GG were the son of Fingon, then a strictly lineal system would have made him High King instead of his uncle Turgon. If on the other hand he was a Finarfinian, then in a strictly lineal system Earendil of the House of Fingolfin would have had a superior claim (despite his mixed parentage). Whereas under an "eldest survivor" system, GG does, in fact, become High King."

Again, this is a pre-NOME compilation of his argument, just in case something in NOME turns this on its ear. As of today however, my personal view of the various "Elvish Ageing" texts in that they yield to Tolkien's latest known idea, which is briefly stated in any case (Elvish Life Cycles), and is less mathy than the 1959-ish variations.

That blathered, I'm not saying your view is wrong of course, rather I'm testing Soli's argument yet again -- tossing it out among better minds than mine!

 

[Olorgando]

I just had another thought why Gil-galad being descended from Fingolfin (and that would have to be Fingon, not Turgon) makes sense in JRRT's writings.

JRRT liked history to repeat itself - or to "rhyme" as Mark Twain is supposed to have said.

Eagles at the FA defeat of Morgoth, the Battle of Five Armies, and before the Black Gate.
Bilbo was 50 when he set out for Erebor, Frodo left Bag End exactly on his 50th birthday.
Sauron and Frodo both ended up with nine fingers ...

Fingolfin slashed Morgoth seven times, and with his last action gave him a limp, ultimately perishing in the single combat.
Gil-galad (using a spear, true, but Elendil was there with a sword) manages to wound Sauron sufficiently (with Elendil's help) to allow Isildur to cut the ring finger off Sauron's hand to get the One Ring; both Gil-galad and Elendil perish in the not-quite-single combat with Sauron.

Gil-galad as grandson of Fingolfin and son of Fingon, both renowned for their martial prowess, just makes more sense to me than any other lineage.

 

[Fingon_Findekáno]

That blathered, I'm not saying your view is wrong of course, rather I'm testing Soli's argument yet again -- tossing it out among better minds than mine!

All of that does seem to make sense, though, being based more off of seniority in age as the eldest surviving male rather than direct lineage (not counting the Fëanorians, since they are the Dispossessed). That’s something good to consider in why he became king after Turgon instead of Earendil, or anyone else.
I thank you for sharing that, as another perspective on how it all could work! However, one thing I’ve wondered before is, even if he were a Finarfinian, and one can take the throne by being the eldest surviving male through marriage to the royal family, wouldn’t Celeborn have inherited the title since he married Galadriel? They would have been older than Gil-galad.

On a side note, I’ve read many comments from various threads trying to explain Gil-galad’s possible heritage as a Finarfinian, but much of it seems rather confusing with all the different iterations. I’m content to remain with him being Fingon’s son and going from there. I like the history it mentions for him in SIL following the Dagor Bragollach, and it’s interesting to imagine what it must have been like for Ereinion when Fingon sent him away for his own safety once Fingon became king.

I just had another thought why Gil-galad being descended from Fingolfin (and that would have to be Fingon, not Turgon) makes sense in JRRT's writings.

JRRT liked history to repeat itself - or to "rhyme" as Mark Twain is supposed to have said.

Eagles at the FA defeat of Morgoth, the Battle of Five Armies, and before the Black Gate.
Bilbo was 50 when he set out for Erebor, Frodo left Bag End exactly on his 50th birthday.
Sauron and Frodo both ended up with nine fingers ...

Fingolfin slashed Morgoth seven times, and with his last action gave him a limp, ultimately perishing in the single combat.
Gil-galad (using a spear, true, but Elendil was there with a sword) manages to wound Sauron sufficiently (with Elendil's help) to allow Isildur to cut the ring finger off Sauron's hand to get the One Ring; both Gil-galad and Elendil perish in the not-quite-single combat with Sauron.

Gil-galad as grandson of Fingolfin and son of Fingon, both renowned for their martial prowess, just makes more sense to me than any other lineage.

Also all good points, Olorgando!

 

[Elthir]

However, one thing I’ve wondered before is, even if he were a Finarfinian, and one can take the throne by being the eldest surviving male through marriage to the royal family, wouldn’t Celeborn have inherited the title since he married Galadriel? They would have been older than Gil-galad.

I can't find William responding to this

So to distract you (wink again), I'll point to Maedros: " . . . and he waived his claim to kingship over all the Noldor, saying to Fingolfin: "If there lay no grievance between us, lord, still the kingship would rightly come to you, the eldest here of the house of Finwe, and not the least wise."

And since I'm weak-minded in this area -- question: would it matter if Gil-galad were already High King before Celeborn wed Galadriel?

I just had another thought why Gil-galad being descended from Fingolfin (and that would have to be Fingon, not Turgon) makes sense in JRRT's writings. JRRT liked history to repeat itself - or to "rhyme" as Mark Twain is supposed to have said.

Ah but did Tolkien ultimately weave said general liking into the specific case of Gil-galad's inheritance? In any event, we know that he jumped around with Gil-galad the Finarfinian, "ultimately" sending him back over to the Finarfinians.

Obviously I'm not saying you can't like the symmetry you speak of, but as we know, according
to Christopher Tolkien, Gil-galad as the son of Fingon was an ephemeral idea (The Shibboleth of Feanor, The parentage of Gil-galad, POME).

🐾

 

[Olorgando]

... being based more off of seniority in age as the eldest surviving male rather than direct lineage ...

There have been (a few) historical ruling houses in which succession to the throne went along this age seniority line, at least up to the 20th century, perhaps even the 21st.

 

[Olorgando]

Ah but did Tolkien ultimately weave said general liking into the specific case of Gil-galad's inheritance? In any event, we know that he jumped around with Gil-galad the Finarfinian, "ultimately" sending him back over to the Finarfinians.

I've sometimes thought that JRRT had need of a Hobbit assistant to rescue him from the genealogical tangles he kept tripping over ... 😁

 

[Fingon_Findekáno]

I can't find William responding to this

So to distract you (wink again), I'll point to Maedros: " . . . and he waived his claim to kingship over all the Noldor, saying to Fingolfin: "If there lay no grievance between us, lord, still the kingship would rightly come to you, the eldest here of the house of Finwe, and not the least wise."

And since I'm weak-minded in this area -- question: would it matter if Gil-galad were already High King before Celeborn wed Galadriel?

No, I suppose not. I’d never thought of that possibility before, where perhaps Gil-galad was already High King before they were married. In that case, he would then be the oldest surviving male descendant of the House of Finwë, excluding the Fëanorians, if I remember my family trees correctly. The numbers of candidates between them all had dropped drastically over the years, and were still dwindling, leaving only Gil-galad and Earendil as the last heirs of the line.

 

[Elthir]

I think there are some variations in NOME for when Galadriel and Celeborn were wed. I should know them all (by now) without looking them up, in any case, since the great Nerwende Artanis Galadriel
is involved!

But I've been admittedly slow in my NOME consumption/digestion in general! So much else to read right now, no offense to JRRT of course.