Fingon

Fingon was Fingolfin's first son and half brother of Feanor. He was also known as the Valiant. He led his people as the second High King of Noldor [1] clan due to his role in the reunion of the exiled Elves in Endor, when he saved his kin, Maedhros, from Morgoth's captivity against all odds. Fingon ruled over Noldor in Endor as a High King after the demise of Fingolfin, who had dueled Morgoth himself and caused him great harm. Fingon helped the Elves overcome the discord that followed Feanor's betrayal of the exiled Elves with his great support for Maedhros in Angband.

Anaire, the wife of Fingolfin, gave birth to Fingon in the Noontide of Valinor. The most likely thing was that Anaire gave birth to him in Feanor's household while in Tirion. Fingon followed his father in exile when he left to establish an independent Elven Realm for his people outside Valinor. Like Fingolfin, Fingon's concern in exile was not based on the quest for the Silmarils but sovereignty. Fingon was involved in the act of Kinslaying at the beginning of their journey because he assumed the Valar had commanded the Teleri to deter them from leaving Valinor. Like many in the host of Fingolfin, he might not have been involved in the fight if he knew the actual reason in the first place. Fingon left with the host of Fingolfin after they realized Feanor's deceit.

He was with the people of Fingolfin during the struggle of Helcaraxe. When Feanor lost his life in Dagor-nuin-Giliath, Maedhros was ambushed in the following negotiation. Fingon rode to Thangorodrim with courage and wisdom for his friend. At the time when Maedhros himself chose death as he had lost hope of his return. Fingon went for him when his brothers and kins had nothing else to do, out of fear for the Dark Lord. Fingon got Thorondor, the great eagle's support in his quest, and he succeeded. Fingon's single courageous act rekindled love and acceptance among the hosts of Feanor and Fingolfin. Maedhros sought means to show gratitude for Fingon's kindness by renouncing his right to be High King in the Noldor ranks.

Maedhros's action implied that only the descendants of Filgolgin can become High Kings. Fingolfin allowed his son to establish his realm in Dor-lomin, which was on the western side of Hithlum. Fingon's realm was in a strategic position that enabled him to disrupt the attack coming from the west. He fought and destroyed orc armies and faced Morgoth's during Aglareb, and was the first to confront Glaurung. Seven years after the demise of Fingolfin, Morgoth's servants conquered Hithlum. Fingon fled using ships with others through Dengist, a firth in Beleriand when help came from Cirdan and the people of West Beleriand’s coast to rescue them with ships. Fingon met his end in Nirnaeth Arnoediad in a fierce battle that tested the strength of the forces of Morgoth.

He relied on his brother Caranthir. But Carathir’s had allies that lacked loyalty. The sons of Ulfang swore allegiance to Caranthir two years before Nirnaeth Arnoediad, but the chieftain of the Easterlings, Ulfang, and his sons betrayed him and turned the battle in the direction of Morgoth. Maedhros and his army reach the battle after three days of waiting. On seeing the reinforcement, Morgoth released Glaurung and the Balrogs on the weakened army of Fingon. Ulfangs' treacherous plan overwhelmed the allied forces. Maedhros retreated but Fingon was already surrounded. Fingon’s guards were slained, and he was surrounded. Fingon was courageous; he fought both Gothmog and Glaurun until a different balrog struck him and killed him. The battle of Nirnaeth Arnoediad [2] was a shameful loss for the Elves of Endor. The host of Fingon abandoned the battle and settled in Gondolin, where they lived quietly under his brother, Turgon, and Fingolfin’s second son.

Fingon, the Valiant, was a strong character that showed hatred to none but the Dark Lord. He was selfless, courageous, and powerful in battle. He was honorable, and he disliked falsehood and injustice. Fingon learned from his father’s wisdom and so preferred integrity more than power and the glory that accompanies it. It was said that the reward from his struggles in Endor was death, as he could finally rest. The account of his appearance showed that he had the Noldor’s dark hair, and he plaits the hair with gold.

The author’s son, Christopher Tolkien, declared that he made an error while making edits of The Silmarillion. In The Silmarillion, Gil-galad’s father was Fingon, but in fact, Christopher Tolkien declared that his father had other intentions for the character of Gil-galad, and he was supposed to be Orodreth’s son. Despite his clarification, many people still maintain that they will only follow the lineage as published in The Silmarillion because it is reasonable and the changes are unnecessary. They maintain that Gil-galad as a son of Fingon still made him eligible as a high king through the House of Fingolfin, more than he would be eligible through Finarfin. There is another unusual occurrence in the book regarding the High Kingship. High King Gil-galad, Fingon's son, did not rule after the demise of his father. He ruled after his father’s younger brother, Turgon.

In Sindarin, Findekano means Fingon. The formation of this naming structure is rather unusual. The name would translate to the “hair commander” if we take the root words finde (which means hair) with Kane (which means valor) and kano (meaning a lesser chief, and also a commander). Since the phin in the name can mean skill, we can also translate the name to “cunning commander”, which is better and a more likely meaning of Findekano.

1. ^Descent of the High Kings of the Noldor.
2. ^The Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad.