Gil-galad
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In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Ereinion Gil-galad was the son of Orodreth,[1] and his mother was a Sindarin Elf. His sister was Finduilas.
His father-name in Quenya was Artanáro, Sindarinized to Rodnor, but he was best known by his mother name Gil-galad ("Star of Radiance") and his epessë (honorary title) Ereinion, meaning "Scion of Kings".
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[edit] Appearances
[edit] Literature
Gil-galad was the last of the High Kings of the Noldor-in-Exile in Middle-earth. An Elf of the House of Finarfin, he was named High King of the Noldor-in-Exile in Beleriand after the fall of the city of Gondolin and the death of the last High King, Turgon. Sixth and last of the High Kings of the Noldor. The only son of Orodreth, Gil-galad was born in Beleriand early in the First Age, and was sent to Nargothrond with his uncle Finrod.
He lived in Nargothrond until he went to dwell in the Falas with Círdan the Shpwright. Gil-galad, despite his long life (he was born near the beginning of the First Age and lived through almost the entirety of the Second), was not known to have a wife, nor any children. Due to this, and the fact that there were few Noldor remaining in Middle-earth, the title of High King of the Noldor in Exile ended with his death.
After the War of Wrath and the end of the First Age, Gil-galad founded a realm in the coastal region of Lindon along the shores of Belegaer, the Great Sea. At its height, his realm extended eastward as far as the Misty Mountains, though most of the Eldar remained in Lindon and in Elrond's refuge of Rivendell. When Annatar came offering friendship to the Eldar, Gil-galad mistrusted him, and forbade him from entering Lindon. His mistrust was well founded, for it was soon learned that Annatar was Sauron. After the forging of the One Ring, Gil-galad was given one of the Three Elven Rings: Vilya, the Ring of Air. After Gil-galad's death, Elrond took possession of Vilya.
During most of the Second Age, Gil-galad enjoyed the friendship of the Númenóreans. This proved very useful as during the War of the Elves and Sauron, a great Númenórean force under the command of their king Tar-Minastir helped Gil-galad destroy Sauron's armies.
After the Downfall of Númenor and the establishment by the Elendili of the Dúnadan kingdoms in exile, there was peace in Middle Earth. For a time it was believed that Sauron had been destroyed in the fall of Númenor but this was not the case and in 3428 Sauron's newly formed army began a war against the kingdom of Gondor, closest to his old home of Mordor. Gil-galad then formed the Last Alliance of Elves and Men with Elendil, High King of the Dúnedain-in-Exile, The armies of Elves and Men, victorious after the Battle of Dagorlad, laid siege to Sauron in Mordor.
At the end of the siege, both Gil-galad and Elendil were slain when Sauron himself came out from Barad-dûr and did battle. Gil-galad died from the heat of Sauron's body. At the Council of Elrond, Elrond says that only three people survived the final battle with Sauron: Isildur, Círdan, and himself.
Gil-galad's spear was named Aiglos or Aeglos, meaning "snow-point" or "snow-thorn" or more commonly "icicle" (aeg: sharp, pointed; los: snow) because when orcs saw his spear, they would recognize it by its reputation to bring a cold death to them. Elrond said that at the battle of Dagorlad, "we had the mastery: for the Spear of Gil-galad and the Sword of Elendil, Aiglos and Narsil, none could withstand." Aiglos is said to have broken under Gil-galad as he fell.
[edit] Adaptations
In the Lord of the Rings film trilogy by Peter Jackson, Gil-galad appears very briefly in the first film during the opening prologue sequence. He is never mentioned by name in any of the films, although he is mentioned in the behind the scenes documentaries included with the Extended Edition DVD of The Fellowship of the Ring.
[edit] Concept and creation
The Silmarillion, which was published after J. R. R. Tolkien's death, stated that Gil-galad was the son of Fingon. After the Dagor Bragollach and the ruin of Beleriand which resulted in the death of his grandfather Fingolfin, who was then High King of the Noldor, Fingon became the High King and he sent a young Gil-galad to the Havens of the Falas under Círdan. After the disaster of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, the title passed to Fingon's brother Turgon. Morgoth assaulted the Falas in great force after that battle but Círdan and Gil-galad managed to flee in their ships to the Isle of Balar. When tidings came to Balar about the sack of Gondolin and the death of Turgon, Gil-galad became the King.
His son Christopher Tolkien later stated in The Peoples of Middle-earth that this was a mistake. Gil-galad's name in the chapter "Aldarion and Erendis" in the Unfinished Tales was also changed by Christopher Tolkien in order to keep consistency with the published version of The Silmarillion.[1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c J. R. R. Tolkien (1996). Christopher Tolkien (ed.): The Peoples of Middle-earth. Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, "The Shibboleth of Fëanor", pg 350-351. ISBN 0-395-82760-4.
[edit] External links
- Gil-galad at The Thain's Book
| Preceded by: Turgon |
High Kings of the Noldor | Succeeded by: None (Last High King in Middle-earth) |
