Gil-galad

2022-07-19T17:28:09Z

172.70.250.116: Regarding Kingship, Turgon would have become King before Gil-Galad, even with the latter as a son to Fingon. Turgon was born in Valinor where as Gil-Galad was still underage when Fingon became High-King, according to the Silmarilllion

{{noldor infobox
| name=Gil-galad
| image=[[File:Kimberly - Gil-galad.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Gil-galad" by [[:Category:Images by Kimberly|Kimberly]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[eˈreɪnjon ˈɡilɡalad]}}
| othernames=''Artanáro''/''Rodnor'' ([[Quenya|Q]]/[[Sindarin|S]], [[Father-name|fn]]), ''Ereinion, Finellach'' ([[Sindarin|S]], [[Epessë|epessë]])
| titles=[[High King of the Noldor]]
| position=
| location=[[Havens of Sirion]] [[Lindon]]
| affiliation=[[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]]
| language=[[Quenya]] and [[Sindarin]]
| birth=Between {{YT|1450}} and {{FA|455}}
| birthlocation=Unknown
| rule={{FA|510}} - {{SA|3441}}
| death={{SA|3441}}
| deathlocation=[[Siege of Barad-dûr]]
| age=c. 3576
| notablefor=His death at the hands of Sauron at the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]]
| house=[[House of Finarfin]]
| parentage=[[Orodreth]] & his unnamed wife<ref name=Parentage>{{PM|XI5}}, pp. 349-351</ref>
| siblings=[[Finduilas]]
| spouse=Never married
| children=None
| gender=Male
| height=Tall
| hair=Silver<ref>{{NM|P2iv}}, p. 186</ref>
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=[[Aeglos (spear)|Aeglos]]
| steed=
}}

<center>{{quote|Gil-galad was an Elven-king Of him the harpers sadly sing The last whose realm was fair and free Between the Mountains and the Sea.|From ''[[The Fall of Gil-galad]]'', as translated by [[Bilbo Baggins]]}}</center>
'''Ereinion Gil-galad''' was the fourth and last [[High King of the Noldor]].

==History==
===First Age===
There are multiple conflicting accounts of Gil-galad's parentage, birthplace, and year of birth. Tolkien's final word regarding Gil-galad's parentage appears to be that he was the son of [[Orodreth]] and grandson of [[Angrod]] and [[Eldalótë]],<ref name=Parentage/> but the place and year of his birth remain murky (see [[#Other versions of the legendarium|below]]).

He was still young for an elf at the time of the [[Dagor Bragollach]] when [[Morgoth]] broke the [[Siege of Angband]]. As a result, shortly before the fall of [[Minas Tirith (Beleriand)|Minas Tirith]] by the forces of [[Sauron]], his father sent his wife and son to [[Círdan]] at the [[Havens of the Falas]] for safekeeping.<ref>{{S|Fingolfin}}</ref> After the loss of Minas Tirith, the [[Pass of Sirion]] was open to Morgoth's hosts, although they were still kept at bay by the still mighty realm of [[Hithlum]] and also the power of [[Nargothrond]]. Hithlum was destroyed after the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]] and thus there was no power left that could withstand the enemies, and the ports at the Falas were besieged and captured by the [[Orcs]]. Yet Círdan, Gil-galad, and many other Elves could flee from death on ship and established a refuge upon the [[Isle of Balar]] and a small haven at the [[Mouths of Sirion]].<ref name=Fifth>{{S|Fifth}}</ref>

In the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]], [[Fingon]], High King of the Noldor, was slain, and the crown passed to his brother [[Turgon]] in [[Gondolin]]. When Gondolin [[Fall of Gondolin|was lost]], Gil-galad received the [[High King of the Noldor|Kingship of the Noldor]].<ref name=Gondolin>{{S|Gondolin}}</ref> He and Círdan maintained the refuge upon Balar and the small port at the [[Sirion]] estuary until the [[War of Wrath]] and the end of the [[First Age]].

===Second Age===
[[File:Jenny Dolfen - Gil-galad was an Elvenking.jpg|thumb|left|''Gil-galad was an Elvenking'' by [[Jenny Dolfen]]]]
After the destruction of [[Beleriand]] during the [[War of Wrath]], Gil-galad founded a kingdom in [[Lindon]] in the far north-west of Middle-earth, roughly between the [[Blue Mountains]] and the [[Belegaer|Great Sea]] around the [[Gulf of Lhûn]] and the havens of [[Forlond]], [[Harlond (Lindon)|Harlond]], and [[Mithlond]] were founded.<ref name="Rings">{{S|Rings}}</ref> Gil-galad was the last heir of the kings of the Noldor in exile, and acknowledged as High King of the Elves of the West.<ref name=sa>{{App|SA}}</ref> Many Elves, both the [[Sindar]] and the [[Noldor]], joined him. But soon, there was again unrest among the Noldor, and many of them left Lindon. Led by [[Celebrimbor]], grandson of [[Fëanor]], they founded the realm of [[Eregion]], probably also stirred up by the finding of ''[[mithril]]'' in [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]]. Also, some of the Sindar and many of the [[Nandor]] did not wish to live with the Noldor, who had done them a [[Second Kinslaying|great evil]], and migrated eastwards to [[Lothlórien]] or [[Mirkwood|Greenwood the Great]].

When Prince [[Aldarion]] of [[Númenor]] came to [[Middle-earth]], they established friendship with the [[Elves]]. In {{SA|882}} Gil-galad gave him [[Gil-galad's letter|a letter for his father]], the [[King of Númenor]], [[Tar-Meneldur]]. He warned him that a new shadow had arisen in the [[East]] and besought him for aid.<ref>{{UT|Aldarion}}</ref>

[[File:Irsanna - Gil-galad.jpg|thumb|''Gil-galad'' by [[:Category:Images by Irsanna|Irsanna]]]]
Around the year 1000 of the [[Second Age]], [[Sauron]] tried to make contact with the Elves under the name of [[Annatar]], the "Lord of Gifts", but Gil-galad and Círdan did not trust him and rejected his proposals. However, Sauron was welcomed in Eregion and the [[Rings of Power]] were forged.<ref name="Rings"/> Around {{SA|1600}}, Sauron forged [[the One Ring]] in secret, and when the Elves of Eregion found out that they were betrayed, Sauron demanded the Rings, and when they refused, in {{SA|1693}} the [[War of the Elves and Sauron]] began.<ref name="PM">{{PM|Second}}</ref><ref name=sa/> Celebrimbor had rescued the [[Three Rings]] of the Elves in time, sending [[Vilya]] and [[Narya]] to Gil-galad and [[Círdan]] in Lindon, respectively, while the third ring [[Nenya]] was given to [[Galadriel]].<ref name="Galadriel">{{UT|Galadriel}}</ref>

As Sauron invaded [[Eriador]], Gil-galad sent [[Elrond]] to aid Eregion and also called on Númenor for aid.<ref>{{UT|Concerning}}</ref><ref name=sa/> Elrond was unable to avert Sauron, and with some survivors, they retreated to [[Imladris]].<ref name="Galadriel"/>

Eriador was being overrun until a great fleet of the [[Númenóreans]] sent by [[Tar-Minastir]] arrived at Lindon. With united forces, Sauron's army was driven back and defeated.<ref name=sa/><ref name="Galadriel"/> After this war, the Elves were not further troubled by Sauron for a long time, and Gil-galad appointed Elrond as his vice-regent, passing the ring Vilya to him.<ref name="Galadriel"/>.

[[File:Abe Papakhian - Last Alliance.jpg|thumb|left|''Last Alliance'' by [[:Category:Images by Abe Papakhian|Abe Papakhian]]]]
When [[Tar-Calion]] captured Sauron and took him to [[Númenor]], the Westlands found peace, and Gil-galad was free to extend his power to the north, south, and east beyond the [[Anduin]].<ref name="Rings"/>

After the [[Downfall of Númenor]], [[Elendil]] and his sons came to Middle-earth and founded the realms of [[Gondor]] in the south and [[Arnor]] in the north. To honour Elendil, Gil-galad built the [[White Towers]], which housed [[Elostirion-stone|one of]] the [[Palantiri]].<ref name="Rings"/>

[[File:Michael Kaluta - Elrond Recalls the Host of Gilgalad.jpg|thumb|''Elrond Recalls the Host of Gilgalad'' by Michael Kaluta]]
But Sauron also escaped, and Gondor was soon attacked; Elendil's son [[Isildur]] had to flee, and sailed north to his father. Elendil and Gil-galad then formed the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] against Sauron in {{SA|3431}}.<ref name=sa/> It is said that the hosts of Gil-galad joined Elendil at [[Weathertop|Amon Sûl]]<Ref name=Knife>{{FR|Knife}}</ref>

In the following years, the Allies marched to [[Imladris]] where they camped for three years. Then they crossed the [[Misty Mountains]], and marched south, where they [[Battle of Dagorlad|defeated]] a great army outside [[Mordor]]. They broke through [[Cirith Gorgor]] and besieged [[Sauron]]'s [[Barad-dûr|Dark Tower]].<ref name=sa/> Gil-galad fought with his long sword and his spear [[Aeglos (spear)|Aeglos]] that was much feared by the enemy.<ref>{{FR|Council}}</ref><ref name=Knife>{{FR|Knife}}</ref>

When the siege had lasted for seven years, it became so pressing that Sauron himself sallied forth. By his power, the siege was broken, and his army advanced to the slopes of [[Orodruin]]. There he was engaged by Elendil and Gil-galad in a single combat. Sauron was defeated but both Gil-galad and Elendil were killed in the act.<ref name=sa/> In the [[Scroll of Isildur|Scroll]] he wrote in [[Minas Tirith]] before riding north, Isildur wrote that Gil-galad was killed by the heat of Sauron's hand.<ref>{{FR|Council}}</ref>

Thus died the last High King of Noldor, and this title was never claimed by any other Noldo of Middle-earth.

== Etymology ==
{{Pronounce|Ereinion Gil-galad.mp3|Ardamir}}
''Gil-galad'' is a [[Sindarin]] name, meaning "Star of bright light",<ref name=RGEO>{{RGEO|Notes}}, p. 73</ref> "Starlight"<ref name=Knife/> or "Star of Radiance".<ref name=Finwe>{{PM|XI4}}, pp. 347-348</ref> The name consists of the elements ''[[gil]]'' ("star") + ''[[galad]]'' ("radiance").<ref name=RGEO></ref>

According to a version, this name was an [[epessë]] given to him because his armour and shield were overlaid with silver and included a device of white stars, so they shone in the distance like a star.<ref name=Finwe></ref> A later version explains it was his [[mother-name]].<ref name=Parentage/>

''Gil-galad'' already appears in ''[[The Etymologies]]'' as [[Noldorin]] for "Starlight".<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, entry "GIL"</ref>

==Other names==
As a descendant of kings, the [[Sindarin]] birth name of Gil-galad was '''''Ereinion''''' ("Scion of Kings"), from plural ''[[aran]]'' ("king") + ''[[-ion]]'' (patronymic suffix).<ref>{{S|Appendix}}, entry ''ar(a)''</ref>

Gil-galad's [[Quenya]] name was '''''Artanáro''''', or in Sindarin '''''Rodnor'''''.<ref name=Parentage/> Paul Strack explains it can be translated as "Noble Fire".<ref>{{webcite|author=Paul Strack|articleurl=http://eldamo.org/content/words/word-1045550461.html|articlename=Q. ''Artanáro'' m.|website=Eldamo|accessed=5 November 2020}}</ref>

An unclear name is '''''Finellach''''', included in [[Gil-galad's letter]] to [[Tar-Meneldur]] (but omitted by [[Christopher Tolkien]]).<ref name=Parentage/> [[David Salo]] explains it can mean "Flame of Hair and Eye".<ref>{{HM|GS}}, p. 349</ref>

Another isolated name was '''''Finwain''''',<ref>{{NM|P2iv}}, p. 186</ref> clearly [[Sindarin]], a combination of ''fin'' (Sindarin for ''[[Finwë]]'') + ''[[gwain]]'' ("young").

== Revised genealogy ==
[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Gil-galad Heraldic Device.jpg|100px|thumb|right|Gil-galad's heraldic device, by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]]]
<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| | | | | FIN |y| IND | | | | | | | | OLW | | | | | | | |MIR=[[Míriel]]''d. {{YT|1170}}''|FIN=[[Finwë]]''d. {{YT|1495}}''|IND=[[Indis]]''b. {{YT}}''|OLW=[[Olwë]]''b. {{YT}}''}}
{{familytree| |,|-|-|-|v|-|^|-|v|-|-|-|.| | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| FDS | | FNG | | IRM | | FRF |y| EAW | | SON | | | | | |FDS=[[Findis]]''b. {{YT}}''|FNG=[[Fingolfin]]''{{YT|1190}} - {{FA|456}}''|IRM=[[Írimë]]''b. {{YT}}''|FRF=[[Finarfin]]''b. {{YT|1230}}''|EAW=[[Eärwen]]''b. {{YT}}''|SON=''unknown sons''}}
{{familytree| |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|^|-|.| | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| FRD | | ANG |y| ELD | | AEG | | GAL |y| CEL | |FRD=[[Finrod]]''{{YT|1300}} - {{FA|465}}''|ANG=[[Angrod]]''d. {{FA|455}}''|AEG=[[Aegnor]]''d. {{FA|455}}''|GAL=[[Galadriel]]''b. {{YT|1362}}''|ELD=[[Eldalótë]]''b. {{YT}}''|CEL=[[Celeborn]]''b. {{FA}}''}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | ORO | | | | | | ELR |~| CLB | | | |ORO=[[Orodreth]]''d. {{FA|495}}''|CLB=[[Celebrían]]''b. {{SA}}''|ELR=[[Elrond]]''b. {{FA|532}}''}}
{{familytree| | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | | | GIL | | FIL | | | | | | |GIL='''GIL-GALAD'''''d. {{SA|3441}}''|FIL=[[Finduilas]]''d. {{FA|495}}''}}
{{familytree/end}}
</div>

== Other versions of the legendarium ==
===Earlier versions===
Gil-galad appears for the first time in the second version of ''[[The Fall of Númenor]]'' (written c. [[1937]]), along with [[Elendil]] (in the previous conception, Elrond is the leader of the Elves who remained behind). Both create a great league of Elves and Men and fight [[Thû]] in [[Mordor]], but both are slain by him. In that text he is mentioned as a descendant of [[Fëanor]] and an Elven king of Beleriand.<ref>{{LR|P1II3}}, p. 29. Cf. Commentary on §14</ref>

In a marginal note of §28 of the conclusion of ''[[Quenta Silmarillion (Lost Road)|Quenta Silmarillion]]'', Tolkien pencilled the names ''Gilgalad'' and ''Lindon''.<ref>{{LR|P2VI}}, ''Commentary on the conclusion of the Quenta Silmarillion'', p. 337</ref> This note was probably used by Christopher Tolkien to introduce Gil-Galad at the end of [[Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath|chapter 24]] of the published ''[[Silmarillion]]'', beside Círdan, Celeborn, and Galadriel.<ref>See [[Douglas C. Kane]], ''[[Arda Reconstructed: The Creation of the Published Silmarillion]]'', p. 235.</ref>

===Later versions===
In a 1959 manuscript on chronology published in ''[[The Nature of Middle-earth]]'', Tolkien contemplated various revisions to the years of birth of various characters in the Legendarium in accord with a new conception of how Elves aged over time. In a rough note appended to this manuscript, he suggested that "Gilgalad" became King in Lindon "under" Galadriel c. SA 10-20, and that in order to be of suitable age to rule he must have been born in {{YT|1481}} in [[Eldamar]].<ref name=Birth>{{NM|P1xi}}, p. 82</ref>

===Parentage===
[[File:Karolina Węgrzyn - Scion of Kings son of Fingon (colored).jpg|thumb|''Scion of Kings son of Fingon'' by [[Karolina Węgrzyn]]]]
Later, and through the writing of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Tolkien considered Gil-galad to be a son of [[Finrod Felagund]]. In the late 1950s, he decided that Felagund was unmarried and childless, and suggested in a marginal note that Gil-galad might be the son of [[Fingon]].<ref name="Ruin">{{WJ|Ruin}}, pp. 242-243</ref>

Tolkien's final decision for Gil-galad's parentage appears to have been that he was a son of [[Orodreth]], who was at the same time changed from being a son of [[Finarfin]] to a son of [[Angrod]].<ref name=Parentage></ref> By moving Gil-galad to the House of Finarfin, Tolkien made Fingon childless and Turgon his heir, resolving the difficulty with Turgon's Kingship.

Tolkien's son and literary executor [[Christopher Tolkien]] made the editorial decision not to incorporate this revision into ''The Silmarillion'' and chose to present Gil-galad as a son of Fingon. He did this because at the time he believed that aspects of the move — notably the downgrading of Orodreth into a son of Angrod — would have required considerable reworking of the existing text. For consistency with the published ''Silmarillion'', he also edited a line in ''[[Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife]]'' that referred to Gil-galad as a member of the House of Finarfin. Many years later in ''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]'', he stated that this decision was a mistake on his part and did not represent his father's conception of the character. He suggested that it would have been better to have left Gil-galad's parentage obscure.<ref name=Parentage/>

==Portrayals in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Gil-galad in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Gil-galad.jpg|Gil-galad in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Gil-galad.jpg|Gil-galad in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
}}
===Films===
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:In the prologue, Gil-galad is shown as one of the bearers of the [[Three Rings|three Elven rings]]. Later, he is present at the [[Siege of Barad-dûr|Battle]] of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] wielding his spear [[Aeglos (spear)|Aeglos]]. His death is not shown, and he does not take down [[Sauron]]. He is played by [[Mark Ferguson]].
:The bodies of Gil-galad and Elendil can be seen on [[:File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Isildur mural.jpg|the mural depicting the Siege]] in the [[House of Elrond]].

===Television===
'''2022: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power|''The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power'']]:'''
:Gil-galad will be portrayed by [[Benjamin Walker]] as one of the central characters of the series.<ref>{{webcite|author=[[Amy Ratcliffe]]|articleurl=https://nerdist.com/article/lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power-who-is-gil-galad-benjamin-walker-interview-exclusive-images/|articlename=Meet High King Gil-galad From THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER|dated=30-June-2022|website=[https://www.nerdist.com Nerdist]|accessed=09-July-2022}}</ref>

===Games===
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Gil-galad appears in several flashbacks depicting the the [[War of the Last Alliance]]. His ultimate fate is more accurate to the books than the film version, showing [[Elendil]] and Gil-galad both battling and defeating [[Sauron]] at the cost of their lives.

'''2010: ''[[Lego The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:Gil-galad appears in the prologue holding one of the Elf-rings. He is also an unlockable character, despite never playing into the storyline. He can be found in a cave in south-west [[Gorgoroth]]. His gear is not accurate, however; he wields an Elven sword (instead of Aeglos) and golden shield in the game, though ''The Fall of Gil-Galad'' describes a silver shield.

{{references}}
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=noldor
| house=[[House of Finarfin]] Cadet branch of [[House of Finwë]]
| born={{YT|1481}}
| died={{SA|3441}}
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Turgon]]
| list=4th [[High King of the Noldor]]
| nvac=None
| next=Title abandoned
| dates={{FA|510}} - {{SA|3441}}
}}
{{seq-end}}
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:First Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Finarfin]]
[[Category:House of Fingolfin]]
[[Category:Noldor]]
[[Category:Noldorin names]]
[[Category:Rulers in Middle-earth]]
[[Category:Second Age characters]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[de:Gil-galad]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:elfes:noldor:gil-galad]]
[[fi:Gil-galad]]

Gilim

2022-04-08T13:27:13Z

172.70.250.116: the giant is mentioned in the section of long tall things, to make her hair grow. the sleeping section is the other half of the spell

'''Gilim''' was a [[giants|giant]] of [[Araman|Eruman]],<ref>{{LT2|In}}, pp. 67-8</ref> apparently noteworthy for his neck. [[Lúthien]] named him in her growth-spell.<ref>{{HM|LR}}, "[[The Lay of Leithian]]", [[Lay of Leithian Canto V|Canto V]], verse 1497</ref>

In [[Gnomish]], one of [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]]'s early conceptions of an [[Elvish|Elven]] tongue, ''Gilim'' is given the translaton "winter".<ref>{{PE|11}}, p. 38 (see also p. 35, entry for ''folornin'', and p. 8)</ref>

{{references}}
[[Category:Characters in The Book of Lost Tales]]
[[Category:Giants]]
[[Category:Gnomish names]]

Tolkien Gateway - User contributions [en]

Gil-galad

Gilim