 | |
| Noldo | |
| Gwindor | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Titles | Prince of Nargothrond |
| Location | Nargothrond, Barad Eithel, Anfauglith, Angband, Taur-nu-Fuin, Pools of Ivrin, Tumhalad |
| Affiliation | Elves of Nargothrond Stone-gang of Angband |
| Language | Quenya and Sindarin |
| Birth | After F.A. 52 Nargothrond[1] |
| Death | F.A. 495 Tumhalad |
| Family | |
| Parentage | Guilin |
| Siblings | Gelmir |
| Spouse | Betrothed to Finduilas; never married |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Hair colour | Dark |
| Weaponry | Sword |
| Gallery | Images of Gwindor |
Once I was Gwindor son of Guilin, a lord of Nargothrond, until I went to the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, and was enslaved in Angband.
Gwindor was a prince of the Elves of Nargothrond. He was most notable for his actions at the start of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad and his later relationship with Túrin.
History
Gwindor was born in Nargothrond[1] to Guilin and was the brother of Gelmir. He was considered a bold leader, and the scout who scoured most far afield of all the folk of Nargothrond.[2] He was betrothed to Finduilas the daughter of Orodreth.
Battle of Unnumbered Tears and thralldom
His brother was lost during the Dagor Bragollach, and wishing to avenge this loss, he joined the Union of Maedhros and followed Fingon to battle.
During the assault, Gwindor led a small company of Elves of Nargothrond stationed at Barad Eithel. But the hosts of Morgoth were prepared; they brought his brother, still alive, then mutilated and slew him in front of the company. At the sight of Gelmir's mangled corpse, he charged on the plains of Anfauglith, and thus beginning the battle of Nirnaeth Arnoediad. It is said that Morgoth trembled as his company pounded on his gates, but he had ambushed the company within Angband itself, and all but Gwindor were slain.[3]
He spent fourteen years as a captive slave in Angband where the strength and beauty of his body were ruined. At some point, he received a small sword from another Elf who worked in the forges and, while working in a stone-gang, turned suddenly on the guards. Though he lost a hand in that fight, he managed to escape and fled southwards, eventually reaching Taur-nu-Fuin.[4]
As Gwindor lay exhausted, he was found by Beleg who was looking for his friend Túrin. Gwindor helped Beleg locate the Orc-band that had captured Túrin, and they freed him. But Túrin thought Beleg was an Orc and killed him before realizing his mistake. Gwindor consoled Túrin in his grief and led him to Nargothrond.
Return to Nargothrond
Túrin was admitted in the Elven realm thanks to Gwindor, but now Gwindor was worn out and did not have the power he once had before his capture. "Agarwaen" (Túrin's name while he stayed there) gained much influence among the Elves of Nargothrond and even Finduilas fell in love with him, a fact that Gwindor accepted without bitterness for Túrin. Believing that Finduilas would save Túrin from his fate, Gwindor revealed Agarwaen's identity to Finduilas, while he tried to persuade Túrin to return her feelings.
But when Túrin talked about open warfare upon Morgoth's forces, Gwindor could see the incoming doom of Nargothrond approach and counselled against this, only to be ignored. Orodreth the King of Nargothrond built a bridge, which not only eliminated the defence provided by the river Narog, but also revealed the location of the Kingdom.
Indeed, Gwindor was right and Glaurung with a band of Orcs came. The Elves were driven towards the plain of Tumhalad, where most of them, including King Orodreth and Gwindor, were slain in battle. Before dying, he assigned the protection of Finduilas to Túrin, and informed him that she alone could save him from the Curse of Morgoth; however his warning was not heeded, as Túrin failed to protect her.[5]
Etymology
The name is not explained, however in The Etymologies, the name-element -dor (a compounded form of Noldorin taur) has the sense of "king, master".[6]
It has been suggested that the first element of the name could be gwind "pale blue".[7]
It has been suggested by Paul Strack and David Salo that the Gwindor is a Sindarin name could be derived from a combination of the elements gwain ("new") + -dor ("lord").[8]
Genealogy
Other versions of the legendarium
Book of Lost Tales
In Turambar and the Foalókë, he is initially named Flinding, son of Duilin, and serves the same role as an escaped thrall of Melko who assists in rescuing Túrin and eventually guiding him to the caves of the Rodothlim.[9]
There is no relation stated between him and Failivrin, daughter of Galweg, who would become Finduilas.[9]
Flinding was only lightly injured during the pitched battle with the Orcs (what would become the Battle of Tumhalad), and aided Túrin in carrying the mortally wounded Orodreth back to the caves. He then stood beside Túrin in protecting the dwelling of Galweg from the ransacking Orcs until he was felled by an arrow to the eye.[9]
Lays of Beleriand
In The Lay of the Children of Húrin, after escaping from the mines of Melkor, Flinding first crossed the Plains of Drouth before entering Taur-nu-Fuin. There his feet were entangled and he became enmeshed in its mazes, and he was taken by madness and wandered witless until he was heard by Orcs and pursued. The Orcs eventually found him, "grovelled fainting" and "cowering" and took him back to their camp. There he saw their spoils, countless chained captives (including Elfin maids), and Túrin held in baleful bonds. While in a bleeding swoon, the Orcs threw Flinding on the "dung and slough" of their lair, but he then escaped "as a crawling worm on belly cowering".
Beleg insisted that Flinding show him the way to the Orc camp, which Flinding initially declined, stating that fear fettered him, and he would prefer to die in the dark, dazed and forwandered, than return to that anguish; he even claimed that he did not know the way. Beleg then admonished Flinding, reminding him of the might, mirth and renown of the Gnomes of Nargothrond. At this, Flinding fought the fear in his heart and started to lead Beleg to the Orc camp.[10]
Later works
In The Earliest Annals of Beleriand he is renamed to Findor son of Fuilin, and then a final time to Gwindor son of Guilin.[11]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "The Death of Beleg", p. 157
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "I. The Lay of the Children of Húrin: III. Failivrin"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "The Death of Beleg"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Túrin Turambar"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entry "TA", "TA3"
- ↑ "Gwindor", The Encyclopedia of Arda , citing J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entry "WIN"
- ↑ Paul Strack, "S. Gwindor m.", Eldamo, accessed 27 August 2022
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "II. Turambar and the Foalókë"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "I. The Lay of the Children of Húrin: II. Beleg"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "VII. The Earliest Annals of Beleriand: Notes [to text AB I]", p. 312, note 40