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Gil-galad

Sind.: gil + calad, galad ... star + bright light rendered to Star of Bright Light, Starlight

His birth name was Ereinion (meaning "scion of kings" in Sindarin).

Noldorin Elf (FiA - SeA 3441), his weapon was the famous spear Aeglos. Aeglos is said (in Unfinished Tales) to mean "Snowthorn" in Sindarin.

Contents
Gil-galad in the Silmarillion and Lord of the Rings   
Gil-galad in the HoMe   
Who was Gil-galad's Father?   
Discussion   

Gil-galad in the Silmarillion and Lord of the Rings    
Son of Fingon, son of Fingolfin; cousin of Idril and Maeglin.

The first we hear of Gil-galad in the Silmarillion is after the DagorBragollach and Fingolfin's duel with Morgoth. Upon Fingolfin's death, Fingon assumed the kingship of the Noldor, and sent his son Ereinion to the Havens. There Círdan dwelt, and Gil-galad was befriended by him.

When Fingon was killed in the NirnaethArnoediad, Turgon became High King. After this disastrous battle, the Havens were besieged by the armies of Morgoth. When the Havens fell, Gil-galad escaped with Círdan and a remnant of their people to the Isle of Balar. Ereinion Gil-galad became High King of the Noldor when news of the destruction of Gondolin and the fall of Turgon reached Balar.

When Elwing and the refugees of Doriath and Gondolin were attacked at the Mouths of Sirion by the Sons of Fëanor, Gil-galad came to their aid by sea, but arrived too late. He could only join the survivors of this last Kinslaying to his own people.

One of the few Noldor to remain in Middle-earth after the end of the First Age, Gil-galad became King of Lindon. With Elrond, he distrusted Sauron who came under the guise of Annatar, "Lord of Gifts", but could not see through the disguise. After the forging of the One Ring and Sauron's open war against the Elves of Eregion, Gil-galad called for and received aid from Númenorean King Tar-Minastir. Celebrimbor gave Gil-galad Vilya, the Ring of Air, and Narya, the Ring of Fire. Gil-galad, in turn gave to Círdan Narya, and gave Elrond Vilya before setting out in the Last Alliance.

When Elendil and his sons escaped to Middle-earth from Númenor, Gil-galad helped the establish their kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor. When Sauron reappeared after his destruction in Númenor and renewed his war on the Elves and the Dúnedain, Gil-galad and Elendil realized that there was no hope unless all the enemies of Sauron banded together. This realization led them to create the Last Alliance.

It is said that the host that was there assembled was fairer and more splendid in arms than any that has since been seen in Middle-earth, and none greater has been mustered since the host of the Valar went against Thangorodrim. From Imladris they crossed the Misty Mountains by many passes and marched down the River Anduin, and so came at last upon the host of Sauron on Dagorlad, the Battle Plain, which lies before the gate of the Black Land. All living things were divided in that day, and some of every kind, even of beasts and birds, were found in either host, save the elves only. They alone were undivided and followed Gil-galad.
The Silmarillion, Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age

The Last Alliance forced Sauron to retreat and encircled his fortress, beseiging Mordor itself. After seven years of seige,

Sauron himself came forth; and he wrestled with Gil-galad and Elendil, and they both were slain, and the sword of Elendil broke under him as he fell. But Sauron also was thrown down, and with the hilt-shard of Narsil Isildur cut the Ruling Ring from the hand of Sauron and took it for his own. Then Sauron was for that time vanquished, and he forsook his body, and his spirit fled far away and hid in waste places; and he took no visible shape again for many long years."
The Silmarillion, Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age

Thus the last High King of the Noldor fell to the servant of he who killed his forefather, Fingolfin.


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.

...

But long ago he rode away,
and where he dwelleth none can say;
for into darkness fell his star
in Mordor where the shadows are.

Gil-galad in the HoMe    
Originally, Gil-galad was the son of Felagund. After writing of Felagund's love for the Vanyarin elf Amárië who did not leave Aman, and deciding that Felagund must be unmarried in order to fulfill his oath to Beren, Tolkien rejected this idea. Later, Tolkien decided that Gil-galad was the son of Orodreth, son of Angrod. This, according to Christopher Tolkien, was his last word on the subject. In this version, Gil-galad is named also Rodnor and Atanáro, and his mother is a Sindarin lady of the North, who gave him the name Gil-galad. (This information is found in the Shibboleth of Fëanor in The Peoples of Middle-earth.)

Who was Gil-galad's Father?    
This depends on which source you decide to follow. It appears that Tolkien's last word is that Gil-galad was the son of Orodreth, and that the idea of Gil-galad as son of Fingon was an 'ephemeral' idea. citation needed

 This idea, however, is found in the published Silmarillion, so if you choose to follow that Gil-galad is the son of Fingon.

Discussion    
thoughts?


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