Ereinion Gil-galad

[Scion of Kings] the [Star of Radiance]

 "For a mighty king is Gil-galad"

Sauron, ["The Silmarillion", JRR Tolkien]

Read "The Fall of Gil-Galad", translated by Bilbo Baggins [JRR Tolkien]

Consult  Biography

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Please Note:

1.  For a closer look at (and description of) Gil-galad's Heraldry, visit this page.

2. "Elrond Recalls the Hosts of Gil-galad", Michael Kaluta, Found in Rolozo Tolkien (see Links).

3. In the movies, Gil-Galad is played by Mark Ferguson, in a non-speaking role.

"The Fall of Gil-Galad", 

As translated from the Elvish by Bilbo Baggins and recited by Samwise Gamgee. 

[JRR Tolkien]

Please Take Note.

    1.  Born in the fifth century of the First Age, Ereinion (later called Gil-galad) was the only son of Fingon, of the house of Fingolfin, High-King of the Noldor. 

It should be noted that Fingolfin was Finarfin's brother, and that Finarfin sired Galadriel. Therefore, Galadriel was Fingon's first-cousin. Or Gil-galad's second-cousin.

Note, also, that Turgon was Fingon's brother, and Idril Celebrindal's father. Thus Gil-galad was Idril's first-cousin. Second-cousin to her son Eärendil. And third-cousin to Elrond and Elros.

    2. After the death of Fingolfin, during the Dragor Bragollach, Fingon became High-King and sent Gil-galad to the Havens, under Círdan's safekeeping.

    3. The Havens were attacked. Those who survived escaped by sea and were led by Círdan to the Isle of Balar.

    4. Fingon perished in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, and Turgon (his brother) become the Fifth High-King, since Ereinion was still a child. Under Morgoth's attack, Turgon died and Gondolin fell. Ereinion Gil-Galad became the sixth  High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth. He would be the last to hold this title.

    5. The sons of Fëanor attacked the exiles of Gondolin, at the Mouths of the Sirion. Gil-galad and Círdan sailed to help the exiles, but were too late. Ereinion remained at the Mouths of the Sirion until the end of the First Age.

"Too late the ships of Círdan and Gil-galad the High King came hasting to the aid of the Elves of Sirion; and Elwing was gone, and her sons. Then such few of that people as did not perish in the assault joined themselves to Gil-galad, and went with him to Balar; and they told that Elros and Elrond were taken captive, but Elwing with the Silmaril upon her breast had cast herself into the sea."  [S]

    6. Following the destruction of Beleriand in the War of Wrath, Gil-galad remained in Middle-earth (like Círdan, Elrond and Galadriel), while many Elves sailed across the Sea to Valinor. Gil-galad founded a kingdom in Lindon (between the Blue Mountains and the Sea), and the Elves prospered under his guidance and leadership.

    7. Sauron, using the name Annatar [Lord of Gifts], tried to gain the Eldar's trust. Gil-galad, Círdan and Elrond resisted his efforts to tempt them, for they saw him for his true self.

    8. The Rings of Power were forged. Celebrimbor, the smith, kept the Three Elven Rings safe from Sauron's influence - Nenya [The Ring of Adamant] was gifted to Galadriel, Narya [The Ring of Fire] and Vilya [The Ring of Air, or of Sapphire] to Gil-galad. The latter passed Narya on to Círdan, though accounts of when this took place differ.

    9. The war against Sauron began. 

    10.  Sauron invaded Eriador. Gil-galad sent an Elvish army to Eregion under Elrond's command. Sauron kept advancing, and, though Celeborn joined his army to that of Elrond, Eregion was taken. The focus shifted to Lindon.

"Sauron's immediate purpose was to take Lindon, where he believed that he had most chance of seizing one, or more, of the Three Rings; and he called in therefore his scattered forces and marched west towards the land of Gil-galad, ravaging as he went. But his force was weakened by the necessity of leaving a strong detachment to contain Elrond" [UT]

 

    11. Only Imladris (a haven founded by Elrond) resisted, though besieged. Gil-galad turned to Númenor for help and, finally, with the aid of the Númenoreans, Eriador was freed.

"The army that was besieging Imladris was caught between Elrond and Gil-galad, and utterly destroyed. Eriador was cleared of the enemy, but lay largely in ruins." [UT]

 

    12. The first White Council took place, and Imladris was named as the eastern stronghold. Elrond was appointed vice-regent in Eriador and received Vilya.

    13. Sauron turned his attention to Númenor; the Elvish kingdom, under Gil-galad's rule, flourished in Middle-Earth, extending to the borders of Greenwood. After the downfall of Númenor, Elendil fled and reached Lindon, being welcomed by Gil-galad as a friend.

"It is said that the towers of Emyn Beraid were not built indeed by the Exiles of Númenor, but were raised by Gil-galad for Elendil, his friend"  [S]

 

    14. However, Sauron returned. Realizing that his power grew strong, Gil-galad and Elendil joined forces and armies, in what would become known as The Last Alliance.

"They marched east into Middle-earth gathering a great host of Elves and Men; and they halted for a while at Imladris. 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"  [S]

 

    15. The armies left Imladris, crossed the Misty Mountains and the river Anduin, and reached Dagorlad (the Battle Plains facing the fortresses of Mordor), where they fought against Sauron's minions.

"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. Of the Dwarves few fought upon either side; but the kindred of Durin of Moria fought against Sauron."  [S]

 

    16. Gil-galad wielded his spear Aeglos [snow-point] and Elendil wielded the sword Narsil. The power of the Elves and the strength of Men gave victory to the Last Alliance, granting them entry to Mordor, where the siege at Gorgoroth would last a further 7 years. 

"I remember well the splendour of their banners" [Elrond, LotR]

"His helm and mail, and his shield overlaid with silver and set with a device of white stars, shone from afar like a star in sunlight or moonlight, and could be seen by Elvish eyes at a great distance if they stood upon a height." [UT]

"Against Aeglos the spear of Gil-galad none could stand; and the sword of Elendil filled Orcs and Men with fear, for it shone with the light of the sun and of the moon, and it was named Narsil."  [S]

    17. Finally, Sauron was defeated on the slopes of Orodruin, but not before slaying both Gil-galad and Elendil. Isildur, using the shards of Narsil, cut the One Ring from Sauron's finger, and the Third Age began.

"And Elendil the Tall and Gil-galad the High King were no more. Never again was such a host assembled, nor was there any such league of Elves and Men; for after Elendil's day the two kindreds became estranged."  [S]

"Gil-galad and Elendil were no more. Never again shall there be any such league of Elves and Men; for Men multiply and the Firstborn decrease, and the two kindreds are estranged." [Elrond, LotR]

 

    18. There ended the line of the High Kings of the Elves. Elrond returned to rule Imladris, and Círdan ruled the Grey Havens - in these two lands were preserved the power, wisdom and memory of Gil-galad's kingdom .

Star of Radiance - A Gil-Galad fan-site.

The IMDb's Mark Ferguson Page.

The Encyclopedia of Arda's Gil-galad Page.

TheOneRing.net's Gil-galad Page.

Ereinion, Gil-galad Clique.

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