The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
The High King of the Elves, Ingwë, reigns in Aman; in Middle-earth, the last High King of the Elves, Gil-galad, was slain in II 3441, but other lesser kings continued to reign into the Fourth Age
Locations
Ingwë's halls are on Taniquetil in Aman; in Middle-earth, the High Kings of the Noldor ruled from Barad Eithel on the borders of Hithlum, while the Lord of Beleriand was the King of Doriath; after the end of the First Age, the last of the High Kings, Gil-galad, ruled from Lindon on the northwestern coasts of Middle-earth
Race
Divisions
Various; High King Ingwë is of the Vanyar, while the High Kings in Middle-earth were of the Noldor; Thingol Lord of Beleriand was of the Sindar
Other names
Title of
Various noble Elves, but notably of Ingwë the High King of the Elves, the line of the High Kings of the Noldor, and of King Thingol of Doriath
Note
The variant title Elvenking was used for Thranduil, the king of the Woodland Realm; though he was a true Elven-king, Thranduil was not in fact one of the more powerful or important kings of the Elves

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About this entry:

  • Updated 3 December 2024
  • Updates planned: 1

Elven-kings

Most noble of all Elven-kind

It seems to have been common to all Elves to appoint a king to rule over a nation or house. Certainly most of the Eldar, including the Silvan Elves, appointed their own kings. The most important rulers of the Elves, though, descended from the three ambassadors who had been first among the Children of Ilúvatar to visit the Blessed Realm: Ingwë, Finwë and Elwë.

Ingwë of the Vanyar was considered greatest of all the Elven-kings, and given the title High King of the Elves. Finwë was lord of the Noldor, and from him descended all the High Kings of that people down to Gil-galad. When the others settled in the West, Elwë remained in Middle-earth, where he became King Elu Thingol of Doriath, and commanded the loyalty of all the Sindar of Beleriand.


Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 3 December 2024
  • Updates planned: 1

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