The Fantasy Review’s brief history of Gil-galad.
Born Ereinion, and later called Ereinion Gil-galad, High King Gil-galad has a fascinating and noble history in Tolkien’s work. It is unclear who his parents were or what his birthdate is, however he is either the son of Fingon or Orodreth, so either way he had an impressive legacy to live up to.
Gil-galad is of Sindarin origin, meaning Star of Radiance. Ereinion, his birth name, was Sindarin for Scion of Kings.
The History of Gil-galad During the First Age
As a child, in 455 of the First Age, Gil-galad was sent to live in the Havens of the Falas with Círdan for safety, as Morgoth was on the march. However, in 473 F.A., the ports at the Falas were captured by orcs and Gil-galad was forced to flee with Círdan by ship to the Isle of Balar.
After the Fall of Gondolin, and the death of the last High King, Turgon, Gil-galad became King of the Noldor in 510 F.A. He and Círdan remained good friends and allies, working hard to rescue refugees from Gondolin, Goriath, and Nargothrond, until the War of Wrath and the destruction of Beleriand.
The Founding of Lindon
At the start of the Second Age, Gil-galad founded Lindon and was named High King of the Elves of the West. Many Elves from both the Noldor and the Sindar joined him, but there was soon unrest between the Elves, as there always has been, and Celebrimbor led a splinter group to found the realm of Eregion.
From Lindon, Gil-galad worked to ally himself with the Númenóreans, who were at this time led by King Tar-Meneldur. In the year 882 of the Second Age, he sent a letter to the King warning him of a rising darkness and asking for help.
Annatar and the Rings of Power
When Sauron first sought to manipulate the Elves while disguised as Annatar, the Lord of Gifts, he went to Lindon in 1000 S.A., but both Gil-galad and Círdan did not trust him. So, Annatar went to Eregion instead and convinced Celebrimbor to make the Rings of Power.
After the forging of the Rings, Sauron created the One Ring and demanded the return of the Three Elven Rings, but they refused him. This led to the War of the Elves and Sauron in 1693.
The Three Elven Rings were given to the Elves in Lindon. Gil-galad wore Vilya, the most powerful of the three. Narya was given to Círdan (which he later passed on to Gandalf), and the third, Nenya, was given to Galadriel.
After the War of the Elves and Sauron, the Dark Lord was defeated and pushed back, with the help of the Númenóreans. Gil-galad made Elrond his vice-regent and gave Vilya to the Half-elven, rather than keeping it for himself.
The Last Alliance of Elves and Men
After the Fall of Númenor, Sauron gathered his strength and attacked Gondor, the Kingdom of the Faithful of Númenor who had survived the Fall. Gil-galad and the High King of Arnor and Gondor, Elendil, allied themselves against Sauron in the Last Alliance of Elves and Men in 3431 of the Second Age.
On the slopes of Orodruin in 3441, Gil-galad and Elendil fought Sauron on the battlefield and defeated the Dark Lord, but both were killed in the process. Gil-galad was burned to death by Sauron’s heat.
After Gil-galad’s death, no one ever claimed his title as High King of Noldor.
