Quenta Silmarillion
Encyclopedia
Quenta Silmarillion is a collection of fictional legends written by the high fantasy
writer J. R. R. Tolkien
. It was published after the author's death in The Silmarillion
together with four shorter stories. As Tolkien did not finish it was completed by his son Christopher
with assistance of the young Guy Gavriel Kay
, who would later go on to a successful career as a fantasy author. The title Quenta Silmarillion is translated as "the Tale of the Silmarils".
or Third Age
s of his legendarium
. Originated from Elvish legends, in some parts it presents Elves as long gone, which hints that its final form was edited during the Fourth Age
by Hobbit
s and/or Men
.
It tells about the history of Arda
(the Earth), after its creation by Eru Ilúvatar
. The Valar
, angel
ic beings, enter into the world and try to shape it after a vision given to them by Eru. The initial shape of Arda
, chosen by the Valar, was of a symmetrical continent lit by the Two Lamps. However, the lamps were destroyed by the vicious Melkor
; Arda was darkened, and the lamps' fall spoiled the symmetry of Arda's surface. Two main continents were created that are of concern to the story: Aman
in the west, and Middle-earth
in the east.
Following this, Melkor hid himself from the Valar in his fortress Utumno in the north of Middle-earth. He also surrounded himself with horrible beasts, many of them Maiar
in the form of fell animals, known as Balrog
s.
The Valar moved to the western continent of Aman
where they established the realm of Valinor
of which Manwë
was made king. The Vala Yavanna created the Two Trees
which illuminated Valinor. Middle-earth, by contrast, was in perpetual darkness, and was seldom visited by the Valar. Only some of them, most notably Oromë, visited it periodically, especially to prepare for the coming of the Elves
, which the Valar had foreseen in their vision and to keep an eye on Melkor's activities.
Oromë was then sent to the Elves again, to invite them to come with him to Aman and live there. Some of the Elves did not follow him or became sidetracked and stayed in Middle-earth, and so the Elves became sundered
. These notably included the Sindar
, who stayed in Middle-earth when their king, Thingol
, became lost in the forest. He was to later emerge, married to the Maia
Melian
, and found the Kingdom of Doriath
.
The Elves who accepted the summons were carried across the sea on a floating island.
, the first High King of the Noldor, had a son Fëanor
. At his birth Fëanor drew so much life from his mother Míriel that she grew weary of life and her spirit left her bodily form, departing to the halls of Mandos. Eventually, Finwë remarried to Indis and had two further sons, Fingolfin
and Finarfin
. Fëanor became the most famous elven craftsman, especially by making the Silmarils, three jewels in which he trapped the light of the Two Trees. The Silmarils were hallowed by Varda
, and would burn any evil or mortal creature who touched them.
About this time, Melkor, having completed his sentence, convinced the other Valar that he had reformed and he was released. By various lies he managed to play Fëanor and Fingolfin against each other, creating strife and division amongst the Noldor
; furthermore, he convinced the Noldor that they had been brought to Aman primarily so the Valar could keep them under control. Finally, Fëanor rebelled against the Valar, publicly advocating leaving and then drawing his weapon against Fingolfin.
The Valar were soon aware of Melkor's ultimate responsibility in this. Tulkas hunted him, but Melkor had hidden and could not be found. Because he threatened Fingolfin's life, Fëanor was exiled from Tirion
for twelve years. With his seven sons
and his father Finwë he moved to a newly-built stronghold, Formenos.
Coveting the Silmarils, Melkor went to Formenos, hoping to trick Fëanor and gain possession of them, but Fëanor saw through his ruse and dismissed him with contempt. Melkor then travelled to Avathar in secret, where he joined forces with the evil spirit Ungoliant
, whose form was a giant spider-like creature. Melkor swore an oath to give Ungoliant whatever she desired, and imparted some of his power to her. With her help, they travelled into Valinor secretly, where Ungoliant's poison killed the Two Trees. Covered by an impenetrable blackness, Melkor and Ungoliant then travelled to Formenos, assassinated Finwë and stole the Silmarils, before escaping in the confusion.
Melkor and Ungoliant then made their way across to Middle-earth, and he gave Ungoliant all the great jewels he had stolen, except the Silmarils, which he desired to keep. The rapacious Ungoliant consumed them all and, still hungry, she demanded the Silmarils, but the ever-treacherous Melkor reneged on his oath, so she seized him and bound him with her webs, and his anguished cries echoed across all of Middle-earth.
Melkor escaped from Ungoliant with the help of his former servants, the Balrogs, who came to his aid from their hiding places in the deepest recesses of the ruins of Utumno, and he re-established his empire in the North from his secondary fortress of Angband
. He placed the three Silmarils, which now were the only source of the unmarred light of the Two Trees, in his Iron Crown, although his hands were burned black by them.
Fëanor was furious at the death of his father and the theft of the Silmarils. Travelling to Tirion in violation of his exile, he publicly blamed both Melkor, whom he named Morgoth
, and the Valar (for failing to protect Finwë and the Silmarils). He urged the Noldor to leave Valinor, for a punitive expedition against Morgoth and a new life in Middle-earth. He and his sons then swore the notorious Oath of Fëanor, vowing to pursue with hatred anyone who withheld a Silmaril from them.
to join them, or at least to lend them ships to cross the Great Sea
. When the Teleri refused, Fëanor ordered that the swan-ships be taken by force; the notorious Kinslaying ensued, in which many Teleri were slaughtered. Shortly afterwards, at the northern boundary of Eldamar, the Noldor encountered Mandos, who cursed all the Noldor who left with Fëanor.
At this point, Finarfin, who had always been reluctant to leave, turned back to Valinor with a small number of followers. Many ships had been lost by this time and not all the Noldor could cross to Middle-earth, so Fëanor and his sons seized the remaining swan-ships, abandoning Fingolfin and his followers (including Galadriel
), who were obliged to make their way to Middle-earth across the terrible ice wastes of the Helcaraxë.
Meanwhile, Morgoth attempted to conquer Doriath
, the realm of Thingol and Melian in Middle-earth. In the first
of five great Battles, he sent out two armies of Orcs
, forcing Thingol and his Maia queen to establish a magical boundary around Doriath, the "Girdle of Melian", while the coastal Elves were forced to retreat into their fortified harbour towns. By luck, Fëanor and his host arrived at the height of this conflict and the combined forces of the Noldor and the Sindar
utterly defeated the Orc armies in the second Battle, Dagor-nuin-Giliath
(the "Battle under the Stars"). However Fëanor, in his fury, chased after the retreating Orcs, and he was ambushed and killed by Balrogs.
, but they were able to create the Moon and the Sun from a silver leaf and a golden fruit, which were all that remained of them. These new lights illuminated Middle-earth, stimulated much new plant and animal growth, and for a while, confounded the plans of Morgoth. Unable to assail them, as his once near-limitless power grew ever more dispersed among his servants, who feared the new lights no less than he, the Dark Lord was forced to take refuge in clouds and shadow that surrounded his strongholds. In this era, Men, the younger Children of Ilúvatar
, awoke in eastern Middle-earth, and some began to migrate westward.
The Noldor established kingdoms and principalities in northern and central Beleriand
, which were ruled by the descendants of Fëanor, Fingolfin and Finarfin. They built many great strongholds, including the vast cavern-city of Nargothrond
, on the river Narog, and the mighty hidden mountain fortress of Gondolin, ruled by Turgon
, from whence none who entered were permitted to leave. Many of the Sindar, the native Elves of Beleriand, were absorbed into the Noldorin kingdoms. Others were in Sindarin states: Thingol's kingdom in Doriath, the coastal Falas ruled by Círdan
the shipwright, and the secretive Green-elves
of Ossiriand.
Relations between the Noldor and the independent Sindar were at first amicable but they later deteriorated. The Noldor had long hidden the truth about the Kinslaying and the Curse from Thingol, but he eventually learned of it from Angrod
. As a result he banned all the Noldor (except his kin in the house of Finarfin
) from entering Doriath, decreeing also that the Noldorin tongue could no longer be spoken within his realm.
A further rift between the Noldor and the Sindar, which was to have far-reaching consequences, was caused by the actions of Aredhel
, daughter of Fingolfin and sister of Turgon. Tiring of her long confinement in Gondolin, she rode east to seek out her old friends, the sons of Fëanor, but she was barred from crossing through Doriath by the decree of Thingol. Forced to skirt along the edge of the dreaded region of Nan Dungortheb (where Ungoliant had gone after the escape of Morgoth), Aredhel was separated from her escort and lost. She was eventually found by Eöl
, the Dark Elf, a kinsman of Thingol who lived alone in the dark forest of Nan Elmoth
. He took her as his wife, and they had a son, Maeglin
. Eöl often travelled east to deal with the Dwarves
of the Blue Mountains, and he acquired great skill in metalwork from them, which he imparted to his son. He refused to let his wife and child leave his domain, but Aredhel determined to return to Gondolin with her son, so they waited until Eöl left for the east and then made their escape.
Eöl pursued them to Gondolin, where he was captured and brought before Turgon. Eöl demanded that Maeglin should leave with him, or be cursed, but Maeglin renounced his father. Turgon then decreed that Eöl must either remain in Gondolin or die. The next day, when he was again brought before Turgon, Eöl tried to kill Maeglin with a poisoned lance, but Aredhel stepped between them; struck in the shoulder, she died that night. As punishment, Turgon had Eöl thrown to his death from the walls of the fortress. Maeglin remained in Gondolin, became a mighty warrior and wrought many great weapons, but his forbidden love for his cousin Idril
Celebrindal would eventually cause him to betray Gondolin to Morgoth.
After fifty years, and believing the Noldor to be unprepared for war, Morgoth again attacked the from the north, but Fingolfin and Maedhros were ready for him and they defeated Morgoth's forces in the third Battle, called Dagor Aglareb
, the Glorious Battle, pursuing the Orcs to the very gates of Angband and destroying them utterly. They then laid the Siege of Angband
, which lasted for four hundred years.
Almost one hundred years after the Dagor Aglareb, Morgoth's forces tried to attack the realm of Hithlum
by stealing in from the far north-west, but were intercepted and defeated by Fingon
. After a further hundred years, Morgoth sent forth the dragon Glaurung
, the first of the Urulóki
. Being only half-grown and not fully armoured, Glaurung was unable to withstand Fingon and his archers, eventually fleeing back to Angband. The period after the first defeat of Glaurung became known as The Long Peace, lasting almost two hundred years.
It was during this time, about three hundred years after the Noldor had arrived in Beleriand, that Men
first came over the Blue Mountains from regions far to the east. They first appeared in Ossiriand, where Felagund was the first of the Noldor to see them. Over the next hundred years many of them became allies of the Noldor in the war against Morgoth, and settled in Noldorin realms.
(The Battle of Sudden Flame) became famous for the re-emergence of the Dragon
Glaurung
in his full strength. Morgoth's armies overthrew the Siege, slaying many of the Noldor, with Glaurung laying waste to Ard-galen and Dorthonion
.
Enraged by the assaults against his people, Fingolfin fearlessly made his way alone to the gates of Angband, where he challenged Morgoth to single combat and the evil Vala was forced to come out and meet him rather than appear cowardly. In the ensuing battle Fingolfin wounded Morgoth seven times, but eventually stumbled and fell among the great pits created by Morgoth's hammer, Grond. Morgoth beat Fingolfin to the ground three times with his great shield, and then crushed Fingolfin under his foot, but with his dying strength Fingolfin slashed Morgoth's foot, maiming him.
Morgoth broke Fingolfin's body and was about to throw the remains to his wolves, but Thorondor, the gigantic king of the eagles, had been watching the battle from afar and at that moment flew down to rescue the body. The giant eagle gouged Morgoth's face with his talons, seized Fingolfin's body and carried it back to Gondolin for burial. After that time Morgoth's seven wounds never healed, he became lame in his left foot, where Fingolfin had hewn it, and his face forever bore the scars of Thorondor's talons.
Sixteen years later, Maedhros
led the northern Noldor and their allies among Men in a final desperate attempt to defeat Morgoth. In this climactic battle — which is named Nírnaeth Arnoediad
("The Battle of Unnumbered Tears") — the forces of the Noldor attacked Angband and briefly broke through the gates, only to be beaten back when Morgoth unleashed his full forces, now vastly outnumbering those of Elves and Men. Led by the terrible dragon Glaurung, Morgoth's forces crushed the armies of the Noldor, and many of the elf lords were killed or captured, leaving Morgoth master of the entire North. Afterwards, he set about destroying the remaining Elf-kingdoms one by one.
The tragic yet heroic story of Beren and Lúthien
(which has similarities to the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice
) tells of the love between the Man Beren
and Lúthien
, daughter of Thingol and Melian and the most beautiful of all elf-maidens. Thingol, disliking mortal Men and determined to prevent their marriage, declares that he will consent only if Beren brings Thingol a Silmaril from Morgoth's crown. Thus, in sending Beren on this perilous quest, Thingol unwittingly binds himself to the Doom of Mandos, ensuring his eventual downfall.
Travelling to the mountains of Thangorodrim
in disguise, Beren and Lúthien succeed in making their way into Angband and to the very foot of Morgoth's throne. There Lúthien reveals herself, but her beauty and charm enable her to briefly overcome the evil lord and she casts a spell that puts Morgoth and his minions to sleep. Beren then cuts one of the Silmarils from Morgoth's iron crown, but when he attempts to take a second Silmaril his knife snaps and a shard flies off; it cuts Morgoth's face, and he begins to stir.
As they leave, Morgoth and his creatures reawaken and Beren and Lúthien are confronted by Carcharoth
, the giant Wolf that guards the gate of Angband. Beren attempts to hold off the terrible creature with the power of the Silmaril, but Carcharoth bites off his hand and swallows the holy jewel. Driven mad by the pain it inflicts, the creature goes on a rampage through Doriath until it is eventually killed by the mighty Elf-hound Huan. In this final battle Beren is fatally wounded by Carcharoth, so Lúthien travels in spirit to the Houses of the Dead, to plead with Mandos for Beren's release. She and Beren are sent back to Middle-earth alive, but Lúthien becomes a mortal woman, so that in time they will both die and leave the Universe together. As immortals whose souls are bound to Arda for as long as it lasts, Thingol and Melian suffer the grief of being deprived of their daughter for all time.
. His father Húrin
is captured at the end of the Battle of Unnumbered Tears
, and for his defiance, Morgoth places a curse on his family. Túrin becomes a great hero, but due partly to his hot temper and partly to a string of bad luck (in fact, the working of Morgoth's demonic will
), whatever he turns his hand to seems to go wrong, and death and grief haunt those around him. Making matters worse, both Túrin and his sister Nienor
are enchanted by the mighty dragon Glaurung
— who has sacked the great Elf-city of Nargothrond and taken up residence there — and they fall in love and live for time as man and wife. Eventually Túrin kills Glaurung, but with his death the spell is lifted. Driven mad by the realisation of their sins, Túrin and Nienor both commit suicide.
, a mortal man, was sent by Ulmo
as a messenger to Gondolin, to warn King Turgon of the city's impending destruction. Remaining in Gondolin, Tuor married Turgon's daughter, Idril
, and they had a son Eärendil
. Gondolin was eventually betrayed to Morgoth by Maeglin
, and destroyed. Tuor, Idril and Eärendil escaped, together with a number of refugees.
Growing up, Eärendil married Elwing
, granddaughter of Beren and Lúthien and current keeper of the Silmaril they took from Morgoth. With the help of the Silmaril, Eärendil and Elwing sailed to Valinor to plead with the Valar, asking them to pardon the Noldor and assist Elves and Men in their need. The Valar agreed to this request, and set Eärendil, with the Silmaril, to sail the skies as a star until the ending of the world.
, finally attacked Morgoth in Angband. In this battle, the Great Battle (also known as the War of Wrath
), Morgoth was utterly defeated; his armies were destroyed, with only a few remnants scattered across the Earth. He was taken prisoner and his two remaining Silmarils were confiscated. Maedhros
and Maglor
, Fëanor's two surviving sons, stole the Silmarils from Eönwë, but they found the Silmarils would not tolerate their touch, instead tormenting them with burning pain. Maedhros committed suicide by jumping with the Silmaril into a chasm in the earth, and Maglor threw his Silmaril away into the sea.
The Valar pardoned the Noldor for their rebellion, and the Teleri offered forgiveness for the Kinslaying. Many of the Noldor and the Sindar left Middle-earth and travelled into the West, to live in Valinor. Many still stayed in Middle-earth. Morgoth was cast out of the World, imprisoned in the Void that lies behind the Walls of the Night. The Silmarils were lost "unless the World be broken and re-made", but each one found its home in one of the elements: earth, water and air.
High fantasy
High fantasy or epic fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy that is set in invented or parallel worlds. High fantasy was brought to fruition through the work of authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, whose major fantasy works were published in the 1950s...
writer J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
. It was published after the author's death in The Silmarillion
The Silmarillion
The Silmarillion is a collection of J. R. R. Tolkien's mythopoeic works, edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in 1977, with assistance from Guy Gavriel Kay, who later became a noted fantasy writer. The Silmarillion, along with J. R. R...
together with four shorter stories. As Tolkien did not finish it was completed by his son Christopher
Christopher Tolkien
Christopher Reuel Tolkien is the third and youngest son of the author J. R. R. Tolkien , and is best known as the editor of much of his father's posthumously published work. He drew the original maps for his father's The Lord of the Rings, which he signed C. J. R. T. The J...
with assistance of the young Guy Gavriel Kay
Guy Gavriel Kay
Guy Gavriel Kay is a Canadian author of fantasy fiction. Many of his novels are set in fictional realms that resemble real places during real historical periods, such as Constantinople during the reign of Justinian I or Spain during the time of El Cid...
, who would later go on to a successful career as a fantasy author. The title Quenta Silmarillion is translated as "the Tale of the Silmarils".
Summary
Tolkien envisaged the Silmarillion as deriving from a manuscript written by an Eriol or Ælfwine of England, an imaginary dark age source for the material, which itself contains little or no reference to the people or events of the SecondSecond Age
The Second Age is a time period from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings. Tolkien intended for the history of Middle-earth to be considered fictionally as a precursor to the history of the real Earth....
or Third Age
Third Age
The Third Age is a time period from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings. The history of Middle-earth is to be taken fictionally as a history of the real Earth....
s of his legendarium
Legendarium
Legendary may refer to:*A hagiography, or study of the lives of saints and other religious figures**The South English Legendary, a Middle English legendary*A legend-Entertainment:*Legendary, an album by Kaysha*Legendary...
. Originated from Elvish legends, in some parts it presents Elves as long gone, which hints that its final form was edited during the Fourth Age
Fourth Age
In the fictional world of middle earth "'the fourth age'" and the ages that preceded it, are time periods from J. R. R. Tolkien's universe of Middle-earth, described in his fantasy writings...
by Hobbit
Hobbit
Hobbits are a fictional diminutive race who inhabit the lands of Middle-earth in J. R. R. Tolkien's fiction.Hobbits first appeared in the novel The Hobbit, in which the main protagonist, Bilbo Baggins, is the titular hobbit...
s and/or Men
Edain
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Edain were men who made their way into Beleriand in the First Age, and were friendly to the Elves....
.
It tells about the history of Arda
History of Arda
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, the history of the fictional universe of Eä began when the Ainur entered Arda, following the creation events in the Ainulindalë and long ages of labour throughout Eä, the universe...
(the Earth), after its creation by Eru Ilúvatar
Eru Ilúvatar
Eru Ilúvatar is a fictional deity in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He is introduced in The Silmarillion as the creator of all existence . In Tolkien's invented language of Elvish, Eru means "The One", or "He that is Alone" and Ilúvatar signifies "Father of All"...
. The Valar
Vala (Middle-earth)
The Valar are fictional characters in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. They are first mentioned in The Lord of the Rings, but The Silmarillion develops them into the Powers of Arda or the Powers of the World...
, angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
ic beings, enter into the world and try to shape it after a vision given to them by Eru. The initial shape of Arda
Arda
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Arda is the name given to the Earth in a period of prehistory, wherein the places mentioned in The Lord of the Rings and related material once existed...
, chosen by the Valar, was of a symmetrical continent lit by the Two Lamps. However, the lamps were destroyed by the vicious Melkor
Morgoth
Morgoth Bauglir is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium. He is the main antagonist of The Silmarillion, figures in The Children of Húrin, and is mentioned briefly in The Lord of the Rings.Melkor was the most powerful of the Ainur, but turned to darkness and became...
; Arda was darkened, and the lamps' fall spoiled the symmetry of Arda's surface. Two main continents were created that are of concern to the story: Aman
Aman
-External links:*...
in the west, and Middle-earth
Middle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
in the east.
Following this, Melkor hid himself from the Valar in his fortress Utumno in the north of Middle-earth. He also surrounded himself with horrible beasts, many of them Maiar
Maia (Middle-earth)
The Maiar are beings from J. R. R. Tolkien's high fantasy legendarium. They are lesser Ainur who entered Eä in the beginning of time. Tolkien uses the term Valar to refer both to all the Ainur who entered Eä, and specifically to the greatest among them, the fourteen Lords and Queens of the Valar...
in the form of fell animals, known as Balrog
Balrog
Balrogs are fictional demonic beings who appear in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. Such creatures first appeared in print in his novel The Lord of the Rings, though they figured in earlier writings that posthumously appeared in The Silmarillion and other books.Balrogs are described as...
s.
The Valar moved to the western continent of Aman
Aman
-External links:*...
where they established the realm of Valinor
Valinor
Valinor is a fictional location in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, the realm of the Valar in Aman. It was also known as the Undying Lands, along with Tol Eressëa and the outliers of Aman. This is something of a misnomer; only immortal beings were allowed to reside there, but the land itself,...
of which Manwë
Manwë
Manwë is a god or Vala of the Elven pantheon imagined by J. R. R. Tolkien. He is described in The Silmarillion.Manwë was the King of the Valar, husband of Varda Elentári, brother of the Dark Lord Melkor, and King of Arda. He lived atop Mount Taniquetil, the highest mountain of the world, in the...
was made king. The Vala Yavanna created the Two Trees
Two Trees of Valinor
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, the Two Trees of Valinor are Telperion and Laurelin, the Silver Tree and the Gold that brought light to the Land of the Valar in ancient times...
which illuminated Valinor. Middle-earth, by contrast, was in perpetual darkness, and was seldom visited by the Valar. Only some of them, most notably Oromë, visited it periodically, especially to prepare for the coming of the Elves
Elf (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Elves are one of the races that inhabit a fictional Earth, often called Middle-earth, and set in the remote past. They appear in The Hobbit and in The Lord of the Rings, but their complex history is described more fully in The Silmarillion...
, which the Valar had foreseen in their vision and to keep an eye on Melkor's activities.
Introduction of the Elves
On one of his expeditions Oromë discovered the newly-awakened Elves at Cuiviénen. The Valar, aware of the risk Melkor posed to the Elves, beleaguered his fortress and finally overthrew him and took him prisoner to Valinor to serve "three ages" in the Halls of Mandos.Oromë was then sent to the Elves again, to invite them to come with him to Aman and live there. Some of the Elves did not follow him or became sidetracked and stayed in Middle-earth, and so the Elves became sundered
Sundering of the Elves
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, the Elves are a sundered people. They awoke at Cuiviénen on the continent of Middle-earth , where they were divided into three tribes: Minyar , Tatyar and Nelyar . After some time, they were summoned by Oromë to live with the Valar in Aman...
. These notably included the Sindar
Sindar
In the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, the fictional Sindar are Elves of Telerin descent. They are also known as the Grey Elves. Their language is Sindarin...
, who stayed in Middle-earth when their king, Thingol
Thingol
Elu Thingol is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He appears in The Silmarillion, The Lays of Beleriand and Children of Húrin as well as in numerous stories in the many volumes of The History of Middle-earth...
, became lost in the forest. He was to later emerge, married to the Maia
Maia (Middle-earth)
The Maiar are beings from J. R. R. Tolkien's high fantasy legendarium. They are lesser Ainur who entered Eä in the beginning of time. Tolkien uses the term Valar to refer both to all the Ainur who entered Eä, and specifically to the greatest among them, the fourteen Lords and Queens of the Valar...
Melian
Melian
Melian the Maia is a fictional character in the fantasy-world Middle-earth of the English author J. R. R. Tolkien. She appears in The Silmarillion, the epic poem The Lay of Leithian, The Children of Húrin, the Annals of Aman and the Grey Annals....
, and found the Kingdom of Doriath
Doriath
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, Doriath is the realm of the Sindar, the Grey Elves of King Thingol in Beleriand. Along with the other great forests of Tolkien's legendarium such as Mirkwood, Fangorn and Lothlórien it serves as the central stage in the theatre of its time, the First Age...
.
The Elves who accepted the summons were carried across the sea on a floating island.
The Noldor and Melkor
FinwëFinwë
Finwë, sometimes surnamed Noldóran, is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He was the first High King of the Elven Noldor to lead his people on the journey from Middle-earth to Valinor in the blessed realm of Aman. He was a great friend of Elu Thingol, the King of Doriath...
, the first High King of the Noldor, had a son Fëanor
Fëanor
Fëanor is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium who plays an important part in The Silmarillion. He was the eldest son of Finwë, the High King of the Noldor, and his first wife Míriel Serindë...
. At his birth Fëanor drew so much life from his mother Míriel that she grew weary of life and her spirit left her bodily form, departing to the halls of Mandos. Eventually, Finwë remarried to Indis and had two further sons, Fingolfin
Fingolfin
Fingolfin is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, appearing in The Silmarillion.-Internal history:He was a High King of the Noldor in Beleriand, second eldest son of Finwë, full brother of Finarfin, and half-brother of Fëanor, who was the eldest of Finwë's sons. His mother was...
and Finarfin
Finarfin
Finarfin is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, featured in The Silmarillion.-Personality:Unlike the warlike Fëanor and Fingolfin, Finarfin was something of a pacifist...
. Fëanor became the most famous elven craftsman, especially by making the Silmarils, three jewels in which he trapped the light of the Two Trees. The Silmarils were hallowed by Varda
Varda
Varda Elentári is a deity in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium to whom the hymn A Elbereth Gilthoniel is directed..-Character overview:Varda is one of the Valar, a group of semi-divine beings similar to archangels. Also known as "Queen of the stars", she is said to be too beautiful for words; within...
, and would burn any evil or mortal creature who touched them.
About this time, Melkor, having completed his sentence, convinced the other Valar that he had reformed and he was released. By various lies he managed to play Fëanor and Fingolfin against each other, creating strife and division amongst the Noldor
Noldor
In the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Noldor are Elves of the Second Clan who migrated to Valinor and lived in Eldamar. The Noldor are called Golodhrim or Gódhellim in Sindarin, and Goldoi by Teleri of Tol Eressëa. The singular form of the Quenya noun is Noldo and the adjective is Noldorin...
; furthermore, he convinced the Noldor that they had been brought to Aman primarily so the Valar could keep them under control. Finally, Fëanor rebelled against the Valar, publicly advocating leaving and then drawing his weapon against Fingolfin.
The Valar were soon aware of Melkor's ultimate responsibility in this. Tulkas hunted him, but Melkor had hidden and could not be found. Because he threatened Fingolfin's life, Fëanor was exiled from Tirion
Tirion
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Tirion upon Túna was the city of the Noldor in Valinor...
for twelve years. With his seven sons
Sons of Fëanor
In J. R. R. Tolkien's world of Middle-earth, the seven sons of Fëanor, the eldest prince of the Noldor, led their people from Valinor to rule over kingdoms in the Northeast of Beleriand:...
and his father Finwë he moved to a newly-built stronghold, Formenos.
Coveting the Silmarils, Melkor went to Formenos, hoping to trick Fëanor and gain possession of them, but Fëanor saw through his ruse and dismissed him with contempt. Melkor then travelled to Avathar in secret, where he joined forces with the evil spirit Ungoliant
Ungoliant
Ungoliant is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, described as an evil spirit in the form of a spider. She is mentioned briefly in The Lord of the Rings, and plays a supporting role in The Silmarillion. Her origins are unclear, as Tolkien's writings don't explicitly...
, whose form was a giant spider-like creature. Melkor swore an oath to give Ungoliant whatever she desired, and imparted some of his power to her. With her help, they travelled into Valinor secretly, where Ungoliant's poison killed the Two Trees. Covered by an impenetrable blackness, Melkor and Ungoliant then travelled to Formenos, assassinated Finwë and stole the Silmarils, before escaping in the confusion.
Melkor and Ungoliant then made their way across to Middle-earth, and he gave Ungoliant all the great jewels he had stolen, except the Silmarils, which he desired to keep. The rapacious Ungoliant consumed them all and, still hungry, she demanded the Silmarils, but the ever-treacherous Melkor reneged on his oath, so she seized him and bound him with her webs, and his anguished cries echoed across all of Middle-earth.
Melkor escaped from Ungoliant with the help of his former servants, the Balrogs, who came to his aid from their hiding places in the deepest recesses of the ruins of Utumno, and he re-established his empire in the North from his secondary fortress of Angband
Angband (Middle-earth)
-External links:*...
. He placed the three Silmarils, which now were the only source of the unmarred light of the Two Trees, in his Iron Crown, although his hands were burned black by them.
Fëanor was furious at the death of his father and the theft of the Silmarils. Travelling to Tirion in violation of his exile, he publicly blamed both Melkor, whom he named Morgoth
Morgoth
Morgoth Bauglir is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium. He is the main antagonist of The Silmarillion, figures in The Children of Húrin, and is mentioned briefly in The Lord of the Rings.Melkor was the most powerful of the Ainur, but turned to darkness and became...
, and the Valar (for failing to protect Finwë and the Silmarils). He urged the Noldor to leave Valinor, for a punitive expedition against Morgoth and a new life in Middle-earth. He and his sons then swore the notorious Oath of Fëanor, vowing to pursue with hatred anyone who withheld a Silmaril from them.
Departure of the Noldor and assault on Doriath
Inflamed by the passionate urging of Fëanor, most of the assembled Noldor left Tirion, and travelled to Alqualondë, attempting to persuade the TeleriTeleri
In the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Teleri, Those who come last in Quenya were the third of the Elf clans who came to Aman...
to join them, or at least to lend them ships to cross the Great Sea
Belegaer
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Belegaer, the Great Sea or the Sundering Seas, is the sea of Arda that is west of Middle-earth....
. When the Teleri refused, Fëanor ordered that the swan-ships be taken by force; the notorious Kinslaying ensued, in which many Teleri were slaughtered. Shortly afterwards, at the northern boundary of Eldamar, the Noldor encountered Mandos, who cursed all the Noldor who left with Fëanor.
At this point, Finarfin, who had always been reluctant to leave, turned back to Valinor with a small number of followers. Many ships had been lost by this time and not all the Noldor could cross to Middle-earth, so Fëanor and his sons seized the remaining swan-ships, abandoning Fingolfin and his followers (including Galadriel
Galadriel
Galadriel is a character created by J.R.R. Tolkien, appearing in his Middle-earth legendarium. She appears in The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales....
), who were obliged to make their way to Middle-earth across the terrible ice wastes of the Helcaraxë.
Meanwhile, Morgoth attempted to conquer Doriath
Doriath
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, Doriath is the realm of the Sindar, the Grey Elves of King Thingol in Beleriand. Along with the other great forests of Tolkien's legendarium such as Mirkwood, Fangorn and Lothlórien it serves as the central stage in the theatre of its time, the First Age...
, the realm of Thingol and Melian in Middle-earth. In the first
First Battle of Beleriand
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, the First Battle of Beleriand is the first battle of the Wars of Beleriand, fought by the Sindarin Elves, led by Elu Thingol, King of Doriath and Lord of Beleriand, against the armies of Morgoth, the Great Enemy, the Dark Lord.-History:Morgoth,...
of five great Battles, he sent out two armies of Orcs
Orc (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings, Orcs or Orks are a race of creatures who are used as soldiers and henchmen by both the greater and lesser villains of The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings — Morgoth, Sauron and Saruman...
, forcing Thingol and his Maia queen to establish a magical boundary around Doriath, the "Girdle of Melian", while the coastal Elves were forced to retreat into their fortified harbour towns. By luck, Fëanor and his host arrived at the height of this conflict and the combined forces of the Noldor and the Sindar
Sindar
In the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, the fictional Sindar are Elves of Telerin descent. They are also known as the Grey Elves. Their language is Sindarin...
utterly defeated the Orc armies in the second Battle, Dagor-nuin-Giliath
Dagor-nuin-Giliath
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, the Dagor-nuin-Giliath is the second battle of the Wars of Beleriand, but the first involving the Noldor....
(the "Battle under the Stars"). However Fëanor, in his fury, chased after the retreating Orcs, and he was ambushed and killed by Balrogs.
The Sun and the Moon, the Long Peace and the Coming of Men
The grieving Valar could not revive the Two TreesTwo Trees of Valinor
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, the Two Trees of Valinor are Telperion and Laurelin, the Silver Tree and the Gold that brought light to the Land of the Valar in ancient times...
, but they were able to create the Moon and the Sun from a silver leaf and a golden fruit, which were all that remained of them. These new lights illuminated Middle-earth, stimulated much new plant and animal growth, and for a while, confounded the plans of Morgoth. Unable to assail them, as his once near-limitless power grew ever more dispersed among his servants, who feared the new lights no less than he, the Dark Lord was forced to take refuge in clouds and shadow that surrounded his strongholds. In this era, Men, the younger Children of Ilúvatar
Children of Ilúvatar
The Children of Ilúvatar is the name given to the two races of Elves and Men in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium because they were created by Ilúvatar, the One God, without the help of the Ainur....
, awoke in eastern Middle-earth, and some began to migrate westward.
The Noldor established kingdoms and principalities in northern and central Beleriand
Beleriand
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional legendarium, Beleriand was a region in northwestern Middle-earth during the First Age. Events in Beleriand are described chiefly in his work The Silmarillion, which tells the story of the early ages of Middle-earth in a style similar to the epic hero tales of Nordic...
, which were ruled by the descendants of Fëanor, Fingolfin and Finarfin. They built many great strongholds, including the vast cavern-city of Nargothrond
Nargothrond
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Nargothrond , called Nulukkhizdīn by the Dwarves, was the stronghold built by Finrod Felagund...
, on the river Narog, and the mighty hidden mountain fortress of Gondolin, ruled by Turgon
Turgon
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Turgon "the Wise" is an Elven king of the Noldor, second son of Fingolfin, brother to Fingon, Aredhel and Argon, and ruler of the hidden city of Gondolin....
, from whence none who entered were permitted to leave. Many of the Sindar, the native Elves of Beleriand, were absorbed into the Noldorin kingdoms. Others were in Sindarin states: Thingol's kingdom in Doriath, the coastal Falas ruled by Círdan
Círdan
Círdan the Shipwright is a fictional character created by J. R. R. Tolkien. He was a Telerin Elf, a great mariner and shipwright, and lord of the Falas during much of the First Age. He was the bearer of the Great Ring Narya, which he in turn gave to Gandalf.He had a beard, which was rare for...
the shipwright, and the secretive Green-elves
Laiquendi
In the fictional works of J. R. R. Tolkien the Laiquendi are an ethnic group of Elves, so named because their attire was often green.-History and origin:...
of Ossiriand.
Relations between the Noldor and the independent Sindar were at first amicable but they later deteriorated. The Noldor had long hidden the truth about the Kinslaying and the Curse from Thingol, but he eventually learned of it from Angrod
Angrod
In J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth universe, Angrod was a son of Finarfin and lord of the Noldor.Angrod was the elder brother of Galadriel and Aegnor, and the younger brother of Finrod Felagund. He joined the Exile of the Noldor to Middle-earth, where together with Aegnor he held the highlands of...
. As a result he banned all the Noldor (except his kin in the house of Finarfin
Finarfin
Finarfin is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, featured in The Silmarillion.-Personality:Unlike the warlike Fëanor and Fingolfin, Finarfin was something of a pacifist...
) from entering Doriath, decreeing also that the Noldorin tongue could no longer be spoken within his realm.
A further rift between the Noldor and the Sindar, which was to have far-reaching consequences, was caused by the actions of Aredhel
Aredhel
Aredhel Ar-Feiniel is a fictional character created by J. R. R. Tolkien.She is called Ar-Feiniel, the White Lady of the Noldor. She is the daughter of Fingolfin and Anairë, sister of Fingon, Turgon and Argon, and mother of Maeglin...
, daughter of Fingolfin and sister of Turgon. Tiring of her long confinement in Gondolin, she rode east to seek out her old friends, the sons of Fëanor, but she was barred from crossing through Doriath by the decree of Thingol. Forced to skirt along the edge of the dreaded region of Nan Dungortheb (where Ungoliant had gone after the escape of Morgoth), Aredhel was separated from her escort and lost. She was eventually found by Eöl
Eöl
Eöl, called the Dark Elf, is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He is introduced in The Silmarillion as an Elf of Beleriand and is a character existing in some form from the earliest to the latest writings....
, the Dark Elf, a kinsman of Thingol who lived alone in the dark forest of Nan Elmoth
Nan Elmoth
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Nan Elmoth was the forest in Beleriand east of Doriath and southeast of the River Celon. In Tolkien's legendarium it is the archetype for all the other enchanted forests such as the Old Forest, Mirkwood, Lothlórien and Fangorn.- History in the Tales :Melian and...
. He took her as his wife, and they had a son, Maeglin
Maeglin
Maeglin or Meglin is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, featured in The Silmarillion.He was an Elf, the son of Eöl the Dark Elf and Aredhel daughter of Fingolfin. He lived in the First Age of Middle-earth, and was a lord of Gondolin...
. Eöl often travelled east to deal with the Dwarves
Dwarf (Middle-earth)
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Dwarves are a race inhabiting the world of Arda, a fictional prehistoric Earth which includes the continent Middle-earth....
of the Blue Mountains, and he acquired great skill in metalwork from them, which he imparted to his son. He refused to let his wife and child leave his domain, but Aredhel determined to return to Gondolin with her son, so they waited until Eöl left for the east and then made their escape.
Eöl pursued them to Gondolin, where he was captured and brought before Turgon. Eöl demanded that Maeglin should leave with him, or be cursed, but Maeglin renounced his father. Turgon then decreed that Eöl must either remain in Gondolin or die. The next day, when he was again brought before Turgon, Eöl tried to kill Maeglin with a poisoned lance, but Aredhel stepped between them; struck in the shoulder, she died that night. As punishment, Turgon had Eöl thrown to his death from the walls of the fortress. Maeglin remained in Gondolin, became a mighty warrior and wrought many great weapons, but his forbidden love for his cousin Idril
Idril
Idril Celebrindal is a fictional character in the fantasy-world Middle-earth of English author J. R. R. Tolkien. She appears in one of his chief works of literature, The Silmarillion, published posthumously by Christopher Tolkien.-Character Overview:...
Celebrindal would eventually cause him to betray Gondolin to Morgoth.
After fifty years, and believing the Noldor to be unprepared for war, Morgoth again attacked the from the north, but Fingolfin and Maedhros were ready for him and they defeated Morgoth's forces in the third Battle, called Dagor Aglareb
Dagor Aglareb
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, as told in the Silmarillion, the Dagor Aglareb was the third battle of the Wars of Beleriand during the First Age, known as the Glorious Battle....
, the Glorious Battle, pursuing the Orcs to the very gates of Angband and destroying them utterly. They then laid the Siege of Angband
Siege of Angband
The Siege of Angband or "The Long Peace" in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fictional universe was the siege of the Noldor around the fortress of Morgoth in the early centuries of the Years of the Sun, which began following the Dagor Aglareb. For the most part, it was a time of plenitude, peace and...
, which lasted for four hundred years.
Almost one hundred years after the Dagor Aglareb, Morgoth's forces tried to attack the realm of Hithlum
Hithlum
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, Hithlum is the region north of Beleriand near the Helcaraxë.Hithlum was separated from Beleriand proper by the Ered Wethrin mountain chain, and was named after the sea mists which formed there at times: Hithlum is Sindarin for "Mist-shadow";...
by stealing in from the far north-west, but were intercepted and defeated by Fingon
Fingon
Fingon is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He is introduced in The Silmarillion.-Character overview:...
. After a further hundred years, Morgoth sent forth the dragon Glaurung
Glaurung
Glaurung is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth legendarium. He is introduced in The Silmarillion as the first of the Dragons. He is also a major antagonist in The Children of Húrin. He was known as The Deceiver, The Golden, The Great Worm and the Worm of...
, the first of the Urulóki
Dragon (Middle-earth)
J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium features dragons closely based on those of European legend.Besides dragon , Tolkien variously used the terms drake and worm .-History:The dragons were created by Morgoth...
. Being only half-grown and not fully armoured, Glaurung was unable to withstand Fingon and his archers, eventually fleeing back to Angband. The period after the first defeat of Glaurung became known as The Long Peace, lasting almost two hundred years.
It was during this time, about three hundred years after the Noldor had arrived in Beleriand, that Men
Man (Middle-earth)
The race of Men in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth books, such as The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, refers to humanity and does not denote gender...
first came over the Blue Mountains from regions far to the east. They first appeared in Ossiriand, where Felagund was the first of the Noldor to see them. Over the next hundred years many of them became allies of the Noldor in the war against Morgoth, and settled in Noldorin realms.
The Dagor Bragollach
Morgoth, however, merely used the Siege as an opportunity to build up strength, and in , renewed the war on his own terms. The fourth Great Battle, Dagor BragollachDagor Bragollach
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, the Dagor Bragollach was the fourth battle of the Wars of Beleriand...
(The Battle of Sudden Flame) became famous for the re-emergence of the Dragon
Dragon (Middle-earth)
J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium features dragons closely based on those of European legend.Besides dragon , Tolkien variously used the terms drake and worm .-History:The dragons were created by Morgoth...
Glaurung
Glaurung
Glaurung is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth legendarium. He is introduced in The Silmarillion as the first of the Dragons. He is also a major antagonist in The Children of Húrin. He was known as The Deceiver, The Golden, The Great Worm and the Worm of...
in his full strength. Morgoth's armies overthrew the Siege, slaying many of the Noldor, with Glaurung laying waste to Ard-galen and Dorthonion
Dorthonion
In the fictional world of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, Dorthonion , later Taur-nu-Fuin, was a highland region of the First Age, lying immediately to the north of Beleriand, and south of the plains of Ard-galen that extended north to Morgoth's stronghold of Thangorodrim...
.
Enraged by the assaults against his people, Fingolfin fearlessly made his way alone to the gates of Angband, where he challenged Morgoth to single combat and the evil Vala was forced to come out and meet him rather than appear cowardly. In the ensuing battle Fingolfin wounded Morgoth seven times, but eventually stumbled and fell among the great pits created by Morgoth's hammer, Grond. Morgoth beat Fingolfin to the ground three times with his great shield, and then crushed Fingolfin under his foot, but with his dying strength Fingolfin slashed Morgoth's foot, maiming him.
Morgoth broke Fingolfin's body and was about to throw the remains to his wolves, but Thorondor, the gigantic king of the eagles, had been watching the battle from afar and at that moment flew down to rescue the body. The giant eagle gouged Morgoth's face with his talons, seized Fingolfin's body and carried it back to Gondolin for burial. After that time Morgoth's seven wounds never healed, he became lame in his left foot, where Fingolfin had hewn it, and his face forever bore the scars of Thorondor's talons.
Sixteen years later, Maedhros
Maedhros
Maedhros is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. First introduced in The Silmarillion and later mentioned in Unfinished Tales and The Children of Húrin, he is one of the most enduring characters in The Silmarillion, and has been the subject of paintings by artists such as Jenny...
led the northern Noldor and their allies among Men in a final desperate attempt to defeat Morgoth. In this climactic battle — which is named Nírnaeth Arnoediad
Nirnaeth Arnoediad
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium of Middle-earth, the Nírnaeth Arnoediad or Unnumbered Tears was the climactic Fifth Battle in the Wars of Beleriand.-The Fifth Battle as told in The Silmarillion:...
("The Battle of Unnumbered Tears") — the forces of the Noldor attacked Angband and briefly broke through the gates, only to be beaten back when Morgoth unleashed his full forces, now vastly outnumbering those of Elves and Men. Led by the terrible dragon Glaurung, Morgoth's forces crushed the armies of the Noldor, and many of the elf lords were killed or captured, leaving Morgoth master of the entire North. Afterwards, he set about destroying the remaining Elf-kingdoms one by one.
Beren and Lúthien
The later parts of the Quenta Silmarillion include two stories dealing with individuals and with the relations between Men and Elves.The tragic yet heroic story of Beren and Lúthien
The Tale of Beren and Lúthien
The Tale of Beren and Lúthien is the story of the love and adventures of the mortal Man Beren and the immortal Elf-maiden Lúthien, as told in several works of J. R. R. Tolkien. It takes place during the First Age of Middle-earth, about 6500 years before the events of his most famous book, The Lord...
(which has similarities to the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice
Orpheus and Eurydice
Orpheus and Eurydice is a tale from Greek legend. Works making holistic use of this legend include:-Literature:* The Death of Eurydice episode which occurs in Book X of Metamorphoses by Ovid * Sir Orfeo, anonymous narrative poem Orpheus and Eurydice is a tale from Greek legend. Works making...
) tells of the love between the Man Beren
Beren
Beren is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He appears in The Silmarillion. Huan spoke to him.-Character overview:...
and Lúthien
Lúthien
Lúthien Tinúviel is a fictional character in the fantasy-world Middle-earth of the English author J. R. R. Tolkien. She appears in The Silmarillion, the epic poem The Lay of Leithian, The Lord of the Rings and the Grey Annals, as well as in other material.-Character overview:Lúthien is a Telerin ...
, daughter of Thingol and Melian and the most beautiful of all elf-maidens. Thingol, disliking mortal Men and determined to prevent their marriage, declares that he will consent only if Beren brings Thingol a Silmaril from Morgoth's crown. Thus, in sending Beren on this perilous quest, Thingol unwittingly binds himself to the Doom of Mandos, ensuring his eventual downfall.
Travelling to the mountains of Thangorodrim
Thangorodrim
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Thangorodrim was a group of three volcanic mountains in the Iron Mountains in the north of Middle-earth during the First Age...
in disguise, Beren and Lúthien succeed in making their way into Angband and to the very foot of Morgoth's throne. There Lúthien reveals herself, but her beauty and charm enable her to briefly overcome the evil lord and she casts a spell that puts Morgoth and his minions to sleep. Beren then cuts one of the Silmarils from Morgoth's iron crown, but when he attempts to take a second Silmaril his knife snaps and a shard flies off; it cuts Morgoth's face, and he begins to stir.
As they leave, Morgoth and his creatures reawaken and Beren and Lúthien are confronted by Carcharoth
Carcharoth
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, Carcharoth , Sindarin for "The Red Maw", was the greatest werewolf that had ever lived. He was also called Anfauglir...
, the giant Wolf that guards the gate of Angband. Beren attempts to hold off the terrible creature with the power of the Silmaril, but Carcharoth bites off his hand and swallows the holy jewel. Driven mad by the pain it inflicts, the creature goes on a rampage through Doriath until it is eventually killed by the mighty Elf-hound Huan. In this final battle Beren is fatally wounded by Carcharoth, so Lúthien travels in spirit to the Houses of the Dead, to plead with Mandos for Beren's release. She and Beren are sent back to Middle-earth alive, but Lúthien becomes a mortal woman, so that in time they will both die and leave the Universe together. As immortals whose souls are bound to Arda for as long as it lasts, Thingol and Melian suffer the grief of being deprived of their daughter for all time.
Túrin Turambar
Also included is the story of Túrin TurambarTúrin Turambar
Túrin Turambar is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. "Turambar and the Foalókë", begun in 1917, is the first appearance of Túrin in the legendarium. J.R.R...
. His father Húrin
Húrin
Húrin is a fictional character in the Middle-earth legendarium of J. R. R. Tolkien. He is introduced in The Silmarillion as a hero of Men during the First Age, said to be the greatest warrior of both the Edain and all the other Men in Middle-earth...
is captured at the end of the Battle of Unnumbered Tears
Nirnaeth Arnoediad
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium of Middle-earth, the Nírnaeth Arnoediad or Unnumbered Tears was the climactic Fifth Battle in the Wars of Beleriand.-The Fifth Battle as told in The Silmarillion:...
, and for his defiance, Morgoth places a curse on his family. Túrin becomes a great hero, but due partly to his hot temper and partly to a string of bad luck (in fact, the working of Morgoth's demonic will
Morgoth's Ring
Morgoth's Ring is the tenth volume of Christopher Tolkien's 12-volume series The History of Middle-earth in which he analyses the unpublished manuscripts of his father J. R. R. Tolkien. This volume, along with the subsequent The War of the Jewels, provides detailed writings and editorial commentary...
), whatever he turns his hand to seems to go wrong, and death and grief haunt those around him. Making matters worse, both Túrin and his sister Nienor
Nienor
Niënor, also known as Níniel , is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, appearing in the Narn i Chîn Húrin told in full in The Children of Húrin and briefly in The Silmarillion...
are enchanted by the mighty dragon Glaurung
Glaurung
Glaurung is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth legendarium. He is introduced in The Silmarillion as the first of the Dragons. He is also a major antagonist in The Children of Húrin. He was known as The Deceiver, The Golden, The Great Worm and the Worm of...
— who has sacked the great Elf-city of Nargothrond and taken up residence there — and they fall in love and live for time as man and wife. Eventually Túrin kills Glaurung, but with his death the spell is lifted. Driven mad by the realisation of their sins, Túrin and Nienor both commit suicide.
Gondolin
The last Elf-Kingdom to fall was the hidden city of Gondolin. TuorTuor
Tuor is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He is the grandfather of Elrond Half-elven and one of the most renowned ancestors of the Men of Númenor and of the King of the Reunited Kingdom Aragorn Elessar...
, a mortal man, was sent by Ulmo
Ulmo
Ulmo is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He first appears in The Silmarillion as a god or Vala of the Elven pantheon. Ulmo is a title, which means He who pours. He is also known as King of the Sea and Lord of Waters...
as a messenger to Gondolin, to warn King Turgon of the city's impending destruction. Remaining in Gondolin, Tuor married Turgon's daughter, Idril
Idril
Idril Celebrindal is a fictional character in the fantasy-world Middle-earth of English author J. R. R. Tolkien. She appears in one of his chief works of literature, The Silmarillion, published posthumously by Christopher Tolkien.-Character Overview:...
, and they had a son Eärendil
Eärendil
Eärendil the Mariner is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He is depicted in The Silmarillion as a great seafarer who, on his brow, carried the morning star across the sky.-Etymology:...
. Gondolin was eventually betrayed to Morgoth by Maeglin
Maeglin
Maeglin or Meglin is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, featured in The Silmarillion.He was an Elf, the son of Eöl the Dark Elf and Aredhel daughter of Fingolfin. He lived in the First Age of Middle-earth, and was a lord of Gondolin...
, and destroyed. Tuor, Idril and Eärendil escaped, together with a number of refugees.
Growing up, Eärendil married Elwing
Elwing
Elwing is a character of Middle-earth, created by J. R. R. Tolkien. She is Half-elven but counted among the Elves, notable for saving a Silmaril from the destruction of the Havens of Sirion and, with her husband Eärendil, going to the Valar to ask their help for the people of Middle-earth...
, granddaughter of Beren and Lúthien and current keeper of the Silmaril they took from Morgoth. With the help of the Silmaril, Eärendil and Elwing sailed to Valinor to plead with the Valar, asking them to pardon the Noldor and assist Elves and Men in their need. The Valar agreed to this request, and set Eärendil, with the Silmaril, to sail the skies as a star until the ending of the world.
Battle between Morgoth and the Host of the Valar
The Host of the Valar, led by EönwëEönwë
Eönwë is a supporting character in J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium. He first appears in print in the posthumously published The Silmarillion, though his character had existed long before its original publication in 1977.-Biography:...
, finally attacked Morgoth in Angband. In this battle, the Great Battle (also known as the War of Wrath
War of Wrath
The War of Wrath, or the Great Battle, is a key plot development in J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium, portraying the final war against Morgoth at the end of the First Age....
), Morgoth was utterly defeated; his armies were destroyed, with only a few remnants scattered across the Earth. He was taken prisoner and his two remaining Silmarils were confiscated. Maedhros
Maedhros
Maedhros is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. First introduced in The Silmarillion and later mentioned in Unfinished Tales and The Children of Húrin, he is one of the most enduring characters in The Silmarillion, and has been the subject of paintings by artists such as Jenny...
and Maglor
Maglor
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Maglor is a fictional character, the second son of Fëanor and Nerdanel. He was the greatest poet and bard of the Noldor and was said to have inherited more of his mother's gentler temperament....
, Fëanor's two surviving sons, stole the Silmarils from Eönwë, but they found the Silmarils would not tolerate their touch, instead tormenting them with burning pain. Maedhros committed suicide by jumping with the Silmaril into a chasm in the earth, and Maglor threw his Silmaril away into the sea.
The Valar pardoned the Noldor for their rebellion, and the Teleri offered forgiveness for the Kinslaying. Many of the Noldor and the Sindar left Middle-earth and travelled into the West, to live in Valinor. Many still stayed in Middle-earth. Morgoth was cast out of the World, imprisoned in the Void that lies behind the Walls of the Night. The Silmarils were lost "unless the World be broken and re-made", but each one found its home in one of the elements: earth, water and air.