The first High King of the Noldor, and father to the three royal houses of that people. Finwë awoke with the first Elves at Cuiviénen, the Water of Awakening. When the Valar summoned the Elves to dwell with them in Valinor, he was chosen, with Ingwë and Elwë, to travel there as ambassadors. When he returned, he led the Noldor in their great westward journey across the lands of Middle-earth and the Great Sea to Aman.
Under Finwë's rule the Noldor dwelt for at least three ages (about 9,000 years) in Valinor, and learned much from the Valar, especially Aulë the Smith. During this time, he dwelt in Tirion, but afterwards his eldest son Fëanor withdrew to his fortress of Formenos, and Finwë went to dwell there also.
After the Darkening of Valinor, Melkor stormed Formenos seeking the Silmarils, which were held in its vaults. He slew Finwë before its doors and stole the Jewels of Fëanor. After his death, the kingship of the Noldor was briefly bestowed on his son Fëanor.
Notes
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It seems that Finwë's name did not originally have a particular meaning, but it became associated with the root PHIN meaning 'hair', due to the fact that Finwë's was extraordinarily long and impressive, even for one of the Eldar. |
See also...
Aman, Curufinwë, Dark Enemy, Darkening of Valinor, Deep Elves, Elf-kings, Elven-kings, Elves, Essë, Fëanor, Finarfin, Formenos, High King of the Noldor, House of Fëanor, House of Finarfin, [See the full list...]House of Fingolfin, Indis, King of the Noldor, Loremasters, Melkor, Míriel Serindë, Noldo, Noldor, Silmarils, The Crafty, The Fair, The Unwilling, Thingol, Three Kindreds, Unlight, Vairë
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