Fall of Fingolfin

Fingolfin was the son of Finwë and half-brother of Fëanor of the ruling family of the Noldor. After the theft of the Silmarils, he made the journey into Middle-earth with many of his fellow Noldor. Fëanor was slain soon after that return, and Fëanor's heir Maedhros refused the succession, and so Fingolfin became High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth. From his fortress of Barad Eithel in the Mountains of Shadow, he ruled his people for more than four centuries.

When the Noldor had first arrived in Middle-earth, they had fought off the Orcs of Morgoth, and then contained the Dark Lord within a Siege around his fortress of Angband. Thus for most of Fingolfin's long rule, the people of Beleriand had known a time of wary peace but, unknown to the Elves, during that long peace Morgoth had been marshalling his forces. In the winter of I 455, the Dark Lord revealed his power. Rivers of flame descended suddenly from the Iron Mountains and spread over the lands to the south, burning away the green plains to create a desert. Running with those fiery streams were Balrogs and countless Orcs that swept away the defenders and left the Siege of Angband in tatters.

Looking out across the burning plains, Fingolfin saw - as he thought - the utter defeat of his people, and was filled with despair and fury. In desperation he mounted his horse and rode to the Gate of Angband, beating on the gate and demanding that Morgoth answer a call to single combat.¹ Morgoth had no wish to answer this challenge but, watched by all his forces, he had no choice, and so he came to face the King of the Noldor.

The great dark form of Morgoth towered over the King, and the Dark Lord struck down with Grond, the Hammer of the Underworld, and with his immense black shield. Fingolfin was fleeter and more nimble, and he was able to wound Morgoth seven times, but he had no real hope of defeating one of the Powers. At last the King tired and stumbled, and Morgoth placed a foot upon his neck to crush him. With his sword Ringil, Fingolfin was able to lay one last wound on the Dark Lord, slicing into Morgoth's great foot, before he died. So Fingolfin fell.

Fingolfin's broken body was recovered by the Eagle Thorondor, who stooped out of the air and scarred Morgoth's face, before carrying the remains of the fallen King far away into the Encircling Mountains. Those mountains looked down on the Hidden City of Gondolin, ruled by Fingolfin's son Turgon, and Turgon raised a cairn over his father's body.

The Battle of Sudden Flame (or Dagor Bragollach as the destruction of that time was known) was disastrous for the Elves and Men of Beleriand, but not so cataclysmic as Fingolfin had imagined in his desperation. Many of his people survived, including his son Fingon, who succeeded Fingolfin to become High King of the Noldor of Middle-earth.