Gil-galad

Ereinion Gil-galad was the sixth and last High King of the Noldor in Middle Earth.

## Early Life

He was still a child at the time of the Dagor Bragollach when Morgoth broke the Siege of Angband. As a result his father Orodreth sent him (and his mother) to Círdan at the Havens of the Falas for safekeeping. After the Nirnaeth Arnoediad and thus there was no power left that could withstand the enemies, and the ports at the Falas were besieged and captured. Yet Círdan, Gil-galad and many other Elves could flee from death on ship and established a refuge upon the Isle of Balar and a small haven at the Mouths of Sirion.

## As High-King

After the death of the previous High-King, Turgon, in the fall of Gondolin, Gil-galad received the Kingship of the Noldor. He and Círdan maintained the refuge upon Balar and the small port at the Sirion estuary until the War of Wrath and the end of the First Age.

After the destruction of Beleriand during the War of Wrath, Gil-galad founded a kingdom in Lindon in the far northwest of Middle-earth, roughly between the Blue Mountains and the Great Sea around the Gulf of Lhûn and the havens of Forlond, Harlond, and Mithlond were founded. Gil-galad was the last heir of the kings of the Noldor in exile, and acknowledged as High King of all the Elves of the West. Many Elves, both the Sindar and the Noldor joined his realm. But soon there was again unrest among the Noldor, and many of them left Lindon and led by Celebrimbor founded the realm of Eregion, probably also stirred up by the finding of *mithril* in Khazad-dûm. Also some of the Sindar and many of the Nandor did not wish to live with the Noldor, and migrated eastwards to Lothlórien or Greenwood the Great.

When Prince Aldarion of Númenor came to Middle-earth, they established friendship with the Elves. In S.A. 882 Gil-galad gave him a letter for his father, the King of Númenor, Tar-Meneldur. He warned him that a new shadow had arisen in the East and besought him for aid.

### During the War of Sauron and the Elves

Around the year 1000 of the Second Age, Sauron tried to make contact with the Elves under the name of Annatar, the "Lord of Gifts". But Gil-galad and Círdan did not trust him and rejected his proposals. Sauron though, was welcomed in Eregion and the Rings of Power were forged. Around SA 1600 Sauron, though, had forged the One Ring in secret, and when the Elves of Eregion found out that they have been betrayed, Sauron demanded the Rings, and when they refused, in SA 1693 the War of the Elves and Sauron began. Celebrimbor had rescued the Three Rings of the Elves in time, sending Vilya and Narya to Gil-galad and Círdan, respectively, while the third ring Nenya was given to Galadriel.

As Sauron invaded Eriador Gil-galad sent Elrond to aid Eregion and also called on Númenor for aid. Elrond was unable to avert Sauron and with some survivors they retreated to Imladris. Eriador was overran until a great fleet of the Númenóreans sent by Tar-Minastir arrived at Lindon. With united forces, Sauron's army was driven back and defeated. After this war, the Elves were not further troubled by Sauron for a long time and Gil-galad passed the ring Vilya to Elrond and he appointed Elrond as his vice-regent.

When Tar-Calion captured Sauron and took him to Númenor, the Westlands found peace, and Gil-galad was free to extend his power to the north and south, and east, beyond Anduin.

### Forging the Last Alliance

After the Downfall of Númenor, Elendil and his sons came to Middle-earth and founded the realms of Gondor in the south and Arnor in the north. Gondor was soon attacked by Sauron and Elendil's son Isildur had to flee, and sailed north to his father. Elendil and Gil-galad formed the Last Alliance of Elves and Men against Sauron.

In the following years the Allies marched to Imladris, crossed the Misty Mountains and marched south, where they defeated a great army outside Mordor. They broke through Cirith Gorgor and on the slopes of Mount Doom fought Sauron and his army. There he was engaged by Gil-galad in a single combat, but Sauron picked the king in his hand, and the heat radiating from his ruined form immolated him. Sauron was defeated but both Gil-galad and Elendil were killed.

After his death, Elrond inherited his Ring, and could have claimed his title, but decided against it. Nevertheless, the heirlooms of Gil-galad, including his crown, were kept in Elrond's study at Rivendell.