Let's Get Nerdy

    Who is High King Gil-Galad? – Let’s Get Nerdy!

    Ashley Victoria RobinsonBy 6 Mins Read

    Amazon Studios is producing a piece of struck work inspired by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. We want all Spoilerites to have the best viewing experience possible and have the widest knowledge base about the Second Age of Middle-Earth. This is a weekly Let’s Get Nerdy article series highlighting a different piece of Tolkien I think you need to know about!

    Remember not four weeks ago when we were learning about Noldor Elves? Their complicated history and the shared heritage of many of the most iconic and recognizable elven characters across Tolkien lore is some of the stuff I love the most about The Second Age of Middle-Earth. I’ve had the great pleasure to write for you about Galadriel, Celebrimbor, and many Noldor elves across this feature series, yet somehow the legendary king and hero, Gil-Galad, himself, has escaped a full and dedicated feature unto himself.

    Let’s rectify this, shall we?

    Gil-galad was an Elvenking by: Jenny Dolfen

    Gil-Galad, or Ereinion Gil-galad, or Artanáro, or Rodnor, or Ereinion, or Finellach (every notable character has a slough of names and I would be remiss if I didn’t lay many of them out for you time and time again!), is the fourth and final High King of the Noldor Elves. In case you haven’t read many of these features perhaps you’ve escaped the spoilers about how exactly Gil-Galad meets his end, but it is brutal, and it is at the hands of the Dark Lord Sauron, and it does have unparalleled ramifications on the entire race of Noldor Elves – this is what an impact he has as a leader and lord.

    Gil-Galad was born in The First Age of MIddle-Earth to uncertain lineage! What!? WHATWHATWHAT!? But Tolkien is so precise. Tolkien is so specific. Tolkien has every single detail meticulously planned out while he’s chanting Elvish in his garden. 

    So, perhaps this isn’t a mistake?

    Despite the mystery of Gil-Galad’s exact lineage both options are incredibly impressive. He came of age under the struggle against the Dark Lord Morgoth. He was raised in strife and died leading combined, diverse forces against the Dark Lord Sauron. It’s a lovely mirror narrative.

    At the end of The First Age of Middle-Earth following the fall of the Kingdom of Gondolin Gil-Galad was

    Elrond Recalls the Host of Gilgalad by: Michael Kaluta

    crowned and led the Noldor Elves until his death which ended The Second Age of Middle-Earth. Throughout The Second Age Gil-Galad was an elf of partnerships. He notably worked with Celebrimbor, as you probably know, and warming welcomed the first emissary from Númenor – Prince Aldarion, who later went on to be known as King Tar-Aldarion – albeit with a warning about the growing shadow and threat of a Dark Lord. Gil-Galad’s openness to the humans of Númenor continued all the way to their flights to Middle-Earth and the creation of a united army.

    When Sauron, disguised as Annatar, made overtures to infiltrate elvish culture Gil-Galad notably was not taken by his fair appearance and words. He was also instrumental in bringing Elrond into the fold of what would become The Last Alliance of Men and Elves and utilizing his strengths as a warrior and an ambassador. This would lead to the eventual founding of Imladris and the use of Rivendell as a key strategic point against Sauron.

    At the end of The Second Age of Middle-Earth with the success of The Last Alliance of Men and Elves and Gil-Galad’s death the Noldor Elves lost their king and the person who had seen them through periods of adversity beyond their wildest imaginings. Following Gil-Galad’s death no Noldor Elf ever claimed the title again.

     

    In past articles I have answered the question: 

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    She/her. Canadian actress. Bi Queen. Canadian co-host of Geek History Lesson. Canadian comic book writer: Witchblade, Apollo IX, Jupiter Jet series, Science! The Elements of Dark Energy, Aurora and The Eagle. Award-losing: actor, writer, podcaster. https://linktr.ee/AshleyVRobinson

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