Lord of the Rings fact: Fingolfin was one the strongest Elves that ever lived, matching his older half-brother Fëanor. He was a King, & he fought Morgoth,but ultimately was defeated and killed.

When reference is made to the bravest, most valiant, most courageous, strongest or even most important elf that ever lived then there are few that would disagree with sons of Finwe. For being of the first branch of the first elves they all performed some of the most magnificent feats one would think near impossible. The sons of Finwe were:

Fingolfin was not only one of the greatest Kings of the Noldor but also  the bravest. Fingolfin was the most valiant of the sons of Finwë. I often think of him as the more stable, wise and forgiving brother. Where Feanor was the impulsive stronger brother.

After King Finwë died, murdered by Morgoth, Fëanor rallied up the Noldor and gave a passionate speech. Nearly all of the Noldor followed him, along with his two half-brothers. Fingolfin led the largest host of the Ñoldor, he did not want to abandon his people to Fëanor. As days passed in their exile, more and more of the Noldor started speaking against Fëanor, for their journey was difficult, and they feared the prophecy of Mandos. After Fëanor’s group acquired the ships of the Teleri following the First Kinslaying, Fëanor and his followers used them to sail across the sea. Fëanor burned the ships after reaching Middle-earth, stranding the others and his brothers to certain death, for he thought the followers of Fingolfin would prove to be useless.

Fingolfin and his people saw the smoke of the ships from afar, and chose to travel through the ice desert, and were angry at Fëanor. Fingolfin took them across the ice of the Helcaraxë, the journey was hard and many died, yet they were filled with hope when they saw the Moon for the first time.

Shortly after Fëanor’s death, Fingolfin became High-King of the Noldor. The reign of Fingolfin was plagued by war against Morgoth. Fingolfin maintained the Siege of Angband for nearly four hundred years. But the Siege was ended by the sudden assaults of Morgoth and many peoples of Beleriand fled.

In the end Fingolfin rode to Angband alone to challenge Morgoth to single combat. Those who saw him thought Oromë himself had arrived; for a great madness of rage was upon him, so that his eyes shone like the eyes of the Valar. Fingolfin died there after a mighty duel, wounding Morgoth seven times with his sword Ringil, and struck one last punishing blow to Morgoth’s foot before he broke the High King. Morgoth’s wounds never healed after that battle, and he limped ever after.

Fingolfin vs Morgoth.

Thorondor the King of Eagles then brought Fingolfin’s body to a mountaintop overlooking Gondolin, and Turgon built a cairn over the remains of his father.

“In that vast shadow once of yore
Fingolfin stood: his shield he bore
with field of heaven’s blue and star
of crystal shining pale afar.
In overmastering wrath and hate
desperate he smote upon that gate,
the Gnomish king, there standing lone,
while endless fortresses of stone
engulfed the thin clear ringing keen
of silver horn and baldric green.”