Editing Fingolfin (section)

== Internal history ==
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=== Birth ===

Fingolfin was the second son of [[Finwë]], High King of the [[Noldor]], [[Sundering of the Elves|a division of the Elves]] lower than the Vanyar but higher than the Teleri. He was full brother of [[Finarfin]], and half-brother of [[Fëanor]], who was the eldest of Finwë's sons. He founded the House of Fingolfin which ruled the Noldor in Middle-earth. His wife was Anairë and his children were Fingon, Turgon, Aredhel and Argon.<ref group=T>Argon only appears in ''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]'', Chapter 11 "[[The Shibboleth of Fëanor]]", and is left out of the published ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.</ref><ref name="Of Eldamar" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977}}, Chapter 5, "Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië"</ref> Fingolfin was said to be the strongest, most steadfast, and most valiant of Finwë's sons. His father-name in [[Quenya]]—one of [[Languages constructed by J. R. R. Tolkien|Tolkien's fictional languages]]—was Nolofinwë, or "wise Finwë," while his mother-name was ''Aracáno'', or "High Chieftain", the same name as his youngest son Argon.<ref name="Shibboleth" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1996}}, Chapter 11 "[[The Shibboleth of Fëanor]]"</ref>

=== Strife with Fëanor ===
The mother of Fingolfin and Finarfin was Finwë's second wife, Indis, who he married after Míriel died. While they lived in [[Aman (Middle-earth)|Aman]], there was always strife between the sons of Indis and Míriel's son Fëanor, mostly due to [[Melkor]]'s treachery. However, Fingolfin would seek to forge a better relationship with Fëanor at every chance. Even after Fëanor threatened him with a sword and was banished from Tirion, Fingolfin forgave him and tried to mend their relationship.<ref name="Of the Silmarils" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977}}, Chapter 7, "Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor"</ref> This occurred very soon before destruction of the [[Two Trees]] and the Darkening of [[Valinor]]. After this event and Fëanor's decision to leave Aman, Fingolfin chose to follow him into exile, so as not to abandon his people.<ref name="Of the Flight of the Noldor" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977}}, Chapter 9, "Of the Flight of the Noldor"</ref>

=== Crossing the ice of the Helcaraxë ===
[[File:Elvish_Migrations_and_Kindreds.svg|thumb|upright=2|[[Arda (Middle-earth)|Arda]] in the [[First Age]]. The Elves migrated westwards across [[Middle-earth]] and Belegaer, the great sea, to [[Valinor]] in Aman, [[Sundering of the Elves|dividing up as they went]]. Fingolfin fatefully chose to cross the dangerous ice of the [[Helcaraxë]] (top) between Aman and Beleriand to follow [[Fëanor]] back to Middle-earth.]]

Fingolfin led the largest host of the Noldor when they fled Aman for [[Middle-earth]], even though he thought this unwise; he did not want to abandon his people to Fëanor. His followers participated in the Kinslaying at the Havens, but only because they arrived after the battle was underway not knowing that Fëanor was the aggressor. He led them across the ice of the [[Helcaraxë]], an epic and arduous journey lasting many months, on which many of the people perished.<ref name="Of the Flight of the Noldor" group=T/>

=== Challenging Morgoth at the gates of Angband ===
They arrived in Middle-earth at the first rising of the Moon, and sounded their trumpets. Soon after, at the first rising of the Sun, he came to the gates of [[Angband (Middle-earth)|Angband]] and smote upon them, but Melkor—now known as Morgoth—stayed hidden inside. Fingolfin and the Noldor then came to the northern shores of Lake Mithrim, from which the Fëanorian part of the host had withdrawn.<ref name="Of the Return of the Noldor" group=T/>

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=== High King of the Noldor ===

Fingolfin's son Fingon rescued [[Maedhros]], son of [[Fëanor]], who in gratitude waived his claim to kingship: thus, Fingolfin became High King of the Noldor. He then ruled from [[Hithlum]], by the northern shores of Lake Mithrim.<ref name="Of the Return of the Noldor" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977}}, Chapter 13, "Of the Return of the Noldor"</ref>

After defeating the [[Orc (Middle-earth)|Orcs]] in the [[Dagor Aglareb]], Fingolfin maintained the [[Siege of Angband]] for nearly 400 years. The Siege was ended by Morgoth's sudden assaults in the [[Dagor Bragollach]], the Battle of Sudden Flame, and many peoples of [[Beleriand]] fled.<ref name="Of the Ruin of Beleriand" group=T/>

=== Death: single combat with Morgoth ===
When Fingolfin learned of this, and received false report that his allies had been routed on all fronts, he became filled with wrath and despair. He immediately took his horse Rochallor and sword [[Ringil]], and rode alone to Angband. All enemies fled from him, fearing his anger, and mistaking him in his fury for [[Oromë]], the [[Vala (Middle-earth)|Vala]] patron of hunters.<ref name="Of the Ruin of Beleriand" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977}}, Chapter 18, "Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin"</ref>

Fingolfin smote the gates of Angband and challenged Morgoth to single combat. Though Morgoth feared Fingolfin (of all the [[Vala (Middle-earth)|Valar]], Morgoth was the only one to know fear), he had to accept the challenge—or face shame in the eyes of his servants. Seven times Fingolfin wounded Morgoth and seven times Morgoth cried in pain, and seven times the host of Morgoth wailed in anguish, but he could not be slain for he was one of the Valar.<ref name="Of the Ruin of Beleriand" group=T/>

Whenever Morgoth attacked, Fingolfin avoided Morgoth's weapon [[List of Middle-earth weapons and armour#Grond|Grond]], the hammer of the underworld, as it cracked the ground so violently smoke and fire darted from the craters. Eventually, however, Fingolfin grew weary and stumbled on a crater. Then Morgoth pinned Fingolfin with his foot, and killed him, but not before he, with his last act of defiance, hewed at Morgoth's foot. Morgoth thenceforward always walked with a limp. Enraged, Morgoth sought to desecrate the body of the valiant king, but [[Thorondor (Middle-earth)|Thorondor]], Lord of Eagles flew down, raked Morgoth's eyes, and carried Fingolfin's body away to be placed on a cliff overlooking [[Gondolin]]. Later, Fingolfin's son Turgon built a cairn over his father's remains.<ref name="Of the Ruin of Beleriand" group=T/>