A title given to Fingolfin, in addition to his full rank as High King of the Noldor. It referred to his direct rule over the land of Hithlum to the north of Beleriand from his seat at Barad Eithel. Fingolfin took on the rule of Hithlum soon after the return of the Noldor to Middle-earth, and held it until the time of the Dagor Bragollach, when he rode to challenge Morgoth and was slain.
After the loss of Fingolfin, his son Fingon ruled Hithlum in his father's stead, and so doubtless the title 'King of the North' would have descended to him. Fingon himself was slain in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, after which Hithlum fell under the power of Morgoth; so Fingon would have been the last of the brief line of the Kings of the North.
| I |
Fingolfin |
Ruled from I 7 to I 456 (449 years)
After the death of Fëanor, his eldest son Maedhros declined the High Kingship of the Noldor and conferred it instead on Fëanor's half-brother Fingolfin. Fingolfin established himself in the northern citadel of Barad Eithel, on the borders of Hithlum. There he ruled not only as High King over all the Noldor, but also as King of the North, controlling Hithlum and its lesser lands of Mithrim and Dor-lómin. After centuries of rule through the long Siege of Angband, Fingolfin saw the Siege broken in the Dagor Bragollach, and rode in anger and desperation to face Morgoth in single combat. Though he fought nobly, he was defeated and slain, and his rule as King of the North came to an end. |
| II |
Fingon |
Ruled from I 456 to I 472 (16 years)
With the loss of Fingolfin, his son Fingon took on the rule of the Noldor and of Hithlum, and also presumably inherited the title of King of the North, though this is not categorically established. He did not rule for long: less than two decades after his accession, Fingon rode to the disastrous battle of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, in which he was slain. After this battle, the forces of Morgoth took control of Hithlum, and so after Fingon there were no more Kings of the North. |
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- Updated 13 July 2016
- Updates planned: 1
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