Mar 22

Mar 22 Guide to The Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin (Ch. 18)

Chapter Eighteen: Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin

The Dagor Bragollach: The Battle of Sudden Flame

455 years after the coming of Fingolfin began the 4th of the great battles: the Dagor Bragollach, the Battle of Sudden Flame. During this battle came Glaurung the Golden, Father of Dragons, in his full might. Balrogs and the armies of Orcs came behind them. Most of the Grey-elves fled and forsook the northern war.

The sons of Finarfin were most hurt because they lived directly south of Ard-galen. Angrod and Aegnor were slain. Finrod was cut off from his people and would’ve been slain, but Barahir rescued him and was able to return to Nargothrond. He swore an oath to Barahir and his people and gave him his ring. Fingolfin and Fingon were driven back to the fortresses of Ered Wethrin. Hador the Golden-haired died defending Fingolfin; his son Gundor died with him.

Hithlum remained unconquered for the time being, but Fingolfin was cut off from his kinsmen. Celegorm and Curufin were overcome and fled to Nargothrond. Maedhros and his people fought valiantly but could not stand against Glaurung, and everyone fled. The Orcs did not come into Ossiriand.

Fingolfin rode to Angband’s gates to challenge Morgoth in battle. Fingolfin had called him craven and lord of slaves for all of his servants to hear, so Morgoth felt forced to answer the challenge. Fingolfin fought against Morgoth valiantly but became weary and was crushed under Morgoth’s shield. Morgoth pressed his foot against Fingolfin’s neck, but Fingolfin stabbed Morgoth in the foot in one last desperate stroke. Thus, Fingolfin died.

Morgoth broke the body of Fingolfin and planned to feed it to the wolves, but Thorondor (Lord of Eagles) came and scratched Morgoth’s face and took the body of Fingolfin, carrying it to Gondolin where Turgon buried him. Morgoth was permanently wounded in his foot due to Fingolfin and in his face by Thorondor.

Now Morgoth had dominion over the North and pursued the people of Barahir until one by one, only a few of them remained. They became so desperate that they sent their women and children away to Brethil to safety. Most of these men were not seen again for they were killed one by one until only 12 remained with Barahir: Beren his son, Baragund, Belegund, and nine of their servants: Radhruin, Dairuin, Dagnir, Ragnor, Gildor, Gorlim, Arthad, Urthel, and Hathaldir. These men were “outlaws without hope”, hunted like beasts, wandering in the forest homeless.

For two years after the Dagor Bragollach, the Noldor fought to defend the western pass, and Minas Tirith withstood against the Orcs. But after the fall of Fingolfin, Sauron, greatest of the servants of Morgoth, took Minas Tirith and made it a watchtower for Morgoth. The fair isle of Tol Sirion became called Tol-in-Gaurhoth, the Isle of Werewolves.

The Swarthy Men

In this time, the Swarthy Men came into Beleriand. Some of them had already secretly come under the service of Morgoth, but not all. Maedhros made an alliance with them and was friends with their chieftains, Bór and Ulfang.

The sons of Bór were Borlad, Borlach, and Borthand, and they followed Maedhros and Maglor faithfully. The sons of Ulfang were Ulfast, Ulwarth, and Uldor, and they followed Caranthir but “proved faithless.”

Húrin and Huor, the sons of Galdor in Dor-lómin, lived with the Haladin. When they were young (Huor was only 13), they went into battle but were cut off from their company and became lost in Dimbar.

They would’ve died, but Thorondor carried them to Gondolin. Turgon allowed them to live in Gondolin, but they eventually wished to return home. This was usually forbidden, but because they had been carried in by Thorondor, Turgon allowed them to depart in the manner in which they arrived.

Maeglin doubted this decision, but the boys swore an oath to never reveal anything about Gondolin. Then the eagles carried them back to Dor-lómin.

Turgon perceived that the end of the Noldor was coming soon, so he sent some of the Gondolindrim to the Isle of Balar to build ships and sail West in order to ask for pardon and help from the Valar. However, they were unsuccessful, and no help came.

Morgoth sent forth more spies to gather information about Nargothrond and Gondolin.

After a few years, Morgoth assailed Hithlum. Galdor was killed. Húrin drove the Orcs away.

Fingon was outnumbered as he fought against the Orcs, but Círdan came with his ships up the Firth of Drengist, and they were victorious.

After this, Húrin was lord of the house of Hador and served Fingon. His wife was Morwen, daughter of Baragund.

Key Quote:

“This counsel was wise according to the measure of his knowledge; for the Noldor did not yet comprehend the fullness of the power of Morgoth, nor understand that their unaided war upon him was without final hope, whether they hasted or delayed.”