Noldor - High Kings of The Noldor

High Kings of The Noldor

• In Valinor:

1. Finwë, first High King
2. Fëanor, first son of Finwë; claimed the title after his father's death
3. Fingolfin, second son of Finwë; held to be the High King by the majority of the Noldor
4. Finarfin, third son of Finwë; ruled the Noldor remaining in Aman

• In Middle-earth:

1. Fingolfin, after Maedhros son of Fëanor gave up his claims
2. Fingon, first son of Fingolfin
3. Turgon, second son of Fingolfin.
4. Gil-galad, son of Orodreth, son of Angrod, son of Finarfin, the last High King of the Noldor in exile.

It is not known exactly how Finwë became High King: he may have been a descendant of the Noldorin primogen "Tata", or simply have been accepted as leader based on his status as ambassador to the Valar. The Noldor had many princely houses besides that of Finwë: Glorfindel of Gondolin and Gwindor of Nargothrond, while not related to Finwë, were princes in their own right. These lesser houses held no realms, however: all the Noldorin realms of Beleriand and later Eriador were ruled by a descendant of Finwë.

The Mannish descendants of Elros (the Kings of Arnor) now claimed the title High King, although there is no indication that this referred anything other than a High Kingship over the Dúnedain. As descendants through the female line Elros and his brother Elrond were not considered eligible, and Elrond indeed never claimed Kingship.

It is perhaps notable that Galadriel, the last of the House of Finwë in Middle-earth (other than the Half-elven) and Gil-galad's great-aunt, likewise never claimed a king title let alone the title of High Queen. Indeed the only known Elven Kingdom in Middle-earth after the Second Age was the Silvan realm of Mirkwood, ruled by the Sinda Thranduil.