Jun. 1st, 2013

[identity profile] clotho123.livejournal.com
Has anyone got any evidence for the title of High King being used by any King of the Noldor before Fingolfin?  I can't find any to Finwe using it, and Feanor is said only to have claimed the 'kingship' on Finwe's death.  It was also 'kingship' that Maedhros gave up to Fingolfin, although the title of High King is used of Fingolfin later.

 A High King (I'd assume Tolkien's usage is basically from the Irish Ard Ri) is a king who rules other kings.  I've always assumed Fingolfin adopted the title after Finrod and Turgon started calling themselves kings.  Finwe did not rule other kings, so it makes sense he wouldn't be a High King.  The elf in Aman who is referred to as Hign King is Ingwe, presumably because he was felt to have some authority, or at least seniority, over Finwe and Olwe.  High King would still have fitted as a title for Fingon and (just about) for Turgon.  It would not have fitted Gil-galad, although he is said to have used it, but I would assume the title had become fossilised by then.

I also can't find any evidence for Finarfin being called High King, and there wouldn't seem to be any reason why he would be, unless he adopted the title after the First Age when the Valar started reembodying other Noldor kings.

I have though noticed a fanfic tendency to refer to any king of the Noldor as High King, so have I missed something?  Is there any evidence for the title being used before Fingolfin?

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