Gil-galad

Mark Ferguson as Gil-galad in The Fellowship of the Ring film in deleted scenes Gil-galad Biographical information Other names Artanro/Rodnor, Ereinion Gil-galad Titles High King of the oldor, King of Lindon, High King of the Elves of the West, King of the High Elves, King of the Golodhrim, Lord of Eriador, and Head of the White Council Date of birth First Age ? Year ascended to the throne FA 510 Date of death SA 3441 Realms ruled Havens of Sirion, Lindon, and Eriador Spouse Unknown Weapon Aeglos Physical description Race Elves Culture oldor Gender Male Hair color Golden, Dark Brown (movie) Peter Jackson's Film Trilogy Actor Mark Ferguson Gil-galad was a oldorin elf, son of Fingon, and last High King of the oldor in Middle-earth and bore many titles, including, High King of the Elves of the West, King of the Eldar, King of Lindon, Lord of the Galadhrim, Lord of Eriador, and the Head of the White Council of the Second Age.

Gil-galad held the highest authority among the Elves and he ruled and was respected by both the Noldor and the Sindar. The Silvan Elves of the East answered his call to war and followed him to battle, showing that they also respected him enough to make him the Supreme Commander of the Elven forces during the War of the Last Alliance. His death marked the end of the oldor in Middle-earth.

First Age

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Gil-galad was probably born in the late fifth century of the First Age and was still young during the times of the battles of the Dagor Bragollach (Battle of Sudden Flame) and Nirnaeth Arnoediad (Battle of Unnumbered Tears). Fingon was lost in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, but the crown passed to Gil-galad's uncle Turgon in Gondolin, rather than Gil-galad himself (presumably because of his youth at that time). When Gondolin was lost, Gil-galad received the Kingship of the oldor; he dwelt with the exiles of the city at the Mouths of Sirion during the remainder of the First Age.

Second Age

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Gil-galad as depicted in the. In year 1 of the Second Age, Gil-galad remained in Middle-earth and established Lindon, which was strong and secure against its enemies. At its height, his realm extended eastward as far as the Misty Mountains and the western parts of Greenwood the Great, though most of the Eldar remained in Lindon and in Elrond's refuge of Rivendell. Gil-galad had alliances with the Men of Westernesse, especially with The Faithful or Elendili. With Elendil he formed the Alliance of Elves and Men, which was so powerful as to be compared to the army which destroyed Melkor at the end of the First Age. He reigned as High King of the oldor throughout the Second Age. During this time Gil-galad was given the seeds of mellyrn, or mallorn, trees by Tar-Aldarion, who was, during this time, High King of Numenor. But the seeds wouldn't grow in his land so he gave them to Galadriel before she left Lindon. She carried these seeds for a long time, finally planting them in Lindrinand. When they grew in the land, it was renamed Lothlorien, Lorien of Blossom. So Gil-galad is responsible for the making of the Golden Wood, because if he ever gave it to Galadriel that land would still be Lindrinand, Valley of the Land of the Singers. Later on, Gil-galad was entrusted by Celebrimbor with the rings Vilya (Ring of Air) and Narya (Ring of Fire), two of the Three Rings, which he passed on to his herald Elrond and his lieutenant Cirdan prior to his demise at the Siege of Barad-dr. War of the Last Alliance

At the War of the Last Alliance

With the emergence of Sauron, Gil-galad joined forces with the Dnedain King Elendil to defeat the forces spreading from Mordor. Their large and well-trained combined forces engaged Sauron's armies multiple times in the conflict known as the War of the Last Alliance. Gil-galad's famed weapon was a spear known as Aeglos; none could stand against it. Finally, at the end of the war, the elves and Men marched on Mordor itself and laid siege to Barad-dr, where Gil-galad was destroyed at the hands of Sauron. He fought bravely against the Dark Lord, but Sauron picked the High King up into the air and threw him against the rocky plateau of Mount Doom, breaking his body,{Citation needed} and so Gil-galad passed on to the Halls of Mandos. He was not known to have a wife, nor any children, so the kingship of the oldor ended in Middle-earth and Crdan was from then on the Lord of the Grey Havens and Lindon. Weapons Gil-galad's Armor Gil-galad's armor was similar in composition to that of all the elves of the Second Age: a cuirass and fault of interlocking lames of steel plate over a hauberk of fine mail, together with pauldrons and braces. However, befitting his status as High-king, his armor was blued and etched with vine like tracery, and the plates were embossed with Tengwar symbols and included leather pants, which gave greater protection. At the throat, he wore a steel collar that bore his heraldic insignia, twelve stars on a midnight blue field. The color blue may have reflected an association with the sea; in any case, it was certainly a dye that was rare on Middle-earth, and it would have required a great deal of time and knowledge to locate enough flora or fauna with which to make it. His cloak was of a deep blue and his armor was golden, and instead of a helmet, he wore a golden crown, fashioned for him by Celebrimbor, who made the Rings of Power. His Shield

The Shield of Gil-galad.

The shield of the High-king was the same shape as the regular elven shield, but like his armor it was more richly adorned: it was enameled in blue on and around the boss and decorated in gold with the twelve stars of his house. Because Aeglos(his spear) was wielded two-handed, it is likely that the shield was carried only to the field of battle rather onto it, to be left with one of Gil-galad's attendants. It may have been used by him when he fought with a sword.

Mark Ferguson portrays Gil-galad holding the spear Aiglos in the 2001 film "Gil-Galad was an Elven-King. Of him the harpers sadly sing: the last whose realm was fair and free between the Mountains and the Sea. His sword was long, his lance was keen, his shining helm afar was seen; the countless stars of heaven's field were mirrored in his silver shield. But long ago he rode away, and where he dwelleth none can say; for into darkness fell his star in Mordor where the shadows are." Concept-art of Gil-galad. Added by Purplegethos -The Fall of Gil-Galad, as translated by Bilbo Baggins, and recited by Samwise Gamgee. (Note: The poem apparently goes on longer, but the remainder was mainly about Mordor, and was therefore not recited because Sam didn't think he'd be going there himself.)