In
J. R. R. Tolkien's
legendarium, 'Finwë', sometimes surnamed 'Noldóran', is a
fictional character who was the first
High King of the
Elven Noldor to led his people on the journey from
Middle-earth to
Valinor in the blessed realm of
Aman. He was a great friend of
Elu Thingol, the King of
Doriath.
Finwë had two wives. His first was
Míriel, who died soon after bearing their only child, Curufinwë, who was more commonly called
Fëanor. His second wife was
Indis, of the
Vanyar, who bore him two sons:
Fingolfin and
Finarfin, and two daughters:
Findis and
Irimë. All his sons and one daughter were named after himself (Curufinwë, Fingolfin, Finarfin, Findis).
During
Melkor's attempt to corrupt the Noldor, Finwë attempted to moderate his people and lead them back to the
Valar. When Fëanor was exiled from
Tirion, Finwë went with him to
Formenos. There he was the first to be killed in Valinor when Melkor slew him at the doors of Formenos seeking the
Silmarils. This act was the catalyst that led to the
Flight of the Noldor.
Finwë's name is not fully translated. The glossary in ''
The Silmarillion'' translates ''Fin'' as "hair"; other sources say it means "skill".
Concept and creation
In the first drafts of the genealogy, Finwë had four sons: the youngest was named ''Finrun'', but he was dropped after that, thus Finrod (later Finarfin) was Finwë's youngest son from then on.
In a later version Finwë had three
daughters added by
Indis, Findis (as their first child) Faniel (as their third), and Finvain (as their youngest). In yet later versions, Faniel was apparently dropped, while Findis and Finvain were kept. Finvain (renamed
Irimë) was moved to after Fingolfin, thus Finarfin was once again the youngest child of Finwë.
See also
★
House of Finwë