Fingon
the Valiant; High King who fell at the Nirnaeth
Name and Nature
Fingon — “the Valiant”, the eldest son of Fingolfin and Anairë; the prince of the North who became the third High King of the Noldor (after Fingolfin). “Of all the sons of the Noldor he was the… most valiant” — he was the Noldor’s finest spirit: brave, generous, ardent, the friend of the enemy’s son Maedhros across the feud of the houses — a friendship that redeems the divisions of the Noldor.
The Rescue of Maedhros
His great deed is the rescue on Thangorodrim: when Maedhros was hung in torment by Morgoth and none could reach him, Fingon sang — “he who had love for Maedhros… his friend of old” — “and as he sang… and the eagles came” — He was borne up by Thorondor to the tormented prisoner, and the only mercy open was to cut off the hand; he did so, saving Maedhros’ life. The deed caused Maedhros to yield the crown to Fingon’s father and earned the brothers the final reconciliation of the two houses.
High King and the Nirnaeth
After Fingolfin’s death in the challenge of Morgoth, Fingon became High King; his realm was the north (Hithlum, Dor-lómin) and he upheld the Leaguer. In 472 he led the host of the Noldor in the Union of Maedhros’ last great battle — the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, the Battle of Unnumbered Tears — the greatest effort of the Elves and Men against Angband. He himself was the spearhead of the advance: — he clove to the gates of Angband itself. When the Easterlings betrayed and Morgoth loosed his reserves — the Balrogs — Fingon was at last cut off, and was slain by the Balrogs (in the older forms, by Gothmog the Lord of Balrogs; the Fall of Gondolin says it was Gothmog). His fall, with the banner of his house, ended the Age’s hope.
Significance
Fingon is the “golden” High King — courage married to loyalty; the friend who crossed the feud for mercy, the king who gave his life at the furthest point of a losing hope. His rescue-and-friendship with Maedhros is the seal that the houses could have been one; his death at the Nirnaeth marks the extinction of the “good” branch of the Noldor’s line (the kingship passes then to Turgon, and after to a lesser line).