(or, Just How Do You Apply For This Job, Anyway?)
When Maedhros cedes to Fingolfin on the basis of ‘eldest blood’, it appears that someone has put some thought into the rules of succession. But why? Finwë is immortal and, under normal circumstances, would not need a successor. How and why do the Elves develop rules of succession, and do the rules apply only to the Noldor or also to the other clans?
Fifty-two Years of the Tree (about 500 Years of the Sun) after the Elves awoke at Cuiviénen, Elwë, Ingwë and Finwë apparently rule their respective clans. Assuming that Cuivienyarna is more than just a children’s tale, Enel, Tata and Imin must have met their ends at some point during those 500 years. They can only have descendants or designated heirs, since they have no siblings. Their heirs must be equally short-lived (in Elven terms), so that rules of succession are needed.
In succession by seniority, a monarch’s brother is his rightful heir. Not until all the brothers are dead does the crown pass to the children. Under Salic seniority, inheritance is exclusively through male lines. More familiar to Westerners is succession by primogeniture, in which descendants of the monarch have priority over siblings.
Fëanor, under any rules of succession, would be the heir, unless Finwë either designates another heir or asks for the Elven equivalent of annulment of his first marriage and its issue to be declared illegitimate. Melkor hints at an outright coup or act of violence, not a change in the line of succession. That does not become a concern until Fëanor’s death.
The Noldor appear to have no established tradition, as both Maedhros and Fingolfin have a claim. Maedhros elects to go by the tradition that supports Fingolfin’s inheritance. He does not seem to be changing the rules - he is choosing seniority over primogeniture. Perhaps the Vanyar and Nelyar developed the traditions - as Elwë, Elmo and Olwë are brothers, the question of succession must have been resolved when Elwë assumed leadership of the Nelyar. We also know that Ingwë has a sister and perhaps other siblings. Since the Sindar will later go by primogeniture, we might suppose that the Vanyar developed the tradition of seniority. Perhaps Finwë is the only son of Tata, and the Noldor thus had no need for rules of succession at Cuiviénen. Though Maedhros makes the choice for political reasons, the rule of seniority, and particularly Salic seniority, will become the custom of the Noldor.
After Fingolfin, the crown should revert back to Maedhros. Some forms of succession by seniority will only allow the son of a king to inherit, but Fëanor does assume the title after Finwë’s death. Though many of the Noldor prefer Fingolfin, he does not claim the kingship at this time. In any case, affiliation to a previous high king cannot be a requirement among the Noldor if Gil-galad is, as Tolkien finally decided, the son of Arothir. (1,2)
Again, politics probably alter the succession upon Fingolfin’s death. Given the close friendship between Fingon and Maedhros, and the general will of the Noldor, Maedhros would be unlikely to wrestle with his cousin for the crown.
After Fingon’s death, Turgon is stated to be ‘by right’ the High King of the Noldor. This derives from old texts, appearing in the version given in The Lost Road, and is preserved even after Gil-galad materialises as Fingon’s son. The succession, then must be by seniority, as there is no mention of Turgon ruling as regent or in Gil-galad’s place - he inherits ‘by right’. (3,4,5)
Maedhros is bypassed again. At this point, he has lost Himring and is wandering with his brothers and their people in Ossiriand. However, Gil-galad is in a similar situation when he inherits the crown - he is in exile on Balar. In the Third Age, after the loss of Fornost and many of his people, Aranarth of the Dúnedain does not give up the position, only the title. He is still the leader of his people. Turgon, by contrast, has no means by which to lead the Noldor, as he has no contact (other than by eagle) with his people outside Gondolin. Even without a realm of his own, Maedhros would be a more credible High King, but makes no attempt to claim the title.
Turgon designates an heir to the crown of Gondolin, indicating that both Aredhel (seniority) and Idril (primogeniture) are ineligible because they are female. Turgon first names Maeglin as his heir. Later, it appears (but is not stated outright) that Maeglin is displaced by Eärendil’s birth. This applies only to Gondolin, however. Gil-galad becomes High King upon Turgon’s death. By seniority or primogeniture, Eärendil and Elrond would have the higher claim, but Salic rule determines the succession among the Noldor - neither a female nor her male descendants can inherit. (It should also be noted that in between Fingolfin, the great-grandfather of Eärendil, and Finarfin, the great-great-grandfather of Gil-galad, there is a sister, Lalwen. Assuming that she is still alive, she and any of her descendants are also ineligible by Salic rule. Findis, the eldest of Indis’ children, was likewise disinherited when her father renounced the crown.) (6)
Meanwhile, Maedhros is still around, and is passed over once more. After Doriath, neither he nor his remaining brothers can have any hope of leading the Noldor. There is, however, an heir with higher claim than Gil-galad and no guilt in Doriath: Celebrimbor. Perhaps he has no desire for the title, or perhaps he simply accepts that his House is forever disinherited.
Gil-galad leaves no heir and after Celebrimbor’s death, he is the last of the male line of Finwë. With no other choice, he designates Elrond as his heir, but Elrond never takes the title. The time of the Elves is ending, especially for the Noldor, and one might guess that he has fewer Elves at Imladris than Círdan has at the Havens, and that there are fewer Elves in all of Eriador than in the Greenwood and Lórien. (7)
What about the Sindar? Primogeniture seems to be the rule, and not merely for practical reasons. Dior’s ascendance to the throne through a female line is not, as Maeglin’s claim to the throne of Gondolin, a matter of necessity because a male relative to Thingol, descended through exclusively male lines, exists: Celeborn. Lúthien is passed over, but this appears to be by her own choice, as Elwing later becomes ‘queen’ of the Iathrim (people of Doriath) at the Havens. Evidently, among the Sindar, not only can descendants through the female line inherit, but females themselves can inherit. (It should be noted that the concept of Thingol as High King of all the Sindar is somewhat problematic and not borne out by the texts. The previous lines refer primarily to Doriath and its people.) (8,9,10)
In the Second Age, Gil-galad is said to be ‘High King of the Elves of the West’, (Eriador) apparently including both the Sindar and Noldor in this region. In the Second and Third Ages, the only Sindar who take the title of king are the rulers east of Hithaeglir, Oropher and Thranduil of the Greenwood and Amdír and Amroth of Lindórinand. However, while they certainly did not acknowledge Gil-galad as High King, they are kings of their realms, (Sindarin aran), not high kings of their people (taur). (11)
Much of this is conjecture, and aside from what is supported by LOTR, subject to bias in the choosing of texts. (The revision of Celeborn as grandson of Olwë, for example, is not considered here.) One could certainly argue that it is impossible to determine anything about the succession in Doriath, as Celeborn and Círdan as kin to Thingol were relatively late conceptions and developed well after the original story of Dior was written. (12)
Support for Salic seniority among the Noldor is better testified, as Maedhros specifically refers to right by eldest blood. Moreover, it adds weight to Galadriel’s sacrifice when offered the One Ring: ’“And now at last it comes. You will give me the Ring freely! In place of the Dark Lord you will set up a Queen.”’ In The Silmarillion, we are told, 'No oaths she swore, but the words of Fëanor concerning Middle-earth had kindled in her heart, for she yearned to see the wide unguarded lands and to rule there a realm at her own will.’ By her sex, she becomes the subject of her much younger kinsman after Turgon’s death. Though she eventually rules Lórien with Celeborn, she never becomes a queen. By refusing to take the One Ring, she denies her heart’s desire, and so releases the ban on her return to Aman. Thus, the question of succession is not entirely derivative - it matters to Galadriel and ultimately influences the outcome of the War of the Ring. (13,14,15)
(1) he does not claim the kingship himself
’…By no means all were of a mind to take Fëanor as King. Greater love was given to Fingolfin and his sons, and his household and the most part of the dwellers in Tirion refused to renounce him… . Nor did he forget his words before the throne of Manwë.’ (The Silmarillion, 'Of the Flight of the Noldor’ p 75 pub Houghton Mifflin Kindle Edition) These last words are important - his 'words before the throne of Manwë’ were: 'Thou shalt lead and I will follow.’ (Ibid, 'Of the Darkening of Valinor’ p 67), and imply that Fingolfin accepts Fëanor’s claim as Finwë’s successor.
(2) Gil-galad is, as Tolkien finally decided, the son of Arothir
(The Peoples of Middle-earth, 'The Shibboleth of Fëanor’ p 351 pub Houghton Mifflin)
(3) Turgon is stated to be 'by right’ the High King
(The Silmarillion, 'Of the Fifth Battle’ p 198)
This derives from old texts, appearing in the version given in The Lost Road
(4) (The Lost Road, 'Quenta Silmarillion’ p 344 pub Ballantine/Del Rey)
(5) Gil-galad materialises as Fingon’s son
(The War of the Jewels, 'The Grey Annals’ pp 56 and 77 pub Houghton Mifflin)
(6)Eärendil and Elrond would have the higher claim
Even if one prefers Tolkien’s original conception, that Fingon was the father of Gil-galad, it is notable that Tolkien saw no problem with Gil-galad inheriting from Turgon, whether he was the son of Fingon, Finrod or Arothir, showing that although he did not originally write The Silmarillion with Gil-galad as Arothir’s son, he always understood the succession to follow exclusively male lines.
(7) he designates Elrond as his heir
'At that time also Gil-galad gave Vilya, the Blue Ring, to Elrond, and appointed him to be his vice-regent in Eriador… .’ It may be that Celebrimbor was considered Gil-galad’s heir (or potential heir), as Elrond was not named vice-regent until after Celebrimbor’s death. (Unfinished Tales, 'The History of Galadriel and Celeborn’ p 230 pub Houghton Mifflin Kindle Edition)
(8) a male relative to Thingol, descended through exclusively male lines, exists: Celeborn
Celeborn’s movements are uncertain due to Galadriel’s statement in LOTR that “…Ere the fall of Nargothrond or Gondolin I passed over the mountains… .” (LOTR, 'The Mirror of Galadriel’ p 357 pub Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Kindle Edition) It may be that they travel east and return. Perhaps Galadriel leaves Doriath to travel east by herself. Celeborn’s dislike for Dwarves seems unlikely if he is not in Doriath when the Dwarves sack the city. (Unfinished Tales, 'The History of Galadriel and Celeborn’ p 226) Moreover, Christopher Tolkien cites evidence that, in at least one conception, Celeborn is present at the fall of Doriath. (Ibid, p 225) In any event, they - or at least Celeborn - are in Lindon at the beginning of the Second Age. (LOTR, 'Appendix B’ p 1082) Celeborn does, in fact, 'inherit’ eventually - he is said to hold a fief (presumably under Gil-galad) in Harlindon, where most of the Sindar settle after the First Age. (The Peoples of Middle-earth, 'Of Dwarves and Men’ p 328)
(9) Elwing later becomes 'queen’
(The Lost Road, 'The Lhammas’ p 191)
(10) the concept of Thingol as High King
Thingol is said to be both High King of all the Sindar and contemptuous of the Mithrim, who occupy lands ruled by Fingolfin and Fingon in the First Age. (The Peoples of Middle-earth, 'Last Writings’ p 385; Ibid, 'The Problem of Ros’ p 372) As for Círdan, he is variously said to acknowledge Thingol as High King and to be a vassal of Finrod. (The War of the Jewels, 'The Grey Annals’ p 117) However, Círdan notably sends the Falathrim to the Nirnaeth, without regard for the recusance of Finrod’s successor (Arothir) and Thingol. (The Silmarillion, 'Of the Fifth Battle’ p 190) One can conclude that Círdan simply does what he thinks wise and rules his own affairs.
(11) Gil-galad is said to be 'High King of the Elves of the West’
(LOTR, 'Appendix B’ p 1082)
(12) Celeborn and Círdan as kin to Thingol
An older text (noted previously) does name Elwing queen of the Iathrim at the Havens. The Silmarillion refers to Eärendil as ’ lord of the people that dwelt nigh to Sirion’s mouths’ and another (that I cannot locate) states that they are lord and lady of the Havens. (The Silmarillion, 'Of the Voyage of Eärendil’ p 254) Although Eärendil is Turgon’s designated heir among the refugees from Gondolin, he derives his authority over the Iathrim as consort to Elwing. A similar, but far more sinister example is found in the story of Ar-Zimraphel and Ar-Pharazôn. (Ibid, 'The Akallabêth’ pp 277-278) Moreover, numerous versions, from the older texts cited above to The Silmarillion, refer to the Iathrim at the Havens as Elwing’s people. (Ibid, 'Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin’ p 252)
(13) ’“And now at last it comes. You will give me the Ring freely! In place of the Dark Lord you will set up a Queen.”’
(LOTR, 'The Mirror of Galadriel’ pp 365-366)
(14) 'No oaths she swore, but the words of Fëanor concerning Middle-earth had kindled in her heart, for she yearned to see the wide unguarded lands and to rule there a realm at her own will.’
(The Silmarillion, 'Of the Flight of the Noldor’ p 74)
(15) releases the ban on her return to Aman
’…Her personal ban was lifted, in reward for her services against Sauron, and above all for her rejection of the temptation to take the Ring when offered to her. So at the end we see her taking ship.’ (The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, No 297 p 386n pub Houghton Mifflin)
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