Gil-galad, the son of Fingon, is sent to live with Círdan on the sea during the Wars of Beleriand and becomes the last High King of the Noldor after Turgon’s death. He remains in Middle-earth after most of the elves depart for Valinor to rule the Grey Havens, which he defends against Sauron with the help of the Númenoreans. He joins with Elendil in the War of the Last Alliance to defeat Sauron, who kills him during the siege of Barad-dûr.
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Gil-galad Character Timeline in The Silmarillion
The timeline below shows where the character Gil-galad appears in The Silmarillion. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 18. Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin
...and a scarred face. Fingon takes leadership of the Noldor and sends his young son Gil-galad away to the Havens.
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Chapter 20. Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad
...or enslaving Círdan’s people. A few escape by sea to an island, including Círdan and Gil-galad. Círdan sends ships to the west seeking aid, but none reach Valinor, and only one...
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Chapter 23. Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin
...Sirion to the sea and join Elwing and the refugees from Doriath. With Turgon’s death, Gil-galad is named High King of the Noldor. Círdan’s mariners also join the people of Doriath...
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Chapter 24. Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath
...remaining sons of Fëanor attack and destroy the exiles of Gondolin and Doriath. Círdan and Gil-galad arrive too late to help them. Amrod and Amras are killed in the battle, and...
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...the Teleri. Still, not all the elves are willing to leave Middle-earth. Círdan, Celeborn, Galadriel, Gil-galad, and Elrond remain. Though Elrond chooses the fate of the elves, his brother Elros chooses...
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Akallabêth
...of the men there rather than teachers. The Elf-friends only come to Middle-earth to aid Gil-galad in his conflict with Sauron, who takes over the land of Mordor and seeks absolute...
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...to be watched, though they still sail to Middle-earth to speak to the elves of Gil-galad’s kingdom. The Valar, angry with the kings of Númenor, stop offering them advice and protection,...
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Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age
...of Beleriand is changed and a gulf forms in Ossiriand in a region called Lindon. Gil-galad decides to remain in Middle-earth and rule that land, where Elrond also lives. The elves...
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...persuade elves to join him in every kingdom except Lindon. He begins spreading rumors that Gil-galad doesn’t want to enrich the rest of Middle-earth beyond Lindon. He takes the name Annatar,...
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...the beginning of the Black Years, when many elves are killed, and others flee Middle-earth. Gil-galad maintains control of Lindon with the help of the Númenoreans, but Sauron rules the east...
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...forces him out of his physical form and back to Mordor. There, he learns that Gil-galad’s kingdom has grown in his absence to encompass a large portion of the north and...
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Elendil and Gil-galad decide to unite against Sauron, forming a group called the Last Alliance, and travel east...
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...great losses, including the death of Anárion. Finally, Sauron leaves his tower and kills both Gil-galad and Elendil, whose sword breaks beneath him as he falls. However, Isildur cuts the One...
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After Gil-galad’s death, Rivendell becomes “a refuge for the weary and oppressed.” The heirs of Isildur stay...
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