Fëanor

Life in Tirion

Born in Years of the Trees 1169, Fëanor was the eldest son of Finwë, the first King of the Noldor, and his first wife Míriel Þerindë. He had an unusually long gestation period, and drew so much of Míriel's life energy that after he was born she grew weary of living, and departed to Lórien, where she voluntarily left her corporeal form and died. Following a judgment by the Valar, Finwë was allowed to remarry and, with his second wife Indis, had two more sons, Fëanor's half-brothers Fingolfin and Finarfin, and two daughters, Findis and Írimë.

Fëanor's skills began to blossom, and besides being a skilled smith, he was a linguist and Loremaster. In Years of the Trees 1250, he devised the lettering system of Tengwar, improving the work of Rúmil. He created the palantíri, and also wrought the Fëanorian lamps in this time. He then turned his mind to the study of gems.

While still in his youth, Fëanor wedded Nerdanel, daughter of Mahtan, a great craftsman, who bore him seven sons: Maedhros, Maglor, Celegorm, Caranthir, Curufin, Amrod, and Amras.

In Years of the Trees 1400, Melkor, the mightiest of the Valar and source of evil, deceived the Valar into thinking that he had repented of his evil ways. Pardoned and residing in Valinor, he undertook to corrupt the Noldor and succeeded in making them instruments of his malice, particularly Fëanor. But Fëanor greatly mistrusted Melkor, which was part of Melkor's plan.

Inspired by a shadow of foreknowledge, he pondered how the light of the Two Trees might be preserved imperishable. Many thought that this idea came first after seeing the Hair of Galadriel, which was both golden and silver. He admired her hair so much that he requested a tress three times, but Galadriel refused each time and would not give him even a single strand. Therefore, in Years of the Trees 1449, Fëanor began, and by Years of the Trees 1450 he had succeeded in the greatest of his achievements: capturing the light of the Two Trees to make the three Silmarils, also called the Great Jewels. He prized the Silmarils above all else, and displayed them in feasts upon his brow. But later he grew increasingly suspicious that the Valar and other Eldar coveted them, until he jealously guarded them from all except his immediate family.

Feud with Fingolfin

Melkor greatly desired the Silmarils and his hatred for Fëanor grew, but the Valar still did not know of Melkor's true intentions. Melkor played upon Fëanor's temperament and pride to convince him that his own half-brother Fingolfin was not only planning to usurp his place as heir to Finwë, but also seize the jewels for himself. The Noldor then began forging weapons, which at that point no other Eldar possessed in Valinor. Fëanor's hostility grew to the point where, in Years of the Trees 1490, he threatened Fingolfin's life. For this, the Valar exiled him to Formenos. He took a substantial treasure with him, including the Silmarils, which he stowed in a locked box. In a show of support for his eldest son, Finwë withdrew to Formenos as well.

The Valar realized that Melkor was behind Fëanor's actions. They sent Tulkas to imprison him again, but he could not be found. Melkor was not seen for a long time until, in Years of the Trees 1492, he unexpectedly showed up at Formenos. Melkor tried again to manipulate Fëanor, but he went too far, and Fëanor realized that Melkor's true goal was to obtain the Silmarils. He shut the door in Melkor's face and, in a rage, Melkor left. When the Valar heard of the incident, they resumed their hunt, but it was apparent that Melkor had fled from Valinor.

Theft of the Silmarils

In Years of the Trees 1495, the Valar sought to reconcile Fëanor and Fingolfin, and to mend the enmity between the Noldor and Valar, and invited them all to Valimar to make peace. Fingolfin offered a hand to his half-brother, recognizing Fëanor's place as the eldest, which he grudgingly accepted.

Meanwhile, after first feigning to go north, Melkor had stolen away to Avathar in the south of Aman to seek out the evil, spider-like creature Ungoliant. Even as Fëanor and Fingolfin were reconciled, Ungoliant helped Morgoth destroy the Two Trees, bringing darkness to Valinor.

Yavanna examined the Two Trees and found them lifeless. The light of the Trees survived only in the Silmarils and she said that only by their power could she restore the Trees. Manwë then asked Fëanor to give them up for this purpose, but Fëanor emphatically declared that he would not give up his Silmarils of his own free will; if the Valar forced him, he said, they would be no better than Melkor. It was after this that messengers came telling of the raid at Formenos.

According to the messengers, Melkor, surrounded by an impenetrable black fog, had come to Fëanor's vault in Formenos. Finwë fought and lost against Melkor, and was the first to be slain in Valinor. Melkor ransacked the vault, taking many valuable jewels, including the Silmarils. He and Ungoliant escaped by crossing the Helcaraxë, or Grinding Ice, in the north to Beleriand in Middle-earth.

Kingship

Kin-slaying at Alqualondë

The Valar and Eldar now fully understood the extent of Melkor's treachery. Fëanor, upon learning of his father's murder and the theft of his prized Silmarils, named Melkor "Morgoth", or "Black Enemy". Following his father's death, Fëanor claimed the kingship of the Noldor and delivered an impassioned speech, which he unwittingly filled with Morgoth's lies. He rallied the Noldor against the Dark Lord, but because of Morgoth's influence, he also blamed the Valar for Morgoth's deeds. He persuaded most of his people that because the Valar could not protect them, the Noldor must follow him to Middle-earth and fight the Dark Lord. Fëanor then swore the terrible Oath of Fëanor which all seven of his sons also proclaimed, vowing to fight anyone and everyone—whether Elf, Man, Maia, or Vala—who withheld the Silmarils, and invoking even Ilúvatar as a witness. This Oath led to much conflict and later caused great tragedy among his seven sons.

Seeking a way to get to Middle-earth, he went to the shores of Aman, where the seafaring Teleri lived, and demanded the use of their ships. When the Teleri refused to give or lend their vessels, Fëanor ordered the Noldor to take the ships by force. The Teleri resisted, and a battle broke out, in which many of the Teleri were slain, for they were armed with mere hunting bows, against the fully armed Noldor. Three times the Teleri were able to push back Fëanor until Fingon, leading the host of Fingolfin his father, joined the battle thus overwhelming the Teleri.

Due to this act, the Valar proclaimed the Doom of the Noldor, in which they prophesied failure for all those who followed the House of Fëanor. Fëanor resolved to go on, and added a further prophetic statement that their deeds would live on in song until the ending of the world. However, those who repented came back with Finarfin, Finwë's third son. They were accepted by the Valar, and Finarfin ruled as King of the remaining Noldor in Valinor.

Exile to Middle-earth and death

As the year Years of the Trees 1496 wore on, Fëanor led the Noldor northward. By Years of the Trees 1497, the host had reached the Helkaraxë and halted. There were not enough ships to carry all of the Noldor across the sea, so Fëanor and his sons seized the ships and departed. Upon arriving at Losgar, the outlet of the Firth of Drengist in the land of Lammoth, in the far west of Beleriand, where Morgoth and Ungoliant had passed not long before, Fëanor decided to burn the ships and leave the followers of Fingolfin behind. As Arda was flat in those days, the remaining Noldor saw the flames and perceived that, if they were to reach Middle-earth, they had no choice but to cross the Helcaraxë. This they did under the leadership of Fingolfin, and suffered heavy losses along the way, which greatly added to the animosity they had for the House of Fëanor.

Learning of the Noldor's arrival, Morgoth summoned his armies from his fortress of Angband and attacked Fëanor's encampment in Mithrim. This battle was called the Dagor-nuin-Giliath ("Battle-under-Stars"), for the Sun and Moon had not yet been made. The Noldor managed to win the battle and disperse Morgoth's armies. Fëanor, still in a great rage, pressed on toward Angband with his sons. He came upon the confines of Dor Daedeloth, but was ambushed by a force of Balrogs, with few Elves about him. He fought mightily, hewing his foes, even after receiving several wounds, but was bested by Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs.

His sons came upon the Balrogs with a great force of Elves, and were able to drive them off. However, as Fëanor was being carried off the battlefield, he knew his wounds were fatal. He was brought to the slopes of the Ered Wethrin where he saw from afar the peaks of Thangorodrim. He cursed Morgoth thrice, but with the eyes of death, he knew that the Elves, unaided, would never throw down the dark towers. At the moment of his death the passing of his fiery spirit reduced his body to ashes. He was the only person to die this way, for no death like his was ever seen or heard.

His sons were still bound by the Oath to recover the Silmarils, which would determine many of the events of Middle-earth during the First Age.

Fëanor's spirit remained in the Halls of Mandos. It is said that he will return for Dagor Dagorath, and will finally reclaim his beloved Silmarils and break them so Yavanna can use their light to restore the Two Trees.

• Fëanorian lamps
• Heraldry of Fëanor
• Palantíri
• Silima
  • Silmarils
• Tengwar
  • Quanta Sarmë

In later days, many devices were attributed to Fëanor, such as the ñaltalmar. Despite this, however, they were also said to be far older.

Fëanor is an unusual combination of Quenya and Sindarin: fëa ("spirit, soul") + naur ("fire"). The name is actually a half Sindarized version of his Quenya mother-name Fëanáro; the proper Sindarin form should have been Faenor.

The name has changed since early versions of the legendarium. In the Gnomish Lexicon, written around 1917, Fëanor is given as the Qenya cognate of Gnomish Fionor ("Goblet Smith"), but is mentioned with no apparent connection to the later Noldoli character. However, Tolkien used Fëanor in the narrative of the Lost Tales for the character. In the Noldorin phase, Fëanor is the original name while Fëanáro is the Qenya cognate. Both meant "Radiant Sun", from Primitive Quendian Phayanâro.

When Fëanor was born, he was first called Minyon ("First-begotten"). His father-name was at first the same as his father: Finwë, or simply Finwion ("Son of Finwë"). But when he showed his abilities it was enlarged to Curufinwë, by adding curu ("skill").

His mother-name was Fëanáro, which translates as "Spirit of Fire", being formed by adding fëa ("spirit") and nár ("flame"). Fëanor called himself the "Son of the Þerindë" after the shifting of “Þ" to "s".

In the days of the Flight of the Noldor, Fëanor believed that the Silmarils had become symbols and instruments of his power, and thus bestowed upon himself the title of the "lord of the lights".

Early legendarium

The character of Fëanor first appears in the Book of Lost Tales, in which Fëanor, one of the Noldoli, gathers pearls and other jewels, and stores in them the light of the trees Laurelin and Silpion, creating the three Silmarils: gems that shine with their own light, and surpass all other jewels in beauty. When Melko begins to spread discontent among the Noldoli, Fëanor, along with Inwë and Ellu Melemno, counsel Nólemë that Manwë should be informed of Melko's doings. However, Melko also speaks to Manwë, telling him that the Noldoli are stirring against the Valar, and when Nólemë's embassy arrives, Manwë is displeased with both parties, and sends Melko back to Mandos, and orders that the Noldoli leave their home upon Kôr and dwell elsewhere, lest their discontent spread among the other kindreds.

The Noldoli relocate to the vale of Sirnúmen and remain there for a while, until the time of a great feast held in Valmar, to which they fare along with the rest of the Eldar. During the feast, Melko and his accomplices travel to the emptied dwelling of the Noldoli and slay the guards they had left there, including Fëanor's father, Bruithwir. They plunder the treasury there, taking the most glorious gems, including the Silmarils. After this tragedy, the Noldoli are distraught, and Manwë grants them permission to return to their home at Kôr. However, some, Fëanor among them, choose to remain behind in Sirnúmen. There Fëanor broods, striving and failing to recreate the Silmarils, and sitting beside his father's tomb, his discontent growing until at last he fares to Kôr, speaking against the Valar and urging the Noldoli to leave Valinor. Soon afterwards, following Melko and Gwerlum's destruction of the Two Trees, Fëanor persuades his people to arm themselves, follow him and leave Valinor.

There are key differences in this section of the story from later versions, but there are also similarities. For one, Bruithwir, rather than Finwë Nólemë, is Fëanor's father in Lost Tales. However, the element of a close kinsman of Fëanor's being slain by Melko at their home in exile remains. Fëanor is still the creator of the Silmarils, and, angered at their loss and the loss of his father, still rallies his people to flee Valinor using the same rhetoric as in later versions.

In the next portion of the tale, Fëanor leads the Noldoli into exile from Valinor. An inserted rider also describes him as initiating the Kinslaughter at Kópas Alqalunten in a bid to steal the ships of the Solosimpi. The Noldoli suffered much loss at the crossing of the Helkaraksë, and many blamed Fëanor bitterly for their plight. However, they at last succeeded in crossing into Middle-earth. Fëanor's sons are first mentioned later in the tale, as having hidden a store of crystals in Sirnúmen, which were later used by Aulë in the making of the Ship of the Moon after the departure of the Noldoli.

According to earlier outlines of The Book of Lost Tales, the Noldoli spread out in the land of Hisilómë. Different outlines from around this time have different fates of Fëanor. In one, he is lost at the Waters of Asgon, sailing out to the Islanded Rock there in search of his jewels. In another, it is Nólemë that dies at Asgon, and Fëanor, rather than his son (as in later versions, and the other outline), leads a host against Melko, and is captured and tormented. In later outlines, the Noldoli also reach Hisilómë, and Fëanor drowns in the Waters of Mithrim. In this version, Maidros, son of Fëanor, is the one to lead a host against Melko and be captured. While Fëanor's manner of death here is different from that in the published Silmarillion, it mirrors it in that he dies soon after leading the Noldoli out of Middle-earth, and is survived by his sons and his people.

Story of Wéland/Fëanor

There exists a compilation of texts called the Early Runic Documents, contemporary with The Book of Lost Tales, one of which identifies Fëanor with the legendary Germanic smith called Wayland. That story is placed during the wars of the Elves with Melko.

In that text, Fëanor was captured by a man called Niðad, King of the Niaroth. However, Fëanor killed Niðad's sons and managed to escape by crafting artificial wings for himself; he also made love to the king's daughter Beaduhilde and fled with her, but ultimately lost her in the woods.

Eventually Beaduhilde (who was now pregnant) forgave Fëanor, and in spite of her father's wrath at her pregnancy, she still managed to obtain Niðad's blessing upon her son. For more information, see Inspiration.

2022: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Season One:

Episode 2: Adrift:

As Elrond enters Celebrimbor's workshop, Celebrimbor points out many artifacts he possesses, including Fëanor's hammer, the very device that Fëanor used to wrought the Silmarils themselves.

Episode 8: Alloyed:

Upon attempting to forge a "crown" of power, Celebrimbor uses Fëanor's hammer over all of his other hammers.