The Elder Days

The First Age of Middle-earth, also known as the Elder Days, is one of the most significant and dramatic periods in J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium. The First Age is dominated by the Elves’ war against the Dark Lord Morgoth, and it features the rise and fall of great Elven kingdoms, the intervention of Men, and the quest for the Silmarils. It is covered primarily in The Silmarillion and is full of epic tales, great heroes, and tragic events.

Here is an expanded overview of the key events of the First Age:

Key Themes of the First Age

• The War Between the Elves and Morgoth: This is the overarching conflict of the First Age. Morgoth, the original Dark Lord, seeks to dominate Middle-earth from his fortress of Angband, and the Elves, especially the Noldor who returned to Middle-earth, wage war against him.
• The Fate of the Silmarils: The three jewels, created by Fëanor, embody the light of the Two Trees of Valinor and are central to the events of the First Age. Morgoth steals them, and Fëanor and his descendants swear an oath to retrieve them at all costs.
• The Role of Men: Men, also known as the Secondborn or the Atani, first appear in the First Age. Many ally with the Elves in the war against Morgoth, becoming renowned for their heroism.

The Return of the Noldor and the Rise of Morgoth

The Flight of the Noldor

• After Morgoth steals the Silmarils and destroys the Two Trees of Valinor, the Noldor, led by Fëanor, rebel against the Valar and depart from Aman to pursue Morgoth in Middle-earth.
• They commit the first Kinslaying by attacking the Teleri Elves and stealing their ships. This act brings the Doom of Mandos upon them, a curse foretelling tragedy for the Noldor in Middle-earth.

The War Against Morgoth Begins

• The Noldor arrive in Beleriand, the westernmost region of Middle-earth, where Morgoth’s stronghold, Angband, is located.
• The Noldor, along with the Sindar (the Elves who never left Middle-earth) and some Dwarves, wage war against Morgoth.
• Early battles, such as the Dagor-nuin-Giliath (Battle Under the Stars), see initial victories for the Noldor, but Morgoth is never fully defeated.

The Major Battles of the First Age

The wars of the First Age are monumental and involve several key battles, often referred to as “Dagor” (Sindarin for “battle”). Some of the major battles are:

1. Dagor-nuin-Giliath (Battle Under the Stars)

• Fought shortly after the Noldor’s return to Middle-earth, the battle takes place before the first rising of the Sun and Moon.
• The Noldor, led by Fëanor, defeat Morgoth’s forces, but Fëanor is mortally wounded by Balrogs, the fire-demons under Morgoth’s command.

2. Dagor Aglareb (The Glorious Battle)

• This battle marks the Noldor’s first major victory over Morgoth, and they maintain a siege around Angband (Morgoth’s fortress) for many years.
• This period of relative peace is known as the Siege of Angband.

3. Dagor Bragollach (The Battle of Sudden Flame)

• Morgoth breaks the siege with devastating force. Fire erupts from Thangorodrim, and Morgoth unleashes his full strength, including his Dragons for the first time.
• The Noldor are scattered, and many Elven realms are destroyed or severely weakened. The High King of the Noldor, Fingolfin, dies in single combat against Morgoth.

4. Nirnaeth Arnoediad (The Battle of Unnumbered Tears)

• One of the most tragic and final battles of the First Age, it is an alliance of Elves, Men, and Dwarves against Morgoth.
• Though initially successful, Morgoth’s treachery leads to the complete defeat of the allied forces. The battle is named for the widespread grief and loss suffered by the Free Peoples.
• Húrin, a Man and one of the greatest warriors, is captured and cursed by Morgoth to witness the ruin of his family.

The Major Kingdoms and Peoples of the First Age

The Elven Kingdoms

• The Noldor establish several kingdoms in Beleriand, with notable leaders like Fingolfin, Maedhros, and Turgon.
  • Gondolin: A hidden city built by Turgon, it is one of the most significant and beautiful Elven realms. It plays a crucial role in the war until its tragic fall.
  • Nargothrond: Founded by Finrod Felagund, another major stronghold of the Noldor, known for its wisdom and power.
  • Doriath: Ruled by Thingol, the Sindar Elves’ kingdom is protected by the magical girdle of Melian, a Maia (spiritual being like the Valar). It stands until its destruction due to internal strife and greed for the Silmarils.

The Role of Men

• Men, newly awakened in the east, migrate into Beleriand during the First Age and play a pivotal role in the fight against Morgoth.
• Three houses of Men are especially important:

  • The House of Bëor: Allied with the Elves of Nargothrond.

  • The House of Hador: Led by Húrin and his descendants, they are closely allied with the High Kings of the Noldor.

  • The House of Haleth: A more independent group of Men who settle in the forest of Brethil.

  • The stories of mortal heroes, such as Beren, Húrin, Túrin Turambar, and Tuor, become central to the legend of the First Age.

The Tale of Beren and Lúthien

• One of the most important stories in the First Age is the Tale of Beren and Lúthien.
• Beren, a Man, falls in love with Lúthien, the daughter of Thingol and Melian. Thingol demands an impossible bride-price: a Silmaril from Morgoth’s crown.
• Against all odds, Beren and Lúthien succeed, with Lúthien using her divine heritage to put Morgoth to sleep, allowing Beren to cut a Silmaril from his crown.
• Their love story becomes legendary, and their union of Elf and Man sets the stage for future intermingling of the races, most notably in the lineage of Elrond and Aragorn.

The Tragic Tale of Túrin Turambar

• Túrin, the son of Húrin, is one of the most tragic figures in Tolkien’s works.
• Cursed by Morgoth, Túrin’s life is marked by sorrow and misfortune. He unwittingly causes the deaths of many loved ones, including his own sister Niënor, in a tale that mirrors ancient tragedies like Oedipus.
• Túrin ultimately slays Glaurung, the first and greatest of Morgoth’s dragons, but his life ends in despair.

The Fall of Gondolin

• The hidden city of Gondolin, ruled by Turgon, is betrayed by Maeglin, a bitter Elf who seeks to win the love of Turgon’s daughter.
• Morgoth’s forces, including Balrogs, Dragons, and Orcs, attack the city, resulting in its fall.
• Tuor, a great human hero, leads the survivors out of the ruins, and his son, Eärendil, is born, a key figure who will end the First Age.

The War of Wrath and the End of the First Age

• The First Age concludes with the War of Wrath, where the Valar, having been petitioned by Eärendil (who sailed to the Blessed Realm), finally intervene.
• A massive host of Maiar, Elves, and other beings of great power march against Morgoth.
• Morgoth’s forces are utterly defeated, and he is captured, his Iron Crown beaten into a collar. Morgoth is cast into the Void beyond the world.
• The Silmarils are lost: one is taken to the heavens by Eärendil, one is lost in the sea, and the other is buried in the earth.

Aftermath and Legacy of the First Age

• Beleriand is largely destroyed and sinks beneath the sea.
• The surviving Elves either depart for Valinor or remain in Middle-earth.
• The Edain (Men who fought against Morgoth) are gifted the island of Númenor as a reward, setting the stage for the events of the Second Age.
• The First Age is remembered as a time of great heroism, tragedy, and the struggle against the overwhelming power of Morgoth.

The First Age is a time of both glory and sorrow, where the greatest heroes of Middle-earth live, fight, and often perish. The tales of this age form the deep roots of the history that influence the later ages and the central events of The Lord of the Rings.