- Turgon
:"This article is about J.R.R. Tolkien's fictional Elf-king. For the later
Steward of Gondor of the same name, seeTurgon (Steward) . For the commune in France, seeTurgon, Charente ."In the fiction of
J. R. R. Tolkien , Turgon "the Wise" is an Elven king of theNoldor , second son ofFingolfin , brother toFingon ,Aredhel and Argon, and ruler of the hidden city ofGondolin .His name is aSindarin ised form of hisQuenya name "Turukáno", which probably means something like "valiant lord".Although Turgon was originally against the departure of the Noldor from
Aman , he eventually did set out on the journey. AfterFëanor and his sons departed using the only ships, he took his people across the dangerousHelcaraxë with his father Fingolfin. He lost his wifeElenwë in the crossing and settled atVinyamar inNevrast . There he became lord of a mingled people, both Noldor and Sindar.While he was journeying with his cousin
Finrod Felagund alongSirion ,Ulmo sent both of them a dream to look for a hidden place where they could be safe from the power ofMorgoth . In the following year Ulmo appeared directly to Turgon and guided him to the vale ofTumladen in theEncircling Mountains , to which Turgon later secretly moved, taking with him a third of the original followers of Fingolfin and many of the Sindar, deserting Nevrast, and building the city ofGondolin . The disappearance of so many of their brethren led many Elves to search for the "Hidden Kingdom" of Turgon.Turgon and his people remained isolated in Gondolin for many years, and he had a daughter,
Idril , who marriedTuor after the man was guided to the secret entrance by dreams from Ulmo. Tuor's coming had long been prophesied by Ulmo, who had instructed Turgon to leave a suit of armour in Nevrast for a future messenger, which turned out to be Tuor. Tuor's warning of doom was ultimately rejected by Turgon, who trusted still in the secrecy of his kingdom, and the vigilance of his allies, the Eagles, who prevented any spies of Morgoth from finding it.Turgon re-emerged with his host during the
Nírnaeth Arnoediad , and although the battle was still lost, his intervention prevented the rout from completely destroying the armies of the Noldor and their allies.Turgon died defending Gondolin when it was betrayed by his nephew
Maeglin and sacked by the hosts ofMorgoth .
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