Феанор (Feanor)

Раса	Эльф
Дата рождения	1169 Год Древ
Дата смерти	1497 Год Древ
Место жительства	Тирион, Форменос
Родители	Финвэ и Мириэль
Братья	2 сводных брата: Финголфин и Финарфин
Супруга	Нерданель
Дети	7 сыновей: Маэдрос, Маглор, Келегорм, Карантир, Куруфин, Амрод, Амрас
Цвет волос	чёрный
Эмблема	Сильмариль, окружённый восемью языками пламени

Биография

Феанор был величайшим кузнецом Эльфов. Он создал множество удивительных вещей, включая палантири, но его величайшим творением были Сильмарили - три камня, вобравшие в себя свет Двух Древ Валинора. Когда Сильмарили были украдены Морготом, Феанор и его сыновья поклялись вернуть их любой ценой. Клятва привела их к гибели.

Феанор был старшим сыном Финвэ, Короля Нолдор. Он родился в Бессмертных Землях в 1169 году Эпохи Древ. Его мать, Мириэль, потратила на рождение сына все свои силы. В 1170 она ушла в сады Лориэна, легла на землю и уснула. Её дух покинул тело и никогда больше не возвращался в него.

Мириэль назвала сына Феанаро, "Пламенный дух", потому что разглядела огонь внутри него. Позже это имя было адаптировано для Синдарина - Феанор.

Феанор быстро рос. В детстве он походил на мать, но уже в юности стал высоким, ясноглазыми и черноволосым Эльфом, похожим на отца. Он был непоколебим в своих убеждениях и настойчив при достижении своих целей. Феанор был очень умён и любил учиться. Он мастерски обращался и со словами и с материалами, из которых он создавал прекрасные творения.

В 1185 отец Феанора Финвэ женился второй раз. Его женой стала Индис из Ваньяр. У Финвэ и Индис были двое сыновей: Финголфин, родившийся в 1190, и Финарфин, родившийся в 1230. По некоторым источникам, у Феанора было также три сводных сестры: Финдис, Иримэ и Фаниэль.

Феанор не любил новую семью Финвэ, хотя и оставался его любимцем. Он ушёл из дома и некоторое время путешествовал по Аману. Порой он заходил так далеко на запад, что видел берега Внешнего Моря. Феанор часто посещал Аулэ, великого кузнеца и мастера из Валар.

В раннем возрасте Феанор женился на Нерданели, дочери Махтана, кузнеца-ученика Аулэ. Махтан многое рассказал Феанору про работу с камнями и металлами. У Нерданели была сильняя воля, но тихий характер. Некоторое время она уравновешивала пламенный дух Феанора. У Феанора и Нерданели было семь сыновей, больше, чем когда-либо у кого-нибудь из Эльфов. Это были Маэдрос, Маглор, Келегорм, Карантир, Куруфин и близнецы Амрод и Амрас.

Начиная примерно с 1250, Феанор создаёт множество изобретений. Он улучшает систему письма, созданную Румилем, и эти изменения - названные также Тенгваром Феанора - широко распространились среди Эльфов и прочих народов.

Феанор создавал камни, которые были ярче, чем встречающиеся в природе. Его первые творения представляли собой белые камни, сияющие синим и серебряным пламенем в свете звёзд. Похожими свойствами обладали лампы Феанора, которые светились чистым синим светом и были устойчивы к воздействию ветра и воды.

Среди самых важных творений Феанора были палантири - нерушимые кристальные сферы, которые использовались для связи на больших расстояниях. Феанор сделал множество Видящих Камней. Главный из них хранился в Башне Аваллонэ на Тол Эрессеа. Во Второй Эпохе семь палантиров были отданы Верным Нуменора, которые доставили их в Средиземье и распределили по королевствам Гондор и Арнор.

В 1400 Валар вернули Мелькора из трёхсотлетнего заточения. Они пленили Мелькора после Битвы Сил, чтобы защитить пробудившихся Эльфов. Из-за этого Мелькор ненавидел Эльфов, но после освобождения сделал вид, что исправился. Он часто делился своими необъятными знаниями с Эльфами, и многие из Нолдор принимали его советы. Но Феанор никогда не принимал помощи о Мелькора и ненавидел его.

В 1449 Феанора посетили мысли о Сильмарилях. Он хотел сохранить свет Двух Древ Валинора в рукотворных камнях. Феанор даже попросил пряд волос Галадриэли, но она отказала, потому что увидела тьму в его сердце. Эти два Эльфа были величайшими из Нолдор, но никогда не любили друг друга.

Чтобы создать камни, Феанор изобрёл вещество силиму, которая не могла быть повреждена или сломана какой-либо силой Арды. В камнях он заключил серебряный свет Тельпериона и золотое сияние Лаурелин. Кроме того, камни светились подобно звёздам собственным внутренним светом, а внешний впитывали в себя и возвращали в бо́льших количествах. Феанор завершил работу над Сильмарилями в 1450. Эльфы и Валар были изумлены, когда он явил своё творение. Варда благословила Сильмарили, так что ни ни одна смертная, нечистая или злая плоть не могла коснуться их не быть обожжённой. Бо́льшую часть времени Феанор держал Сильмарили запертыми в своём доме в Тирионе, но во время празднований они сияли на его челе.

Melkor coveted the Silmarils, and he plotted to steal them and to destroy Feanor. He sowed dissension among the Elves so subtly that they did not realize he was the source. He spread false rumors that the Valar had prevented the Elves from establishing realms in Middle-earth so that the new race of Men could rise to power. Feanor in particular began to yearn for freedom and wide lands of his own. Melkor then insinuated that Fingolfin was planning to usurp Feanor's place as Finwe's heir, while Fingolfin was led to believe that Feanor wanted to drive him out of Tirion. Feanor began to make weapons in a secret forge and he spoke openly of rebellion against the Valar.

At a council convened by Finwe, Fingolfin urged his father to restrain Feanor. Feanor overheard him and drew his sword on Fingolfin. When Fingolfin tried to walk away, Feanor followed him and warned him against trying to take his rightful place, but again Fingolfin did not respond. In 1490, the Valar summoned Feanor to answer for his actions. As Feanor stood before Mandos in the Ring of Doom, the lies of Melkor were revealed. Feanor was banished from Tirion for twelve years. Fingolfin forgave his brother but Feanor did not acknowledge him.

Feanor and his seven sons relocated to northern Valinor and built the stronghold of Formenos where they kept the Silmarils and other treasures. Nerdanel did not go with her husband, choosing to stay with Indis, but Finwe accompanied his eldest son into exile. Fingolfin was left behind to rule the Noldor, and thus Feanor's groundless suspicions became reality through his own doing.

Melkor came to Formenos in 1492 in hopes of luring Feanor away from Valinor with him. Feanor hesitated, but when Melkor questioned the safety of the Silmarils, Feanor became angry and slammed the door in his face. Finwe warned the Valar that Melkor had come, but they could not find where he had gone.

In 1495, Manwe commanded Feanor to attend a harvest festival on the summit of Taniquetil. Feanor complied though he did not wear his fine raiment and he left the Silmarils in Formenos. Finwe also stayed behind, saying he was not the leader of his people for as long as Feanor's exile lasted. Fingolfin again offered forgiveness to Feanor and this time Feanor shook his hand. Fingolfin promised that he would follow Feanor's lead and Feanor accepted, though neither realized what this would entail.

While the Elves and the Valar were feasting, Melkor and Ungoliant—an evil being in spider form—destroyed the Two Trees. Their light was quenched, and darkness fell upon Valinor. Yavanna said she could restore the Trees by using the remnant of the light that was contained in the Silmarils, but Feanor likened the Valar to thieves and refused to destroy his creations.

But then messengers came from Formenos with the terrible news that Melkor had slain Finwe and stolen the Silmarils. Feanor was deeply grieved for his beloved father and he was enraged at Melkor, whom he named Morgoth, the Black Foe of the World. Morgoth fled to Middle-earth with the Silmarils and rebuilt Angband.

Feanor defied his ban and returned to Tirion. He gathered the Noldor and claimed the kingship of his late father. Feanor gave a stirring speech to persuade his people to follow him to Middle-earth. He enflamed their hatred of Morgoth, but he also blamed the Valar for failing to stop one of their own kind. He urged them to return to the land of their awakening and claim it for their own before the race of Men came - even though this was only a lie invented by Morgoth.

Feanor then swore an Oath to reclaim the Silmarils at any cost, and his sons followed suit. Fingolfin opposed his brother at first, but he had promised to follow Feanor's lead and most of his people wanted to go, so he reluctantly agreed. Fingolfin's people did not accept Feanor as their leader, so the Noldor divided into two hosts: the first was led by Feanor and the second, larger host was Fingolfin's. As the Noldor left Tirion, a messenger came from Manwe exhorting them to remain, though Feanor himself was exiled because of his Oath. But Feanor was defiant and he urged his followers onward.

Realizing that they needed to cross the Sea to Middle-earth, Feanor proceeded to Alqualonde where he hoped to persuade the Teleri to join him and share their ships. But their leader Olwe refused to defy the Valar or to part with any ships, which were as dear to the Teleri as the Silmarils were to Feanor. Feanor became angry because the Noldor had helped the Teleri build their haven at Alqualonde. He tried to take the ships by force, but the Teleri resisted, resulting in the First Kinslaying of Elves against Elves. The vanguard of Fingolfin's host arrived and some were caught up in the battle even though they did not know the cause. The Noldor eventually defeated the Teleri, who were lightly armed, and stole their ships.

The seas rose because of the tears shed by Uinen—a Maia in the service of Ulmo, Lord of Waters—and many of the ships sank and those aboard drowned. There were not enough ships left to carry all the Noldor, so some had to march along the shore as they made their way north. As they reached the northern wastes of Araman in 1496, Mandos appeared before them and warned them that if they continued they would be exiled from the Undying Lands and would face suffering and betrayal.

"Tears unnumbered ye shall shed; and the Valar will fence Valinor against you, and shut you out, so that not even the echo of your lamentation shall pass over the mountains. On the House of Fëanor the wrath of the Valar lieth from the West unto the uttermost East, and upon all that will follow them it shall be laid also. Their Oath shall drive them, and yet betray them, and ever snatch away the very treasures that they have sworn to pursue. To evil end shall all things turn that they begin well; and by treason of kin unto kin, and the fear of treason, shall this come to pass. The Dispossessed shall they be for ever. 

"Ye have spilled the blood of your kindred unrighteously and have stained the land of Aman. For blood ye shall render blood, and beyond Aman ye shall dwell in Death's shadow. For though Eru appointed to you to die not in Eä, and no sickness may assail you, yet slain ye may be, and slain ye shall be: by weapon and by torment and by grief; and your houseless spirits shall come then to Mandos. There long shall ye abide and yearn for your bodies, and find little pity though all whom ye have slain should entreat for you. And those that endure in Middle-earth and come not to Mandos shall grow weary of the world as with a great burden, and shall wane, and become as shadows of regret before the younger race that cometh after. The Valar have spoken." The Silmarillion: "Of the Flight of the Noldor," p. 88

Feanor refused to give in, saying: "We have sworn, and not lightly. This oath we will keep. We are threatened with many evils, and treason not least; but one thing is not said: that we shall suffer from cowardice, from cravens or the fear of cravens. Therefore I say that we will go on, and this doom I add: the deeds that we shall do shall be the matter of song until the last days of Arda." (Sil., p. 88)

Feanor's brother Finarfin and many of his people turned back, though his children did not. Those who returned were pardoned, and Finarfin became the leader of the Noldor who remained in the Undying Lands. Fingolfin felt constrained by his promise to follow Feanor, and some of his people were afraid to face the Valar because they had taken part in the Kinslaying. All of the Noldor who continued onward fell under the Doom of Mandos even if they were innocent.

In 1497, they reached the narrow strait between the Undying Lands and Middle-earth known as the Grinding Ice because it was filled with moving icebergs. Crossing the ice itself was considered impossible, but there were not enough ships to carry everyone at once and no one wanted to wait for fear of treachery. Some of Fingolfin's followers began to curse Feanor for leading them astray. Feanor decided to abandon those he considered disloyal, and he and his people secretly boarded the ships and sailed away, leaving Fingolfin and the Second Host behind. 

Once they reached Losgar on the Firth of Drengist in Middle-earth, Feanor's son Maedhros wanted to send the ships back for the others, but Feanor refused and had the ships burned instead. The flames were seen by Fingolfin, who realized he was betrayed and decided to lead his people across the Grinding Ice. The spies of Morgoth also became aware of the arrival of the Noldor.

Feanor and his followers journeyed inland and began to set up camp on the shores of Lake Mithrim. They were taken by surprise by Morgoth's forces but despite the fact that they were outnumbered and unprepared, the Noldor defeated their enemies in the Battle-under-Stars. Consumed with wrath, Feanor pursued the retreating Orcs to Angband with the intention of confronting Morgoth. But he became separated from his army on Dor Daedeloth and he was surrounded by Balrogs. After a long struggle, Feanor was struck down with a mortal blow by Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs.

The Balrogs retreated to Angband as Feanor's sons came too late to his aid and carried their father back toward Mithrim. As they climbed the Ered Wethrin near Eithel Sirion, Feanor told them to stop. With his last words, he cursed Morgoth and made his sons promise to uphold their Oath and to avenge him. When he died, his fiery spirit consumed his body so there was nothing left to bury. His spirit went to the Halls of Mandos, where Elves awaited judgment in order to be restored to life if they wished. But because of Feanor's deeds, this option was withheld from him and he remained in the Halls of Waiting. (HoME XII, p. 380, 389 note 8)

The war between the Elves and Morgoth continued throughout the First Age. Feanor's sons kept their promise to pursue the Silmarils, even to the point where they attacked their kin again in the Second and Third Kinslaying. Caranthir, Curufin, Celegorm, Amrod and Amras were all killed during these conflicts. After the War of Wrath—in which Morgoth was defeated by the Host of the Valar—Maedhros and Maglor briefly gained possession of a Silmaril each, but they were so tormented by the pain they caused that Maedhros threw himself into a chasm with one Silmaril, while Maglor cast the other Silmaril into the Sea. The third Silmaril had been set in the heavens as the Star of Earendil. 

According to the Second Prophecy of Mandos (HoME V, p. 333), after the Last Battle at the end of this world, the three Silmarils will be recovered from the air, earth and sea, and Feanor will give them to Yavanna who will use them to restore the Two Trees.

Important Dates:

Note: There is no definitive chronology of the Years of the Trees or the First Age. These dates are based on "The Annals of Aman" in The History of Middle-earth, vol. X, Morgoth's Ring and "The Grey Annals" in The History of Middle-earth, vol. XI, The War of the Jewels.

One year during the Years of the Trees is equivalent to 9.582 solar years.

Years of the Trees:

1169 Birth of Feanor.

1170 Feanor's mother Miriel passes away.

1185 Finwe marries his second wife Indis.

1190 Birth of Feanor's half-brother Fingolfin.

1230 Birth of Feanor's half-brother Finarfin.

1250 Starting around this time, Feanor makes a number of significant inventions including the Tengwar of Feanor, the Feanorian lamps, and the palantiri.

1400 Morgoth is released from captivity.

1449 Feanor begins preliminary work on the Silmarils.

1450 Feanor completes the Silmarils.

1490 Feanor is expelled from Tirion after drawing a sword on Fingolfin. He builds the stronghold of Formenos in the north. Finwe follows Feanor into exile. Fingolfin rules the Noldor in his absence.

1492 Melkor comes to Formenos, but Feanor sends him away.

1495 Morgoth and Ungoliant destroy the Two Tress of Valinor. Morgoth kills Finwe and steals the Silmarils and takes them to Middle-earth. Feanor swears an Oath to reclaim the Silmarils and he leads the Noldor in pursuit of Morgoth. Feanor's followers attack the Teleri in the Kinslaying at Alqualonde and take their ships.

1496 Mandos tells the Noldor that they must turn back or face exile. Finarfin complies, but Feanor and his sons and many others continue onward and fall under the Doom of Mandos.

1497 Feanor abandons Fingolfin's people and sails to Middle-earth. He burns the ships despite the objections of Maedhros. Fingolfin and his followers continue north on foot to undertake the crossing of the Grinding Ice.

Feanor and his followers enter Hithlum and settle on the shores of Lake Mithrim. Morgoth sends Orcs over the Ered Wethrin but the Noldor defeat them in the Battle-under-Stars. Feanor drives forward to Angband and is killed by Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs.

Names & Titles:

Fëanor: The name Fëanor is a hybrid Sindarin form of the Quenya Fëanáro, meaning "spirit of fire", from fëa meaning "spirit" and nár meaning "flame" with the masculine ending -o. The name was given to him by his mother, Miriel. The actual Sindarin form is Faenor. The Silmarillion: "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entries for fea and nar The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Shibboleth of Feanor," p. 343

Curufinwë: The name Curufinwë combines the Quenya word curu meaning "skill" with the name of his father, Finwë. Also spelled Kurufinwë. He was originally named simply Finwë or Finwion ("son of Finwë") after his father, and the element curu was added after his skills had developed. Also called Kurufinwë Fayanaro. The Silmarillion: "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entry for curu The History of Middle-earth, vol. XI, Morgoth's Ring: "Laws and Customs among the Eldar," p. 217, 230 note 20 The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Shibboleth of Feanor," p. 343

High King of the Noldor: Feanor was briefly High King of the Noldor from his father's death in 1495 to his own death in 1497.

Minyon First-begotten:

Feanor was called Minyon First-begotten because he was the first-born of the second generation of Elves, according to HoME XI, p. 87, although this note was subsequently crossed out. The word minyon means "first-begotten" in Quenya from minya meaning "first" and onta meaning "beget, create."

The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entries for MINI and ONO

The History of Middle-earth, vol. XI, Morgoth's Ring: "The Annals of Aman," p. 87 note 3

Genealogy:

Family tree of Feanor:

Sources:

The Silmarillion: "Of Eldamar," p. 60, 62; "Of Feanor," passim; "Of the Silmarils," passim; "Of the Darkening of Valinor," passim; "Of the Flight of the Noldor," passim; "Of the Sun and the Moon," p. 98; "Of the Return of the Noldor," p. 106-9; "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entries for curu, fea and nar

The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "Quenta Silmarillion," p. 333; "The Etymologies," entries for MINI and ONO

The History of Middle-earth, vol. X, Morgoth's Ring: "The Annals of Aman," p. 87 note 3, 91, 92-101, 101 note 1, 102-3, 106-8, 110-20, 129; "The Later Quenta Silmarillion (I)," p. 177, 179, 185-97; "The Earliest Version of the Story of Finwe and Miriel," p. 205-7; "Laws and Customs among the Eldar," p. 210, 217, 230 note 20; "Of the Severance of Marriage," p. 236, 240-41, 247-48, 253 note 17; "Later Versions of the Story of Finwe and Miriel," p. 254-63, 267-69; "Of Feanor and the Unchaining of Melkor," p. 271-73; "Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor," p. 273-82; "Of the Darkening of Valinor," p. 287; "Of the Rape of the Silmarils," p. 293-96

The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Shibboleth of Feanor," passim; "Last Writings," p. 380, 389 note 8

Unfinished Tales: "Of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin," p. 22, 51 note 2; "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn," p. 230-32

The Two Towers: "The Palantir," p. 203

Appendix E of The Lord of the Rings: "Writing and Spelling," p. 395-401

J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull, p. 195