Princedom can't buy me love

[Inderjit Sanghera]

Laws and Customs of the Eldar tells us:

The Eldar weeded for the most part in their youth and soon after their fiftieth year. Laws and Customs of the Eldar; HoME 10

Marriage, save for rare ill chances or strange fates, was the natural course for all the Eldar… Laws and Customs of the Eldar; HoME 10

So, barring one or two exceptions, Elves usually got married, but looking at the list of Finweans who actually got married, the list is staggeringly short, which makes me wonder, why did so few of the Finweans marry?

O.K, let’s start with the children of Finwe. Feanor, was married to Nerdanel, Fingolfin to Anaire and Finarfin to Earwen, Telerin princess. Of Finwe’s two daughters, Findis (Whose name was not Sindarinized, due to her not leaving for M-E)and Lalwende, no husband’s or children are mentioned. So, there are no huge love problems for the first generation Finweans, but it seems that the second generation Finweans were quite unlucky in love.

Lets look at the sons of Feanor. Out of all sevens sons, only three were ever married

Maedros (Maedhros) the eldest appears to have been unwedded, also the two youngest (twins, of whom one was by evil mischance burned with the ships)….Other’s who were wedded were Maelor (Maglor) and Cranthir (Caranthir). (Plus of course Curufin, father of Celebrimbor.) Of Dwarves and Men; HoME 12

Then if we look at the children of Fingolfin, only Turgon was married, to Elenwe, a Vanyarin lady, whilst Fingon, Argon and Aredhel were unmarried. ( Of course Aredhel was later forced into marriage by Eol. That marriage wasn’t of free consent.)

Note: The names given here are their Quenya names.

Findekano (Fingon) had no wife or child; neither had Arakano. (Argon) The Shibboleth of Feanor; HoME 12

Now, let’s move onto to house of Finarfin. They aren‘t as bad, with half of Finarfin’s children, Galadriel and Angrod being married, whilst the other two were unlucky in love, with Finrod loving Amarie, a Vanyarin woman and Aegnor loving Andreth, a Beorian wise woman. But still this conveys some kind of taint upon the house of Finarfin, as two of them couldn’t find love for some reason or another, though doubtless Finrod was re-united with Amarie after he was re-incarnated.

Or what about the children of Orodreth, son of Angrod Gil-galad and Finduilas? Gil-Galad, never got married in the three thousands years or so that he was king, and Finduilas’s first love, Gwindor, was captured, whilst though her and Turin loved each other, his fate and that big fat dragon Glaurung came between them.

So, why did so few of the Finweans marry? Maybe the shadow of the death of Miriel, which was said to be the begging in the marring of the Noldor/Aman, so maybe that effect it?

[lathspell]

I think the greatest distraction for the Noldor at that time not to marry, was that in that time the war against Morgoth had begun. The sons of Feänor were not that beloved at the time and in later times, many Elves were dead or returned to Aman.

[Turambar]

Were Mablung or Beleg married?

[Lalaith]

The Eldar weeded for the most part in their youth
Thank you Inderjit, that typo gave me quite a chuckle this late evening...
But in seriousness, I think that many of the Noldor may have left loved ones behind in Valinor which is why they did not marry. This was the case for at least one that is mentioned in the Silmarillion, I forget whom though...
Elves did not generally have children in times of upheaval and it may have been that the trauma that resulted from the Exile may have disrupted the normal functioning of Elf courtship as well.

[burrahobbit]

"Natural course" means "if Morgoth had not messed everything up."

[Inderjit Sanghera]

I think the greatest distraction for the Noldor at that time not to marry, was that in that time the war against Morgoth had begun. The sons of Feänor were not that beloved at the time and in later times, many Elves were dead or returned to Aman.

The Finweans were more than mature enough to marry in Valinor. What I am saying that them finding love in Valinor was unusual.

This was the case for at least one that is mentioned in the Silmarillion

It was Finrod and Amarie.

Were Mablung or Beleg married?

We don't know.

[ March 12, 2003: Message edited by: Inderjit Sanghera ]

[Lalaith]

Yes, you're right, they could have married in Valinor. Perhaps the turbulence of Feanor was setting things awry even then.

[burrahobbit]

The turbulence of MORGOTH.

[Inderjit Sanghera]

I think Burra is spot on. We can't blame Feanor for everything.

[Voralphion]

Or what about the children of Orodreth, son of Angrod Gil-galad and Finduilas?
In the Silmarillion it says that Orodreth was the brother of Finrod Felegund and hence the son of Finarfin and the son of Angrod.
It also says that Gil Galad was the son of Fingon which is why he became high king of the Noldor after Turgon. So Fingon must have been married as the Eldar generally didn't have illegitimate children.

[Maédhros]

In the Silmarillion it says that Orodreth was the brother of Finrod Felegund and hence the son of Finarfin and the son of Angrod.
It also says that Gil Galad was the son of Fingon which is why he became high king of the Noldor after Turgon. So Fingon must have been married as the Eldar generally didn't have illegitimate children.
Those are not the latter ideas of JRRT. Inder has pointed the correct ones already.

[Inderjit Sanghera]

In the Silmarillion it says that Orodreth was the brother of Finrod Felegund and hence the son of Finarfin and the son of Angrod.


My god, sir THAT is sick. smilies/biggrin.gif

The genealogies I gave stand, since they were Tolkiens last view on the subject.