Akhtene,
I disagree w/ your statement that they [ the kings of the elven clans] were no one special.
form the ch. Of the Coming of the Elves [silm 77]
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Thus it was that when Nahar neighed and orome indeed came among them, some of the Quendi, fled and hid themselves and were lost.But those who had great courage and stayed perceived swiftly that the great rider was no shape out of darkness; for the light of Aman was in his face and all of the noblest of Elves were drawn towards it
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I have no doubt that it was from among these first 'courageous' elves that the later emmisarries were sent.
The chapter 'of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalie' and 'of the Silmarils' also go into detail about the qualities of the House of Finwe that made them natural leadrers of their people and in some cases of entire feilds of a craft [Feanor].
HoME 12 also contains the 'Shibboleth of Feanor' that also shows the exalted nature of the House of Finwe. Galadriel in particular in JRRT's laterwritings [12 and UT] is singled out as along w/ Feanor 'being the greatest of all of the Noldor'.
I do agree that the high-kingship of the Eldar/Noldor was bordering on nominal.[ Although Elwe's was far more potent than others]. They seemingly had the opwer to summon councils and were also probably arbitrators of disputes. The seemmed however to need something of a consensus to lead.
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In terms of them the rulers of the Elf houses being ordinary joe's :
Reflect on this Elwe was of such a stature that he won the hand of a Maia.
Finwe, was of such braveness that he attempted to hold the door of formenos against Melkor.
And his son Fingolfin certainly made a good account of himself against Morgoth in single combat.
Finrod's nobility and character are among the highest in the first age as shown both in his dealings w/ Beren and Andreth.
These princes and princes and Kings of the Noldor were the cream of the [Noldorin] crop. They were not w/out character flaws - obviously - but in terms of shear potential, perhaps we could call it genetic pre-disposition, they were both the natural and lineal leaders of the Noldor.
[ September 10, 2002: Message edited by: lindil ]