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Jenny Dolfen - Maglor, son of Feanor.jpg
Biographical Information
TitlesLord of Maglor's Gap, High King of the Noldor (briefly)
BirthSometime during Years of the Trees, Tirion
DeathUnknown, if ever
ParentageFëanor + Nerdanel
Physical Description
Hair colorDark

Maglor (S, pron. [ˈmaɡlor]) was the second of the Sons of Fëanor, who inherited more of his mother Nerdanel's gentle spirit than any of his brothers. Maglor was famed as a poet and bard, but he took the Oath of Fëanor in Tirion and shared in the woes that came of it.



Maglor followed his father, Fëanor, into exile, and saw him perish at the hands of the Balrogs. With the rest of his brothers, he dwelt to the east of Beleriand, and Maglor settled between the Little Gelion and Greater Gelion, the two rivers that came together to form the long Gelion itself. That region—which came to be known as Maglor's Gap—lacked hills or mountains, and so was the place on Beleriand's border that was most open to attack from the north.

Maglor Casts a Silmaril into the Sea by Ted Nasmith

Maglor guarded the Gap for four and a half centuries, but was eventually overcome in the Dagor Bragollach. The dragon Glaurung invaded Maglor's land and ruined it, so that he was forced to flee to the fortress of his brother Maedhros on the hill of Himring to the west. Sixteen years later, he marched out with Maedhros to the great battle that should have seen the revenge of the Elves on Morgoth, but was brought to ruin by the treachery of Uldor the Accursed. Maglor slew Uldor himself, but the field was lost; that was the battle afterwards called the Nírnaeth Arnoediad, the "Battle of Unnumbered Tears".

All six (or seven) of Fëanor's remaining sons survived the Nirnaeth (Amras perished at Losgar in one version). In the years leading up to that battle, one of the three Silmarils had been recovered from Morgoth's Crown, and had come eventually to be held by Dior Eluchíl in Doriath. He would not surrender it to the brothers' claims, and so they assaulted Thingol's ancient kingdom. Celegorm, Caranthir and Curufin all fell in that futile battle. Now only three of Fëanor's sons survived: Maglor, the eldest son Maedhros, and the youngest son Amrod. After some years had passed, the three came to learn that a Silmaril was held by Elwing at the Mouths of Sirion, and though they restrained themselves for some time, their Oath compelled them to take back the jewel. So they assaulted their fellow Elves, and Elwing escaped with the Silmaril across the Sea to her husband Eärendil, and together they sailed into the West. That voyage would in time bring about the downfall of Morgoth.

After the destruction of Morgoth, the last two Silmarils were recovered from his Crown. By this time, only Maedhros and Maglor remained of Fëanor's sons, and Maglor came close to repenting the Oath. Wearily, he accompanied his brother in the theft of the Silmarils, but their evil deeds in recovering them meant that the holy Jewels burned their skin. Maedhros in despair leapt into a fiery fissure, and Maglor, the last of the Sons of Fëanor to survive, cast his Silmaril into the Sea. Legend says that he still wanders the shores of the World, singing laments for his despair and regret.


His father-name was Canafinwë, a name which in Quenya means "Strong-voiced [of] Finwë". It is derived from cáno, a noun which means "commander", added to the name of his grandfather. His mother-name was Makalaurë. In The Etymologies it is interpreted as "Gold-cleaver". A possible explanation for this translation is given in The Shibboleth of Feanor, where it is stated that the name might be a reference to his skill in harping, whose sound was golden.




See Also