Could Fingolfin have bested Sauron?

[Halbarad of the North]

Originally posted by Noahamir
My vote is on Fingolfin beating Sauron.

If Haun the Hound was able to defeat Sauron in the first age in single combat, I think that is quite possible for other non-maia to do it also.

I don't think the One Ring increased Sauron's individual power over what he had before forging it. It added to his powers only by controlling others, which wouldn't be helpful in a one-on-one combat situation like Fingolfin had with Morgoth.

I think Sauron killed Gil-Galad with a sneak attack but I will have to re-read the book to double check.

sauron killed gil-galad when they were fighting gil-galad was burned to death by sauron's body heat

[Aragorn_of_the_west]

But it says in the book that the ring gives power to its bearer
acording to his nature- for example, it gave gollum the power of
being sneaky so he could find secrets ext.
so to a miar being- it would give a lot of power. thats the reason that gandalf would not take it.
although- i would still bet on fingolfin because he had more
phisical powers- he was a fighter and sauron was a commander.

[Jonathan]

If Fingolfin had an army behind his back, I think he could defeat Saruon. The Last Alliance succeeded in doing that, and an army with Fingolfin as its leader could surely repeat the deeds of the Last Alliance.
However, if Fingolfin was to engage Sauron in single combat, I doubt that Fingolfin would win. The only way he could be victorious was if he managed to cut the Ring of Sauron's finger like Isildur did. And I think Sauron wouldn't let that happen again.

[Wayfarer]

Depends on the /nature/ of the conflict.

In hand to hand combat, the same way Fingolfin faced Morgoth? I believe Fingolfin could have conquered.

With songs of power, the way Sauron faced Finrod? Not a chance in the world.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Originally posted by Jonathan
The only way he could be victorious was if he managed to cut the Ring of Sauron's finger like Isildur did. And I think Sauron wouldn't let that happen again.

Isildur didn't cut the ring as portrayed in the movie. He did so AFTER Gil-Galad and Elendil threw him down (and died in the process).

[Wayfarer]

Yes. Elendil and Gil Galad had either defeated sauron or weakened him to the point that Isildur was able to do so.

I personally suspect that what happened was somewhat analagous to the death of the witch king- Elendil's sword was shattered with the final defeating blow. But that's just my dramatic interpretation.

[Falagar]

sauron killed gil-galad when they were fighting gil-galad was burned to death by sauron's body heat

I've heard others speak about this, but in which passage in what book (by Tolkien, of course) is it written?

Edit: Oh wait...is it in the Counsel of Elrond?

[Wayfarer]

That was taken from isildur's diary, in which the newly-crowned king says (of the ring of power):

it misseth, perhaps, the heat of its masters hand, which was black and yet burned like fire, and so was gil-galad destroyed.

[Falagar]

But it doesn't say that it was Gil-galad who killed Sauron?
(my brain is working slow to day, it's still early in the morning and I'm about to leave)

[Wayfarer]

In A Word? No.

[Lefty Scaevola]

Suaron Killed Gil Galad, it does not give more detail than that above indicating he was burned. We do not know if Gil Galad inflicted serious injury on Suaron. Elendil Mortally wound Suaron, and was crushed/burned/suficated to death when Suaron fell on him, as well as having been wounded (I think) in the figth. Isildur claim to have administed the coup-du-grace to Sauron.

[Balrog_of_Morgoth]

In my opinion, the way I personally picture the characters, it would be very unlikely that Fingolfin could defeat Sauron and the Ring in the Third Age in a face to face battle. Maiar vs. Elf seems akin to a grown warrior fighting a young boy. They were both about as powerful as they come for their given race, so there would be no particular advantage for Fingolfin in that respect.

But, if you go by the text, which I guess you have to, Fingolfin would stand a good chance of either defeating Sauron outright or at least maiming him to the point where he would flee, like he did fighting Huan.

Here is another way to look at it: Who would you bet on in a fight between Fingolfin in his uttermost rage and the tag team of Elendil and Gil-Galad? I would definitely NOT bet against Fingolfin the Mighty!

[Aragorn_of_the_west]

I also think that Gil-Galad and Elindil would be lesser off then Fingolfin in a combat vs Sauron because the power of the elf lords in the first age was obviosly more then the lords of the second age

i do think that Sauron was more powerful in the second age then in the first- so Fingolfin would almost surely defeat him in the first age- Tolkien also said that when Fingolfin in his rage seemed to have the power of the Valar in his eyes- meaning that he was very powerful- and evan if Sauron is Maia- Fingolfin would outmatch him with his almost Valar power.

[Inderjit Sanghera]

Fingolfin would outmatch him with his almost Valar power.

NO elf would ever have near Vala power. Even near Maia was a great achievment.