High Elf Kings

[Belwen_of_nargothrond]

I was just curious. I heard that Gil-Galad ruled as the High King of the Noldor for 3500 years. I'm curious to know how long did Fingolfin rule? And Fingon? and Turgon? Does anyone know?

[Lefty Scaevola]

NoloFinwe/Fingolfin was high king of the the noldor for five Valian years (fifty years of the sun) in Aman and was High King of the Noldor in Beleriand for 448 years.
Fingon for 27 years
Turgon for 39 years

[Curufin]

NoloFinwe/Fingolfin was high king of the the noldor for five Valian years (fifty years of the sun) in Aman

This is quite debatable - can he be said to have been High King of the Noldor when Finwë was alive? I say no. He may have ruled in Finwë's stead, but in a sort of 'steward' position. If he were High King of the Noldor already, Maedhros would not have had to renounce his claim upon Fingon rescuing him. Also, until this point, Fëanor was never disinherited, so upon Finwë's death, the Kingship would have passed to him, as Eldest of the House of Finwë. The Valar never did anything to affect Fëanor's place in the succession - it says that in The Shibboleth of Fëanor:

nothing in the judgement of the Valar in any way impaired Fëanor's position and rights as his [Finwë's] eldest son.

Also, if Fingolfin had somehow become high king after Finwë's (voluntary) exile to Formenos, this passage would make no sense whatsoever:

Fingolfin prefixed the name Finwë to Nolofinwë before the Exiles reached Middle-earth. This was in pursuance of his claim to be the chieftain of all the Ñoldor after the death of Finwë, and so enraged Fëanor that it was no doubt one of the reasons for his treachery in abandoning Fingolfin and stealing away with all the ships.

(Also from The Shibboleth of Fëanor)

Personally, I would mark Fingolfin's kingship as beginning in Y.S. 5, after Maedhros abdicates to him, making Fëanor's line 'The Dispossessed'.

And there's also debate on whether a Valian year is 9, 10, or 144 years.

[Lefty Scaevola]

Originally Posted by Curufin

This is quite debatable - can he be said to have been High King of the Noldor when Finwë was alive? I say no. He may have ruled in Finwë's stead, but in a sort of 'steward' position.

or Viceroy, but whatever the title, he had the power.

And there's also debate on whether a Valian year is 9, 10, or 144 years.

Yep, but the only Annals of Aman we have that gives start and end dates for his rule, 1490 and 1495*, uses the 10 for 1 bit.

*note that I end his rule with the rebellion of the Noldor and the return of Feanor.

[Curufin]

He may have had the power, but I still say the actual kingship was in dispute until Maedhros abdicated.

[Lefty Scaevola]

It was your senior borther who said:
"A king is he that can hold his own, or else his title is vain. Thingol does but grant us lands where his power does not run."
Meaning the kingship is with the power, or at a minimum, that those without power, such as the exiles at Formenos, are not kings, save over Formenos.

[Curufin]

That could be interpreted that way, or they could just be ragging on Thingol.

[Belwen_of_nargothrond]

Originally Posted by Curufin

That could be interpreted that way, or they could just be ragging on Thingol.

Hilarious

[Lefty Scaevola]

How do you 'pwned' in Qenya?