The Dark Tragedy Unveiled: Decoding the Kinslaying in The Lord of the Rings

Highlights

The Silmarillion resolves gaps in the lore of The Lord of the Rings, focusing on the War of the Jewels during the First Age.

Fëanor's obsessive longing for the Silmarils sparked a chain of misdeeds, such as the First Kinslaying in Alqualondë and a curse inflicted upon the Noldor.

Continuing this pattern, the Second Kinslaying unfolded when Fëanor's sons aggressively sought the Silmaril from Doriath, igniting a war that ultimately led to the downfall of the Elven realm. The Third Kinslaying, marked by its extreme cruelty, witnessed Maedhros launching an assault on the Havens of Sirion, inflicting catastrophic consequences.

Many of the inconsistencies and gaps in The Lord of the Rings lore are resolved in J.R.R. Tolkien's unpublished writings, The Silmarillion. This collection primarily focuses on events that occurred before and during the First Age, particularly the War of the Jewels. The conflict originated in the Years of the Trees, after Morgoth, also known as Melkor, destroyed the Two Trees of Valinor. The Silmarils, three gems created by the Ñoldorin Elf Fëanor, contained the last remaining light from the Trees. Morgoth killed Fëanor's father, Finwë, and stole the Silmarils to wear in his crown before fleeing to Middle-earth. Enraged, Fëanor and his seven sons swore to wage war against anyone who withheld the Silmarils from them, resulting in a series of heinous acts called the Kinslaying.

Fëanor's obsession with the Silmarils was akin to Gollum's fixation on the One Ring in The Lord of the Rings, both characters taking part in acts of kinslaying. The consequence of Fëanor's oath was the Doom of the Ñoldor, a curse from the Valar stating, "For blood you shall render blood, and you shall dwell in Death's shadow beyond Aman."

The First Kinslaying

The First Kinslaying, also referred to as the Kinslaying at Alqualondë, occurred when Fëanor's forces rushed towards the Elven city of Alqualondë in Aman. Their goal was to convince the Teleri to allow them to use their vessels and sail to Middle-earth with Morgoth. Fëanor feared any delay would cause the Ñoldor to reconsider their plans, so he tried to persuade the Teleri. However, Lord Olwë of Alqualondë explained that they couldn't offer any assistance as it went against the will of the Valar. Additionally, he refused to sell the Swanships, treasures of the Teleri, as they held great sentimental value. Despite Olwë's warning, Fëanor accused him of betraying their friendship. Incensed, the Ñoldor forcefully boarded the ships at the Haven of the Swans, despite the Teleri's resistance. The Teleri, though not warriors, fought back with their slender bows. The arrival of Fingon's forces, who mistakenly believed the Teleri attacked the Ñoldor under Valar's orders, further escalated the conflict. Consequently, many Teleri were killed, and their ships were captured.

The Second Kinslaying

This is when the Undying Lands in the west saw the Valar prohibiting the Ñoldor from setting foot there. In addition, the Sindar dwelling in Beleriand not only declined assistance to the Ñoldor in their battle against Morgoth but also barred their entry into their realm. Furthermore, King Thingol enforced the prohibition of the use of Quenya, their language, within his domain.

Art by Alan Lee

Although Fëanor met his demise at the hands of Gothmog, the Lord of Balrogs, his sons remained bound by their oath to recover the Silmarils. In FA 506, the Second Kinslaying, also known as the Second Sack of Doriath, unfolded. Dior, the descendant of Thingol, now ruled as the King of Doriath and possessed one of the Silmarils passed down from his parents, Beren and Lúthien. Upon hearing the tidings ("a Silmaril of Fëanor burns again in the woods of Doriath"), the Sons of Fëanor demanded the return of the jewel. However, Dior refused their claim and as a consequence, the Sons of Fëanor declared war on Doriath to wrest it from his grasp.

They arrived during the winter season and engaged in a fierce battle against Dior's army in the Thousand Caves. Despite emerging victorious, Fëanor's army suffered the loss of Celegorm, Curufin, and Caranthir, his sons. In addition, Dior and his wife Nimloth met their demise, while their sons Eluréd and Elurín were captured, their current whereabouts remaining a mystery to this day. Only Elwing, Dior's daughter, managed to escape to the Mouths of Sirion, carrying with her the precious Silmaril. As a result of these events, the Elven kingdom crumbled, never to be rebuilt again.

The Third Kinslaying

The Third Kinslaying was the cruelest of the slayings of Elf by Elf, and it took place in FA 538. Upon discovering that Elwing had escaped with the Silmarils, Maedhros, the eldest son of Fëanor, assembled an army to attack the Havens of Sirion. Although some of the Fëanorians initially refused to participate in the battle, they were ultimately executed by their lords for their rebellion.

Amrod and Amras, two of Fëanor's sons, perished in the battle, leaving only Maedhros and Maglor as the surviving brothers. The Havens were destroyed, resulting in the death of most of the survivors from Doriath. Elrond and Elros, the children of Eärendil and Elwing, were captured initially but were later adopted by Maglor. Maedhros and Maglor found themselves without any remaining followers, and were unable to retrieve the Silmarils since Elwing had cast herself into the sea with them (and was later rescued by Ulmo, one of the Aratar). Eönwë, the Chief of the Maiar, declared that the Sons of Fëanor had forfeited all ownership of the Silmarils due to their wicked actions.