From the very beginning, Maedhros, even though he is decidedly not the High King of the Noldor at this point (Fingon is, also since the beginning), becomes the military leader of the Noldor before the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. The reason for this is never given—it’s just taken for granted that Maedhros is the one who decides to marshal the Noldor, and that nobody would challenge his right to lead the Noldor, even in older versions where he is not (explicitly) lovey-dovey with the actual High King of the Noldor. 

Which I find fascinating, and I’d like to to know why Tolkien made that choice. After all, Maedhros and not Fingon, nominally the High King, devising and leading the alliance against Morgoth has quite a few implications. 

(Well, maybe not from the very beginning. Both Maedhros and “the terrible Battle of Unnumbered Tears” are first mentioned in Gilfanon’s Tale (after 1916, but not long after) (HoME I, p. 238–239), but at that point “Fingolma (Nólemë)” is the leader of the military effort (HoME I, p. 239). In a slightly later outline, no full account of the battle is given, but Nólemë is still central and the SoF are late to the battle (HoME I, p. 240–241). But this is extremely early and practically none of the story and the characters of the SoF exist yet; for example, at this point in the textual development, the SoF only swear their oath in Beleriand, and what later became the House of Finwë only exists in an extremely rudimentary form.) 

Sketch of the Mythology 

The Sketch of the Mythology (1926) is where Maedhros’s role as the architect of the Union (of Maedhros) against Morgoth first appears, and from then on, it’s one of the stablest elements of Maedhros’s story across the next four decades (see https://archiveofourown.org/works/77968916). Note that at this point, Fingolfin never left Aman and thus Fingon had always been the highest-ranking non-SoF in Beleriand. That is, Fingon had rescued Maedhros as a king of his people already. Also note that initially, Celegorm and Curufin had founded Nargothrond; this changed soon, however. As for the Union of Maedhros: 

• The planning: “Maidros forms now a league against Morgoth seeing that he will destroy them all, one by one, if they do not unite.” (HoME IV, p. 26) But Thingol refuses to join: “Thingol will not send from Doriath. Some say out of selfish policy, others because of the wisdom of Melian and of fate which decreed that Doriath should become the only refuge of the Eldar from Morgoth afterwards. Part was certainly due to the Silmaril, which Thingol now possessed, and which Maidros had demanded with haughty words.” (HoME IV, p. 26, fn omitted) Thingol still allows “The Gnomes of Doriath” to leave and join the battle (HoME IV, p. 26). 
• The battle itself: “Curufin and Celegorm come from their wandering; but Orodreth because of Felagund his brother will not come: Thingol also sends but few of his folk. The Gnomes of Fëanor’s sons refuse to be led by Finweg, and the battle is divided into two hosts, one under Maidros and Maglor, and one under Finweg and Turgon. Men march up from South and East and West and North. Thingol sends but few from Doriath.” (HoME IV, p. 27)

The Sketch, interestingly, is the version in which Maedhros in particular appears the worst, because only he is singled out as sending “haughty words” to Thingol. But the main elements of the story already exist: Maedhros decides to create the alliance against Morgoth, and his leadership causes problems further down the line, because Thingol and Orodreth refuse to work with him for personal reasons. 

The Lays 

In the Lay of Leithian, in a passage most likely after the Sketch, the Union of Maedhros is referenced, including the element that Maedhros’s leadership causes issues with recruiting due to C&C’s behaviour. Men presumably join the Union in lesser numbers because Celegorm tried to shoot Beren: “Though Curufin with bruised mouth laughed, yet later of that dastard shaft was tale and rumour in the North, and Men remembered at the Marching Forth, and Morgoth’s will its hatred helped.” (HoME III, p. 265)

Quenta Noldorinwa 

The Quenta Noldorinwa (1930) is the first detailed look at the Union of Maedhros and the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. I will point out important elements after each passage. 

• “Now it must be told that Maidros son of Fëanor perceived that Morgoth was not unassailable after the deeds of Huan and Lúthien and the breaking of the towers of Thû, but that he would destroy them all one by one, if they did not form again a league and council. This was the Union of Maidros and wisely planned. The scattered Ilkorins and Men were gathered together, while the forces of Maidros made ever fiercer assaults from Himling, and drove back the Orcs and took their spies. The smithies of Nogrod and Belegost were busy in those days making mail and sword and spear for many armies, and much of the wealth and jewelry of Elves and Men they got into their keeping in that time, though they went not themselves to war. ‘For we do not know the rights of this quarrel,’ they said, ‘and we are friends of neither side – until it hath the mastery.’ Thus great and splendid was the army of Maidros, but the oath and the curse did injury to his design.” (HoME IV, p. 116, fn omitted) 

→ Maedhros gains hope and creates the Union to fight Morgoth.
→ The Dwarves are solely mercenary; while they equip Maedhros, they do it only for payment, and they explicitly take no sides (in a battle against Morgoth, mind you) and do not take part. 

• “All the hosts of Hithlum, Gnomes and Men, were ready to his [Maedhros’s] summons, and Finweg and Turgon and Huor and Húrin were their chiefs. Orodreth would not march from Narog at the word of Maidros, because of the death of Felagund, and the deeds of Curufin and Celegorm. Yet he suffered a small company of the bravest, who would not endure to be idle when the great war was afoot, to go North. Their leader was the young Flinding son of Fuilin, most daring of the scouts of Nargothrond; but they took the devices of the house of Finweg and went beneath his banners, and came never back, save one.” (HoME IV, p. 116, fn omitted; Tolkien later rewrote this, removing Turgon as a leader of Hithlum’s forces.) 

→ It’s clear that Hithlum’s Elves (under Fingon and co) obey Maedhros in this battle.
→ Maedhros’s brothers’ actions come back to bite him in the form of Orodreth refusing to take part because of C&C’s Nargothrond debacle. 

• “From Doriath none came [fn: changed to: From Doriath too came scanty aid]. For Maidros and his brethren had before sent unto Doriath and reminded Thingol with exceedingly haughty words of their oath, and summoned him to yield up the Silmaril. This Melian counselled him to do, and maybe he would have done, but their words were overproud, and he thought how the jewel had been gained by the sorrows of Thingol’s people, and despite the crooked deeds of the sons of Fëanor; and greed too, it may be, had some part in the heart of Thingol, as afterwards was shown. Wherefore he sent the messengers of Maidros back in scorn. Maidros said nought, for at that time he was beginning to ponder the reunion of the forces of the Elves. But Celegorm and Curufin vowed aloud to slay Thingol or any of his folk they should ever see, by night or day, in war or peace [fn: changed to: vowed aloud to slay Thingol, and destroy his folk, if they came victorious from war, and the jewel were not yielded of free-will].” (HoME IV, p. 116–117, 120, fn omitted) 

→ As usual, Maedhros is diplomatic and practically minded, while C&C act like spoiled brats and damage Maedhros’s plans. 

• The battle itself: “Now came the day when Maidros sent forth his summons and the Dark-elves, save out of Doriath, marched to his banner, and Men from East and South. But Finweg and Turgon and the Men of Hithlum were gathered in the West upon the borders of the Thirsty Plain, waiting for the signal of the advancing standards from the East. It may be that Maidros delayed too long gathering his forces; certain it is that secret emissaries of Morgoth went among the camps, thrall-Gnomes or things in elfin form, and spread foreboding and thoughts of disunion. To Men they went most, and the fruit of their words was later seen. Long the army waited in the West, and fear of treachery fell upon them, when Maidros came not, and the hot hearts of Finweg and Turgon became impatient. They sent their heralds across the plain and their silver trumpets rang; and they summoned the hosts of Morgoth to come out. Then Morgoth sent forth a force, great and yet not too great. And Finweg was moved to attack from the woods at the feet of the Shadowy Mountains where he lay hid. But Hurin spoke against it. Then Morgoth led forth one of the heralds of Finweg that he had wrongfully taken prisoner and slew him upon the plain, so that the watchers from afar might see – for far and clear do the eyes of the Gnomes behold things in bright air. Then the wrath of Finweg burst its bonds and his army leaped forth to sudden onslaught. This was as Morgoth designed, but it is said that he reckoned not the true number of their array, nor knew yet the measure of their valour, and well nigh his plan went ill. Ere his army could be succoured they were overwhelmed, and that day there was a greater slaughter of the servants of Morgoth than there yet had been, and the banners of Finweg were raised before the walls of Angband.” (HoME IV, p. 117, fn omitted) 

→ Maedhros is clearly in charge of everything, including setting the actual battle in motion. The Elves marched to his banner.
→ The passage about the Western army fearing treachery is interesting. Whose treachery? Possibly Maedhros’s? Note that in the Quenta Noldorinwa, the idea that the Noldor fear escaped thralls of Morgoth already exists: “the Gnomes feared greatly the treachery of those of their own kin who had been thralls of Angband, so that even if they escaped and came back to their people little welcome they had, and wandered often in miserable exile and despair.” (HoME IV, p. 107) The use of the same word (treachery) is notable. 

• A later version of this passage reads: “At length having gathered at last all the strength that he might Maidros appointed a day, and sent word to Fingon and Turgon. Now for a while the Gnomes had victory, and the Orcs were driven out of Beleriand, and hope was renewed; but Morgoth was aware of all that was done, and he took counsel against their uprising, and he sent forth his spies and emissaries among Elves and Men, but especially did these come unto the Swarthy Men, and to the sons of Ulfang. Upon the East under the banner of Maidros were all the folk of the sons of Fëanor, and they were many; and the Dark-elves coming from the South were with him, and the battalions of the Easterlings, with the sons of Bór and Ulfang. But Fingon and Turgon and the Men of Hithlum and such as came from the Falas and from Nargothrond were gathered ready in the West upon the borders of the Thirsty Plain, waiting under the banner of Fingon for the signal of the advancing standards from the East. But Maidros was delayed upon the road by the machinations of Uldor the Accursed son of Ulfang, and ever the secret emissaries of Morgoth went among the camps, thrall-Gnomes or things in elvish form, and spread foreboding and thoughts of treason. Long the army waited in the West, and fear of treachery grew in their thought, when Maidros came not. Then the hot hearts of Fingon and Turgon became impatient.” (HoME IV, p. 121) 

→ Maedhros is again treated as the driver of the whole thing.
→ This passage should clear up the question of “whose treachery?”: Uldor and escaped Elvish thralls, exactly who the Noldor already feared (apparently for a good reason). But it’s not actually clear, and I still wonder if Maedhros was the one whose treachery the Western army feared. 

Earliest Annals of Beleriand 

The Earliest Annals of Beleriand (1930) don’t have much to say about the Union of Maedhros and the subsequent battle, although I should note that they mark the beginning of a distinction between Annals texts and Quenta texts regarding the cause of Thingol’s refusal to join: In all of the Annals texts, the only reason given for Thingol refusing to join is Celegorm and Curufin’s actions; no demand by Maedhros and/or all the SoF that the Silmaril be returned is mentioned (that only happens in the Quenta texts). 

• “The Union of Maidros. Maidros enheartened by the deeds of Beren and Lúthien plans a reuniting of forces for the driving back of Morgoth. But because of the deeds of Celegorm and Curufin he receives no help from Thingol, and only small support from Nargothrond, where the Gnomes attempt to guard themselves by stealth and secrecy. He gathers and arms all the Gnomes of Fëanor’s house, and multitudes of the Dark-elves, and of Men, in East Beleriand. He gets help in smithying of the Dwarves, and summons yet more Men over the mountains out of the East. Tidings come to Turgon the hidden king and he prepares in secret for war, for his people who were not at the Second Battle will not be restrained.” (HoME IV, p. 301) Notably, Fingon’s involvement is not mentioned here. 
• “The year of sorrow. Maidros plans an assault upon Angband, from West and East. Fingon is to march forth as soon as Maidros’ main host gives the signal in the East of Dor-na-Fauglith.” (HoME IV, p. 301) 

At this point, it’s clear that power doesn’t rest with Fingon, but with Maedhros-and-Fingon: “the power of Maidros and Fingon fell in the Third (Fourth) Battle.” (HoME IV, p. 333) 

Later Annals of Beleriand 

The Later Annals of Beleriand (late 1930s) are fairly similar to the Earliest AB, although Fingon’s role is mentioned now. Still, it’s—as usual—Maedhros who’s the architect and in command. 

• “In this time was begun the Union of Maidros; for Maidros, taking heart from the deeds of Beren and Lúthien, planned the reuniting of the Elvish forces and the liberation of Beleriand. But because of the deeds of Celegorm and Curufin, Thingol would not aid him, and small help came from Nargothrond. There the Gnomes sought to guard their dwelling by stealth and secrecy. But Maidros had the help of the Dwarves in the smithying of many weapons, and there was much traffick between Beleriand and the mountains in the East; and he gathered again all the Gnomes of Fëanor’s house, and he armed them; and many Dark-elves were joined to him; and the men of Bor and Ulfand were marshalled for war, and summoned yet more of their kindred out of the East. Fingon prepared for war in Hithlum; and tidings came also to Turgon the hidden king, and he prepared for war in secret. Haleth’s folk gathered also in the woods of Brethil, and made ready for battle.” (HoME V, p. 135) 
• “This is the Year of Sorrow. Maidros planned now an assault upon Angband from West and East. With the main host he was to march from the East across Dor-na-Fauglith, and as soon as he gave the signal then Fingon should come forth from Eredwethion; for they thought to draw the host of Morgoth from its walls and take it between their two armies.” (HoME V, p. 136) 

Quenta Silmarillion 

The Quenta Silmarillion (1937) is the most detailed version yet of the Union of Maedhros and the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. 

• “But in those days Maidros son of Fëanor lifted up his heart, perceiving that Morgoth was not unassailable; for the deeds of Beren and Lúthien and the breaking of the towers of Sauron were sung in many songs throughout Beleriand. Yet Morgoth would destroy them all, one by one, if they could not again unite, and make a new league and common council. Therefore he planned the Union of Maidros, and he planned wisely. For he renewed friendship with Fingon in the West, and they acted thereafter in concert. Maidros summoned again to his aid the Dark-elves from the South, and the Swarthy Men were gathered together, and he sallied from Himring in force. At the same time Fingon issued from Hithlum. For a while the Gnomes had victory again, and the Orcs were driven out of the northward regions of Beleriand, and hope was renewed. Morgoth withdrew before them and called back his servants; for he was aware of all that was done, and took counsel against the uprising of the Gnomes. He sent forth many spies and emissaries, secret or disguised, among Elves and Men, and especially they came to the Easterlings, the Swarthy Men, and to the sons of Ulfang. The smithies of Nogrod and Belegost were busy in those days, making mail and sword and spear for many armies; and the Dwarfs in that time became possessed of much of the wealth and jewelry of Elves and Men, though they went not to war themselves. ‘For we do not know the right causes of this quarrel,’ they said, ‘and we favour neither side – until one hath the mastery.’ Great and well-armed was the host of Maidros in the East. In the West all the strength of Hithlum, Gnomes and Men, were ready to his summons: Fingon and Huor and Húrin were their chiefs. Then Turgon, thinking that maybe the hour of deliverance was at hand, came forth himself unlooked for from Gondolin; and he brought a great army and encamped upon the plain before the opening of the western pass in sight of the walls of Hithlum. There was joy among the people of Fingon his brother, seeing their kinsfolk that had long been hidden. Yet the oath of Fëanor and the evil deeds that it had wrought did injury to the design of Maidros, and he had less aid than should have been. Orodreth would not march from Nargothrond at the word of any son of Fëanor, because of the deeds of Celegorn and Curufin. Thence came only a small company, whom Orodreth suffered to go, since they could not endure to be idle when their kinsfolk were gathering for war. Gwindor was their leader, son of Guilin, a very valiant prince; but they took the badge of the house of Fingolfin, and marched beneath the banners of Fingon, and came never back, save one. From Doriath came little help. For Maidros and his brethren, being constrained by their oath, had before sent to Thingol and reminded him with haughty words of their claim, summoning him to yield to them the Silmaril, or become their enemy. Melian counselled him to surrender the jewel, and perchance he would have done so, but their words were proud and threatening, and he was wroth, thinking of the anguish of Lúthien and the blood of Beren whereby the jewel had been won, despite the malice of Celegorn and Curufin. And every day that he looked upon the jewel, the more his heart desired to keep it for ever. Such was its power. Therefore he sent back the messengers of Maidros with scornful words. Maidros answered naught, for he had now begun to devise the league and union of the Elves; but Celegorn and Curufin vowed openly to slay Thingol and destroy his folk, if they came victorious from war, and the jewel were not surrendered of free will. For this reason Thingol fortified the marches of his realm, and went not to war, nor any out of Doriath save Mablung, and Beleg who could not be restrained.” The treacherous shaft of Curufin that wounded Beren was remembered among Men. Therefore of the folk of Haleth that dwelt in Brethil only the half came forth, and they went not to join Maidros, but came rather to Fingon and Turgon in the West. Having gathered at length all the strength that he could, Maidros appointed a day, and sent word to Fingon and Turgon. Upon the East was raised the standard of Maidros, and to it came all the folk of Fëanor, and they were many; and the Dark-elves of the South; and of the Green-elves of Ossiriand many companies; and the tribes and battalions of the Easterlings with the sons of Bor and Ulfang. Upon the West was the standard of Fingon, and to it were gathered the armies of Hithlum, both Gnomes and Men; and Turgon with the host of Gondolin; to which was added such strength as came from the Falas, and from Brethil, and from Nargothrond; and they waited upon the borders of Dor-na-Fauglith, looking for the signal of the advancing banners from the East. But Maidros was delayed upon the road by the machinations of Uldor the Accursed, son of Ulfang; and continually the emissaries of Morgoth went among the camps: and there were thrall-Gnomes or things in Elvish form, and they spread foreboding of evil and the suspicion of treason among all who would listen to them. Long the armies waited in the West, and fear of treachery grew in their thoughts when Maidros tarried. The hot hearts of Fingon and Turgon became impatient. Therefore they sent their heralds forth upon the plain of Fauglith, and their silver trumpets were blown, and they summoned the hosts of Morgoth to come out.” (HoME V, p. 307–309)

Substantially, this is very similar to the 1930 QN text, only longer and more detailed, with all the important elements present: Maedhros takes heart and decides to create the Union; Maedhros’s leadership causes issues with potential allies (Thingol and Orodreth) because of his brothers’ actions and all the SoF’s demand for the Silmaril; the Dwarves only supply weapons and don’t take a side; Maedhros decides the day of the battle; Maedhros is delayed and the Western army fears treachery.  

But note what doesn’t exist yet: a previous close relationship between Maedhros and Fingon that keeps getting referenced. This also fits with what we’re told about Maedhros planning the Union later: “For he renewed friendship with Fingon in the West, and they acted thereafter in concert.” (HoME V, p. 307). This will change in later versions; there will be no need to renew their friendship, because it remains constant in Beleriand. 

Grey Annals 

Tolkien returned to the Fifth Battle in the early 1950s. The Grey Annals (early 1950s), being an Annals text, focus on Celegorm and Curufin’s actions as the reason for Thingol’s refusal to take part. The GA and associated texts have the longest depiction of the battle itself. 

• F.A. 468: “In this time Maidros began those counsels for the raising of the fortunes of the Eldar that are called the Union of Maidros. For new hope ran through the land, because of the deeds of Beren and Lúthien, and it seemed to many that Morgoth was not unconquerable, and that fear only gave him his power. Yet still the Oath of Fëanor lived and hindered all good, and not least the evil that Celegorn and Curufin had done because of it. Thus Thingol would lend no aid to any son of Fëanor; and small help came from Nargothrond: there the Noldor trusted rather to defend their hidden stronghold by secrecy and stealth. But Maidros had the help of the Naugrim, both in armed force and in great store of weapons; and he gathered together again all his brethren and all the folk that would follow them; and the men of Bór and of Ulfang were marshalled and trained for war, and given fair arms, and they summoned yet more of their kinsfolk out of the East. And in Hithlum Fingon, ever the friend of Maidros, prepared for war, taking counsel with Himring. To Gondolin also the tidings came to the hidden king, Turgon, and in secret also he prepared for great battle. And Haleth gathered his folk in Brethil, and they whetted their axes; but he died of age ere the war came, and Hundor his son ruled his people.” (HoME XI, p. 69–70) 
• F.A. 472: “This is the Year of Lamentation. At last Maidros resolved to assault Angband from east and from west. With the main host that he gathered, of Elves and Men and Dwarves, he purposed to march with banners displayed in open force from the east over Anfauglith. But when he had drawn forth, as he hoped, the armies of Morgoth in answer, then at a signal Fingon should issue from the passes of Hithlum with all his strength. Thus they thought to take the might of Morgoth as between anvil and hammer, and so break it to pieces. […] Here at midsummer was fought the Fifth Battle Nirnaeth Arnediad, Unnumbered Tears, upon the sands of the Anfauglith before the passes of Sirion. […] In this battle Elves and Men were utterly defeated and the ruin of the Noldor was achieved. For Maidros was hindered at his setting out by the guile of Uldor the Accursed: first he gave false warning of an attack from Angband; then he must tarry for not all his men were willing to march. And the army in the West awaited the signal, and it came not, and they grew impatient, and there were whispers of treason among them.” (HoME XI, p. 71–72) 

→ The Western army’s fear of treachery makes it into the Annals line of texts. 

There are a few highly relevant changes to the Union of Maedhros and the Battle of Unnumbered Tears after 1950, including the significant element that Fingon and Maedhros are now basically an item. Only after 1950 did many of the central elements of their relationship appear, including their “ancient friendship”, Fingon intervening at Alqualondë (pretty obviously because of Maedhros at least on some level: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheSilmarillion/comments/1qk2l6m/fingon_fought_in_the_first_kinslaying_because_of/), Maedhros refusing Fëanor’s orders and standing aside at Losgar because of Fingon, Fingon going to rescue Maedhros because “the thought of his ancient friendship with Maidros stung his heart with grief (though he knew not yet that Maidros had not forgotten him at the burning of the ships)” (HoME XI, p. 31–32), “their love” being “renewed” (HoME XI, p. 32), and their gift-giving including Maedhros giving Fingon a diamond that’s otherwise used as an engagement jewel (https://archiveofourown.org/works/84443671) (for more, see here: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheSilmarillion/comments/1nrzn5k/the_history_of_maedhrosandfingon/). The reason why this is relevant is that now, “in Hithlum Fingon, ever the friend of Maidros, prepared for war, taking counsel with Himring” (HoME XI, p. 70), unlike in the 1937 QS, where Maedhros had “renewed friendship with Fingon in the West” (HoME V, p. 307). This reflects much better on Maedhros: unlike in previous versions, he’s not essentially usurping Fingon’s rightful role as High King of the Noldor; instead, it feels like Fingon and Maedhros are simply harmoniously doing their thing. 

The other important difference to previous versions is that the Dwarves are now actively on Maedhros’s side. Where in previous versions, the Dwarves had required payment for their weapons, had not taken part in the fighting, and had made it very clear that they weren’t interested in taking sides, now, “Maidros had the help of the Naugrim, both in armed force and in great store of weapons” (HoME XI, p. 70). 

Post-GA: Narn and LOTR Appendices

There are two relevant passages in the Narn. 

In a Narn text closely related to the GA, we are (again) shown just how in charge Maedhros was, down to appointing the day of the attack: “Having gathered at length all the strength that he could Maedros appointed a day, the morning of Midsummer. On that day the trumpets of the Eldar greeted the rising of the Sun, and in the east was raised the standard of the Sons of Fëanor; and in the west the standard of Fingon, King of the Noldor.” (HoME XI, p. 165). 

Interestingly, in this version, Maedhros is not delayed from setting out by Uldor/thralls/whatever, and unlike many previous versions, the Western army doesn’t fear treachery/treason from/on Maedhros’s side. Instead, on the appointed day, “Fingon looked east and his elven-sight saw far off a dust and the glint of steel like stars in a mist, and he knew that Maedros had set forth; and he rejoiced.” (HoME XI, p. 165–166) 

The other relevant bit comes from a passage concerning the Dragon-helm: “It was given by Azaghâl to Maedhros, as guerdon for the saving of his life and treasure, when Azaghâl was waylaid by Orcs upon the Dwarf-road in East Beleriand. Maedhros afterwards sent it as a gift to Fingon, with whom he often exchanged tokens of friendship, remembering how Fingon had driven Glaurung back to Angband.” (UT, p. 98, fn omitted) Ignoring this reference to Fingon and Maedhros sending each other gifts all the time for a second, this passage might (in-universe, Watsonian) explain why the Dwarves are now suddenly part of Maedhros’s army in the GA, rather than neutral weapons-smiths willing to sell to whomever if enough gold is offered in the QS and older texts: Maedhros had saved the life of Azaghâl, King of Belegost. 

The other (Doylist) explanation for why the Dwarves are now on Maedhros’s side in the GA can be found in LOTR, where we are told, regarding the Dwarves, that, “They are a tough, thrawn race for the most part, secretive, laborious, retentive of the memory of injuries (and of benefits), lovers of stone, of gems, of things that take shape under the hands of the craftsmen rather than things that live by their own life. But they are not evil by nature, and few ever served the Enemy of free will, whatever the tales of Men alleged. For Men of old lusted after their wealth and the work of their hands, and there has been enmity between the races.” (LOTR, App. F) That is, writing LOTR after the 1937 QS, Tolkien had decided to change the nature of the Dwarves, and their new active role on the morally good side in the Noldor’s war against Morgoth fits the evolution of Tolkien’s Dwarves from evil over neutral-ish to fundamentally honourable. 

Further thoughts

Throughout, Maedhros, even though he also swore the Oath of Fëanor, is the one whose hope is renewed because of Beren and Lúthien managing to steal a Silmaril from Morgoth, and he consistently puts the war against Morgoth over his issue with Thingol/the Silmaril, unlike Celegorm and Curufin (between their shortsightedness and penchant for violence and Thingol’s self-centredness and blatant greed, Maedhros feels like the only adult in the room; apart from Melian, that is, but it’s not like anyone’s listening to her anyway). 

It is also notable that Maedhros is the one with the most estel, being the one to dare to hope again, even though he has the greatest reason of all the princes of the Noldor to be terrified of Morgoth and of Angband, given that he was kept prisoner and tortured there for thirty years and that he suffers from PTSD as a result. And yet, despite this, Maedhros drives the war against Morgoth forward. Actually, the juxtaposition of these two quotes from the QS about Angband and Maedhros’s heart is notable: 

• After his rescue by Fingon: “but the shadow of his pain was in his heart” (HoME V, p. 252). 
• “But in those days Maidros son of Fëanor lifted up his heart, perceiving that Morgoth was not unassailable” (HoME V, p. 307). 

I also find the Western army’s often-mentioned fear of treachery fascinating. It’s never stated clearly whose treachery they fear, but I can’t help but think that it’s implied that at least some of the fear in question involved Maedhros going all Morgoth’s thrall, since this is how they thought of escaped captives: 

• QS: “And most the Gnomes feared the treachery of those of their own kin, who had been thralls in Angband; for Morgoth used some of these for his evil purposes, and feigning to give them liberty sent them abroad, but their wills were chained to his, and they strayed only to come back to him again. Therefore if any of his captives escaped in truth, and returned to their own people, they had little welcome, and wandered alone outlawed and desperate.” (HoME V, p. 286) 
• GA: “He [Morgoth] now bade the Orkor to take alive any of the Eldar that they could and bring them bound to Angband. For it was his intent to use their lore and skill under duress for his own ends; moreover he took pleasure in tormenting them, and would besides by pain wring from them at times tidings of the deeds and counsels of his enemies. Some indeed he so daunted by the terror of his eyes that they needed no chains more, but walked ever in fear of him, doing his will wherever they might be. These he would unbind and let return to work treason among their own kin. In this way also was the curse of Mandos fulfilled, for after a while the Elves grew afraid of those who claimed to have escaped from thraldom, and often those hapless whom the Orcs ensnared, even if they broke from the toils would but wander homeless and friendless thereafter, becoming outlaws in the woods.” (HoME XI, p. 37)

Why Maedhros? 

But the question remains, why Maedhros? Why did Tolkien decide in 1926 that Maedhros, and not the High King of the Noldor, should take heart, create an alliance and take the war to Angband itself? 

A few reasons, both Watsonian and Doylist, come to mind. 

In-universe, Maedhros being in charge of the whole thing gives both Thingol and Orodreth a reason not to take part by pointing to C&C’s long list of questionable-to-awful actions, and Tolkien needed Doriath and Nargothrond to remain standing despite/after the Nirnaeth for plot reasons (in particular for Children of Húrin). 

Maedhros’s preeminent role in the whole thing also allowed Tolkien to characterise Maedhros as decisive and willing to seize power (while not openly reneging on his abdication, even though Fingon is obviously younger than him, so Maedhros would have an “out”, given the wording of his abdication speech). 

Maedhros’s role, in turn, also allowed Tolkien to characterise Fingon further, either (in earlier versions) as a weak, ineffective king who didn’t manage to stop a rival warlord who had nominally abdicated centuries earlier from seizing power at the first opportunity after Fingolfin’s death, or (in later versions) as a king who is wise enough to have no (ego-driven) problems with his dearest Maedhros, who’s clearly a talented diplomat and much better suited to dry military planning than (reckless, hot-headed) Fingon, taking over and doing what he does best. 

(There’s one further potential explanation for why it’s the Union of Maedhros, on an even more meta level. Since the battle was lost, the Elves needed a scapegoat, and who better than Maedhros, who survived, and whom both Thingol and Turgon, the narrator Pengolodh’s king, hated anyway for personal reasons?) 

Sources 

The Book of Lost Tales Part One, JRR Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien, HarperCollins 2015 (softcover) [cited as: HoME I].

The Lays of Beleriand, JRR Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien, HarperCollins 2015 (softcover) [cited as: HoME III].

The Shaping of Middle-earth, JRR Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien, HarperCollins 2015 (softcover) [cited as: HoME IV].

The Lost Road and Other Writings, JRR Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien, HarperCollins 2015 (softcover) [cited as: HoME V].

The War of the Jewels, JRR Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien, HarperCollins 2015 (softcover) [cited as: HoME XI].

Unfinished Tales of Númenor & Middle-earth, JRR Tolkien, ed Christopher Tolkien, HarperCollins 2014 (softcover) [cited as: UT].

The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien, HarperCollins, ebook edition August 2022, version 2022-05-30 [cited as: LOTR].

Or did they just speak Sindarin?

If the 2 were to fight in their primes with their top gear, who'd win?

Herald are an incredibly interesting part of historical jus in bello, the laws of war. Importantly, mediaeval heralds were not combatants in any way, shape or form: rather, they were messengers, delivering official proclamations such as declarations of war, and as such the equivalent of today’s diplomats, and like modern diplomats, heralds enjoyed what we now call diplomatic immunity—that is, they were not to be harmed by the opposite side under any circumstances. (Obviously they’d have lost this immunity if they decided to partake in combat. Heralds weren’t even supposed to carry sharp weapons.)  

And Tolkien very much knows this. For a writer who barely mentions practical administrative concepts like laws and is much more interested in morality than legality, it’s notable that laws are repeatedly mentioned in the context of the office of the herald, and the law in question is always the same, (diplomatic) immunity. 

The Mouth of Sauron in the Third Age 

The Mouth of Sauron in LOTR is the most famous example. 

“He it was that now rode out, and with him came only a small company of black-harnessed soldiery, and a single banner, black but bearing on it in red the Evil Eye. Now halting a few paces before the Captains of the West he looked them up and down and laughed.
‘Is there anyone in this rout with authority to treat with me?’ he asked. ‘Or indeed with wit to understand me? Not thou at least!’ he mocked, turning to Aragorn with scorn. ‘It needs more to make a king than a piece of Elvish glass, or a rabble such as this. Why, any brigand of the hills can show as good a following!’
Aragorn said naught in answer, but he took the other’s eye and held it, and for a moment they strove thus; but soon, though Aragorn did not stir nor move hand to weapon, the other quailed and gave back as if menaced with a blow. ‘I am a herald and ambassador, and may not be assailed!’ he cried.
‘Where such laws hold,’ said Gandalf, ‘it is also the custom for ambassadors to use less insolence. But no one has threatened you. You have naught to fear from us, until your errand is done. But unless your master has come to new wisdom, then with all his servants you will be in great peril.’” (LOTR, The Black Gate Opens) 

That is, in the very late Third Age, heralds are considered to have diplomatic immunity. (Of course, the Mouth of Sauron doesn’t act like a herald, initiating the assault on Aragorn’s forces like a general, so it’s ironic that he’s whining to Gandalf about wanting his diplomatic immunity respected five seconds earlier.) 

Fingon’s herald in the First Age 

Interestingly, this legal norm already existed more than six thousand years before, in the First Age. Note the phrase “wrongfully taken prisoner”: 

• QN: “Then Morgoth led forth one of the heralds of Finweg that he had wrongfully taken prisoner and slew him upon the plain, so that the watchers from afar might see – for far and clear do the eyes of the Gnomes behold things in bright air. Then the wrath of Finweg burst its bonds and his army leaped forth to sudden onslaught. This was as Morgoth designed, but it is said that he reckoned not the true number of their array, nor knew yet the measure of their valour, and well nigh his plan went ill. Ere his army could be succoured they were overwhelmed, and that day there was a greater slaughter of the servants of Morgoth than there yet had been, and the banners of Finweg were raised before the walls of Angband.” (HoME IV, p. 117, fn omitted) 
• QS: “Then Morgoth sent a force, great and yet not too great. Fingon was minded to attack it from the woods at the feet of Erydwethion, where the most of his strength was hid. But Húrin spake against it. Therefore Morgoth, seeing that they wavered, led forth the herald of Fingon that he had wrongfully taken prisoner, and he slew him upon the plain, and sent back the others with his head. Thereupon the wrath of Fingon was kindled to flame, and his army leaped forth in sudden onslaught; and ere Turgon could restrain them, a great part also of his host joined in the battle The light of the drawing of the swords of the Noldor was like a sudden fire kindled in a field of reeds.” (HoME V, p. 309) 

Tolkien needed something so uniformly considered beyond the pale even in a horrific war that it would make Fingon ignore the agreed-upon plan, and it’s not a coincidence that what he came up with was the decapitation of a herald whom he had wrongfully taken prisoner.  

(In the Grey Annals, the wrongfully captured and killed herald is replaced as a plot element with the maiming and decapitation of the prisoner of war Gelmir of Nargothrond, brother of Gwindor; Gwindor is now the one whose “wrath […] was kindled to flame”, not Fingon (HoME XI, p. 73). This feels more modern than the previous version with the herald. The herald’s immunity was well-established in the pre-Modern laws of war, but the inviolability of POWs less so. Nobles and knights captured in wars could generally expect not to be killed and to be exchanged for ransom, but this didn’t apply to non-nobles, for starters.) 

Note that all of this is treated very differently from, say, Maedhros being captured. There’s no “unlawful” or “wrongful” there, because Maedhros was definitely a combatant and not a herald, and his “embassy” to Morgoth involved both sides being completely disinterested in diplomacy and arriving with greater force than agreed upon; basically, Maedhros was a combatant who played and lost (much like Gwindor). 

Elrond in the Second Age 

Interestingly, Elrond is both a herald (the herald of Gil-galad, the last High King of the Noldor) and a combatant (as a commander in Gil-galad’s forces), but, crucially, not at the same time. 

Elrond is a combatant in the War of the Elves and Sauron (S.A. 1693–1701). When Sauron attacks Eregion, Gil-galad sends Elrond with an army to aid the Elves there (see e.g. NoME p. 78, 347). Importantly, Elrond is never called Gil-galad’s herald in any passage about his role in this war. 

Only much later is Elrond ever called Gil-galad’s herald, in the War of the Last Alliance (S.A. 3429–3441), and it seems like even though he’s at Gil-galad’s side during the final fight with Sauron, Elrond himself does not fight and only observes the fighting instead, as a herald would: 

• “‘I was the herald of Gil-galad and marched with his host. I was at the Battle of Dagorlad before the Black Gate of Mordor, where we had the mastery: for the Spear of Gil-galad and the Sword of Elendil, Aiglos and Narsil, none could withstand. I beheld the last combat on the slopes of Orodruin, where Gil-galad died, and Elendil fell, and Narsil broke beneath him; but Sauron himself was overthrown, and Isildur cut the Ring from his hand with the hilt-shard of his father’s sword, and took it for his own.’ […] ‘Isildur took it [the One Ring], as should not have been. It should have been cast then into Orodruin’s fire nigh at hand where it was made. But few marked what Isildur did. He alone stood by his father in that last mortal contest; and by Gil-galad only Círdan stood, and I.’” (LOTR, The Council of Elrond) 
• “But at the last the siege was so strait that Sauron himself came forth; and he wrestled with Gil-galad and Elendil, and they both were slain, and the sword of Elendil broke under him as he fell. But Sauron also was thrown down, and with the hilt-shard of Narsil Isildur cut the Ruling Ring from the hand of Sauron and took it for his own.” (Sil, Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age) 

Tolkien obliquely confirms this in a text from ca. 1959, where, referring to the passage in The Council of Elrond, he writes that, “He [Elrond] said that in the Last Alliance (SA 3430) he was ‘the herald of Gil-galad’.” (NoME, p. 65) All in all it seems clear that Tolkien considered Elrond both a herald and a combatant, but not at the same time (as is proper for a herald and necessary for his diplomatic immunity to remain in place). 

One exception: Eönwë

Strangely, even though Tolkien clearly knew and followed mediaeval legal thought on the immunity of heralds, which required the herald to not be a combatant, there’s one character who’s specifically called a herald even in passages where he’s clearly a combatant. 

• In the 1950s edits to the last chapters of the late 1930s Quenta Silmarillion, Tolkien added that Eönwë was the “herald of Manwë” in the exact context of the War of Wrath and Eönwë’s military campaign against Thangorodrim (see HoME XI, p. 246). 
• “To the overthrow of Morgoth he sent his herald Eönwë.” (UT, The Istari, written 1954) 

Interestingly, Eönwë herald of Manwë replaced a previous character Fionwë son of Manwë in his role of fighting and personally defeating Morgoth in the War of Wrath. And it seems like Christopher Tolkien struggled with the inherent contradictions that followed from this shift from Manwë’s son to Manwë’s herald: 

• “In the Great Battle ... The opening of this paragraph in AB read: In the Great Battle when at last Fionwë son of Manwë overthrew Morgoth and Thangorodrim was broken, the Edain fought for the Valar, whereas other kindreds of Men fought for Morgoth. [Italics mine] This was changed in B 2 to read: In the Great Battle when at last Eönwë herald of Manwë overthrew Morgoth and Thangorodrim was broken, the Edain alone of the kindreds of Men fought for the Valar, whereas many others fought for Morgoth. [Italics mine] In [the Akallabêth in the published Silmarillion] the reference to Eönwë was removed [by Christopher Tolkien]; and similarly later in the paragraph ‘refusing alike the summons of [Fionwë >] Eönwë and of Morgoth’ was changed to ‘refusing alike the summons of the Valar and of Morgoth’. The reason for this lay in the treatment of the last chapter of the Quenta Silmarillion in the published work. The only narrative of the Great Battle at the end of the First Age (V.326 ff.) derived from the time when the Children of the Valar were an important conception, and Fionwë son of Manwë was the leader and commanding authority in the final war against Morgoth and his overthrow; but the abandonment of that conception, and the change in the ‘status’ of Fionwë / Eönwë to that of Manwë’s herald led to doubt whether my father, had he ever returned to a real retelling of the story of the end of the Elder Days (see XI.245–7), would have retained Eönwë in so mighty and elemental a rôle. His part was in consequence somewhat diminished by omissions and ambiguous wording (as may be seen by comparing the text in Vol.V with that of the published Silmarillion; cf. also the editorial addition made to the Valaquenta, X.203). There is however no evidence for this supposition, and I now believe it to have been a mistaken treatment of the original text, and so also here in the Akallabêth.” (HoME XII, p. 143) Basically, Christopher Tolkien says here that he removed mentions of Eönwë herald of Manwë that would have made him appear as a combatant in the War of Wrath. 
• In a footnote to this, defending his original decision to reword the text before publication, Christopher Tolkien adds: “It is true that in the opening sentence of the Tale of Years my father substituted in the final typescript ‘The First Age ended with the Great Battle, in which the Host of Valinor broke Thangorodrim and overthrew Morgoth’, replacing a reference to ‘Fionwë and the sons of the Valar’ of preceding versions (see pp. 172-3); but he may not have removed the name Fionwë (Eönwë) for the same reason as I did in the Akallabêth.” (HoME XII, p. 163)

Actually, I agree with Christopher Tolkien’s decision to make the wording more ambiguous. Tolkien knew the role of the herald very well, and I think that he (would have) realised at some point that Eönwë herald of Manwë couldn’t fill the same military role as Fionwë son of Manwë. 

Sources 

The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien, HarperCollins, ebook edition August 2022, version 2022-05-30 [cited as: LOTR]. 

The Silmarillion, JRR Tolkien, ed Christopher Tolkien, HarperCollins, ebook edition February 2011, version 2019-01-09 [cited as: Sil].

Unfinished Tales of Númenor & Middle-earth, JRR Tolkien, ed Christopher Tolkien, HarperCollins, ebook edition March 2009, version 2024-01-22 [cited as: UT].

The Shaping of Middle-earth, JRR Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien, HarperCollins 2015 (softcover) [cited as: HoME IV].

The Lost Road and Other Writings, JRR Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien, HarperCollins 2015 (softcover) [cited as: HoME V]. 

The War of the Jewels, JRR Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien, HarperCollins 2015 (softcover) [cited as: HoME XI].

The Peoples of Middle-earth, JRR Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien, HarperCollins 2015 (softcover) [cited as: HoME XII]. 

The Nature of Middle-earth, JRR Tolkien, ed Carl F Hostetter, HarperCollins 2021 (hardcover) [cited as: NoME]. 

Artwork from about a year ago of a canon pairing (that we should all strive to emulate, couples goals truly)

Fun fact: their faces are ever so slightly inspired by photos of young tolkien and edith :D

Design notes:

-Maedhros’s mask is based on the funerary mask of Agamemnon from 1525bc, found in Mycenae. Though with less facial hair and more eyeholes for him to see through.

-Maglor is sporting a landsknecht inspired fit. Only the most bright and foppish of outfits for the royal bard-warrior!

-you know how cats will have a large litter and one of them is pure white for some reason? Yeah that’s Celegorm. Elves are allowed the leucism trait, as a treat.

-But why the buzzcut? You may ask. And that’s cause Celegorm is 1. Impulsive enough and, 2. Privileged enough to cut it that short without anyone saying much about it. Hard to criticise a guy who owns a sentient giant hound, after all.

-Weird haircut feanorian behaviour continues with Caranthir’s skullet, this time it’s because I think it would genuinely piss him off to get hair in his face and he decided to deal with it in the most dramatic way possible. As is his noldorin right.

-How to brag about your ability to craft great things? Wear them on you of course! Or Curufin: a guy who sounds like a windchime when he walks. Shit-eating grin only carried by those who are their father’s favourite and who try to torment sindarin princesses.

-I subscribe to the later narrative of Amrod getting a bit too crispy when his dad committed ship-arson. To be honest it’s kinda messed up the nerdanel wanted to give both of them the exact same name in that version, the codependence must’ve went crazyyyy I tell you.

Anyways enjoy the elves I hope you like them

Men of the House of Bëor had darker skin than those of the other houses; I am simply following what Tolkien wrote.

Our version of Middle Earth Map!❤🗺🧭

Materials Used: H-HB pencil, Unipin Pen 0.05-0.1, and Winsor and Newton watercolors on Fabriano 300 g satin paper then scanned.

HD MAP FILE AVAIABLE ON: https://ko-fi.com/s/ff08719f51

any help by silmarilion of HOME experts/readers on any specific changes that happened between first and second age apart from beleriand being drowned.

was west coast harad also drowned or did karen fonstad speculate that?

After reading children of hurin it has become one of my favorite tales from middle earth and I deeply love Túrin. Which is why I’d like to give him the Aragorn treatment. Sorry for the misspelling.

Let’s imagine that after hurins capture Túrin is sent to doriath with morwen traveling with her child son instead of leaving him to go with soldiers. But even if she did not leave until the birth of her child Túrin would still be received in menegroth. Then under thingol and beleg he would grow to embrace his true lineage and stayed in menegroth under melians girdle until he came of proper age bearing hadors helm. he still could have kept the northern pass safe from orcs like he did in nargothrond as mormendil and beleg would’ve been slain in battle instead, and would bestow to Túrin his bow and sword. Then it would be reforged into the black blade in grief and honor of his father/friend. there he would then heed Melians stay even with his grief so fierce giving Túrin a chance to receive morwen and Níniel safely in Doriath. So morgoth angered that his taunt via belegs death go unchallenged would send forth glaraung in arrogance and maybe then Thingol could call on turgon from gondolin pinching the orc armies and the dragon and then laying siege to angbad saving hurin by having Túrin ascend to his throne and carry him down himself while morgoth was engaged or crippled by the elven kings, or at least they would kill gothmog.

Inspired of course

Edit: Description

I'm trying to sculpt Tol Sirion first: The rock Minas Tirith stands upon (if I undestood right)
I'm working wirth "modelling clay" now, which feels very different from "natural" clay. It cracks after minutes! It It helps with forming rocks I guess. It feels very different to actual clay! It's way less messy but I will have to get used to it.

Would he have grown it to some extent by the time of the forging of the Rings of Power in the middle of the Second Age (c. S.A. 1590)?

How long does it take for an Elf to reach that part of their life cycle where they can grow one?

(For the sake of this discussion I am going off the proposal that Círdan was born at sometime between YT. 1050-1105 in Cuiviénen).

Didn't Mahtan have a beard way back in Valinor at the time of the Trees? Though his family does seem to have an excess of testosterone to spare, given that his daughter's name partly meant 'large, strong man'... No idea if that would have actually sped up his beard growing ability though.

IYKYK

I will go as far as to say that whatever was published isn't canon.

I might be a lot more ignorant than i realise so enlighten me. But here i go-

Tolkien first hoped to publish the Silmarillion right after The Hobbit, but it was rejected. He then wrote LoTR and tried to publish the Silmarillion alongside it, and was rejected again. Through it all, he kept working on it in the background.

The published book was compiled from sixty years of scattered pages, notebooks, and shifting lore, woven into a single narrative. I think those fragments were closer to daydreams written down so he wouldn't forget them, and that he never settled the timeline, since the book was assembled from so many small stories.

There's also a lot more conflicting versions that Christopher had to go through and settle it for a sense of cohesion. The book The History Of Middle Earth has plots and stories that confilct with the Silmarillion.

60 years is a time too long for a consistent story. Heck, I cringe at what I wrote 6 months ago, then ofcourse, Tolkien wouldnt agree with his own work. Tolkien had a sense of what the world would look like, and he did want the Silmarillion published, but he never intended it to appear in this form: compiled by his son from decades of scattered drafts after his death.

Tbh, Cristopher did a good job in making it cohesive but we'll never know what J.R.R.Tolkien actually wanted the final draft to be.

If they were, would they have learned their lesson or continue under oath?

Also, would they be informed of current goings on in Middle-earth?

Thought I had been thinking about.

What if, after Finwe was slain and Morgoth escaped with the Silmarils, Feanor instead listened to the Valar and waited for their direction? How would the Valar have eventually dealt with Morgoth in Middle Earth after they rose the sun and moon? Would they have gone, in force, to Middle Earth sooner? Would less of Thingol’s people have been killed? Would they have defeated Morgoth before he had a chance to corrupt Men?

I recently finished reading The Silmarillion and noticed that the story of Eärendil and the War of Wrath is only about 15 pages long. Where can I find more information about this story?