Editing Noldor (section)

=== Early history ===

[[File:Elvish_Migrations_and_Kindreds.svg|thumb|upright=2.5|[[Arda (Middle-earth)|Arda]] in the [[First Age]]. The Elves awaken at Cuiviénen, on the Sea of [[Helcar]] (right) in [[Middle-earth]], and migrate westwards towards [[Valinor]] in Aman, some not arriving there. [[Fëanor]]'s people of the Noldor, return to [[Beleriand]] (top) in stolen [[Falmari]] ships, leaving an angry [[Fingolfin]] to return over the Grinding Ice. Locations are diagrammatic.]]

''[[The Silmarillion]]'' tells the history of the Noldor. The Elves are placed, asleep, in Cuiviénen on [[Middle-earth]] by the creator, [[Ilúvatar]]. According to Elven-lore, the Noldor as a clan is founded by Tata, the second Elf to awaken, his spouse Tatië and their 54 companions. The fate of Tata and Tatië is not recorded; it is Finwë who leads the Noldor to [[Valinor]], where he becomes their King, and their chief dwelling-place is the city of Tirion upon Túna. In Valinor "great became their knowledge and their skill; yet even greater was their thirst for more knowledge, and in many things they soon surpassed their teachers. They were changeful in speech, for they had great love of words, and sought ever to find names more fit for all things they knew or imagined."<ref name="Eldamar" group=T/>

The Noldor draw the ire of the rogue Vala [[Melkor]], who envies their prosperity and, most of all, the Silmarils crafted by Fëanor. So he often goes among them, offering advice, and the Noldor listen, being eager for knowledge.<ref name="Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977}}, ch. 6 "Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor"</ref><ref name="Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977}}, ch. 7 "Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor"</ref> But Melkor sows lies, and in the end the peace in Tirion is poisoned. Fëanor, having assaulted his half-brother [[Fingolfin]] and thus broken the laws of the Valar, is banished to his fortress Formenos, and with him goes Finwë his father. Fingolfin remains as the ruler of the Noldor of Tirion.<ref name="Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor" group=T/>

With the aid of the spider spirit [[Ungoliant]], Melkor destroys the [[Two Trees of Valinor]],<ref name="Darkening of Valinor" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977}}, ch. 8 "Of the Darkening of Valinor"</ref> slays Finwë, steals the Silmarils and departs from [[Aman (Middle-earth)|Aman]]. Driven by vengeance, Fëanor rebels against the Valar and rouses the Noldor to leave Valinor, follows Melkor to [[Middle-earth]] and wages war against him for the recovery of the Silmarils. Though the greater part of the Noldor still hold Fingolfin as the rightful leader, they follow Fëanor out of kinship and to avenge Finwë. Fëanor and his sons swear an [[Oath of Fëanor|oath]] of vengeance against Melkor (whom Fëanor renames Morgoth) or anyone who comes into possession of a Silmaril.<ref name="Flight of the Noldor" group=T/><ref group=T name="Morgoth's Ring">{{harvnb|Tolkien|1993}}, pp. 194, 294</ref>

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