Posted: May 11, 2000 at 14:59:23: by Russ
: If Orodreth was the son of Angrod Gil-Galad would be as close related to Finwe as Earendil and of a younger line so Earendil would be the right heir to the crown how come Gil-Galad became king?
: This can be explained in tree ways.: 1) As Michael have stated several times, heritage was through men only. : 2) The high kingship was a patriarchal institution so the king was the oldest male of the house of Finwe. : 3) Earendil was not counted among the Eldar before his journey to Valinor Tolkien stated: ...his heart was with his fathers folk... : Each of the three may be correct, but I have most faith in the second one. : See the obvious: I'M the high king.:-) I disagree. The high kingship goes to the eldest male from the eldest male-line (exclusing of course the Feanoreans). Thus, once the high kingship goes to a given line it would remain within that line until exhausted. Assume High King A has two sons B and C and son B has son B-1. Oldest brother B becomes high king upon A's death. Upon B's death, his son B-1 would become high king, not his uncle C. That is because B-1 comes from an elder line even if the individual member may junior. Russ
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