The Rings of Power: Here’s what you need to know about Elrond’s father, Earendil the Seafarer!

Regarded as one of the greatest heroes who ever lived, Earendil performed incredible feats even before the events of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Today Netzwelt introduces you to the father of Elrond and Elros, whom the elves still worship as a star in the sky.

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Earendil the First Half-Elf

Earendil was born in the hidden city of Gondolin in the year 503 of the First Age to the human hero Tuor and the Elbe Idril. Because of his noble lineage, great things were born to him and he inherited the best qualities of the elves and men. The sea and seafaring in particular have lured him since childhood.

After the destruction of Gondolin by Morgoth’s forces, he fled south with his family. There, a fateful encounter would take place that would have a profound impact on the history of all of Middle-earth for ages to come. At the mouths of Sirion, Earendil met his wife Elwing, who bore him twin sons Elrond and Elros.

Earendil the Sailor

Shortly thereafter, Earendil began his sea voyages in search of his parents. For this Círdan built him the ship Vingilot, with which Earendil experienced many adventures on the high seas. Elwing, meanwhile, who was in possession of a valuable Silmaril, remained worried on the mainland. When Fëanor’s sons learned of this, their oath compelled them to take possession of the Silmaril.

It came to the third clan murder of the elves. To avoid capture, Elwing threw himself into the sea with the Silmaril. However, the Vala god Ulmo saved her and turned her into a bird. So she flew to meet Eearendil and both set off for Valinor to ask the gods for help.

Earendil, supplicant of the Valar

Earendil was thus the first mortal to set foot in Valinor. Something that was actually forbidden to humans and punished with death. But when the Valar heard Earendil’s request to intervene in the fight against Morgoth, they took pity on them. Since Eearendil did not sail for his sake, but for the salvation of Elves and Men, the Valar actively intervened in the battle.

Before that, Eearendil and his wife were given a choice by the Valar. They were allowed to choose which race they wanted to belong to. Elwing chose the fate of the elves and immortality. Eearendil, for his wife’s sake, too. This choice was passed on to their children Elrond and Elros as well as to Elrond’s children.

Earendil the dragon slayer

The Valar brought their army to Beleriand and the last great war of the First Age, the War of Wrath, broke out. In the great battle, Morgoth’s legions of Orcs and Balrogs were cut down and scattered to the winds.

Something the Dark Lord’s minions in The Rings of Power are still recovering from. Earendil went into battle in his now-flying ship, Vingilot, accompanied by a flock of eagles.

He confronted Morgoth’s last secret weapon, the terrible winged dragons. The largest of them, Ancalagon the Black, darkened the sky with its huge wings.

Earendil struck him down, and falling from the sky, Ancalagon’s body destroyed the towers of Thangorodrim, Morgoth’s mighty mountain fortress. The War of Wrath was won, Morgoth chained once more, and Earendil was the brightest hero of the age.

Earendil the Star

Now it was the fate of Earendil the Seafarer to sail across the endless seas forever. With the Silmaril tied to his forehead, Earendil set sail on Vingilot into the “Starless Void”.

There he himself became a star in the heavens. Thousands of years later, elves and humans still hold this in high esteem. Earendil’s star is considered a sign of hope in Middle-earth and it was called “Gil-estel” Star of High Hope.

Earendil’s legacy still lives on in the Amazon series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Through his first son Elrond, who chose to live as an Elf on Middle-earth.

And through his second son, Elros, who chose a human fate and became founding father and first king of the human nation of Númenor. Will we see more of Earendil’s great deeds and legacy in the future?