Why didn’t the elves have a high king after Gil-galad in Lord of the Rings?

Why didn’t the elves have a high king after Gil-galad in Lord of the Rings?
Why didn’t the elves have a high king after Gil-galad in Lord of the Rings? (image via Amazon MGM Studios)

Season 2 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is coming out on August 29, 2024. The world of The Rings of Power is filled with complex histories, legendary characters and epic battles. Gil-galad was a significant character in the drama series.

As the leader of the elven forces against Sauron during the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, he was the last High King of the Noldor. Although it cost his own life, his leadership was crucial in beating Sauron albeit temporarily. With Gil-galad dead, the elves' age came to an end, and they were left without a unified leader — a void never filled.

Among supporters, one unresolved issue was why the elves lacked a High King following Gil-galad. The solution rests in the junction of several elements, including Gil-galad's death, the absence of a suitable heir and the changing needs of the elven society.

The elves realized that their declining numbers and changing priorities made the post of High King obsolete after Gil-galad passed death. This choice was followed naturally by their evolutionary environment.

Apart from Gil-galad's death, the absence of a High King resulted from the declining population of elves and the lack of a direct male heir. Originally living under centralized leadership, the elves progressively moved to regional control.

Although eligible, Elrond decided not to claim the title, as he understood that the elves no longer needed a High King. This change captures the elves' adaptation to their declining presence in Middle-earth.


Gil-galad: The last High King in The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings' High King of the Noldor, Gil-galad, had a major influence. Among a line of strong elven leaders who opposed Sauron's darkness, he was the last. Wisdom and bravery define his rule, especially during the Last Alliance of Elves and Men.

Gil-galad's passing in this alliance marked a turning point for the elves, ending centralized elven leadership. As the elves entered a new age without a High King, Gil-galad left a leadership vacuum that was never filled.


Why there was no High King after Gil-galad?

Many elements shaped the choice not to name a new High King following Gil-galad's death. Gil-galad first passed without an heir, leaving no clear successor for the throne.

Second, the greatly declining elven population made centralized monarchy less necessary. The elves started depending more in The Lord of the Rings on regional leaders like Galadriel and Elrond, who oversaw their own territory with wisdom and autonomy.

As the elves adjusted to their declining numbers and changing surroundings, a single High King gave way to regional leadership naturally.


Elrond’s claim to the Throne

After Gil-galad died, Elrond — a major character in The Lord of the Rings — had a legitimate claim to the High King's title. Through his grandmother, he was intimately linked to the royal line and much revered among the elves. Elrond decided not to go for the title, though.

His choice stemmed from his knowledge that the elven people no longer needed the title. The elves had developed beyond the need for a High King, and Elrond's insight in seeing that helped keep peace among the surviving elven villages by avoiding needless separation.

The Rings of Power cast and crew

The varied cast and crew vividly depict the rich Second Age history of Middle-earth. Morfydd Clark plays Galadriel; Robert Aramayo is Elrond, while Benjamin Walker plays Gil-galad.

Developed by Patrick McKay and John D. Payne, the series is produced by Amazon Studios, working with New Line Cinema and the Tolkien Estate. Filmed in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, the series thrilled viewers with the study of historical events influencing the universe of The Lord of the Rings.

The elves' changing demands and situation reflected in the absence of a High King following Gil-galad in The Lord of the Rings. The elves lost their last uniting leader with Gil-galad's death; combined with the lack of a direct heir and the declining elven population, the title of High King was superfluous.

Elrond's choice to refrain from claiming the title confirmed this change and helped the elves fit into their new environment. The change from centralized monarchy to regional government was a logical reaction to the changing Middle-earth environment, where the elves no longer required a leader to guide them.


The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Fire drama series is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video.

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Edited by Bhargav
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