The Fall of Gondolin: Doom of the Hidden City

J.R.R. Tolkien began writing 'The Fall of Gondolin' during his convalescence from trench fever after serving in the Battle of the Somme in 1916. The horrors of mechanized warfare he witnessed would later influence his depiction of Morgoth's assault on the city, particularly in the description of the iron monsters and dragons that breached its walls.

The tale first appeared in The Book of Lost Tales, Tolkien's earliest collection of stories about Middle-earth written between 1916 and 1920. This initial version was written in an archaic style and represented his first major prose work about his imagined world, establishing many elements that would become central to his later mythology.

Christopher Tolkien, continuing his father's legacy, published the complete tale as a standalone book in 2018. This edition brought together all existing versions of the story, including materials from The Book of Lost Tales, Unfinished Tales, and The Silmarillion, along with Christopher's detailed commentary and analysis.

Among all the tales of the First Age, The Fall of Gondolin stands as the most complete and thoroughly developed narrative. It contains detailed descriptions of the city's construction, its society, and its destruction, making it unique among Tolkien's early works in its level of completion and narrative complexity.

The story of Gondolin begins with Ulmo, the Lord of Waters, appearing to King Turgon in a dream-vision. Ulmo, who remained most faithful to the Elves among the Valar, warned Turgon of the need for a hidden refuge against Morgoth's growing power and instructed him to seek a special place of safety in the mountains.

Following Ulmo's guidance, Turgon discovered the hidden valley of Tumladen, encircled by the Encircling Mountains called Echoriath. The valley lay concealed in the midst of these peaks, accessible only through a secret passage known as the Hidden Way, making it an ideal location for a protected realm.

The construction of Gondolin took place over fifty-two years of careful and secret labor. Turgon brought many of the most skilled craftsmen of the Noldor to work on the project, building a city that rivaled the splendor of Tirion upon Túna in Valinor, with its white walls and noble towers gleaming in the sunlight.

The Seven Names of Gondolin reflected its nature and beauty: Gondobar meaning 'City of Stone,' Gondothlimbar 'City of the Dwellers in Stone,' Gondolin itself meaning 'Hidden Rock,' Gwarestrin 'Tower of Guard,' Gar Thurion 'Secret Place,' Loth 'Flower,' and Lothengriol 'Flower of the Vale.' Each name captured an aspect of the city's character and its role as a hidden stronghold of the Elves.

The Twelve Houses of Gondolin represented the military and social organization of the city, each led by a noble lord. These included the House of the King, the House of the Wing led by Tuor, the House of the Mole led by Maeglin, the House of the Swallow, the House of the Heavenly Arch, the House of the Pillar, the House of the Tower of Snow, the House of the Tree, the House of the Golden Flower led by the valiant Glorfindel, the House of the Fountain, the House of the Hammer of Wrath, and the House of the Harp.

Life within Gondolin flourished as a recreation of the Elven kingdoms of Valinor. The city became a center of craftsmanship, music, and learning, where the traditions of the Noldor were preserved in their purest form. The people lived in peace and prosperity, though none could leave the valley once they entered, maintaining the city's secrecy.

The Gates of Summer festival, known as Tarnin Austa, was one of Gondolin's most sacred celebrations. Beginning at midnight with absolute silence, the people would await the sunrise, then greet it with songs and music. This festival represented the height of Gondolin's cultural and spiritual life, making its role in the city's fall particularly poignant.

Ulmo continued his protection of the Elves by guiding Tuor, a mortal man of the House of Hador, to Gondolin. The Lord of Waters appeared to Tuor directly, giving him a cloak of shadowy gray and arming him with messages of warning for Turgon about the city's eventual doom.

When Tuor arrived at Gondolin, he was brought before King Turgon and his court, where he delivered Ulmo's warning. Though Turgon ultimately rejected the Vala's counsel to abandon the city, he welcomed Tuor and granted him high honor, accepting him as one of his own people.

Tuor's presence in Gondolin led to an unprecedented union between Elves and Men, as he fell in love with and married Idril Celebrindal, Turgon's daughter. Their son Eärendil, born in Gondolin, represented the joining of the Two Kindreds and would later play a crucial role in the fate of all Middle-earth.

Morgoth's forces finally discovered Gondolin's location through the capture and torture of Maeglin, Turgon's nephew and a lord of the city. While searching for precious ores in the mountains against Turgon's command, Maeglin was taken by Morgoth's servants and brought to Angband.

In Angband, Morgoth offered Maeglin both the lordship of Gondolin and the hand of Idril in marriage in exchange for betraying the city's location and defenses. Maeglin, consumed by his unrequited love for Idril and his desire for power, accepted these terms despite knowing the horror it would bring upon his people.

Through Maeglin's treachery, Morgoth learned not only the location of the hidden city but also detailed information about its defenses, gates, and weaknesses. This knowledge allowed him to plan his assault with devastating precision, targeting the city's vulnerabilities and timing the attack for maximum effect.

On the morning of the Gates of Summer festival, as the people of Gondolin gathered in silence to await the dawn, Morgoth's armies emerged from the northern mountains. The timing was deliberate, catching the city during one of its most sacred celebrations when vigilance was relaxed.

Morgoth's assault force included Balrogs, dragons, and armies of Orcs, as well as mechanical beasts of iron and brass that could climb walls and spew fire. These machines, called 'dragons of iron' in the tale, represented a unique element in Tolkien's mythology, reflecting his experiences of mechanized warfare in World War I.

The Twelve Houses of Gondolin mounted a heroic defense of the city, with each company fighting according to its nature and weapons. The House of the Golden Flower under Glorfindel, the House of the Hammer of Wrath led by Rog, and the House of the Wing under Tuor performed particularly memorable feats of valor.

King Turgon, seeing the inevitable doom of his city, refused to flee and instead ascended his tower. In his final moments, he cast his crown at the feet of his tower and cursed Morgoth before perishing as the tower collapsed around him, marking the end of the last hidden realm of the Noldor in Middle-earth.

Idril Celebrindal, having foreseen the possibility of treachery, had secretly ordered the construction of an escape tunnel leading from their house through the mountains. This foresight proved crucial to the survival of many of Gondolin's people, as the tunnel provided the only safe route out of the burning city.

The escape route became a scene of desperate combat as Maeglin, attempting to capture Idril and her young son Eärendil, confronted the refugees at the tunnel entrance. The battle here represented the culmination of Maeglin's treachery and the price of his betrayal.

In a fierce struggle upon the walls of the city, Tuor faced Maeglin in single combat. The confrontation ended with Tuor throwing Maeglin from the walls to his death on the rocks below, avenging his treachery and protecting Idril and Eärendil.

The survivors' journey through Idril's secret way proved treacherous, as they had to navigate narrow paths while pursued by Morgoth's forces. The passage through the mountains was made even more dangerous by the winter cold and the presence of a Balrog that confronted them at Cristhorn, the Eagles' Cleft.

The survivors of Gondolin, led by Tuor and Idril, made their way south to the Havens of Sirion, where they joined other refugees from the fallen Elven realms. This journey through the mountains claimed many lives, but those who survived established a new settlement by the sea.

Young Eärendil, who escaped Gondolin as a child, grew to become one of the most significant figures in Middle-earth's history. His later voyage to Valinor, carrying a Silmaril given to him by his mother Idril, would ultimately lead to the intervention of the Valar against Morgoth and the reshaping of the world.

The Fall of Gondolin influenced many aspects of Tolkien's later works, particularly in themes of hidden realms, treachery, and heroic last stands. Elements of the story can be seen reflected in later tales such as the fall of Minas Tirith in The Lord of the Rings, though that city would be saved rather than fall.