Who is Círdan in ‘The Rings of Power?’

The second season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is introducing fans to a host of new characters from The Silmarillion and Tolkien’s other works, but chief among these newcomers is an elf who has played an important role throughout the entire history of Middle-earth.

Dismayed at the creation of the Three Rings and his counsel denied by High King Gil-galad, Elrond takes the rings and escapes from Lindon, seeking the Grey Havens where Círdan the Shipwright and his kin hold sway. Elrond convinces Círdan to destroy the rings, but the wizened elf sees in them the rekindling of the light of Valinor and the elves’ only chance at survival. Círdan brings the Three Rings back to Lindon, and together with Gil-galad and Galadriel, becomes one of their bearers.

But who is this Círdan, lord of the ships of the Grey Havens, and why do all of these elves hold him in high esteem?

The story of Círdan the Shipwright

Círdan was one of the first Children of Ilúvatar to walk Middle-earth, and he may even have been present at Cuiviénen, where the first elves awakened under the sky. Círdan was among the most skilled in the art of shipbuilding, which allowed him to help in the Great Journey to Valinor. Since his early years, Círdan was enamored by the light of Valinor, but due to the turmoil that befell his people, he twice missed the chance to sail to the Undying Lands.

At this point, the Valar urged Círdan to remain behind, as there would come a time when his skills in shipmaking would be of use to the Free Peoples. Círdan was present during the entire campaign of the elves against Morgoth, and he assisted with the escape of refugees after the disastrous Battle of Unnumbered Tears, where the hosts of Morgoth won a great victory against the alliance of Elves, Men, and Dwarves in the War of the Great Jewels.

But perhaps his greatest and most important accomplishment was the building of Vingilot, the ship that Eärendil the Mariner used to sail to the Undying Lands with one of the Simarils, to beseech the Valar to pardon the Ñoldor elves of their transgressions and lend their aid to the elves. This instigated the War of Wrath, where Morgoth and his armies were finally defeated.

Thus began the Second Age, and still Círdan remained obediently behind to build the Grey Havens and allow his kin to sail to the Undying Lands. It is here that Círdan advises against the creation of the Rings of Power, and plays a pivotal role in the war against Sauron by joining the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. After Isildur cuts the One Ring from Sauron’s hand, Círdan, along with Elrond, advises the Númenórean king to destroy the weapon of the Enemy, but he refuses.

Círdan, having become the ruler of Lindon after Gil-galad’s death, assisted the Kingdom of Arnor during the war against the Witch-king. At some point during the Third Age, the Istari arrived in Middle-earth. Círdan, being among the wisest elves with the greatest foresight, entrusted Narya, the Ring of Fire, to Gandalf, knowing that it would assist the wizard in the struggle to come.

At the end of the war, Círdan is there to greet Gandalf, Galadriel, Elrond, Frodo, and Bilbo as they depart Middle-earth on one of his ships. Círdan himself stays behind and remains well into the Fourth Age, but it is said that he finally departs Middle-earth with the last of the High Elves on the final ship, thus bringing an end to the days of the Eldar and ushering in a new era for Arda.