All Questions
Tagged with tolkiens-legendarium nazgul
73
questions
86
votes
2
answers
17k
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What's the big deal about the Nazgûl losing their horses?
I have only watched the movies and I am currently reading The Fellowship of the Ring (haven't finished it yet, I am at "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm").
A number of times we see characters such ...
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55
votes
5
answers
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views
How powerful were the Nine really?
It is explained numerous times how powerful and deadly the Nazgûl are — however, on multiple occasions, they failed their master badly.
Some examples:
Frodo and the Hobbits escaped both during the ...
- 6,055
54
votes
4
answers
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Why did Peter Jackson add the Nazgûls attack scene in Bree when it was not present in the original story, nor very important for the plot?
Although it's a very good scene from the film, I don't see why Peter Jackson added it to the story (remember).
In the books, the Hobbits do not meet the Nazgûl in Bree, and that does not really ...
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49
votes
3
answers
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Did the Nazgûl retain their Rings of Power?
In The Fellowship of the Rings, Frodo sees the true appearance of the Nazgûl:
He was able to see beneath their black wrappings. There were five tall figures: two standing on the lip of the dell, ...
- 165k
46
votes
4
answers
15k
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Who stabbed Frodo?
In The Lord of the Rings there are five Nazgûl that remain behind and attack the Hobbits on Weathertop.
Which Nagûl stabbed Frodo? Was it the Witch-king or was he one of the four that pursued Gandalf?...
user46509
44
votes
5
answers
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Are the Nazgûl Harmed by Water? [duplicate]
So I'm watching the LOTR trilogy and I'm on Fellowship of the Ring. It seems as if the Nazgûl actively avoid water, such as at the Bucklebury Ferry and the river at Rivendell. Does water harm the ...
- 165k
42
votes
2
answers
7k
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Were the Nazgûl undead?
Various sources refer to the Nazgûl as being undead. What was Tolkien's view on this, would he have classified the Nazgûl as undead?
user46509
41
votes
7
answers
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Why are the Ringwraiths fearful of coming into contact with water?
At least twice in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Ringwraiths cower away from bodies of water.
The second time (the ford of Bruinen) can be explained away by their fear of some ...
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38
votes
2
answers
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Why didn't the Witch-king of Angmar conquer The Shire?
The Shire was formerly a part of Arnor (it later became a part of Arthedain after Arnor fragmented). The Witch-king's sole objective was to destroy the North Kingdom (Arnor).
Eventually the Witch-king ...
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38
votes
2
answers
10k
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How did Gandalf know the Nazgûl crossed the river in secret?
Our heroes in Middle-earth knew the Nine Riders were coming even though the riders were keeping their movements secret.
”I have an urgent errand,” he said. “My news is evil.” Then he looked about ...
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37
votes
2
answers
9k
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Are all Ringwraiths called Nazgûl in LotR?
I knew before that the Black Riders and Ringwraiths and Nazguls are one and the same. But even before that, when I was little and saw the movies when they first came out, I thought the Nazgul referred ...
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36
votes
4
answers
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How does one fight the Nazgûl?
In Fellowship of the Ring, it is said in several places that Aragorn, Glorfindel, and perhaps even a few other people, were able to fight off Nazgûl; they can't fend off all nine at once, but if they ...
- 70.1k
35
votes
3
answers
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How did Sauron remain in control of the Nazgûl?
The One Ring gave Sauron control of the Nine, yet when it was taken from him he still possessed the power to control them (or, at least he regained it towards the end of the third age). Why is this? ...
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33
votes
7
answers
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Why didn't the Nazgûl stab more people to create more wraiths?
My understanding is that those stabbed by a Morgul blade slowly turn into a wraith.
Is there a reason the Nazgûl and the Witch King of Angmar did not go around stabbing people and turning them into ...
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33
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2
answers
8k
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What happened to the Nazgûl after they were swept away by the river?
In the book, The Fellowship of the Ring (chapter 12 "Flight to the Ford"), all nine Nazgûl were swept away by the waters of the river Bruinen, and their horses drowned. They show up later in ...
- 38.7k
33
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5
answers
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Who were the Nazgûl before they became wraiths?
I recall reading somewhere of the history of the nine riders, but I cannot remember where it was. (It seems perhaps they were from northern kingdoms?)
The leader of the Nine was the Witch-king of ...
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33
votes
1
answer
6k
views
Where were the Dúnedain when the Nazgûl entered the Shire?
The Dúnedain Rangers had been guarding the Shire for some time when the Nazgûl came and entered the land of the Hobbits during their hunt for the Ring. How did the Nazgûl get past the border patrols, ...
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31
votes
1
answer
14k
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The Nazgûl are afraid of fire, but can they be harmed by it?
When Aragorn and the Hobbits are on Weathertop, just after seeing the Nazgûl below them and prior to inflicting Frodo's knife wound, Aragorn says the following:
Sauron can put fire to his evil uses, ...
- 14.4k
30
votes
1
answer
32k
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How Was the Sound of the Nazgûl Composed?
Yes, yes, I am a complete freak. I think the screech/scream of the Nazgûl is both AWESOME and terrifying at the same time. I love it even though it makes me shiver!
How was the sound of the Nazgûl ...
- 165k
30
votes
1
answer
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What kind of Wraith would Frodo have become?
When Frodo is stabbed by the Witch King of Angmar's Morgul blade at Weathertop, Aragorn explains that Frodo is slowly becoming a wraith himself, the longer he goes untreated. If Frodo had become a ...
- 165k
28
votes
7
answers
9k
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How did the Witch King of Angmar get his sword back?
Spoilers for Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey:
The Witch King clearly has his sword in The Fellowship of the Ring. How and when did he get his sword back? Judging by the shape of the ...
- 165k
28
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2
answers
2k
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In 'The Lord of the Rings', are the Ringwraiths really alive?
In the book, The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien often talks about the central concept of the Rings of Power, namely that the Great Rings preserve life.
Gollum, for one, is incredibly old, having possessed ...
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27
votes
3
answers
20k
views
Is it Éowyn or Merry who kills the Lord of the Nazgûl (or both)?
In the Lord of the Rings when the Lord of the Nazgûl is killed, there seems to be some confusion as to exactly who is responsible? Is the reason down to the sword of the Barrow Downs that Merry stabs ...
- 14.4k
27
votes
2
answers
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What exactly is the Witch-king of Angmar?
The movies tell you that the Witch-king is another just Nazgûl, albeit their king, but the books seemed to suggest that he was a man. And the fact that he was the Necromancer, briefly mentioned in The ...
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votes
5
answers
19k
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What is the creature that the Nazgûl ride called?
What are the dragon-like creatures that the Nazgûl ride in the later part of the series called?
Anything in relation to the books or movie and out of universe answers.
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1
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Why did the Witch King wait till the gate was broken before entering Minas Tirith?
In The Return of the King, the Witch King of Angmar is mounted on a flying fell beast. When the gate of Minas Tirith is broken down, he quickly rushes in to confront Gandalf.
But he is mounted on ...
- 70.1k
24
votes
3
answers
5k
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What did the Nazgûl do before Sauron rose again?
It is my understanding (please correct me if I'm wrong) that hundreds, if not thousands, of years passed between Isildur defeating Sauron, and Sauron's renewed rise to power.
Is there any detail in ...
- 343k
23
votes
2
answers
6k
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Shrieking noise, Nazgûl or his beast?
Who makes that shrieking noise, the Nazgûl or the beasts they ride on?
- 2,583
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4
answers
8k
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Why did the Rings turn Nazgûl invisible and their clothes visible, while The One Ring turned both invisible?
Nazgûl themselves are invisible as human flesh, due to their 9 rings transposing them into the realm of shadows:
And they became forever invisible save to him that wore the Ruling Ring, and they ...
- 343k
22
votes
5
answers
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Are Ringwraiths the only Wraiths in Middle-earth?
After reading this answer to my question about wraiths, ghosts, and wights in Middle-earth, I understand that Ringwraiths are the result of people who have been corrupted by using the rings, but that ...
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22
votes
3
answers
2k
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Does Frodo believe he can challenge Sauron?
In the Two Towers, when hiding outside Minas Morgul while the Lord of the Nazgul is passing, Frodo has these thoughts:
He knew that the Ring would only betray him, and that he had not, even
if he ...
- 14.4k
20
votes
4
answers
7k
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Are the Nazgûl Blind?
They were once Men. Great kings of Men. Then Sauron the Deceiver gave to them Nine Rings of Power. Blinded by their greed, they took them without question. One by one, falling into darkness. They are ...
- 165k
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votes
1
answer
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Were Nazgul horses regular horses?
In the movies, the Nazgul ride black horses with armour. I was wondering if that is all they are, or do they have some sort of magic? Are they evil?
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0
answers
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Did the Nazgûl wear their 9 rings? [duplicate]
Did the Nazgûl wear their 9 rings?
Wikipedia is singularly unhelpful:
Some passages in the novel suggest that the Nazgûl wore their rings, while others suggest that Sauron actually held them.
(...
- 343k
16
votes
6
answers
7k
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Why did the Nazgûl not attack a second time at Weathertop?
Even Aragorn and the Hobbits are surprised at Weathertop that the Nazgûl did not try a second attack to take the ring. The following possible reasons are offered or implied:
The Nazgûl were ...
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3
answers
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Who made the Nazgûl's swords?
In Mordor, who created the swords for the Nazgûl?
As they were kings of men from different places before the became wraiths I'd say that their swords were made by men, but I am not sure.
- 437
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3
answers
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Could any of the other eight Wraiths be destroyed by man?
A prophecy
"He will not return to this land. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall." —Glorfindel, The Return of the King, Appendix A (iv)
has been interpreted by ...
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13
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1
answer
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How did Sauron continue to hold the Nine after he was defeated in the Second Age?
The Nazgûl appeared during the Second Age. Long after that, Númenor was destroyed along with Sauron's physical form, and relatively shortly after that, Sauron was again vanquished by Isildur and his ...
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12
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4
answers
2k
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How did the Nazgûl survive?
It is settled pretty strongly that life is given by Ilúvatar and the Gift Of Ilúvatar to Men is death. And yet, we see the Nazgûl (and the Dead Men of Dunharrow) refusing the gift and have some sort ...
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12
votes
1
answer
1k
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If somebody stole the nine rings from Sauron, could that person control the Ringwraiths?
This came up in the comments to another question.
According to Letter #246 of J. R. R. Tolkien,
Sauron ... still through their nine rings (which he held) had primary control of their wills. (...
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12
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0
answers
2k
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Why do the nine Kings (Wraiths) respond to Sauron? [duplicate]
I saw the Fellowship of the Ring. Nine rings were forged for the kings of men.
I saw the entire series, the nine are on the side of Sauron.
I am watching the Hobbit : Desolation of Smaug. Gandalf ...
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11
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3
answers
2k
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Do non-Elven blades damage the Nazgûl despite being destroyed?
As I understand it (correct me if this is wrong) swords not crafted by elves are destroyed upon striking a Nazgûl- but do they do any damage to him (it?) in the process?
- 26.6k
11
votes
4
answers
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What is the Witch King of Angmar's ring?
What would be the name of the Witch King's ring? Elrond, Aragorn and many others have rings that are 'named', so what would the Witch King's be?
What does the Witch King's ring look like? Include a ...
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votes
2
answers
3k
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If Sauron had triumphed, would the Witch King have been reincarnated?
If Sauron had managed to regain the One Ring and defeated the forces of the West, would the naked disembodied spirit of the Witch King of Angmar be given a new form after his corporeal/spiritual ...
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11
votes
1
answer
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The Witch-king and the Barrows of Cardolan
I was reading an answer to a question and in the answer it was mentioned that:
[The Witch-king] had been shaken by the fire of Gandalf, and began to perceive that the mission on which Sauron had ...
- 857
11
votes
1
answer
865
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What did the nine achieve?
As a follow up to this question: What did the nine actually achieve for their master during the war of the ring?
The only major thing I can think of is that they killed Theoden. was there anything ...
- 6,055
11
votes
1
answer
747
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What were the other 8 Nazgûl doing while the Witch-king weakened Arnor?
While the Witch-king established Angmar and battled the 3 kingdoms of Arnor, what were the other 8 Nazgûl doing? Were they helping him or did they have other tasks? It seems like they could have been ...
- 119
10
votes
2
answers
4k
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Witch-king ignoring Frodo's presence in Minas Morgul?
When Mordor's army is marching out of Minas Morgul and Frodo, Sam and Gollum are nearby, The Witch-king stops all of the sudden and starts looking around.
I remember reading somewhere that he indeed ...
- 2,583
10
votes
2
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6k
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Why does Sauron send Grishnákh instead of a Nazgûl to deal with Saruman's Uruk-hai? [duplicate]
This again is another strange decision on Sauron's part. We know from Grishnákh and the fact Legolas killed a Fell-beast that there is at least one Nazgûl on the eastern side of the Anduin, possibly ...
- 7,682
10
votes
1
answer
662
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The storm of Mordor and the Nazgûl
In The Lord of the Rings, book IV (in The Two Towers), Frodo and Sam encounter a storm coming from the east towards the Emyn Muil. Suddenly, they hear the screech of a – what is presumed to be – ...
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