Ringwraiths

The Ringwraiths (or Nazgul) were the most feared servants of Sauron beginning with the mid Second Age, when they emerged from the nine human kings the wielded Rings of Power.

## History

After he captured the Rings of Power in the Sack of Eregion, Sauron gave away nine of them to Kings of Men. In their greed, they took them without question. The Rings elongated their lives, but one by one they fell into darkness, and by SA 2251 they appeared as wraiths or Nazgûl in the service of Sauron. Of the Nine (as they were often called) three were lords of Númenor (presumably, rulers of Numenorean colonies in Middle Earth). One, Khamul, the second-in-command, was a king among the Easterlings, at least one was from Harad and one from Forod. When Sauron was overthrown in S.A. 3441 at the hands of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, the wraiths faded into the shadows.

However around 1050 of the Third Age Sauron returned, triggering also the return of his servants. Around TA 1300, evil things, like the Orcs of the Misty Mountains, multiplied again, and the Nazgûl definitely reappeared; it was then when Lord of the Nazgûl gathered evil Men and founded the Witch-kingdom of Angmar. From there he led Sauron's forces against the mannish kingdom of Arnor in TA 1409.

Meanwhile Gondor was weakened by the Great Plague and War, and it was believed that Sauron's plan was to open the way to Mordor; indeed as the watch on Mordor stopped and Gondor's borders withdrew, it is believed that the Nazgûl freely re-entered Mordor around TA 1856 or later.

The Witch-king's army was eventually defeated in battle in TA 1975, but he retreat to the mountainous Angmar where he withstood attacks by the Dunedain and the Woodland Elves. Meanwhile, the other Nazgul returned to Mordor in preparation for the return of Sauron to that realm. In TA 2000, they issued by Cirith Ungol and captured Minas Ithil after a two-year siege. The city thereafter became the stronghold of the Nazgûl, from where they directed the rebuilding of Sauron's armies, also acquiring a *palantír* for the Dark Lord.

Eventually, the Nazgul were driven out of Minas Morgul and back to Angmar. When it fell in TA 2540, the Dunedain entombed the nine wraiths in the High-Fells of Rhudaur, ushering in the Watchful Peace.

When Sauron returned as the Necromancer, he awoke the Nazgul, who broke their tombs from the inside. The Witch-King nearly slew Radagast with a Morgul Blade when he came to investigate Dol Guldur, which now served as Sauron's abode. The blade was used a proof for the Nine's ressurgence in the White Council, but failed to make much of an impression before Gandalf investigated the High Fells and found them breached. Later, when the members of the Council came to rescue the wizard from his incarceration in Dol Guldur, they fought the Nine and drove them back, before Galadriel used the remainder of her power to banish them with their master to Rhun.

After his defeat in Dol Guldur, Sauron returned to Mordor in T.A. 2942 and declared himself openly in T.A. 2951. Three of the Nazgûl were sent to his fortress at Dol Guldur to garrison that outpost.

In TA 3001 Sauron commanded the Ringwraiths to recover the One Ring of Power from "Baggins of the Shire". Using an attack on Osgiliath as a diversion, they rode across Rohan, and made contact with Saruman and rode off towards the Shire. In September 21, TA 3001, Three Ringwraiths storm Sarn Ford, entering the Shire from the South. They reach Bamfurlong, looking for Baggins. In fear of the riders, farmer Maggot guided them to Hobbiton inadvertently. The next day, two more wraiths stormed Buckland, killing a bounder and entering the Shire from the East.

Before they get to Frodo, the hobbit, along with his three friends, escaped. Khamul found Frodo in the Woody End, but they hid under a tree trunk and distracted him by throwing away a bag of crop.The nine riders find Frodo and his companions in the woods and chase them all the way to the Buckelberry Ferry, which the Hobbits use to evade them. They later track the group to Bree, where they invade the Hobbit rooms of the Inn. However, by the advice of Aragorn, The Hobbits stay in his room, while their own room is occupied by dummies, thus giving the chance for the Hobbits and Aragorn to escape. Strider also fears that they will never stop hunting them.

For the night, Strider, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin camp on Weathertop. While Aragorn went to scope out the outer borders of their campsite, the hobbits remained behind. When Frodo fell fast asleep, Sam, Merry and Pippin foolishly set the fire to cook. Frodo, awoken by the smell takes it out. Thus, the fire signals five of the nine minions of Sauron to their location. The witch-king takes his blade and stabs Frodo when he doesn't give the ring up. However, the group is immediately scared off by Aragorn. While the group flees.

Nazgûl eventually track down Frodo and his elf companion, Lady Arwen Undómiel, before they could get to her and Frodo, Arwen summoned the water rivers, thus wiping out the entire group, but not killing them. Frodo and Sam later behold a winged Nazgul (riding a fell beast) over the dead marshes. The Nazgul later lead an attack on Osgiliath, with Frodo nearly surrendering the Ring to them, but they are thwarted by Faramir.

The forces of both Gondor and Rohan, led by Aragorn and several other members of the Fellowship of the Ring and King Éomer led a final stand. Since the death of the Witch-king in the Battle of Pelennor Fields, the Nazgûl were limited to only eight. During the Battle of the Black Gate, Pippin Took spotted the Eagles coming to assist them in fighting off the Nazgûl and their Fell-beasts.