The creature Gothmog at the Siege of Minas Tirith - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

JeffF. · 07-09-2009, 02:54 PM

I never imagined that Gothmog, Lieutenant of Minas Morgul as he is called in RotK, was an orc. Given the hierarchy of Sauron's forces his Nazgul seem to be the leaders of his forces particularly in Minas Morgul the city of the ringwraiths. The Nazgul are described as great kings, sorcerers and warriors; most if not all were great leaders so I always thought of Gothmog as a Nazgul, the second-in-command at Minas Morgul. Unifinished Tales describes Khamul the Black Easterling as the second highest ranking Nazgul but he is also Sauron's lord over Dol Guldor during the War of the Ring. Some might say that once the High Nazgul was killed at the Battle of Pelennor that Khamul would have taken over but in UT it says that Khamul's power was the most diminished in daylight and this might explain why Gothmog, in my view the third ranking of all the Nazgul, would take over command since Sauron's artificial darkness was broken just before Theoden charges with the Rohirrim. I just don't see the eight remaining Nazgul falling under the command of some orc chieftain or brigand after the fall of the High Nazgul.

Any thoughts on Gothmog?

07-09-2009, 02:54 PM	#1
JeffF. Haunting Spirit Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 70	The creature Gothmog at the Siege of Minas Tirith I never imagined that Gothmog, Lieutenant of Minas Morgul as he is called in RotK, was an orc. Given the hierarchy of Sauron's forces his Nazgul seem to be the leaders of his forces particularly in Minas Morgul the city of the ringwraiths. The Nazgul are described as great kings, sorcerers and warriors; most if not all were great leaders so I always thought of Gothmog as a Nazgul, the second-in-command at Minas Morgul. Unifinished Tales describes Khamul the Black Easterling as the second highest ranking Nazgul but he is also Sauron's lord over Dol Guldor during the War of the Ring. Some might say that once the High Nazgul was killed at the Battle of Pelennor that Khamul would have taken over but in UT it says that Khamul's power was the most diminished in daylight and this might explain why Gothmog, in my view the third ranking of all the Nazgul, would take over command since Sauron's artificial darkness was broken just before Theoden charges with the Rohirrim. I just don't see the eight remaining Nazgul falling under the command of some orc chieftain or brigand after the fall of the High Nazgul. Any thoughts on Gothmog? __________________ JeffF(Fingolfin)