Origins of the Great Goblin

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

I wonder if the Great Goblin might not have been a uruk, rare in the North, which would have given him a greater fear-factor among smaller breeds of orcs.

I had always considered the Great Goblin to be an Uruk as well. The scenario is plausible, given that these larger Orcs appeared out of Mordor in 2475 (Osgiliath was overwhelmed and destroyed). In addition, the Tale of Years indicates that soon after, Orcs began making strongholds in the Misty Mountains. The TOY specifically states "Sauron begins to people Moria with his creatures." Almost three hundred years later, there is an invasion of Eriador and the Shire is attacked (1747) and Bandobras Took beheads the large Orkish leader Golfimbul (fimbul in Old Norse means "great"), a chieftain of the Orcs of Mount Gram.

Taken in context, Sauron repeoples the Misty Mountains, and given the bellicose and belligerent attitude of Orcs (the Orkish hierarchy in Mordor always goes from biggest down to smallest), who but Uruks would lead such an invasion? It would seem to me that a ruling elite of Uruk-hai was maintained since the first invasion of the Misty Mountains, and that Azog and Bolg were also members of an Uruk dynasty.