who are the nazgul?

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by mhagain

I don't think the Letters citation is so conclusive either. It seems possible for a Númenórean "king" (perhaps of a petty-realm in Middle-earth) to become a Nazgûl but yet be submissive to a more powerful Haradrim king (as a fellow Nazgûl). It also seems probable that Sauron would grant leadership of the Nazgûl to one who had been under his dominion longer.

The second-in-command of the Nazgûl is confirmed to have been an Easterling, so therefore we know that at least two of the other Númenórean "kings" or lords who became Nazgûl were submissive to an Easterling. If two, why not three?

But on balance this can really go nowhere. The only thing is that there is no real evidence after all, and it's important to establish that the common assumption that the Witch-king must have been Númenórean has very little basis in Tolkien's writings.

Knowing the spiteful nature of Sauron, who better than a Númenórean (ie., the WitchKing of Angmar) to seek retribution against the realms of Arnor? I would assume the three Númenórean Nazgul were rebels and lords of Umbar. I don't give much stock in the WitchKing being a Haradrim, considering most of the northern area of the Haradwaith was controlled by Black Númenóreans (first referred to as the King's Men) during the time Sauron conceivably handed out the Rings.

The split between the Elendili and the King's Men occurred during Tar-Ancalimon's reign, which, coincidentally, was about the time the Nazgul emerged. There is a longstanding association among the Númenóreans with sorcery (including such later Black Númenóreans as Beruthiel and the Mouth of Sauron), so it is basically assumed that the most sorcerous of all the Nazgul is a Númenórean, because we hear very little, if any, mention of sorcery among the Haradrim or Easterlings.

But you are right, Mhagain, it is and will always be conjecture.