The Nazgûl are the highest servants of the Dark Lord. They are former Mannish noble and stalwart rulers of the various kingdoms of Men, but were later corrupted by the gifts the Dark Lord gave to them: the Nine Rings of Men.
The Nazgûl, known in the Common Speech by various other names including Ringwraiths, Black Riders or the Nine, are led by the Witch-king of Angmar. They are the most loyal servants of the Sauron's will. After the defeat of the Dark Lord in the Second Age, they dwelt in Minas Morgul until their Master called upon them once more during the Third Age.
The Nazgûl were known as Sauron's "most terrible servants," and often travelled on black horses or their fellbeasts, wearing black cloaks and hauberks of silver mail. They are described as being strongest when The Dark Lord has possession of the One Ring. "'The Ringwraiths are deadly enemies, but they are only shadows yet of the power and terror they would possess if the Ruling Ring was on their Master's hand again.'" The power of the Nazgûl also grows when all nine are together and when night falls upon Middle-earth.
History[]
The Nazgûl were once the nine great rulers of Men. They were given the Rings of Power by Sauron (disguised in fair form as Annatar) which they accepted without doubt. After the One forged the One Ring they became his slaves (by being corrupted by the power of their rings and bound to his will), which eventually turned them into wraiths, only visible to Sauron and the one wearing the One Ring.
Known Members of the Nazgûl[]
- the Witch-king of Angmar, Lord of the Nazgûl
- Ûvatha Achef
- Khamûl the Easterling
- Adûnaphel
- Akhôrahil
- Isildur Elendilion (freed by Talion, who eventually took his place among the Nazgûl)
- Talion, Ranger of Gondor
- Helm Hammerhand of Rohan
- Suladân who is secretly Ar-Pharazôn the Golden of Númenor
- Adûnazil
- Jí Indûr Dawndeath
- Dwâr Dendra
- Gothmog
- Hôarmûrath
- Ren Jey
- Morgomir
- Er-Mûrazôr
- the The Nazgûl Sisters Riya and Yuka (of the Kingdom of Shen).