| “ | Do you not know death when you see it, old man? This is my hour! You have failed. The world of Men will fall. | „ |
| ~ The Witch-King of Angmar to Gandalf the White |
| “ | You fool! No man can kill me! Die now! | „ |
| ~ The Witch-King of Angmar to Eowyn |
| “ | Do not come between the Nazgûl and his prey! | „ |
| ~ The Witch-King of Angmar |
The Witch-King of Angmar or simply known as The Witch King is a major antagonist in the Middle Earth Legendarium by JRR Tolkien. He is a major antagonist in the epic fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings, and in Peter Jackson's film trilogy adaptations of the novel. He is also a supporting antagonist in The Hobbit trilogy.
In the books, he is the secondary antagonist in both The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and one of the two secondary antagonists (alongside Gollum) of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
In the movies, he is one of the two secondary antagonists (alongside Lurtz) The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and the secondary antagonist of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, and also a supporting antagonist in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.
He is also a minor yet pivotal antagonist in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and then he is a supporting antagonist in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
He is portrayed by Lawrence Makoare, who also portrays Lurtz, Gothmog, and Bolg. He is voiced by Andy Serkis, who also voices Gollum and Supreme Leader Snoke.
History[]
Nothing is known about the Witch King's origins except that he was a great lord of Men, possibly a Numenorean. He served Sauron after he became a wraith. He was the Lord of the Nazgul. He founded the kingdom of Angmar and used it to destroy the kingdom of Arnor. After realizing the threat that the Witch King imposed, Gondor (Arnor´s sister kingdom) allied with the elves to destroy Angmar. After the destruction of Angmar the Witch King returned to Mordor and captured Minas Ithil, in Gondor, renaming it Minas Morgul.
He is briefly seen in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, with his true spirit form visible appearing from a statue of him. He was driven away by Radagast, who took his Morgul blade. It is said that he was killed a long time ago and buried in an impenetrable tomb with his weapons, and that he was raised from the dead as a Ring Wraith by the Necromancer (Sauron).
The Ring Wraiths returned in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, during which they were defeated and apparently killed by Galadriel, Saruman, and Elrond, but the Necromancer resurrected them. Galadriel then banished all nine Ring Wraiths and Sauron to Mordor.
The Witch King led the hunt for the Ring disguised as a Black Rider. After being defeated at the ford of de Bruinen by a flood summoned by Elrond and Gandalf the Nazgul returned to Mordor and prepared to destroy Gondor. They got giant winged steeds named fell beasts. The Witch King led his armies to the Siege of Gondor and the Battle of the Pelennor Fields where he killed King Theoden of Rohan but he was confronted by a warrior who revealed herself as Eowyn, niece of the king.
She killed the beast and confronted the Witch King who broke her shield arm but he was stabbed by Merry (a Hobbit) with a sword of the Westernesse (a sword made specially to bring ruin to the Witch King) which broke the protection spell of the Witch King, then Eowyn killed the Witch King by stabbing him in the face. Both swords that pierced his undead flesh where broken few seconds later.
Characteristics[]
The Witch King was exceptionally intelligent and powerful being who was extremely good in strategy and had great knowledge of warfare but this lead to arrogance. He was over confident and proud, knowing the prophesy that he cannot be killed by any methods of men.
This led him to believe that he does not need to be concerned for his own existence or any danger which he might get in while fighting in battles. As a Nazgul the Witch King was completely bound to Sauron's will and needed to obey all of his orders. The Witch King lacked any emotions such as love, fear, joy, anger or happiness.
Powers and Abilities[]
The Witch King was a very skilled swordsman having used the weapon for more than 3000 years. He also used a mace (flail in the movies) which implied a great physical strength. The most powerful physical weapon of the Witch King was his smaller one: the Morgul Blade; anyone wounded by this dagger will be infected by a extremely powerful poison and if they died they will become a Wraith servant of the Witch King.
The Witch King was also a very talented sorcerer being able to break Frodo's sword and Gandalf's staff (in the movies) using his magic. Any weapon that harmed the Witch King will be destroyed and the wielder will be poisoned. If someone was near the Witch King it will suffer from the Black Breath which causes nightmares and unconsciousness and if exposed for enough time it can cause death.
The greatest weapon the Witch King got was fear, he was a terrible sorcerer known by the Dunedain and feared by them and then his simple aura gave fear to all except the bravest and his screech caused people to forget war, honor and courage replacing those thoughts with the s ingle thought of Death. The Witch King was immune to normal weapons (weapons should be made specifically to kill him) and could not be killed by men.
In Lego[]
Besides being sold on Ebay as a custom LEGO figure, the Witch-King also appeared in the Lego game Lego Lord of the Rings and will appear as a official LEGO figure in an upcoming 2014 Lego set of The Hobbit: There and Back Again.
Gallery[]
