NAZGÛL
The Nazgûl, also known as the Ringwraiths, Black Riders, or the Nine, are nine mortal men corrupted and enslaved by Sauron through the Nine Rings of Power. As the Dark Lord's chief lieutenants and dread servants, they hunt relentlessly for the One Ring across Middle-earth throughout the Second and Third Ages.
Cronologia
Biografia
The Nazgûl (derived from the Black Speech 'nazg' meaning 'ring' and 'gûl' meaning 'wraith') were originally nine great mortal kings, sorcerers, and warriors of Men who received Rings of Power from Sauron during the Second Age.
Corrupted over time by their rings, their physical bodies permanently faded until they became invisible specters bound entirely to the power of Sauron and the One Ring. Throughout Middle-earth's history, the Nazgûl served as Sauron's most fearsome commanders.
Led by the Witch-king of Angmar and his second-in-command Khamûl the Easterling, they established fell realms like Angmar to destroy the Dúnedain Kingdom of Arnor and conquered Minas Ithil, turning it into Minas Morgul. During the War of the Ring, Sauron dispatched all Nine to hunt down Frodo Baggins, first as cloaked Black Riders on horseback and later atop winged Fell Beasts. The Nazgûl directed Sauron's armies during the Siege of Gondor and the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, where the Witch-king was ultimately slain. The remaining eight Ringwraiths perished on March 25, TA 3019, when the One Ring was destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom.
Storia
The origins of the Nazgûl lie in the Second Age between SA 1500 and 1600, when Sauron tricked Celebrimbor and the Elven smiths of Eregion into forging the Rings of Power.
Sauron seized sixteen of these rings and bestowed nine upon powerful lords of mortal Men, including three noble lords of Númenor and Khamûl, a king of the Easterlings. The rings granted these leaders immense power, wealth, and long life, but gradually turned them invisible and enslaved them to Sauron's will.
First making their public appearance as Ringwraiths around SA 2251, they served Sauron until his defeat by Isildur at the end of the Second Age (SA 3434–3441), which forced them into a shadow realm. They re-emerged around TA 1300, with the Witch-king establishing Angmar to destroy the northern kingdom of Arnor. After conquering Minas Ithil in TA 2002 to prepare Mordor for Sauron's return, they reoccupied Dol Guldur and eventually launched the open Hunt for the Ring in TA 3018.
I PEZZI DI NAZGÛL
Evoluzione
The Nazgûl underwent a complete spiritual and physical evolution throughout Middle-earth's history. Beginning as powerful mortal Men—kings, sorcerers, and warriors—they used their Rings of Power to acquire vast wealth and authority during the Second Age. However, as the corrupting influence of the Nine Rings took hold over centuries, their mortal forms slowly faded until they existed entirely as invisible specters in the wraith world. Strategically, their operational roles evolved alongside Sauron's changing power.
During the Second Age, they functioned as shrouded lieutenants, but by the Third Age they established sovereign dark realms like Angmar to destroy Arnor and captured Minas Ithil. During the War of the Ring, their tactics shifted from covert, horse-mounted tracking across Eriador as Black Riders to terrorizing armies from above mounted on massive, flying Fell Beasts. Across adaptations, from Tolkien's literary drafts to video games like Middle-earth: Shadow of War, their backstories have expanded from mysterious riders to tragic, individual historical figures bound eternally to Mordor.
Da Collezione
In collectibles and merchandise tie-ins—such as physical LEGO minifigures appearing alongside media like Lego The Lord of the Rings (2012)—the Nazgûl remain iconic figures.
Display pieces typically focus on two distinct looks: the faceless, black-robed rider atop a dark steed and the spiked helmet and gauntlets of the Witch-king of Angmar. Formations featuring the Ringwraiths riding flying Fell Beasts are widely regarded as prized centerpiece statues among Middle-earth fantasy display collections.
The live-action film The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum (2027) takes place during the 17-year gap when Sauron and the Nazgûl actively hunted Gollum.
