The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
First seen c. II 2250; went 'into the shadows' II 3441; reappeared in Middle-earth c. III 1300; finally destroyed in III 3019
Race
Divisions
Various, including some Númenóreans
Other names
Titles

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About this entry:

  • Updated 9 October 2016
  • This entry is complete

Nine Ringwraiths

Slaves of the One Ring

Sauron's plans to enslave the Elves to his will failed when they became aware of his Great Ring, but in the War of the Elves and Sauron he was able to recover many of the Rings of Power from Eregion. He used sixteen of these to ensnare mortal races of Arda, and the greater part of these he assigned to Men, who had always fallen most easily under the power of the Dark Lords. So, he granted nine Rings of Power to nine lords of Men, each of whom slowly fell under his power until they became wraiths, dominated by Sauron's will and slaves to his One Ring. By the end of the Second Age, these had become the greatest and most terrible of all his servants, and they haunted Middle-earth until the time of the War of the Ring at the end of the Third Age.


Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 9 October 2016
  • This entry is complete

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