The Rise of the Witch-king | Downfall of the Dúnedain - Tolkien Lore Video

[@danepatterson8107]

Another thread from Arnor in the Witch King's death at Pellenor is that Merry's blade came from the Barrow-Downs (gathered and recognized, then given by Tom Bombadil upon freeing the Hobbits from the Great Barrow). The blade was Westernesse and was specifically crafted to combat the Witch King and his minions! It is the wound from Merry that temporarily incapacitates the Witch King enabling Eowyn's final blow.

[@josephburgess3972]

Great observation! I wish that could have been done in the movies. One of the scenes I didn't like in the movies was the Witch King's "death". It just came across as kind of weak. The way it was presented was his overconfidence and being tricked is what did him in. They never mention the sword.

[@twotubefamily9323]

@@josephburgess3972 they did

[@josephburgess3972]

@@twotubefamily9323 When? I don't recall.

[@burkanarburky4447]

@@josephburgess3972it´s only mentioned in the book

[@christopherhicks8656]

Well said! And I would go so far as to add... the fact that Bombadil is the one who arms them with those blades is significant in itself. To me, Bombadil represented Arda. He was "Father Nature", with Yavanna being "Mother Nature". She paints, he is the canvas. So, one could say that that was the planet itself, striking a blow against the forces of death and destruction. And that's all just my take on it. My own "pet theory" if you will.

[@Chrisbi-Wan]

It almost seems like The Witch King had a grudge against the numenorean line of kings - almost like he resented not being able to hold their position.

[@johns1625]

He was Tar-Atanamir, the thirteenth King of Numenor

[@ooofsized2036]

More like the bitch king

[@kckaz4453]

@@johns1625 nah, M8. That cat died on the throne. Didn't fade into this like Mazzy Star.

[@ThexVaultxTech]

I always believed be was a pretender to the throne of numenor hence the tongue in cheek name

[@similaritiesendhere]

You forgot to mention that the dagger Merry stabs the Witch King with was a magical Arthedainian weapon. The Witch King was killed by a hobbit, a shield maiden AND an ancient Dunedain weapon potentially as powerful as Sting.

[@benlowe1701]

Not just any Barrow Weapon, but if it is indeed of from the Barrow of blade from the Barrow of the Last Prince of Cardolan, the Blade in question may have been specifically forged to kill wraiths, or even the Witch King himself. This blade rendered the Witch King vulnerable.

[@Andulvar]

Sorry, but powerful weapons tend to do more than just stab things. Tolken never wrote about magical weapons doing more than lighting up a room. You can do the same with a potato and an LED.

[@similaritiesendhere]

@@Andulvar You can look this up in The Hobbit for yourself. The daggers Tom Bombadil gave the hobbits were enchanted with Numenorean (dunedain) runes to counter the Witch King's magic. I'm not going to sit here and argue with someone who can't understand Tolkien's simplest book (The Hobbit). God help you if you ever read The Silmirillion.

[@similaritiesendhere]

@@Andulvar You can bind powerful magic to items with runes, songs, and words in Tolkien: Sauron's ring, Gates of Moria, "You shall not pass.", undead army's curse, Frodo cursing Gollum, creation of Arda, etc Take your ass back to the Encyclopedia of Arda website and don't touch a keyboard until you know what you're talking about. You don't understand these books at all.

[@similaritiesendhere]

@@Andulvar "Tolkien never wrote about magical weapons doing more than lighting up a room." Really? Didn't the ring wraiths have magical weapons that turned people into wraiths if they were stabbed? This is basic shit you could've gotten just from the movies.

[@brendanschwartz2198]

The part where it all comes full circle at the end actually gave me chills lol

[@lynnerose7891]

Tolkien is SUCH a masterful writer. Nobody has ever touched his work.

[@mikehawkhovers9872]

Except Amazon

[@thharrimw]

@@mikehawkhovers9872 they touched it like a bad uncle

[@aSSGoblin1488]

i really like the concept of a thousand year saga and an evil that bides its time... BUT the logical part of my brain says that don't these human fools develop gunpowder or the internal combustion engine in the meantime ? cannons and pike formations in the 1500's would make short work of the Witch King. just saying no shade. i love myths and stories like LoR but the sheer amount of time one would argue humanity could have nuked Sauron, the elves and orcs alltogether and humans would be the only dudes left. Jesus was born and 2000 years passed and we went from organized melee and cavalry armies of the romans to anti materiel drone tech, self learning algorithms and guided artillery shells. the humans surely have been sleeping in the LoR world lol. honestly think Subutai's army can take any army the LoR world can muster

[@pissoffeachother]

@@aSSGoblin1488 well no. 1500AD there was a LONG time humans waged war before 1500. You could say 10,000 years before. Actual human history DWARFS Tolkiens writing and we were pretty content with killing each other with sticks and stones for most of it.

[@gangetabellen]

@@thharrimw Didn't turn out all too bad tbf

[@pippinisawesome52]

I absolutely love the Nazgûl and the Witch King. They’re probably the characters in Tolkien that I know the most about and I always get excited when they come up in conversation. That being said, your ending to this video relating the Shire to Rohan and tying all the strings together blew my mind!! I had NEVER put that together and it is so awesome! Thank you!!😱

[@GreatGreebo]

I will never get tired of hearing about Middle Earth. Every detail is fascinating and to think that ONE amazing man created it all. Wow.

[@mygetawayart]

Everything Tolkien writes has the power of being so satisfactory. From the great glories of ages past, to their eventual downfalls only to be saved by the unlikeliest of friends, and the more backstory you know, the more those moments have an impact. At the end of the day, Éowyn and Merry's combined action and Aragorn's coronation have 1% of the weight without this backstory. LOTR just a satisfactory ending to it all.

[@nicktwyford]

There's something quite satisfying about the fact the nature of the threat changes proportionately with each age, from (like you said) Valar to Maiar to possible Numenorean. I also like how it seems to match their opposition in these ages, which I suppose could be broadly grouped into elves (first age), elves/numenoreans (second age) and men (third age.) Thanks though, have had lots of question about this period, glad to see them engaged with!

[@tolkienuntangled]

I think you're spot on with that. I guess you can tell a lot about the nature of each Age by looking at the great Enemy that it inspires!

[@TheDeadlyKnight]

Good observation. It gives this mythos a fitting scale throughout the unfolding mythology

[@Looshmal]

My take exactly. Possibly the proof that Hobbits are "Men" which brings about all sorts of questions about their time in Valinor before going to Mandos then into The Timeless Halls. What a fantastic video and comment! Thank you both!

[@jessewilliams9195]

I never made the connection of the Dunedain's allies avenging the death of their kings by the Witch King. Cool.

[@nilubensonofnimruzir1637]

It's interesting to note that the force that Gondor had sent north to deal with the Witch-king under Eärnur, the same one that filled the Grey Havens, Forlond and Harlond, and was considered by the Men and Elves of Eriador to be a massive army intended for a war between great kingdoms, was considered to be a small force by Gondor's standards, a mere fraction of Gondor's power. Which just goes to show how powerful Gondor was (even after centuries of decline) and how low Arnor had fallen at that point.

[@concept5631]

Sauron: Gondor OP plz nerf

[@SusanWojcickiTheBolshevik]

@@concept5631 Go play RuneScape nerd

[@concept5631]

@@SusanWojcickiTheBolshevik Maybe, nerd.

[@SusanWojcickiTheBolshevik]

@@concept5631 I just run around tempting people with good times 😂

[@concept5631]

@@SusanWojcickiTheBolshevik Fair

[@jayt9608]

Much of the details I knew, but it was the links between the details that made it so very fascinating. For instance Merry is the heir of the Master of Buckland. This and the Thain of the Tooks were the closest to noble/royal offices of hereditary descent in the Shire. Thus the Witch-King was killed by the next closest thing to kings that Rohan and the Shire had. Further Pippin, as the heir of the Thain, is both the inspiration for the battle that draws the Nazgul Lord to his demise, but is directly responsible for preserving the line of the Stewards so that they could fulfill at the very last their sacred trust. Without it being said, there are also the concerted efforts of Frodo, Sam, and Gollum as further representatives of the Hobbits who unseat the Dark Lord himself who had for two ages overlooked the future allies of his greatest foes. Did not Galdalf rightly say that the Shire was a center of Power, though of a different type than men, elves, and dwarves considered, and is it also then of no surprise that a Gardner such as Tom Bombadil would choose to live so near a land given to such a pastoral lifestyle?

[@Rellana1]

He said that their was Power to resist the Nazgul,but it was of a different kind to the power that the elf-lords at Rivendell possessed,as they had been to The Blessed Lands and had been allowed to return to Middle-earth,and having dwelled in The Blessed Lands granted them great power against both the Seen and Unseen.

[@vinylsolution2522]

Great analysis, absolutely rings true.

[@samueljones5421]

These videos are just perfect, I find myself rewatching them over and over

[@marydunlap5213]

Dude! Loving this. Been a fan Tolkien for over 40 years. Keep it coming awesome.

[@fabioeberlin7504]

I know this video has almost a year. But just watched it and Sir, thank you, it gave me the chills as I've always liked this part of the Middle-earth history...and the ending? Just perfect. Thank you very much.

[@tolkienuntangled]

Awesome! I'm very glad you enjoyed it!

[@astrogypsy]

You put that narrative together quite well. Thx.

[@daniell1483]

I just finished reading Fellowship of the Ring for the first time and it really strike me how the Black Riders are the principal agents of Sauron. All through the lands of Arnor, we see ruins of a once-great civilization, and the folk there, human and hobbit, pay it little attention. It is like they don't see that they are living in a graveyard, one largely engineered by the Witch King. It really makes me wonder what the Witch King's relationship with Sauron was like. Obviously, he was a servant of Sauron, but I kind of wonder if Sauron saw the Witch King as his strong right hand or if he disrespected the Witch King.

[@CatBxtchNami]

Probably wariness, Sauron was the right-hand man of Morgoth and the Witch-King was the nazgul with arguably the most free-will, paranoia was the main feeling Sauron felt at all times.

[@mygetawayart]

If you live in culturally important places, you'll find yourself passing by the signs of a civilization you barely know, which once stood with glory on the steps you're treading but is now wrapped by weeds and half-destroyed.

[@Charles-A]

Bet they were pals and called themselves by nicknames like Ron for sauron and Angy for the witch king of Angmar.

[@FranciscoPetrucioJunior]

@@Charles-A best headcanon ever

[@AlexMackenzie-nx5qq]

He has no choice but beSauron's puppet he's under control of the one ring, if he got hold of it he might then think I could keep this and make Sauron my bitch

[@kylejenkins1401]

Just want to say how much I love your channel. These videos are amazing. I always find myself checking for new ones. Keep up the great work, and thank you!

[@tolkienuntangled]

Thanks for your lovely words! I'm really glad you enjoy the videos. There will be a new one every week for at least the next six weeks.

[@ryanabate1981]

Get your lips off his butt. These videos are okay, not great cause he is so bias for his favorite characters and our shows when he misrepresents certain characters.

[@serpent645]

I've only become aware of your channel a few days ago. I've subscribed and set up for all notifications. I have to say, you can sure tell the story, thanks!

[@AgentFX]

I love that battle for middle earth rise of the witch king tells this story in a somewhat true to the source fashion. One of my favourite single player campaigns.

[@brandynharter23]

They really need to come out with a new rts game. I really miss playing it.

[@paolopesare3566]

​@@brandynharter23try BFME mods! Age of the Ring is beautiful and looks like a completely new game

[@jdatkin8601]

I'd like to thank you for your work, particularly this video on my favourite character. I'd also like to thank you for saving me a hell of a lot of time. I follow a lot of Tolkien pages and love every one however always wanted to listen to something more conversational. As they say; if you can't find what you want, make it. I was just prepping early scripts for a KZbin channel chatting about Tolkien lore when I stumbled across your page. This is exactly what I wanted to enjoy, a conversation with a friend about the deep nerdery of Tolkien. I look forwards to going through your back catalogue of videos and to enjoy new content as and when it is available.

[@tolkienuntangled]

Thanks! I'm really glad you enjoy the videos.

[@wolfgang4043]

The way you narrate is great! Thank you for your work!

[@Omizuke]

That roundabout way was awesome. When you mention that Argeleb II gave the land that bacame the Shire. I'm like ohh Merry. Then when you mention Calenardon, I'm like, "wait, Rohan?" when you confirm it I couldn't stop smiling thinking of Eowyn. And how she and Pipping dealt with the Witch-king.

[@oleksandrpertsiukh3204]

It's a crime that you have so few subs. Amazing job

[@freshhands9461]

Just decided that I might like the history of Arnor and the North the most. So few words, yet such an awesome piece of worldbuilding. Epic, melancholy and well integrated into the bigger picture.

[@rubycube1506]

You're an amazing storyteller and your knowledge about Tolkien and his universe... wow, my mind is blown. Thank you for sharing such deep insight with us. ❤

[@charlesmurray1220]

Fantastic! No pun intended. I've viewed about 10 of your presentations. Helpful and informing. What I had in the 1980's was a book, a guide, like a glossary, to help me dig deeper and understand better. Wish you were (and KZbin) were around in 1984.

[@rotwang2000]

When you look at the history of the Dunedain, Arnor and Gondor, it's a slow decline, punctuated by devastating losses and the odd king or steward who manages at best to buy time or maintain some kind of status quo until the next disaster. Aragorn really turns back that tide. He's not just another "good king who ruled wisely until the end of his days" He's the first real winner in nearly 3000 years and even then Tolkien figured that it probably would start to turn sour again right after he cashes in his gift of men.

[@thomaswalsh4552]

Aragorn wasn’t some perfect, amazing king who was responsible for pushing back the tide of darkness; he just happened to be crowned days after the final defeat of Sauron and the nazgul, witch king included, and that was only a few days after a major defeat for the armies of harad. The main proponents of evil were finished in a very definitive and permanent way, and the remaining antagonists had just suffered a major defeat, and so were easy to force into allegiance, especially because of the now more active than ever military alliance between Gondor and Rohan. Aragorn was great, but the timing of his reign was amazingly lucky. Literally could not have chosen a better time in the entire history of middle earth.

[@nilubensonofnimruzir1637]

While that might be the case for Arnor, that certainly isn't the case for its southern counterpart, at least in the first half of its existence. After the end of the Second Age Gondor grew rich and powerful, and it expanded its territory east, west, north and south. It was the dominant power in Middle-earth for centuries, and peoples from the Vales of Anduin down to the kingdoms of Harad swore fealty to them and were their tributaries; the Winged Crown of Gondor was 'held in awe by people of many lands and tongues'. It was really only their own hubris and idleness (after subjugating half of Northwestern Middle-earth, that is) that led to their downward spiral.

[@gangetabellen]

@@thomaswalsh4552 The timing of his reign was in no small part driven by Aragorn himself, he did play a rather active part in his ascension to the throne

[@Owlr4ider]

@@thomaswalsh4552 Aragorn was instrumental in the defeat of said evil and in essence to his own ascension to the throne. He wasn't just some random heir to the kingdom that was put on the throne by some council of scholars, he was an active participant in his own ascension. A very humble one at that who refused the throne initially, and his old identity at that, and instead went by the ominous Strider, hiding his entire identity while humbly being a ranger of the north guarding what remains of the free people against the forces of the enemy. Also what you attribute to luck is much more accurately portrayed as Gandalf's plan, as it was Gandalf who set this chain of events in motion in order to achieve this specific result.

[@TheDeadlyKnight]

King Earnur & his knightly escort I suspect were Shelob’s last meal of “sweeter meats” in the 3rd age.

[@Laucron]

Amazing lore and video aside, I really feel like we should give props to the concept designers of the movies on giving both Sauron and the Witch King such iconic and interesting designs. The helmet of the witch king is something that sticks with you for years and years, somehow. Absolutely beautiful

[@victorianguyen6620]

Dave I thoroughly enjoyed this! My first time listening. Learned a lot!😊

[@lobearden5723]

I literally adore your videos, Coat of Many Colors David! You amazing my man!

[@tolkienuntangled]

Thanks so much! I'm really glad you enjoy the videos!

[@williamerickson520]

Awesome video. I love hearing about the in-universe history of Middle Earth. I’ve drawn a lot of inspiration for my own story world.

[@oscarstainton]

A very thorough and engaging video, you make a convincing case for the Witch King being the true menace for the majority of the Third Age. I have been fascinated with Angmar since first reading about it, and the implication that this was a functioning realm with its ruler named a king and a shadowy reflection of Arnor, spreading fear, doubt and mistrust throughout the north. If it was a mannish kingdom with orcs as the backbone of the army, that’s certainly a creepy idea.

[@jbbryson8047]

Stunning artwork and brilliant content

[@christopherhicks8656]

It's SUCH a powerful statement. And one I hadn't connected the dots on, myself. Here you have these two mighty powers, grappling for thousands of years, neither being able to fully end the other. And what finally ends it, for good (double entendre intended ;)), is a pair of heartfelt gifts... one to a newly arrived people in need, and the other to a loyal ally. Through those simple actions, given with no thought for anything other than doing what was right and just, all the machinations of the Witch-king were finally brought to nothing. ...if that ain't PURE Tolkien, I don't know what is. Thanks for this!

[@OmegaPrimeChannel]

Awesome channel bro. Keep the good work 👏👏👏

[@Fenris77]

Great lore video. You have such a great voice for telling a story also. Great work. I liked how you explained that the final end of the Witchking came through a union of sorts from a Rohirrim shieldmaiden and a Hobit of the Shire who's ancestors had been gifted those lands. Poetic actually The final reckoning for Arnor and the line of kings against Angmar.

[@brucemcbain3150]

Very well done! Adding a juvenile comment, Argeleb is mentioned at 08:51, and he is re-named "Arglebargle IV" in National Lampoon's classic adaptation, "Bored of the Rings."

[@donmac4239]

Wow, what a great video about the Witch King. I don't know if I missed it, but Glorfindel's prophecy of the Witch King's downfall would have been a great inclusion during Earnur's battle and would tie up the end nicely.

[@jargalmaamh915]

beautiful contents , keep going :) Btw, Have you read all of Tolkien`s writings?

[@tolkienuntangled]

Thanks! I've read everything in Tolkien's Legendarium, and most of his non-legendarium works like Roverandom and Beowulf, although there's definitely still more to be read :)

[@flexplodin]

@@tolkienuntangled Enjoy the content, however stop overusing "so" for transitions. Your personality is at an 8 when 6 (neutral but human) would strike a broader demographic better. It also seems like you are making your sexuality (rainbow) part of your brand which will result in less return viewers. I'm honestly trying to help, cause everyone has blind spots. Also, there are people like me but are a little less interested and would stop at 1 video.

[@thezerowulf2046]

@@flexplodin I feel like you are the type of person to someone on a bus and be their life coach..

[@scuzzymcticklish199]

Can you include your sources in the description? I’d love to read further, thanks in advance! Subscribed

[@tolkienuntangled]

Pretty much all the information for this video came from Appendix A of the Lord of the Rings.

[@jamesrosales89]

really really good video thankyou ! so insightful and helps me piece it all together

[@pongpong1214]

Bro you are so good at story telling🔥much love

[@tolkienuntangled]

Thanks! Much love.

[@dronesclubhighjinks]

I was really enjoying this video up until I realized that this is one of the most incredibly, fabulously, satisfying videos I have ever seen! Enjoying is far too mild a word. 😄 The turning point was when you said the King gave his allies - these two brothers who happened to be hobbits - the land which became the Shire. And then the Steward, 1000 years later, gave his allies the land that became known as Rohan. And that is where my mind exploded 🤯 as it made the connection that descendants of the allies who were rewarded with land came together to defeat the Witch King! 🥳 When you mentioned earlier how the Witch King taunted the last King, whose horse ran away, I thought, "I bet when the Witch King descended on the Pelennor Fields in front of the King of Rohan, he casually assumed it was going to be business as usual. He thought: 'Either the King's horse will run away, or I'll kill him, but either way, this is a cakewalk of a victory. It'll be super easy, barely an inconvenience. Then I'll kill the old wizard, sack the city, and be home in time for tea. Good thing it's not raining. I hate it when my armour gets rusty. Well, The Eye will be pleased. I hope he will reward me with some fancy cakes this afternoon. And I'll give my fell beast that new chew toy he's been wanting. He's such a good boy!'" My Schadenfreude reaches an all-time high when I savour the delicious irony of Merry the hobbit of the Shire, and Éowyn the no-man-is-she of Rohan destroying him - with the big cherry on top being that Merry's dagger, found in the Barrow Downs, was made by the Witch King's ancient enemies... incredibly satisfying! I love this video! Thank you! ❤

[@MiKeY04TMNT]

I loved this video. Got your self a new sub. Always appreciate the lore of Tolkien.

[@tolkienuntangled]

Thanks! I'm really glad you enjoyed it.

[@no-jb8kp]

dude I bet the development of the witch king would make a great series or movie !!

[@DeathBYDesign666]

He's roughly the equivalent to Sauron what Sauron was to Morgoth, so he should be regarded as the third dark lord in my opinion. He commanded even the other Nazgul while Sauron was little more than a spirit being, he was more bound to saurons ring than he was to Sauron himself. I wonder what would have happened had he put on the ring himself, would he have manifested the powers of Sauron or would he become an avatar of Sauron?

[@sweeperboy]

Yes, that's a very good question actually. Had the Nazgul been successful at catching the Fellowship, it may well have been the Witch King from the evildoers who first held the Ring...would he have been able to overcome the chains of his thraldom to Sauron to claim it for himself or was he so much a puppet that he would have carried it all the way back to Mordor?

[@DeathBYDesign666]

@@sweeperboy I was thinking that there might be no need to bring it to Mordor, after all could a spirit even hold the ring? I'm not sure how it would work and perhaps all Sauron needed was for one of the wraith to put the ring on themselves and he would manifest through them. Maybe that's what he was counting on in the first place because he presumably chose each one of them for their lust for greater power, I don't think they are slaves as much as they are willful servants to the promise of greater power.

[@Jasonsoloka2024]

@@DeathBYDesign666 in the books he was a wraith not an eyeball

[@DeathBYDesign666]

@@Jasonsoloka2024 I didn't catch this reply but I believe that I mentioned that he was a spirit being, more or less the exact same thing as a wraith and I know I never mentioned him as an eye. I see what you meant, but he wasn't capable of the same amount of physical interaction as the nazgul. Wraith is kind of a broad definition that includes many types of spirit beings, even in the books from what I recall.

[@DeathBYDesign666]

@James Davis That's more semantics than anything though, he was probably the highest and most powerful being in middle earth at the time. Was sauron actively giving orders through him or was he just acting in his master's interests? These questions are not answered and one could say the same about Sauron and Morgoth. Technically he was a slave to the ring not to Sauron himself, Sauron was much less without possession of it as he poured most of himself into it.

[@darricktucker3401]

Awesome as usual homie

[@rockokodude]

thank you rainbow dave for another yet wonderful narration of the witch king of angmar's reign of terror, its sad tho in a happy way to see him die, not battling a great knight or king, but killed by a lady and a hobbit, which sauron his master wud not be happy about...also i always thot that the last king of arnor that marched and never returned....became of the ring-wraiths as well, were there already 6 or 9 then?

[@ashkanminaei3830]

Great video well-done

[@SirCodyHimself]

I'm a year late and I just started watching your vids but are you speaking elfish around 1min in? That's cool as heck

[@cathycotton9635]

Love your work. Thank you.

[@itayshorek6872]

awesome video!! thanks a lot! love the knowledge, energy and everything! just one request if i may: could you *not* use any pictures/videos from the lotr movies? i think it`s way better to use the art that leaves more place for imagination and your words AND i dont know how it is for others, but i watch the films every few years hoping i forget enough to enjoy it more. watching parts of it in those tolkien videos sucks for me thanks again!

[@migapiga]

So shook by the end 29:05 !!!!!!! So good

[@simonmorris4226]

And the moral of this tale is never mess with a northern lass!

[@Gtownislander]

Love your videos!

[@Randerson2409]

Just discovered this channel, and am binging videos now. Really enjoying it so far. Also, what is the greeting you start off your videos with? From the channel content, I'm assuming it is some form of Elvish? If anyone knows, I'd appreciate it!

[@banymany7444]

Crazy of how much Tolkien wrote about his world...

[@jdrvargo287]

This kind of character history videos really put into perspective what unlikely heroes folk like Merry, Eowyn, Sam and Frodo were. Sauron and the Witch King spent so much time battling mighty warriors, great kings and legendary heroes, yet not by such hands do they fall. They fall to those whose who were unknowns to the great events of the world. If Sauron and the Witch King ever imagined their own fall, they probably pictured falling to a legendary elven warrior or someone of Numenorean blood. Never by Hobbits or a woman who had never been in pitched battle before.

[@JoeBossRedSeven]

🤗💞📖Love you back Lore Master📖💞🤗

[@andreaantonel2722]

" But [emphatic pause] " of yours are so iconic. Let's build a drinking game on them.

[@davidthetraveler1466]

It's kind of interesting, when you look at it, how many dominoes there are in the story of the Third Age that ultimately end up aligning so precisely as to see about the end of both Sauron and the Witch King. It's another one of the reasons I love the Legendarium so much. Everything is connected, like a woven mesh of threads in a single grand tapestry of fate. Displace one thread, one knot, one single point where two threads cross, join, or separate, and the entire picture could be irrevocably changed.

[@maoalexandros]

The Witch-king fled mid-laugh as he saw Glorfindel riding towards them~ 😊

[@johns1625]

The Witch King is Tar-Atanamir, the 13th king of Numenor. When the 9 rings began to turn their bearers into wraiths, it is said they suffered terrible visions and began to fade and disappear, reappearing weeks or years later. Tar-Atanamir disappeared completely and his son was crowned before his own funeral service. He suffered terrible visions and disappeared for weeks at a time. It fits exactly and is the only one it really COULD be.

[@broganrwells]

Where that from??? Cool as hell

[@Riku_Light]

I’m sorry, but I just looked him up. Tar-Atanamir did no such thing. He remained king until he died at the age of 421. Nothing about him vanishing. I must ask if you got that from the Shadow video games? Those are great games, but inaccurate lore wise.

[@lecktmich6780]

A mighty Numenorian Lord in one of their mainland territories seems more likely. It is told that Numenorians were very mighty rulers in Middleearth. The Kingsman also were extremly brutal and interested in gold and might. In their will to be like the elves it is also very likely that they tried themselve in magic. So while Sauron also was in his fair form it is very likely that he had found allies within the Numenorians and also teached them (like the Mouth of Sauron; also a so called Black Numenorian so a descendant of Kingsmen)

[@chrisbusch1970]

bravo! well done

[@nightdriver7216]

I really like the idea of the Witch-King actually being a major player with interests at stake. Shadow of War is non-canon but, in that game, the Witch-King tempts the human protagonist throughout the game to join the Nazgûl for some unspecified reason. One could wonder if, also in canon, the Witch-King had some elaborate plan to eventually overtake Sauron as the Dark Lord. After all, Men joined Sauron because they were seduced by the opportunity of power and immortality the Rings presented to them, and maybe the Witch-King saw that he could do "more" than just being Sauron's general, perhaps even out of resentment.

[@CatBxtchNami]

Yeah and despite his name, he probably wasn't a king before becoming a nazgul.

[@S3AL1992]

Great video

[@bruceadams820]

I had a great time listening to your tale. Your new subscriber B

[@tolkienuntangled]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it

[@lopirobinson1991]

The Witch King is one of the baddest, most wicked right hands of evil ever! Sauron’s black sword, herald of doom. Fitting that, like Sauron was to Morgoth, The Witch King is to Sauron, only totally enslaved.

[@AzoiatheCobra]

The Witchking was a better right hand to Sauron than what Sauron was to Morgoth... not that Sauron was a bad right hand mind you, but he had more competiton with Glaurung and Gothmog as a right hand...

[@CatBxtchNami]

@@AzoiatheCobra Khamul was the rival for the Witch King, we just didn't hear about his accomplishments because Tolkien didn't wrote about the eastern lands.

[@hollyh-zw1yb]

I love your Elfish. It sounds like Gaelic...

[@mijiyoon5575]

Shared to: FB, Twitter, Pinterest...TY 👍👍👍👍👍

[@tolkienuntangled]

Thanks very much! I really appreciate it.

[@afuaioane1644]

Wonderful

[@lefthook4878]

Tolkien was a freaking genius

[@AlexisSele]

Made me tear up at the end

[@nophdcoyote3635]

So powerful and in wisdom is Tom, that it is conceivable that he could have blessed the weapons in the barrow downs and they may not have been pre enchanted.

[@slidvonjunzt7608]

THe witch kings helmet kinda looks like a cross between the Soulfly symbol/logo and the COC skull logo! ;'D

[@BlackLung911]

Great expansion on the charachters. :)

[@hadleyscott1160]

Great story loved it.

[@baabashop]

5:49 "only one thing has been long known about this horrid foe, my Lord: the dude is patient"

[@RonPalacio]

I want this as a Movie!!

[@mojojojoslyfoxharris]

Now this would be an interesting spin-off show that I would love to see! Focus a TV show on the life of the Witch-King/Kingdom of Arnor when he makes his return to Angmar because he was ordered by a then weakened Sauron to destroy the Kingdom of Arnor: 1st season > How the Witch-King rallies the Hillmen/orcs to his cause and how he like Sauron corrupts the region of Rhudaur to him. Ultimately, war is declared and the Witch King successfully kills the Arnor king at Weathertop and believes victory is in his grasp. However, Elrond & Cirdan rally to the call of Arnor and defeat the Witch-King in the first battle of Fornost. Even though defeated, the Witch King says he's immortal, so he can wait hundreds of years to wage this war. 2nd season > Starts with the Witch King's curse of the Barrow-downs to weaken the realm of Cardolan. Consequently, the Arnor king calls for aid from Gondor knowing the Witch King will attack Fornost again. The Witch King successfully conquers Fornost and the Arnor king dies in the snowy realm of Forochel. However, the season ends with the combined army of Gondor landing, rallying with Elrond, Glordindel, and Cirdan to expel the Witch-King from Arnor forever. 3rd season > How the Witch King is defeated by the combined army, but he has his "coward" moment with Earnur before fleeing back to Mordor. Although defeated, Sauron assures him that he succeeded in his mission because the only remnant of Arnor left were the Dunedain Rangers. Consequently, he makes him the Lord of the Nazgul and has them unite forces to capture the city of Minas Ithil to turn it eventually into Minas Morgul. The show ends with his duel of King Earnur and while eager to attack Gondor after this, a weakened Sauron orders the Nazgul to bide their time until the One Ring has been found again, so until that happened, build their army and forces to be ready once that happens. I just think it would be very interesting & unique to focus a show where you have a villain as the main character of it, we learn more about the Nazgul themselves, their Black Breath, get Glorfindel & Cirdan finally involved on the big screen, and more Elrond time. I find the Witch King's story interesting because even though he might have been defeated on face value, he still managed to achieve success in the grand scheme, and that's how he probably rose to become the leader of the Nazgul and Sauron's most trusted & deadliest servant.

[@jeluenhayo2410]

I like how the last screenshot is Witch-King who has this iron tongue sticking out :D

[@CalridRobnor123srs]

Sauron is of course smart, but as a general of Sauron the Witchking is a genius. How he sowed the seeds of destruction in the realms that once were Arnor was, just a mastery of techniques of attrition. Patient tactics, something Sauron and of Course Morgoth didn't seem to use, they seemed to use more brute force.

[@CalridRobnor123srs]

I think as well The Kingodom of Rohan is most closley related to the English, I know that's a controversial thing, but the fact their native tongue is Anglo Saxon, Tolkiens forté of course suggests, he though very deeply about sundered kingdoms by other realms in the history of The English. The Danelands will without. Of course at the end of the day it's fantasy, and nothing relates to the real wrold, but you cannot doubt the real world related to Tolkien.

[@lecktmich6780]

Then you forget the downfall of Numenor. Because Sauron defeated Numenor only by himself. Starting as a captured enemy. Also in the first age Sauron used spells and magic for example songs of power. Which is not brute force.

[@jeremiahalonzo]

I think a Witch-King is a king the same way a Witch-Doctor is a doctor. Aint no witch doctors that are MDs.

[@undeadaeon9992]

Md in theology

[@sbam4881]

25:33 Wait. What crown is what now. From what I remember of the lore (but my memory is a bit fuzzy), the actual Crown of the united kingdoms was that worn by Isildur and it was lost, along with the One Ring, in the river when Isildur was slain. This Crown was later re-discovered in Isengard after the defeat of Saruman (who had apparently found it, along with the chain upon which Isildur wore the Ring, during his long search looking for the Ring for himself). The crown left in Gondor was just the crown of the Earnil line, but Aragorn was crowned with the Crown of Isildur.

[@tolkienuntangled]

Yeah, so you're right that the jewelled crown of Isildur was found in Orthanc, but this is after Aragorn is crowned king. Aragorn is crowned with the Winged crown of Gondor, which is the crown worn by previous Gondorian kings, and left in the Houses of the Dead by Earnur.

[@sbam4881]

@@tolkienuntangled Cheers, thanks. I haven't read Tolkien material for 10+years. I'll have to watch more of your vids to get back up to speed 😄

[@ashkanminaei3830]

Tolkien was a legend and is the world he created also

[@deplorablekunt]

Not bringing down this video or anything, but I never thought of the Witch King as any more than a tool to be used by Sauron.

[@SunburnAndDragon]

04:44 I am reading LOTR again, and during the Council of Elrond, Gandalf says, while recounting his encounter with Radagast : "For even the Wise might fear to withstand the Nine, when they are gathered together under their fell chieftain. A great king and sorcerer he was of old, and now he wields a deadly fear." 😶

[@PhooPhooMagoo]

Still the coolest name of anybody in any of the epic fantasy worlds I'd say.

[@typacsk]

16:13 "To lose one palantir is a tragedy; to lose two looks like carelessness."

[@rodgerbane3825]

I guess being a Wraith makes one patient. Not like you've got a lot of good parties to go to.

[@arezdracul8650]

Angmar? Where is that on the LOTR map? Also, I would like to know where did the Hobits originate from and where did Gulum find the one ring.

[@tolkienuntangled]

It's right up in the frozen north. Where the Misty Mountains begin.

[@sweeperboy]

To answer the last point, Smeagol (Gollum) found the One Ring in the Anduin, to the east of the Misty Mountains (in Rhovanion). The Hobbits probably came from this side as there are references to them later crossing the Misty Mountains to eventually get to the Shire and a couple of other areas in Eriador.

[@dannygld23]

It's pure poetry. Tolkien was the master

[@willdemi5618]

Oh i love this, I share the same sentiment. I think the witch king should have been given a birghter spotlight (in the films atleast, as i said previously after 22 years im having like a lotr films mandala like effect, where it just slowly filled the things I forgot in) ordered the illustrated lotr so i can reread lol. I think part of what makes the witch king so cool is that he isnt a vala or maia, hes a new kind of evil and we dont quite know the depths of this new power. Idk i always kinda saw him as Saurons defacto will on arda as he was a shadow of himself by then.

[@willdemi5618]

Ever wonder why Sauron never tried to take control of Durins bane? Could he not exert his will on another Maia, even being the "mightiest" (lol it's like a Tolkien specific hint that this guy will turn into a dick lol, feanor was mightiest as well right?) Maia. That was my assumption as to why he left it post "Moria". It's interesting to think he possibly feared this more combat adept evil Maia, but it does make a lot of sense of why his greatest servant is one of the children of Eru twisted in his own image.

[@jeffburke5606]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this yet, but the element _ar(n)_ is not Andunaic but Sindarin. It means 'high, noble, royal' and is also present in the name Arnor (from _arndor_ 'royal land').

[@groszoh]

Hello LOTR enthusiasts, I actually thought that this video would deal with the 2nd Age sources of the Nazgul and the Witch King. The Akallabeth (the Downfall of Numenor) mentions that Numenoreans began settling in Middle Earth quite early in the Second Age as part of the expansion of the Numenorean Ship-Kings - first ships around 600 SA. Sauron was still capable of hiding his evil persona and it is likely that he was able to seduce a number of the Numenoreans even at this early stage, probably around 1000 SA, when he begins the building of Barad Dur. In the Tale of Years, Appendix B of LOTR, it is noted that the Elves of Eregion begin the forging of Rings of Power around year 1500 SA. Celebrimbor made the 3 rings without Sauron's involvement, so they must have been instructed by Sauron before this time. This gives us the time framework in which Sauron must have created the rings which he then gave to the Dwarves and what must have been some princes of Numenor, ie. some time between 1000 and 1500 of the SA. Sauron forges the One Ring in 1600 in Orodruin, initiating the war with the Eldar of Middle Earth. Eriador is overrun by Sauron, and the Men and Elves are only saved by the arrival of the large Numenorean fleet of Tar Minastir in 1700. Sauron is only driven out of Eriador, however, and still maintains his power in the East. The Tale of Years notes the first appearance of the Nazgul in 2251, and they only "go into the shadows" when Isildur takes the Ruling Ring from Sauron. End of SA. At around 1050 of the Third Age (TA) a shadow falls on Greenwood and it begins to be called Mirkwood. Dol Guldur is identified as a stronghold of evil by the Eldar and Istari (wizards) in 1100 TA, and they suspect that it is the Nazgul. The Nazgul reappear openly in 1300, and the Chief of them moves North to Angmar, though he may not have been identified at this stage as the Witch King. PS. I would love to fill in the time gaps which the above summary brings to light but this is all I got

[@ashkanminaei3830]

How did Tolkien created such a great story and are all old man such creatives

[@mayalackman7581]

Tolkien didn't start as an old man. He was 24 when he began writing about middle Earth. He was still writing about it when he died in his 80s. That's the secret. His commitment to Middle Earth was such that he wrote about it almost his entire life.

[@mrswinneysgamechannel.2365]

In my letsplay of the Rise of the Witch King, I (sort of) gave him the epithet of, 'The King of the Fell Winter'.

[@keremkonar2084]

Ending send shivers down my spine