The White Council

Re: Gothmog the Castellan

Tolkien and Inklings Discussion

: Why would the govenor or castellan of a city or fortress need to outrank any other being who might dwell in or visit the city? Most of the Nazgul seem to have been fairly mobile, they were Sauron's top enforcers, whatever ranking system they had amongst themselves they undoubtedly were more powerful and fearsome than any other of Sauron's servants.

I don't think the nazgul were very mobile. They spent about 1000 years in Minas Morgul before Sauron came, and after that their only trip outside Ithilien was at the search for the ring, and the regrouping of Khamul and one other to Dol Guldur and one to Barad Dur to be Saurons messager.

: Because of their peculiar condition, semi-embodied wraiths, they were probably not suited to oversee the day to day running of a city of corporeal beings. How can a being who presumably does not eat or drink deal with the provision of food and drink to beings who depend on these things for their lives? Much better to delegate this responsibility to a living creature. Given Sauron's choice of candidates from orcs, trolls and men, the psychological and intellectual difficulties of the first two races tends to narrow Gothmog's identity down to him being a man.

Who said Gothmog took care of suplies? The only thing we hear about him is that he was second in command of the army of Minas Morgul. I agree that a man was probably in charge of food suplies, but Gothmog was a millitary leader.

: As for his assuming command during the battle of Pelennor, I would guess that Morgul had given him direction of the forces before he took to the air on his special mission to try to stem the attack of the Rohirrim. A being on a flying beast at the front line of his army and engaging in personal combat is not in the best position to direct the army as a whole. Where was "Stormin Norman" in the Gulf War? You can bet he was not in an attack helicopter half-way to Baghdad!

Yes, the Witch King probably gave him the command of the forces when he attaced Theoden, but wy would he give the command to a man who was taking care of food for the army, when he had at least five nazguls there too with much more experience in war than any man alive? At least one of them might even be a Numenorian of the second age?

BTW I have seen the name Morgul for the chief nazgul several places, but I have never seen Tolkien write it. If he has, where does he say that? If he hasn't, why do so many people call him Morgul?

Maglor