Frodo, Sam and Gollum’s Destination – Path to Minas Morgul at Ephel Duath
Ephel Duath also known as the Mountains of the Shadow, was the consecutive mountains that surrounded Mordor from the west and south. Ephel Duath met Ered Lithui, the mountain ranges of Mordor at the north at Morannon.
After Faramir released Sam, Frodo and Gollum at Henneth Annun(in the movie Osgiliath, Frodo and Sam followed Gollum where Gollum led to the only path through the Ephel Duath mountain ranges.
The trio passed the Ithilien region and headed to the Morgul Pass that led to Minas Morgul to reach the Pass of Cirith Ungol. Gollum, Frodo and Sam had to pass by Minas Morgul to enter Cirith Ungol.
Darkness of Sauron – Advance of the armies of Mordor
The uruks of Mordor had some resistance to sunlight, however ordinary orcs, goblins and trolls were vulnerable when they were exposed to sunlight.
As the sun was one of the creations by the Valars and Iluvatar, the power of the sun weakened the evil creatures that weren’t created by Iluvatar, the God of middle earth.
Sauron would use his magic to cause darkness to cover the sunlight so his armies of Mordor could advance. Gandalf knew that the shadows and darkness caused by Sauron’s magic initiated the assault of the dark forces of Mordor.
Minas Morgul – Old city of Minas Ithil
Minas Morgul used to be called Minas Ithil that means “Tower of the Moon”. Minas Ithil was the key city and capital of the Ithilien region of Gondor and Isildur used to reside on Minas Ithil.
Minas Ithil was technically the brother city of Minas Tirith as the two brothers Isildur and Anarion each established in Minas Ithil and Minas Tirith(Minas Anor, the Tower of the Sun).
However, Minas Ithil fell into the forces of Mordor and the Ithilien region now became threatened by the forces of Mordor. The Ithilien rangers were formed after Minas Ithil and parts of Ithilien fell into Sauron.
Sauron would gift the main fortress of Minas Ithil to the Witch King of Angmar and changed its name to Minas Morgul. The name Minas Morgul meant the Tower of Sorcery as it became the main base of the Witch King of Angmar.
Palantir of Minas Morgul – Palantir of Ithil
Minas Ithil also held a Palantir and when Minas Ithil fell into Sauron’s hands, Sauron also claimed the Palantir of Ithil. The Palantir of Ithil now became the Palantir of Minas Morgul which Sauron used to corrupt Saruman to form an alliance with him.
Sauron would also drive Denethor 2nd’s mind mad and discouraged him as Denethor 2nd accessed the Palantir of Minas Tirith in search of knowledge and power
Eventually Denethor 2nd was able to obtain some information from the Palantir, however Sauron and possibly Saruman was able to crumble Denethor 2nd’s mind and Gondor became vulnerable in the absence of leadership.
Witch King of Angmar, Lord of the nine nazguls
The Witch King of Angmar became the leader of the nine nazguls after the Witch King of Angmar was able to perish Arthedain, Rhudaur and Cardolan the three kingdoms that descended from Arnor.
Also, the Witch King of Angmar successfully cut off the royal blood line of Anarion, the blood line of the kings of Gondor. With a high chance, the Witch King of Angmar was a Numenorean that accepted one of the rings of power from Sauron.
The Witch King of Angmar became the lord of Minas Morgul and the leader of the nine nazguls for his contribution. The Morgul Blade of the Witch King of Angmar stabbed Frodo Baggins that left permanent pain on Frodo Baggins.
After the Bruinen river washed away the nazguls, the Witch King of Angmar prepared his army to invade Gondor with his lieutenant Gothmog(Gothmog’s race is unknown in the original novel)
Cutoff of the royal blood line of the kings of Gondor
Earnur the 33rd king of Gondor and the last bloodline of Anarion was lured by the Witch King of Angmar. Earnur had a grudge against the Witch King of Angmar as Earnur was mocked by the Witch King during the Angmar War.
Earnur led the reinforcements of Gondor to support the elves of Rivendell, Lindon and Lothlorien along with the descendants of Arnor to destroy the evil kingdom Angmar.
However, the Witch King of Angmar fled while humiliating Earnur. Earnur didn’t forget this and when he returned to Gondor, the Witch King of Angmar taunted Earnur once more. Earnur despite objections went after the Witch King of Angmar and went missing.
Earnur was the last bloodline of Anarion and the royal blood line of Gondor was finished(Until Aragorn arrived). This marked the start of the Ruling Stewards of Gondor while Gondor’s king was absent for hundreds of years.
Angmar, History of the Evil Kingdom
The Witch King of Angmar received his name as he once ruled the kingdom of Angmar. Angmar was an evil kingdom built by the nazgul Witch King of Angmar that was located right above the lands of Arnor in the north of Eriador.
Angmar was the only kingdom of Sauron that once existed on the west side of the Misty Mountains.
Carn Dum was the capital of Angmar where the Witch King of Angmar would gather orcs, trolls, wargs, goblins and evil mento finish off Arthedain,
Cardolan and Rhudaur that descended from Arnor, the Northern Kingdom of the Dunedain.
The Witch King of Angmar was successful in destroying the remnants of Arnor but Angmar also perished right after all the kingdoms of Arnor fell by the Angmar War.
Prophecy of the Witch King of Angmar
He will not return to this land. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall.
- Glorfindel –
Glorfindel from the original novel that didn’t appear in the movie made the prophecy of the Witch King of Angmar as Earnur and Glorfindel lost the Witch King of Angmar that fled from Carn Dum when the kingdom of Angmar fell.
The prophecy of the Witch King of Angmar was ambiguous where most thought ‘man’ meant humans but it literally meant a ‘male person’ as the Witch King of Angmar is later destroyed by Eowyn a woman and a halfing hobbit Merry(Merriadoc Brandybuck).
