Allegiance and Might: The Number of Nazg?l at Weathertop
“It is agreed that it would be futile to storm Minas Tirith this night. The enemy is not yet strong in manpower, and their armies are scattered. To recapture the pass is impossible without making a huge assault on the fortress of Minas Morgul, and that is not to be considered. But there is no certainty that the enemy will not gather power in these Orc-lands. Therefore, take this message: may it indeed allay the fears of your people! I will send you aid.” These words of Elrond ring through the annals of Middle-earth, leading into a critical confrontation at Weathertop. Join us as we explore the number of Nazg?l present during this crucial encounter and delve into the implications for their power and strategy.
Four Nazg?l During the Initial Encounter
During the initial encounter between Frodo and the Fellowship and the Nazg?l at Weathertop, four Nazg?l were present. According to the journey of Gandalf, who was pursuing a lead on the Nazg?l:
“I galloped to Weathertop like a gale and I reached it before sundown on my second day from Bree—and they were there before me. They drew away from me for they felt the coming of my anger and they dared not face it while the Sun was in the sky. But they closed round at night and I was besieged on the hill-top in the old ring of Amon S?n. I was hard put to it indeed: such light and flame cannot have been seen on Weathertop since the war-beacons of old. ‘At sunrise I escaped and fled towards the north. I could not hope to do more. It was impossible to find you, Frodo, in the wilderness and it would have been folly to try with all the Nine at my heels. So I had to trust to Aragorn.’”
This account sheds light on the nine Nazg?l who initially surrounded Gandalf, but only four (including the Witch-King and Khamul) pursued him to Weathertop. The remaining five were either present but did not join the attack or were seen but not included in the main confrontation.
Five Nazg?l in the Battle
On the night of the 6th of October, five Nazg?l resurfaced in their skirmish with Aragorn and the four hobbits on Weathertop. This number included the Witch-King and Khamul. Wendy Lawford's thorough analysis [1] further supports this scenario, suggesting that the remaining three Nazg?l may have joined the fray later in the contest but did not significantly alter the outcome.
According to the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, who provided additional notes about the Nazg?l, the Witch-King and Khamul were clearly involved in the initial conflict. Extrapolating from this, the three remaining Nazg?l were either spectators or joined the fray later, but their precise movements are not detailed. This leaves room for interpretation, but the most likely scenario is that the five remaining Nazg?l played a decisive role in the battle.
The Power of Nine or Six?
The question of whether the Nazg?l are more powerful as a group of nine or six leads us to a deeper understanding of their capabilities and strategy. From a military perspective, the theory that one needs to train to fight off up to five attackers is typically true. However, the Nazg?l represented a unique threat—an aggregation of nine fell captains.
Gandalf’s battle with the Nazg?l during his encounter at Weathertop supports this theory. He faced six of the Nazg?l, and even this formidable force did not manage to subdue him. He was surrounded, but his strategic use of enchantments and fire allowed him to repel the assault effectively. If those three additional Nazg?l had indeed joined the fray, it is unlikely that he would have exerted more effort—or significantly changed his strategy.
Conclusion: The Battle Strategy of the Nazg?l
Although the numbers of Nazg?l have been a subject of much speculation, the battle strategy as demonstrated in their encounter with Gandalf on Weathertop suggests that the presence of nine was a significant advantage. The coordination and the shared allegiance of the Nazg?l were evident in their ability to swiftly mobilize and their strategic positioning. This cohesion and shared purpose, combined with their collective fear of sunlight and fire, were key factors in their assault.
Despite the perceived advantage of nine, the battle’s outcome shows that their collective effort was more impactful than merely their total number. The power of the Nazg?l lies not in the mere count of their numbers but in their unifying strength, their fearlessness, and their singular focus. The five Nazg?l who engaged in the battle on the night of October 6 further validate the necessity and strategy of their attack.