An encyclopedia of Middle-earth and Numenor

Azog

In 2790 of the Third Age - twenty years after the Dwarves had been driven from the Lonely Mountain by Smaug - Thror set out for Moria accompanied by Nar. He went into the East-gate and did not return. Several days later, Azog emerged with Thror's body. The head had been severed and Azog had carved his name in Dwarf runes into Thror's forehead. Azog threw a bag of coins at Nar and told him to spread the word among the Dwarves that Azog ruled in Moria.

Thror's son Thrain mustered an army of Dwarves and launched a war against the Orcs of the Misty Mountains in 2793. In 2799 the Battle of Azanulbizar was fought in Dimrill Dale. Nain stood at the East-gate of Moria and called for Azog to come out. Azog and Nain fought on the doorstep. As Nain tried to strike a blow, Azog stepped aside and kicked his leg and then broke the Dwarf's neck as he stumbled. But Azog's victory was short-lived. He saw that the Orcs in the valley were being routed by the Dwarves, and he tried to flee back into Moria, but then Nain's son Dain Ironfoot slew Azog with his axe.

Azog's head was cut off and put on a stake, and the bag of coins he had thrown at Nar was stuffed into his mouth. But although the Dwarves won the Battle of Azanulbizar they did not reclaim Moria, for they had suffered much loss and Dain had looked through the East-gate into Moria and became aware that Durin's Bane, the Balrog, still lurked there.

Azog's son Bolg succeeded him. Bolg was the leader of the Orcs at the Battle of the Five Armies in 2941.

Sources:
The Hobbit: "An Unexpected Party," p. 33; "The Clouds Burst," p. 292
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "Durin's Folk," p. 354-56

Bolg

At the Lonely Mountain, Bolg led the Orcs and Wargs into battle with the Dwarves, Wood-elves, and Lake-men. He was surrounded by a bodyguard of huge Orcs with steel scimitars. Thorin Oakenshield tried to break through Bolg's bodyguard, but he could not pierce their ranks and soon he was surrounded and later died of the wounds he received. Then the Eagles arrived and after them came Beorn in the shape of a bear. Bolg was slain by Beorn and the Orcs and Wargs were defeated.

Names & Etymology:
Also called Bolg of the North.

Sources:
The Hobbit: "The Clouds Burst," p. 292-93, 295-96; "The Return Journey," p. 302
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "Durin's Folk," p. 359

Golfimbul

Source:
The Hobbit: "An Unexpected Party," 26

But Gorbag thought that perhaps the War would not go as planned. There were reports of spies on the Stairs of Cirith Ungol and Gorbag was sent to investigate with a company of over 80 Orcs. On March 13, 3019 of the Third Age, he encountered Shagrat's company and they found the body of Frodo Baggins outside Shelob's Lair. The Great Spider Shelob had wrapped Frodo in her web and Gorbag thought he was dead, but Shagrat said he was only unconscious. Gorbag pointed out that someone else had stabbed Shelob and escaped and he told Shagrat that there might be a great Elf warrior on the loose, but Shagrat dismissed his warning.

Frodo was taken to the Tower of Cirith Ungol to be questioned. When he was stripped, his mithril shirt was revealed and Gorbag coveted it. He fought with Shagrat and wounded him with a knife, and Shagrat strangled Gorbag and left him for dead. But Gorbag was still alive and he lunged at Shagrat with a broken spear and tried to take the mithril shirt from him. Shagrat stabbed Gorbag in the throat and killed him and then stomped and slashed his body.

Sources:
The Two Towers: "The Choices of Master Samwise," p. 345-52
The Return of the King: "The Tower of Cirith Ungol," p. 178, 182-83

Gothmog

Great Goblin Orc leader in the Misty Mountains. The Great Goblin was a very large Orc with a huge head. He was the chief of a group of Orcs who lived in Goblin-town near the High Pass. They preyed on travelers who used another, easier pass near the main gate of Goblin-town until people started avoiding that route over the mountains. The Orcs then made another gate that opened into a cave that they called the Front Porch at the top of the High Pass. In the summer of 2941 of the Third Age, the Dwarves of Thorin & Company along with Bilbo Baggins were captured on the Front Porch and were brought before the Great Goblin. He was seated on a flat stone and surrounded by armed guards. The Great Goblin demanded to know what the Dwarves were doing in the mountains.  When it was revealed that Thorin carried the Elvish sword Orcrist - which the Orcs feared and called Biter - the Great Goblin was enraged and leaped to attack Thorin. Then Gandalf appeared and killed the Great Goblin by running him through with his sword Glamdring.  The death of the Great Goblin angered the Orcs of the Misty Mountains. A great army of Orcs and Wargs was amassed by Bolg - whose father Azog had been killed by a Dwarf. Bolg's forces tracked Thorin & Company to the Lonely Mountain where they fought the Battle of the Five Armies against the Dwarves, Wood-Elves, and Lake-Men. Sources: The Hobbit: "Over Hill and Under Hill," p. 71-75; "Riddles in the Dark," p. 83; "Out of the Frying-pan into the Fire," p. 105-6, 112; "Queer Lodgings," p. 133, 142; "The Clouds Burst," p. 292

The Great Goblin by John Howe

Grishnakh left Mordor on January 18, 3019 of the Third Age, after Sauron learned of the Fellowship's passage through Moria. He crossed the Anduin near Sarn Gebir on January 26 and encountered messengers travelling to Isengard with news of the Fellowship's journey. Grishnakh then returned to the eastern side of the Anduin and reported to one of the Nazgul.

On February 2, Grishnakh received orders to cooperate with the Uruk-hai of Isengard. Grishnakh made contact with Ugluk of Isengard on February 10 north of Sarn Gebir. Grishnakh and his troop of Orcs kept watch on the east bank of the Anduin. On February 22, his scouts reported that the Fellowship was boating downriver.

Grishnakh's Orcs were joined by a Nazgul. On February 23, they attacked the Fellowship as their boats were driven toward the eastern shore by the rapids of Sarn Gebir. The Fellowship managed to escape to the western shore, and Legolas shot the Fell Beast ridden by the Nazgul.

Grishnakh crossed to the western bank to follow the Fellowship. He met Ugluk and his Uruk-hai in the Emyn Muil on February 25. They found the Fellowship at Amon Hen the next day on February 26. They killed Boromir and captured the Hobbits Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took.

Grishnakh was suspicious of the Isengarders and their master Saruman. Grishnakh thought the Hobbits should be taken to Mordor and he argued with Ugluk, who cut off the heads of two other Orcs who opposed him. Grishnakh then left the group and met with one of the Nazgul on February 27. The Nazgul instructed Grishnakh to pursue Ugluk and the Hobbits.

Grishnakh set out with a band of Mordor Orcs and rejoined Ugluk and the Uruk-hai on February 28. But later that day, a company of Riders of Rohan led by Eomer caught up with them near Fangorn Forest.

When the Rohirrim attacked in the early hours of February 29, Grishnakh took the opportunity to seize Merry and Pippin. He began searching the Hobbits, and Pippin realized that Grishnakh knew about the Ring. Pippin pretended that he could help Grishnakh find it, and Grishnakh carried the Hobbits away from the battle. He was about to kill them when an arrow pierced his hand. Grishnakh was then run through by a Rider's spear. Merry and Pippin, in their grey Elven cloaks, remained unseen and were able to escape into Fangorn.

Source:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Great River," p. 402-3
The Two Towers: "The Uruk-hai," passim; "Flotsam and Jetsam," p. 169
Appendix F of The Lord of the Rings: "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age," p. 410
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull: "The Departure of Boromir," p. 360-61; "The Uruk-hai," p. 378-79 (excerpts of Tolkien's Scheme which gives dates and details of the actions of Grishnakh and Ugluk)

Lagduf

Sources:
The Return of the King: "The Tower of Cirith Ungol," p. 178, 182

Lugdush

At the edge of Fangorn Forest, they were surrounded by a company of Rohirrim led by Eomer. Ugluk ordered Lugdush to select two other Uruk-hai and guard Merry and Pippin. They tied the Hobbits' legs tightly. But when the Rohirrim attacked, Lugdush and the other guards went off to fight, leaving the Hobbits behind. The Hobbits were carried away by Grishnakh, who wanted the Ring, but they managed to escape into the forest. All of the Uruk-hai were killed by Eomer's Riders.

Sources:
The Two Towers: "The Uruk-hai," p. 52, 57-58, 63

Mauhúr Orc of Isengard. Mauhur may have been an Uruk-hai. On the night of February 28-29, 3019 of the Third Age, Mauhur led a company of reinforcements through the eaves of Fangorn Forest to come to the aid of Ugluk. Ugluk's company had been surrounded by a group of Rohirrim led by Eomer.  When Mauhur's company attacked, some of the Rohirrim rode to meet them while the others closed in around Ugluk's camp. Ugluk's captives Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took found themselves outside the circle and were able to escape into Fangorn Forest. Mauhur and his company were killed or driven off by the Rohirrim. Sources:  The Two Towers: "The Uruk-hai," p. 58, 60-61

Robbie Magasiva as Mauhur in the New Line Cinema film

Muzgash

Sources:
The Return of the King: "The Tower of Cirith Ungol," p. 178, 182

Radbug

Source:
The Return of the King: "The Tower of Cirith Ungol," p. 182

In 3017 of the Third Age, Shagrat was ordered to allow Gollum to escape when the creature was released from the Dark Tower. Shagrat's guards saw Gollum again in March of 3019 and they surmised that he had brought prey for the Great Spider Shelob who lived in a tunnel near the pass.

On March 13, Shagrat received a message that spies might be on the Stairs of Cirith Ungol. He led a company of about 40 Orcs to investigate. The met another company of over 80 Orcs led by Gorbag from Minas Morgul. Then Shagrat saw the body of Frodo Baggins, who had been stung by Shelob. Shagrat knew that Frodo wasn't dead but only unconscious, for he was aware of Shelob's method of feeding on warm blood.

Shagrat was pleased that they had caught one of the spies - though Gorbag warned him that there was another spy on the loose. Shagrat's orders were to keep any prisoners alive and unharmed and to strip them and send a full inventory of their possessions to the Dark Tower. Shagrat had Frodo taken to the topmost chamber of the Tower of Cirith Ungol, where he questioned his prisoner mercilessly. When Frodo's clothes were removed, his mithril shirt was discovered and Gorbag coveted it. Gorbag knifed Shagrat in the arm, but Shagrat strangled Gorbag and left him for dead. The Orcs of their two companies fought and killed one another until nearly all of them were dead.

Shagrat strangled Radbug and sent another of his subordinates called Snaga to bring news of what had happened to the Dark Tower. But Snaga encountered Sam Gamgee on the stairs and thought he was a Great Elf Warrior and refused to go back down. Shagrat chased Snaga but he got away. Then Shagrat discovered that Gorbag was still alive, so he stabbed him. Shagrat decided to go to the Dark Tower himself, but as he went to the stairs, Sam leaped out at him wielding the glittering Elf-blade Sting. Shagrat pushed past Sam and escaped from the tower and Sam let him go.

Shagrat was killed by Sauron after bringing Frodo's mithril shirt and Elf cloak and Sam's sword to the Dark Tower on March 17. The tokens were shown to the Host of the West by the Mouth of Sauron on March 25 as proof of Frodo's capture, causing great grief among Frodo's friends.

Sources:
The Two Towers: "The Choices of Master Samwise," p. 344-52
The Return of the King: "The Black Gate Opens," p. 165-66; "The Tower of Cirith Ungol," p. 174-84, 187
Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings: "The Tale of Years," p. 375
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull: "The Land of Shadow," p. 608

Snaga (Mordor Orc)

Sam followed and overheard a discussion between Snaga and Shagrat. Shagrat ordered Snaga to go to Lugburz (Barad-dur) with the news that they had captured a Halfling. Snaga refused, and Shagrat chased him but was distracted when he discovered Gorbag was still alive. Snaga went up to the chamber at the top of the Tower where Frodo Baggins was being held captive. When Sam found him, Snaga was lashing Frodo with a whip. Sam charged at Snaga, and the Orc fell through the trapdoor to his death.

Names & Etymology:
Snaga means "slave" in Black Speech and may have been used as a general form of address rather than an actual name.

Source:
The Return of the King: "The Tower of Cirith Ungol," p. 180-89
Appendix F of The Lord of the Rings: "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age - Of Other Races," p. 409

Snaga (Isengard Uruk) Uruk of Isengard. Ugluk, the leader of the Uruk-hai of Isengard, used the name Snaga to address one of his scouts who spotted a Rider of Rohan in the distance but let him go. The Riders then picked up the trail of the Uruk-hai and began to pursue them, eventually killing them all. Names & Etymology: Snaga means "slave" in Black Speech and may have been used as a general form of address rather than an actual name. Source: The Two Towers: "The Uruk-hai," p. 51, 54 Appendix F of The Lord of the Rings: "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age - Of Other Races," p. 409

An Orc named Snaga in the New Line film

Ufthak

Source:
The Two Towers: "The Choices of Master Samwise," p. 350

On January 18, 3019 of the Third Age, messengers from Moria arrived at Isengard. From them Saruman learned that Fellowship had passed through Moria and was heading south. Saruman sent out a group of scouts led by Ugluk that same day. Ugluk was not aware of the One Ring but believed that the Hobbits had a weapon that was wanted for the war.

On January 22, Ugluk reached Moria and gathered a force of mountain Orcs. On January 24, they captured Gollum and Ugluk determined that the Hobbits were in possession of the item wanted by Saruman. Gollum then escaped. Ugluk sent messengers to Isengard, and Saruman sent him reinforcements. In total, Ugluk's company numbered at least 80 Uruk-hai and over 100 Orcs from the Misty Mountains. Saruman sent Ugluk strict orders: "Kill all but NOT the Halfings; they are to be brought back ALIVE as quickly as possible ... Alive and as captured; no spoiling." (TTT, p. 48-9)

On February 6, Ugluk's company searched northern Rohan for the Fellowship. On February 10, Ugluk met an Orc from Mordor named Grishnakh north of Sarn Gebir. Grishnakh and his troops set up watch for the Fellowship on the eastern side of the Anduin. Ugluk's troops were supposed to watch the western side of the river but they were driven away by Rohirrim and retreated into the Emyn Muil.

Ugluk and Grishnakh met up again on February 25 in the western Emyn Muil. On February 26, they found Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took in the woods on the slopes of Amon Hen. Boromir came to the Hobbits' defense but he was slain and the Hobbits were taken captive. Grishnakh argued that the Hobbits should be taken to Mordor, but Ugluk overruled him. Ugluk cut off the heads of two of the rabble-rousers and Grishnakh backed down and left the group.

As they headed west toward Isengard, a scout called Snaga spotted a Rider of Rohan in the distance. Ugluk was angry that the horseman had been allowed to escape to raise the alarm. He gave Merry and Pippin each an Orc-draught and made them run at a fast pace. The Orcs from the Misty Mountains feared the Rohirrim and they tried to flee to Fangorn Forest, but the Uruk-hai overtook them. Grishnakh rejoined the Uruk-hai with a band of Mordor Orcs and told Ugluk that he intended to ensure that orders were carried out with regards to the prisoners.

The Riders of Rohan surrounded Ugluk's company on a hillock near Fangorn Forest on the evening of February 28. Ugluk did not attack, for he believed that reinforcements led by Mauhur were coming. He ordered that Merry and Pippin were to be guarded and not slain unless the Riders broke through their defenses. Grishnakh disobeyed Ugluk and carried the Hobbits away to search them for the Ring, but he was slain by a Rider and Merry and Pippin were able to escape.

Mauhur's reinforcements arrived but they were defeated by the Rohirrim. At dawn on February 29, the Rohirrim attacked Ugluk's company. Ugluk managed to hold together a band of his followers and tried to escape into Fangorn, but they were eventually overtaken and killed. Ugluk fought Eomer, the leader of the Rohirrim, sword to sword but he was defeated and Eomer slew him.

Sources:
The Two Towers: "The Uruk-hai," passim
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull: "The Departure of Boromir," p. 360-61; "The Uruk-hai," p. 378-79 (excerpts of Tolkien's Scheme which gives dates and details of the actions of Ugluk and Grishnakh)

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