Question:

[ramblin_rosie]

What do we know about the Witch-king prior to the appearance of the Nazgûl in Second Age 2251? Is it canon or fanon that he was a Númenorean, and where in M-E would he have hailed from? (Would he, for example, have ruled Umbar?)

Comments

[boz4pm.livejournal.com]

He was so-called because he was in the region of Angmar, as Sauron's leiutenant (which I can't spell) during the Second Age - when the Dunedain kings ruled Arnor. It was his evil spirits that he sent forth and inhabited the barrows of the fallen Dunedain royalty.

Basically, that time was filled with battles between the Arnorians (if that's the word) and the evil forces in Angmar. It was during one of the same that Glorfindel commented/prophesied that the Witchking would not fall by a man's hand.

I suspect this is all in Akallabeth (which I also can't spell - head desk!).

As someone else has said, Rose - we know little or nothing. I think Numenorean is a safe bet, but basically you can invent what you like, so long as it makes some kind of sense. :)

[ramblin_rosie]

Actually, Angmar doesn't show up in the Tale of Years until Third Age 1300ish. But that is important, yes.
Thanks to both of you! (And yes, Mum, I did check EoA; doesn't have much.)

[boz4pm.livejournal.com]

Ack - getting my Ages muddled. Sorry. Was thinking off the top of my head - never a good idea. ;P