Gothmog
Lawrence Makaore as Gothmog in the New Line film
Gothmog was the lieutenant of Minas Morgul during the War of the Ring who fought against Gondor during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields on March 15, 3019 of the Third Age. It is not certain what Gothmog actually was, and in The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, he is mentioned only several times by name. In Peter Jackson's film version of The Lord of the Rings, Gothmog is portray as a terribly deformed Orc who led Mordor's forces in war. In the book, Tolkien never explicitly states what kind of creature Gothmog was; he may have been an Orc, a Nazgul, or something else. Gothmog was second-in-command of Mordor's forces, second only to the Witch-King.
After Eowyn of Rohan killed the Witch-King on March 15, Gothmog took command of Mordor's forces. From Osgiliath, he summoned many Orcs, Trolls, Easterlings, Haradrim, Variags, and men from Far Harad to help overrun the forces of Minas Tirith. Gothmog's force was quite strong and the tide of the battle turned in his favor until Aragorn arrived on the Corsairs' ships with the Grey Company, and they helped defeat the armies of Mordor. It is not known what happened to Gothmog after Aragorn's arrival, but it can be presumed that he was slain. In Peter Jackson's film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, Gothmog was killed by Aragorn.
After Eowyn of Rohan killed the Witch-King on March 15, Gothmog took command of Mordor's forces. From Osgiliath, he summoned many Orcs, Trolls, Easterlings, Haradrim, Variags, and men from Far Harad to help overrun the forces of Minas Tirith. Gothmog's force was quite strong and the tide of the battle turned in his favor until Aragorn arrived on the Corsairs' ships with the Grey Company, and they helped defeat the armies of Mordor. It is not known what happened to Gothmog after Aragorn's arrival, but it can be presumed that he was slain. In Peter Jackson's film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, Gothmog was killed by Aragorn.
Names & Meanings
Gothmog was also the name of a Balrog who lived during the First Age. The word Gothmog may mean "cruel dread" from goth meaning "dread" and mog from baug meaning "cruel."
References
The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King: "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," page 121
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies"
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies"
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