Khamûl
Khamul in the New Line film
Second Commander of the Nazgul. Khamul was the only Nazgul whose real name is known. Khamul was once an Easterling of Rhun, and he was given one of the Nine Rings of Men by Sauron sometime in the mid-Second Age. Sauron used the Rings to enslave Khamul and eight other men, and he turned them into Wraiths known as Nazgul. The Nazgul became the most dangerous of Sauron's servants. It is thought that the Nazgul first came into existence around the year 2251 of the Second Age.
Khamul was the second-in-command of the Nazgul, the first in command being the Witch-King. Khamul could sense the One Ring very well in the dark, though in daylight his sense of smell was weakened.
In 2951 of the Third Age, Sauron had returned to his realm of Mordor and he sent Khamul and other Nazgul to his stronghold of Dol Guldur in Mirkwood. Khamul and several other Nazgul occupied Dol Guldur for a time, and they left a shadow looming over the forest.
In March of 3018, Aragorn captured Gollum and brought him to Mikwood where he would be imprisoned in the Elvenking's Halls. This came to the attention of Khamul's spies, and in April Khamul reported this event to his lord Sauron. On June 20, Orcs attacked the Wood-elves who held Gollum captive. Gollum escaped during the pandemonium.
Also on June 20, the Witch-King began searching for the One Ring and for a land called the Shire where he suspected the One Ring may have been. On July 22, Khamul and the Witch-King met in the Field of Celebrant and Khamul reported Gollum's escape. In the month following Gollum's escape, Khamul had searched the Vales of the Anduin for more Hobbits but he had found no one. Hobbits were believed by the enemy to possess the One Ring, and they were believed to live in a land called the Shire, which was why the enemy was searching so vehemently for the Shire and for Hobbits. The Witch-King reported to Khamul that he could not find the Shire. The Nazgul continued their hunt for the Ring for several months until they found themselves in Isengard and were, from there, directed north to Eriador.
The Nazgul did not find their way to the Shire until September. On September 23, the Nazgul won a battle against the Rangers at Sarn Ford and either four or five of them entered the Shire. Khamul rode into Hobbiton where he confronted Gaffer Gamgee and asked for a Hobbit named "Baggins," and the Gaffer falsely directed him to the Buckland area. The Nazgul believed that a Hobbit named Baggins possessed the Ring because when Sauron had captured Gollum, he had revealed that the Ring was in the hands of a Hobbit of the Shire named Baggins.
Gaffer gave Frodo Baggins and his companions time to escape from the Nazgul, but eventually Khamul caught the scent of the Ring and followed them. On September 24, Khamul pursued Frodo and his companions down the Stock Road and almost captured them, but they were able to hide and Khamul's sense of smell was not as strong in daylight. At twilight, Khamul again came close to capturing Frodo and his companions in the Woody End, but a group of Elves led by Gildor Inglorion approached and Khamul was frightened away. But Khamul continued his hunt for the Ring on September 25, and his cry for aid from another Nazgul could be heard by Frodo and his companions. Khamul rode to Bamfurlong in the Marish where he confronted Farmer Maggot and offered gold in exchange for the location of "Baggins," but Farmer Maggot refused Khamul's proposal. That night, Farmer Maggot told Frodo and his companions of this encounter when they came to dinner that night. Later that evening, Khamul witnessed the Hobbits crossing the Brandywine River via the Buckleberry Ferry, but he was unable to capture them because they were too far off shore, and he could not cross the river because water weakened his keen sense of smell.
After having witnessed the Hobbits beginning their journey over the river, Khamul summoned the other Nazgul that were spread across the Shire and he sent two of the Nazgul along the Great East Road and ordered one to keep watch at the Brandywine Bridge. Meanwhile, Khamul and another Nazgul entered Buckland through the North-gate in secret. They wished to lie low and stay calm to avoid too much attention from locals, and also to keep Frodo from suspecting that they were near. On September 28, Khamul found Frodo's home at Crickhollow and he summoned the other Nazgul and arranged for an attack, but at this point Frodo was long gone. Frodo's friend Fatty Bolger was still living in the home, but when the Nazgul arrived on September 30 he escaped through the back door and raised the alarm.
The Nazgul made their way southeastward in pursuit of Frodo and his companions. On the night of October 3, Khamul and the Nazgul arrived at Weathertop where they attacked Gandalf. Gandalf fled quickly, and four Nazgul attempted to pursue him. Meanwhile, Khamul and three others stayed behind at Weathertop to await the anticipated arrival of Frodo and the Ring.
Frodo and his companions reached Weathertop on October 6, and Khamul and the other Nazgul attempted to capture him. The Witch-King used his Morgul-blade to stab Frodo, but he did not kill him. After Frodo was wounded, Aragorn arrived and fought off the Nazgul. Aragorn pursued the Nazgul with fire until they fled into the night. But Frodo had been badly wounded, and if he was not treated he would fall into the Wraith world and become a tenth Nazgul.
On October 11, Khamul and a pair of other Nazgul were watching out for the Ring-bearer near the Last Bridge when Glorfindel arrived. Khamul and the others were aware that Glorfindel was a great and powerful lord of Elves who had come from the Undying Lands, and he had power even in the Unseen world in which the Nazgul thrived. Khamul and the others rode away when they saw him, and he pursued them away from the bridge so that the companions of the Ring-bearer could cross.
On October 20, the Nine Nazgul confronted Frodo at the Ford of Bruinen. Khamul followed the Witch-King into the river, overcoming his fear of water, but Elrond created a great flood that washed the Nazgul down the river. But the Nazgul survived and their spirits returned to Mordor where they were given new, dark bodies and they were given Fell Beasts to ride upon instead of black horses.
All nine Nazgul would fight in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields on March 15, 3019. All of the Nazgul part took in the siege of Minas Tirith. Of the nine Nazgul, only the Witch-King was killed. However, Khamul and the other seven Nazgul were killed by Eagles during the Battle of the Morannon on March 25. At the end of this battle, Frodo successfully destroyed the One Ring and the realm of Sauron fell. Sauron was at last defeated. Mount Doom erupted and the remaining servants of Sauron were destroyed.
Notice: There is some confusion about exactly how many Nazgul entered the Shire with Khamul. In the "The Tale of Years" in The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, it says that only four Nazgul entered the Shire, including Khamul. Gandalf also confirmed this at the Council of Elrond in The Fellowship of the Ring, page 277. However, according to The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, five Nazgul, including Khamul, entered the Shire. A more in depth account of the Nazguls' movements in the Shire is provided.
Khamul was the second-in-command of the Nazgul, the first in command being the Witch-King. Khamul could sense the One Ring very well in the dark, though in daylight his sense of smell was weakened.
In 2951 of the Third Age, Sauron had returned to his realm of Mordor and he sent Khamul and other Nazgul to his stronghold of Dol Guldur in Mirkwood. Khamul and several other Nazgul occupied Dol Guldur for a time, and they left a shadow looming over the forest.
In March of 3018, Aragorn captured Gollum and brought him to Mikwood where he would be imprisoned in the Elvenking's Halls. This came to the attention of Khamul's spies, and in April Khamul reported this event to his lord Sauron. On June 20, Orcs attacked the Wood-elves who held Gollum captive. Gollum escaped during the pandemonium.
Also on June 20, the Witch-King began searching for the One Ring and for a land called the Shire where he suspected the One Ring may have been. On July 22, Khamul and the Witch-King met in the Field of Celebrant and Khamul reported Gollum's escape. In the month following Gollum's escape, Khamul had searched the Vales of the Anduin for more Hobbits but he had found no one. Hobbits were believed by the enemy to possess the One Ring, and they were believed to live in a land called the Shire, which was why the enemy was searching so vehemently for the Shire and for Hobbits. The Witch-King reported to Khamul that he could not find the Shire. The Nazgul continued their hunt for the Ring for several months until they found themselves in Isengard and were, from there, directed north to Eriador.
The Nazgul did not find their way to the Shire until September. On September 23, the Nazgul won a battle against the Rangers at Sarn Ford and either four or five of them entered the Shire. Khamul rode into Hobbiton where he confronted Gaffer Gamgee and asked for a Hobbit named "Baggins," and the Gaffer falsely directed him to the Buckland area. The Nazgul believed that a Hobbit named Baggins possessed the Ring because when Sauron had captured Gollum, he had revealed that the Ring was in the hands of a Hobbit of the Shire named Baggins.
Gaffer gave Frodo Baggins and his companions time to escape from the Nazgul, but eventually Khamul caught the scent of the Ring and followed them. On September 24, Khamul pursued Frodo and his companions down the Stock Road and almost captured them, but they were able to hide and Khamul's sense of smell was not as strong in daylight. At twilight, Khamul again came close to capturing Frodo and his companions in the Woody End, but a group of Elves led by Gildor Inglorion approached and Khamul was frightened away. But Khamul continued his hunt for the Ring on September 25, and his cry for aid from another Nazgul could be heard by Frodo and his companions. Khamul rode to Bamfurlong in the Marish where he confronted Farmer Maggot and offered gold in exchange for the location of "Baggins," but Farmer Maggot refused Khamul's proposal. That night, Farmer Maggot told Frodo and his companions of this encounter when they came to dinner that night. Later that evening, Khamul witnessed the Hobbits crossing the Brandywine River via the Buckleberry Ferry, but he was unable to capture them because they were too far off shore, and he could not cross the river because water weakened his keen sense of smell.
After having witnessed the Hobbits beginning their journey over the river, Khamul summoned the other Nazgul that were spread across the Shire and he sent two of the Nazgul along the Great East Road and ordered one to keep watch at the Brandywine Bridge. Meanwhile, Khamul and another Nazgul entered Buckland through the North-gate in secret. They wished to lie low and stay calm to avoid too much attention from locals, and also to keep Frodo from suspecting that they were near. On September 28, Khamul found Frodo's home at Crickhollow and he summoned the other Nazgul and arranged for an attack, but at this point Frodo was long gone. Frodo's friend Fatty Bolger was still living in the home, but when the Nazgul arrived on September 30 he escaped through the back door and raised the alarm.
The Nazgul made their way southeastward in pursuit of Frodo and his companions. On the night of October 3, Khamul and the Nazgul arrived at Weathertop where they attacked Gandalf. Gandalf fled quickly, and four Nazgul attempted to pursue him. Meanwhile, Khamul and three others stayed behind at Weathertop to await the anticipated arrival of Frodo and the Ring.
Frodo and his companions reached Weathertop on October 6, and Khamul and the other Nazgul attempted to capture him. The Witch-King used his Morgul-blade to stab Frodo, but he did not kill him. After Frodo was wounded, Aragorn arrived and fought off the Nazgul. Aragorn pursued the Nazgul with fire until they fled into the night. But Frodo had been badly wounded, and if he was not treated he would fall into the Wraith world and become a tenth Nazgul.
On October 11, Khamul and a pair of other Nazgul were watching out for the Ring-bearer near the Last Bridge when Glorfindel arrived. Khamul and the others were aware that Glorfindel was a great and powerful lord of Elves who had come from the Undying Lands, and he had power even in the Unseen world in which the Nazgul thrived. Khamul and the others rode away when they saw him, and he pursued them away from the bridge so that the companions of the Ring-bearer could cross.
On October 20, the Nine Nazgul confronted Frodo at the Ford of Bruinen. Khamul followed the Witch-King into the river, overcoming his fear of water, but Elrond created a great flood that washed the Nazgul down the river. But the Nazgul survived and their spirits returned to Mordor where they were given new, dark bodies and they were given Fell Beasts to ride upon instead of black horses.
All nine Nazgul would fight in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields on March 15, 3019. All of the Nazgul part took in the siege of Minas Tirith. Of the nine Nazgul, only the Witch-King was killed. However, Khamul and the other seven Nazgul were killed by Eagles during the Battle of the Morannon on March 25. At the end of this battle, Frodo successfully destroyed the One Ring and the realm of Sauron fell. Sauron was at last defeated. Mount Doom erupted and the remaining servants of Sauron were destroyed.
Notice: There is some confusion about exactly how many Nazgul entered the Shire with Khamul. In the "The Tale of Years" in The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, it says that only four Nazgul entered the Shire, including Khamul. Gandalf also confirmed this at the Council of Elrond in The Fellowship of the Ring, page 277. However, according to The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, five Nazgul, including Khamul, entered the Shire. A more in depth account of the Nazguls' movements in the Shire is provided.
Names & Meanings
Khamûl was also called Shadow of the East, Second Chief, and Black Easterling. The meaning of the name Khamûl is probably in one of the languages of the people of Rhun, and the meaning is not known.
References
The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring: "Three is Company," pages 78-79, 84--88; "A Short Cut to Mushrooms," pages 98-102; "A Consipiracy Unmasked," page 109
The Unfinished Tales: "The Hunt for the Ring," pages 338-39, 344, 348, 352, 353
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull: "Three Is Company," pages 97-99; "A Conspiracy Unmasked," page 116; "A Knife in the Dark," pages 164-168; "Flight to the Ford," pages 194-196; "The Council of Elrond," page 242
The Unfinished Tales: "The Hunt for the Ring," pages 338-39, 344, 348, 352, 353
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull: "Three Is Company," pages 97-99; "A Conspiracy Unmasked," page 116; "A Knife in the Dark," pages 164-168; "Flight to the Ford," pages 194-196; "The Council of Elrond," page 242
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