Gorbag

From Tolkien Gateway
Gorbag
Orc
John Howe - Gorbag.jpg
"Gorbag" by John Howe
Biographical Information
PositionUruk Captain
LocationMinas Morgul
AffiliationNazgûl, Sauron
Death14 March T.A. 3019
Cirith Ungol
Physical Description
RaceOrc
GenderMale
WeaponryKnife
GalleryImages of Gorbag

Gorbag was the captain of the Uruks of Minas Morgul. He served the Nazgûl who dwelt in the Dead City.

History[edit | edit source]

During the peak of the War of the Ring, the Silent Watchers exhibited unease because a Hobbit, Frodo Baggins, had passed by them. Gorbag and a patrol then, left Minas Morgul and were sent to Cirith Ungol where Shagrat was in command.[1]

On 13 March T.A. 3019 Gorbag and Shagrat came across Frodo,[2] now paralyzed by Shelob. They ordered Frodo carried back into the Tower of Cirith Ungol as their prisoner.

During their return to the tower Sam, who was wearing the One Ring, overheard them talking. It quickly became apparent that Gorbag was the more observant of the two, and noticed that the paralyzed halfling's cords were cut, meaning that he had a companion: Shagrat said that the Nazgûl were uneasy and that something nearly slipped, and Gorbag corrected him saying that something had slipped; Shagrat pointed out that Shelob got the halfling, but Gorbag pointed out that he was not alone, as someone else cut the cords from Frodo. Shagrat dismissed Gorbag's reasoning by claiming that he always took a gloomy view. Shagrat, who had been in the tower longer, was able to tell Gorbag that Frodo was not dead.[1]

On 14 March[2] the two Orc leaders stripped Frodo of his possessions. Upon discovering Frodo's mithril coat Gorbag tried to keep it, which provoked a fight between the underlings of the two leaders. Gorbag knifed Shagrat, who in return attempted to throttle him. Later he attempted to stab Shagrat with a broken spear but Shagrat, hearing him, then stabbed him in the throat and trampled on his body.[3]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King:

Portrayed by Stephen Ure, Gorbag is portrayed as a smaller, regular Orc while Shagrat is an Uruk. Instead of coming up from Minas Morgul, he comes down with Shagrat from the Tower of Cirith Ungol and is the one that explains to the Orcs about Shelob and her choice to leave victims alive. Later, he is killed by Samwise Gamgee.

2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game):

Gorbag appears as a boss at the end of the "Cirith Ungol" level. In the game, Gorbag knocks down Shagrat and then Sam must defeat him by stunning him with pikes.

2021: The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War:

Gorbag is a fine rarity commander, he is the first commander to join you in the Mordor faction.

References