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Battle of Cirith Ungol

2008-04-17T01:07:04Z

72.228.49.45:

{{battle
| name=Battle of Cirith Ungol
| image=
| conflict=[[War of the Ring]]
| date=May 14, [[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]]
| place=[[Tower of Cirith Ungol]]
| result=Tower emptied, [[Frodo Baggins]] liberated
| side1=Orcs of [[Tower of Cirith Ungol|Cirith Ungol]]
| side2=Orcs of [[Minas Morgul]]
| commanders1=[[Shagrat]]
| commanders2=[[Gorbag]]
| forces1=*[[Lagduf]]
* [[Muzgash]]
* [[Radbug]]
* [[Snaga]]
*Company of [[Orcs]]
| forces2=* More than 80 Orcs, including an unknown number of bowmen
| casual1=All Orcs save Shagrat and [[Snaga]]
| casual2=All Orcs
|}}
The '''Battle of Cirith Ungol''' was a battle fought between the Orc-garrison of [[Cirith Ungol]], and a company of orcs of [[Minas Morgul]].

==Cause==
On March 10, [[Frodo Baggins]] and his servant [[Samwise Gamgee]], passed [[Minas Morgul]]. This was noticed by the Watchers, but a patrol led by [[Gorbag]] wasn't sent out until the 11th or 12th. On the 13th, message also reached the [[Tower of Cirith Ungol]], and [[Shagrat]], commander of the Tower and the [[Cirith Ungol|Pass]], set out. About an hour later, they met Gorbag's company, and quarreled shortly. It was then that they found the body of [[Frodo Baggins]], who had been paralyzed by [[Shelob]]. Allthough they realized there had to be more than one intruder (described by the Orcs as a "great Elf-warrior"), they took Frodo to the tower via the Under-gate, which led them into [[Torech Ungol|Shelob's Lair]] for a short time.

==Battle==
Frodo is stored in the top of the turret, as Shagrat does not trust all his troops, and none of Gorbag's. When the prisoner was stripped and searched, Shagrat and Gorbag fought over possession of the artifacts: a [[Mithril]] shirt, an [[Galadhrim|Elvish]] cape, and a [[Barrow-blade]]. Especially the mithril shirt was wanted by Gorbag. A fight ensued, which soon involved all present in the Tower. Shagrat was stabbed by Gorbag, but managed to put him down. Gorbag's troops reached the gate first, and shot [[Lagduf]] and [[Muzgash]], along with all of the others. For an unknown reason, Shagrat killed [[Radbug]] by pressing his eyes in, and threatened to do the same to [[Snaga]] if he continues to flout him. Snaga did, and Shagrat chased him. Snaga was saved when Shagrat realizes Gorbag is not dead. As Shagrat chokes Gorbag, Snaga goes to the top of the turret to whip the prisoner.

==Consequences==
Directly in the wake of the battle, the [[Samwise Gamgee|great Elf-warrior]] stormed in and killed Snaga. He rescuedd Frodo, and they were able to continue their mission to [[Mount Doom]].
News of the capture does not reach [[Barad-dûr]] until the 15th of March. Unfortunately for Shagrat, so does the news of the escape. On the 17th of March, as he brings the tokens to [[Sauron]], Shagrat is slain in anger.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
In [[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]], the tower's name is incorrectly referred to as "Sirith Ungol". [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] battles the tower's heavy gates. In front of the door, he miraculously finds both the [[One Ring|Ring]], the elven cloak and [[Sting]]; the movie does not depict [[Shelob]] or Frodo's capture. Sam enters through [[Shelob's Lair]]. The Battle is only depicted as two Orcs fighting (one with a morning star, the other with a scimitar), until the Ring urges Sam to go on without Frodo. When Sam comes back (because of simple "Hobbit sense"), he walks past the Watchers with the [[Phial of Galadriel]]. Passing the Watchers sets of an alarm, but few are left to attack the "Great Elf-warrior". Stangely, one remaining Orc on the steps knows what a Hobbit is. After slaying the very last Orc - who is flogging Frodo - Sam rescues Frodo.

In [[Peter Jackson's The Return of the King]], the book is followed almost to the letter; Gorbag and Shagrat fight, and take the whole tower with them. When Sam arrives, only three orcs are left alive, and Sam kills them "for Frodo", "for [[the Shire]]" and "for my old [[Hamfast Gamgee|Gaffer]]". In the Extended edition, a short shot of Shagrat escaping with the mithril shirt is added.

==References==
* [[The Two Towers]], [[the Choices of Master Samwise]]
* [[The Return of the King]], [[The Tower of Cirith Ungol]]
* [[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]], p. 499, p. 608

[[Category:Conflicts of the Third Age]]

Talk:Gorbag

2007-09-12T02:21:49Z

72.228.49.45:

Hmm. Two things. Firstly, Gorbag was ''not'' a Uruk of Minas Morgul. He was captain of the Orcs of the Red Eye stationed there, and there was friction between his company and Shagrat's. Secondly, wasn't Gorbag an Orc rather than a Uruk? --[[User:Narfil Palùrfalas|Narfil Palùrfalas]] 18:14, 11 October 2006 (EDT)

:Hm, are you sure? I'll have to get out my books, it would be nice to have some sources for the article anyway. --[[User:Hyarion|Hyarion]] 19:21, 11 October 2006 (EDT)

In the movies he and Shagrat seemed to have been mixed up "Gorbag" lines first of all he thought Frodo was dead but in the film he knew more about the Spider than Shagrat Secondly he was seen in the movie defending the orders of Souron and the fact every thing went to the Eye but in the books he realy wants the Vest. He was also Combined with Snaga the only thing that makes it seem that he's Gorbag is the Mongul rat quote and his death.

Talk:Uruk-hai

2007-09-08T19:45:31Z

72.228.49.45:

what is the diffrance between Uruk hai and the Black Uruks of mordor

Talk:Snaga (disambiguation)

2007-09-05T01:11:55Z

72.228.49.45:

This should be seperated in 3 the meaning the orc of Mordor and Isengaurd the mordor orc at least needs ahis own artical he is on of the few baddys sam faces in singal combat the others being Shagrat and I think Gollum realy sorry about the miss spelled words

Talk:Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)

2007-09-05T00:58:15Z

72.228.49.45:

How come only some of the orcs under Gothmog wore the spikey armor and other wore poorly made armor? {{unsigned|72.228.49.45}}

:The different types of armor from the images in the article is most likely due to the different interpretations from the artists. I know Tolkien did mention some types of Orc armor, though I don't recall which types off the top of my head. I would imagine the different ranks of Orcs and different regions in which they lived would contribute to their armor type. We probably should write an article for weapons and armor on the wiki. --[[User:Hyarion|Hyarion]] 16:48, 4 September 2007 (EDT)

Couldn't he have being a Maiar in orc form and the name a crude joke of the Dark Lord. in the movie he was a little taller than the orc under his cammand.

Talk:Battle of Cirith Ungol

2007-09-05T00:48:58Z

72.228.49.45:

Shagrats had 80 orc under his Cammand and Gorbag had 40 I think in case you wanted to make a battle Info box {{unsigned|72.228.49.45}}

:If you can just let me know where in the books that information is found I would be happy to add it. --[[User:Hyarion|Hyarion]] 20:23, 4 September 2007 (EDT)

I was wrong Gorbag had 80 twice as many of the orcs that went with shagrat who had 40 with him but more in the tower there we more the Chapter is The Tower of Cirith Ungol in The 3rd book. Shagrat survied and snaga was killed after the bad guys and also snaga said gorbags orcs reached the gate first so some could have got out and weren't seen by Sam however unlikely.

Talk:Battle of Cirith Ungol

2007-09-05T00:40:24Z

72.228.49.45:

Talk:Battle of Cirith Ungol

2007-09-05T00:40:02Z

72.228.49.45:

Shagrats had 80 orc under his Cammand and Gorbag had 40 I think in case you wanted to make a battle Info box {{unsigned|72.228.49.45}}

:If you can just let me know where in the books that information is found I would be happy to add it. --[[User:Hyarion|Hyarion]] 20:23, 4 September 2007 (EDT)

I was wrong Gorbag had 80 twice as many of the orcs that went with shagrat who had 40 with him but more in the towerthere we more the Chapter isThe Tower of Cirith Ungol in The 3rd book

Talk:Battle of Cirith Ungol

2007-09-05T00:09:58Z

72.228.49.45:

Shagrats had 80 orc under his Cammand and Gorbag had 40 I think in case you wanted to make a battle Info box

Category talk:Images of Gorkil

2007-09-04T23:40:38Z

72.228.49.45:

Who is the Goblin King

Talk:Grishnákh

2007-09-04T23:35:27Z

72.228.49.45:

This says nothing a him being a orc of mordor or that he was Captain of the Dark Tower and was a Black uruk {{unsigned|72.228.49.45}}

:Maybe I'm not understanding correctly, but the first sentence states "Grishnákh was an orc of Mordor". It doesn't state the other things however, which you are free to add, I'll do some research and see if we can improve this article. Thanks for your input. --[[User:Hyarion|Hyarion]] 19:22, 4 September 2007 (EDT)

oh yeah!

Talk:Grishnákh

2007-09-04T23:20:06Z

72.228.49.45:

This says nothing a him being a orc of mordor or that he was Captain of the Dark Tower and was a Black uruk

Talk:Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)

2007-09-04T20:35:42Z

72.228.49.45:

How come only some of the orcs under Gothmog wore the spikey armor and other wore poorly made armor