The Untold Power of Men: Could They Defeat the Indomitable Witch-King in LOTR?

In The Lord of the Rings trilogy, there are numerous formidable adversaries, but none instill fear in the hearts of men quite like the Witch-King of Angmar. As the leader of the terrifying Nazgul, the Witch-King perpetrates great evil throughout the story, albeit not emphasized in the films. A central point of controversy surrounding this foe revolves around a prophecy or declaration asserting that no man can defeat him.

As any devoted fan of The Lord of the Rings knows, the Witch-King ultimately meets his demise at the hands of Eowyn during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. This event leads many to believe that the Witch-King's claim of invincibility against mortal men holds true, yet this assumption may not be accurate. Despite his immense power, it is difficult to believe that the Witch-King possessed some kind of mystical safeguard against male adversaries.

How Did The Witch-King Die?

The Witch-King of Angmar, known as one of the fiercest adversaries on any battlefield, met his inevitable demise upon his arrival at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. In the midst of causing chaos and inflicting a fatal wound upon King Theoden, the Witch-King was suddenly confronted by Eowyn, the king's courageous niece.

Alone, Eowyn fearlessly faced the Witch-King and his monstrous creature, swiftly beheading the beast. Despite her agile combat skills, Eowyn proved no match for the Witch-King's power, finding herself captured by him. However, the Witch-King's arrogance ultimately led to his downfall, as the Hobbit Merry seized the opportunity to sneak up on him and deliver a fatal stab from behind. This act created an opening for Eowyn, who swiftly struck the Witch-King in the face, triumphing over a foe considered invincible by men.

With the absence and guidance of the Witch-King, the forces of evil were incapable of countering the overwhelming might soon to be unleashed by Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli.

Why Was It Said That A Man Couldn’t Kill The Witch-King?

Long before Eowyn's victory over the Witch-King, this formidable foe had already established a legendary presence on the battlefield. The Battle of Fornost, which took place in TA 1975, marked a significant turning point in the Witch-King's history. Despite suffering a crushing defeat, he remained a feared figure. Although initially cornered by Gondor's prince, Earnur, the Witch-King managed to humiliate him before ultimately escaping.

Earnur's humiliation fueled his determination to pursue the Witch-King. However, his pursuit was halted by the intervention of the Elf Glorfindel, who delivered an unforgettable prophecy that no man would ever be able to slay the Witch-King. Unfortunately, Earnur later succumbed to provocation and engaged in a battle with the Witch-King in Minas Morgul. The precise details of this encounter remain unknown, but Earnur's disappearance strongly suggests that he met a swift and brutal end at the hands of his terrifying adversary.

Could A Man Have Killed The Witch-King?

Glorfindel's prophecy posed a problem as it was merely a statement made by a wise Elf with no concrete evidence. If we interpret the term "man" to encompass all males in Middle Earth, the prophecy becomes slightly inaccurate due to the involvement of Merry, a Hobbit male, in the defeat of The Witch-King. On the other hand, if we consider the race of Men in Middle Earth, the prophecy still falls short as Eowyn, belonging to that race, emerged victorious. It is possible that Glorfindel simply believed that none of the Men in Middle Earth could overcome the formidable and magically-empowered Witch-King, thus leaving the possibility for a skilled Elf or Dwarf equipped with the right tools to vanquish the foe.

Even if we were to replace Eowyn with any other male character from The Lord Of The Rings, it is doubtful that the outcome would have been any different. The Witch-King would have still mocked his seemingly defeated adversary, Merry would still have thrust his weapon, and an opportunity for anyone to eliminate the Witch-King would have presented itself. The decisive factor in this entire scenario was actually Merry, rather than Eowyn, as it was his blade that delivered the final blow to the Witch-King.

Most people may not realize that Merry's blade was actually exceptionally special, unless they read the books or made some serious inferences. Unlike a typical sword of Men, Merry's sword carried an enchantment that would ultimately break the spell placed on the Witch-King by Sauron, which bound him to the mortal realm. After Merry stabbed the Witch-King in the back of the leg, the enemy was at his most vulnerable state, opening the opportunity for Eowyn to finally defeat him.

It is important to note that none of this undermines Eowyn's character, as it is evident that she possessed a unique kind of courage that very few people around her had. While no one else was eagerly entering into battle with the Witch-King, both Eowyn and Merry were willing and capable of bringing down this legendary enemy, regardless of whether they fully understood why they emerged victorious.

The Lord Of The Rings is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video