The Uruk-hai is an aggressive race of monsters from Lord of the Rings that is supposedly a cross between Orcs, Goblins, and Men that dwell in Mordor and Isengard. In the movie adaptations, they appear to be created by only Saruman, in the name of creating a superior foot soldier for mass use in Sauron's armies. They were also meant to supplant the Orcs, and had nothing but contempt for their cousins, along with everything else.
History[]
The Uruk-hai were created by Sauron late in the Third Age. There are suggestions that the Uruk-hai created by the fallen wizard was the result of crossbreeding Orcs with Men or with Goblin-men.
The Uruk-hai were clearly meant to be the super-soldiers to the armies of evil, also likely meant to ultimately replace the inferior Orcs altogether. Indeed, Uruk-hai frequently displayed total contempt towards their lesser cousins, even killing and devouring them on at least one occasion. The Uruk-hai were bigger and stronger than Orcs, standing upright and also being less afraid of the sunlight, though it still affected their skin negatively.
The homicidal monsters were first encountered by the Fellowship at Amon Hen, where they ambushed them and managed to kidnap Merry and Pippin, as well as mortally wound Boromir. These Uruk-hai however, were later annihilated by Rohirrim led by Éomer. This would not be the end of Rohan's troubles with the Uruk-hai however, as Saruman soon unleashed all of his creations upon those lands. Forced to flee their homes, the people of Rohan sought refuge in Helm's Deep, but an undeterred Saruman simply sent the entirety of his forces to the citadel to lay waste to it and slaughter its inhabitants.
Rohan's people fought valiantly, but the Uruk-hai's numbers were too great, and eventually, they began to get overwhelmed. However, Gandalf and Eomer managed to arrive in time with reinforcements, unleashing a surprise attack that completely wrong-footed the Uruk-hai, also shattering their overblown confidence and causing them to panic. Fleeing in disarray and terror, they were massacred. Those that escaped the Rohirrim were killed by the Huorns of Fangorn so as to ensure that they would not launch a second attack on Helm's Deep.
The Black Uruks, cousins of the stronger Uruk-hai from Isengard are seen aiding in the siege of Minas Tirith and also patrolling Cirith Ungol. In the case of the latter, the Black Uruks ultimately came to blows with the Orcs also stationed there. The two sides annihilated each other. It is possible that Shagrat, the Uruk who started the fight, was killed by Sauron or the authorities at Barad-dûr for the events that occurred at the Tower of Cirith Ungol. That or he was rewarded for his loyalty (this is in the book version, while in the movie, Shagrat wants Frodo's belongings for himself and Gorbag is the loyal one).
Relationships[]
Allies[]
- Sauron
- Saruman
- Black Captains
- Wargs
- Caragors
- Ologs
- Nazgûl
- Orcs
- Balrogs
- Goblins
- Ogres
- Giants
- Mewlips
- Easterlings
- Celebrimbor
- Warchiefs
- Overlords
- Beastmaster Warchiefs
Enemies[]
- Men
- Elves
- Dwarves
- Hobbits
- Maiar
- Ainur
- Ents
- Great Eagles
- Seven Dwarf-lords
- The three Elves
- Nine Kings of Men (formerly)
- Caragors
- Groug
- Shelob
- Vanishing Sons
- Carnan
- Balrogs
- The Fellowship of the Ring
- Thorin's Company
- The five Wizards
- Outcasts of Udun
- Hirgon
- Tribesmen of Nurn
- Trovin
- Celebrimbor
- Talion
- Idril
- Castamir
- Eltariel
- Baranor
- Gollum
- Ungol
- Were-wyrms
Gallery[]
Images[]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- In Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War, there are 138 possible Uruk names and 456 possible titles for said Uruks. In total, there are 62,928 possible names for the Uruk-hai.
- Due to the named Uruks throughout both games as Talion and Celebrimbor crosses paths with them. Female Uruks were never mentioned.
External Link[]
- Uruk-hai on the Lord of the Rings Wiki