The Brewing Ancestry: Was the Witch-king of Angmar Technically Related to Elrond?

In J.R.R. Tolkien's epic universe, the lineage and ancestry of the characters add to the depth and complexity of the story. One of the intriguing questions that often arises among fans is whether the Witch-king of Angmar had any familial connection to Elrond. Let's explore the roots of this complex family history and what the connecting threads might be.

The Roots of the Witch-king of Angmar

According to mythos in Tolkien's works, the Witch-king of Angmar is one of the Nazg?l and was originally a man of the Black Númenóreans. The Black Númenóreans are the descendants of Númenóreans who turned to darkness, a lineage that adds to their tragic and ominous presence within the world of Middle-earth.

Elrond's Heritage

In contrast, Elrond is a half-elf, the son of Erendil and Elwing, and a descendant of both the Elves and Men. His heritage combines the noble and powerful lineage of the Edain, a group of Men who allied with Elves in the First Age. This blend of elven and human ancestry sets Elrond apart from other figures in the world of Middle-earth.

Connecting the Ancestry

The connection between the Witch-king and Elrond comes through their shared ancestry in the lineage of the Black Númenóreans. Both figures trace their roots back to the Edain, the Men who played a crucial role in aligning with the Elves during the First Age. However, the paths of these two figures diverged significantly due to the Witch-king's fall into darkness and corruption, leading him to become one of Middle-earth's most feared servants, while Elrond became a protector of the realm.

Debates and Speculations

While the idea of a blood connection exists, the exact nature of this connection is a matter of debate among Tolkien scholars and fans. According to Niveditha Reddy, even if the Witch-king was of the line of Elros, this connection would be exceedingly distant. The only Nazg?l with a named and specified ethnicity is Kham?l, the Black Easterling, leaving open the possibility that the Witch-king might also have been a Black Númenórean.

Ephraim Weaver mentions that even if the Witch-king were a royal Númenórean, they would still be a distant relative to Elrond, likely 11 to 13 generations removed. If he were a non-royal Númenórean, the relationship would be no closer to Elrond than to any other Númenórean.

Emerging Perspectives

Some speculate that if the Witch-king were a descendant of the First or Third House of Edain, or even descended from Elros, the relationship might be closer. However, Tolkien never explicitly wrote about the ancestry of the Witch-king, leaving much to interpretation. Ernest W. Adams suggests that if the Witch-king's ancestry includes the First or Third House of Edain, the relationship would indeed be closer.

Given Elrond's half-elf heritage, where his elven ancestry is 3/8, the connection to the human part of his ancestry is the same as the human part of the Witch-king's ancestry. Therefore, even if there is a distant familial connection, it might be no more significant than the distant connection between Aragorn and Elrond.

Conclusion

The theory of a familial connection between the Witch-king of Angmar and Elrond is an intriguing aspect of Tolkien's rich world, though it remains a matter of speculation rather than fact. Regardless of the exact nature of their connection, both figures serve to enhance the complex and layered narrative of Middle-earth, providing fans with a wealth of discussion and analysis.

References

Note: Tolkien, J.R.R. (2003). The Fellowship of the Ring. HarperCollins Publishers.