Why Didn't Sauron Create More Nazg?l Using the Dwarven Rings He Recaptured?

In J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Sauron, the chief architect of evil, sought to control not only Men but also Dwarves through the power of the Rings of Power. However, why did Sauron not create more Nazg?l (Ring-wraiths) using the Dwarven rings he recaptured from the battle of Eregion?

The Limitations on Sauron's Power

The primary reason lies in Sauron's diminishing power. The One Ring, which had been lost and ultimately destroyed, contained the majority of his power. As a result, Sauron found himself unable to create more rings of power. This was a critical constraint that hindered his plans to dominate Middle-earth.

According to the lore, the processes of creating rings of power, especially the pardon Ring, required immense effort that could not be easily replenished. Sauron, having lost the One Ring, was left with very little power to create further magical artifacts. Even if he could, the resources he had at his disposal were already minimal.

The Enslavement of the Nazg?l

The Nazg?l were already thoroughly enslaved and under his control. By the time Sauron began his efforts to dominate the five surviving Dwarven rings, they were not free individuals anymore but mere wraiths bound to his will. Adding more rings to the Nazg?l would not have enhanced their enslavement; they were already devoid of free will.

The Exhausting Nature of Magical Artifact Creation

In this world, creating magical rings is an extremely taxing process. Sauron had already poured much of himself into the creation of the One Ring, and he had to trick the Elves to shoulder much of the remainder of the labor. While the Elves, as creations of the Valar (Gods), would eventually recover from their exertions, Sauron, having lost the full power of the One Ring, was unable to regain the strength needed for such a task.

The aftermath of the destruction of the One Ring left Sauron with a diminished state. He no longer had the power to maintain the essence of the Nazg?l or to craft new magical rings. This scarcity of resources made it impossible for Sauron to expand his control through the creation of more rings.

The Survival of Dwarven Rings

The seven Dwarven rings initially created were a significant loss for Sauron. Over time, these rings had been whittled down, leaving only a few surviving. The fact that these rings were destroyed by dragons suggests that Sauron's attempts to recover and use them were thwarted. None of the remaining rings, not even the three Elven rings, were available for Sauron to regain any power or control.

Sauron's efforts to recover the surviving Dwarven rings were rudimentary. He had the nine rings initially intended for Men, but the seven for Dwarves were significantly diminished. Sauron and Saruman, the only ones who knew how to make new rings, were not inclined to do so for their own ends, let alone for Sauron.

Conclusion

In summary, Sauron's inability to create more Nazg?l or recover more powerful rings was a direct result of his diminished power and the exhausted state of his resources. The limitations inherent in the creation and loss of the One Ring, combined with the enslavement of the Nazg?l, made it impossible for Sauron to expand his control over Middle-earth through the use of additional rings. The events of the War of the Ring left Sauron with very little power to materialize his ambitions.