Gandalf clearly has more power. In the Unfinished Tales, Tolkien says that it makes sense that Manwe would send a spirit equal in power to Sauron's downfall, implying that they were somewhat equals The Witch-king on the other hand is only a servant, even though he is a mighty one. He knew fear, he feared Boromir I (not the one from the Fellowship), and had his own weaknesses such as water on sunlight. It seems clear that a duel between the two would have ended with Gandalf's victory, too bad PJ ruined that scene in the movies.
I totally agree with TM. Especially since the Witchking of Angmar is just a
human King and given one of nine Rings of Power to help rule over his realm. He and eight others were already in the service of Sauron, the Dark Lord of Mordor, but the Rings completely corrupted them and turned them into the ghostly, undead Ringwraiths. As to where Gandalf is one of the Maiar. Tolkien considered the Maiar lesser gods, angelic beings. Some of the more notable Maiar are 1. Eönwë 2. Ilmarë 3. Ossë 4. Uinen 5. Salmar 6. Sauron 7. Melian 8. Arien 9. Tilion 10. Gothmog 11. Curúmo 12. Olórin 13. Aiwendil 14. Alatar 15. Pallando 16. Durin's Bane. So it would make sense that angelic beings have more power then spiritually corrupted Humans who are now bodiless wraiths.
-- Edited by ArwenLegolas at 19:36, 2007-05-02
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Hey dol! merry dol! ring a dong dillo! Ring a dong! hop along! fal lal the willow! Tom Bom, Jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!
Where are the Nazgul called Kings? I know three of them were Lords of Numenor whilst other were great warriors and sorcerers of old but I cannot see anywhere what kingdoms they ruled.
I have closed the other thread, as they do indeed deal with the same topic. If anyone wishes to address any points made in the other thread, then please do it here. I personally wouldn't say that this difference of power between Maiar and Wraiths (you must keep in mind that he was no longer a human, but a wraith) is a reason to consider Gandalf stronger. The Witch-king himself is a good example...after all he was defeated by a woman and a Hobbit, not exactly a combination you would consider stronger. But still, if it came to a direct confrontation as it happened at the gate of Minas Tirith, I have no doubts that Gandalf would have won.
I am sorry for making two... it was an accident. I completely forgot i had made one in the movie topic too.
I have to agree with everyone on this, but i made it in the movie topic, because in the movie it shows Gandalf being knocked off his horse and having his staff blown to peices...
(i will have to put that in a bad scene)
~Prince of Mirkwood
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