Shagrat: Difference between revisions

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m (Haven't seen a source for Gorbag's being bigger than Shagrat, if I've read the page correctly. A line from Sam suggests Gorbag was actually closer to Hobbit-size. Message me if I'm wrong.)
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[[Image:John Howe - Shagrat.jpg|thumb|''Shagrat'' by [[John Howe]].]]
{{orc infobox
'''Shagrat''' was the [[Uruks|Uruk]] commanding the [[Tower of Cirith Ungol]] in the [[Ephel Dúath]], who captured [[Frodo Baggins]] during the [[War of the Ring]]. He survived the battle that ensued the escape of the hobbits, and took the belongings - Elf cloak, Dwarf shirt, blade of the Downfallen West - to [[Barad-dûr]]. According to a later note, [[Sauron]] killed Shagrat on the 17th of March, [[Third Age 3019|3019]].
| name=Shagrat
| image=[[File:John Howe - Shagrat.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Shagrat" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=
| othernames=
| titles=
| position=[[Uruk-hai|Uruk]]-chieftain
| location=[[Tower of Cirith Ungol]]
| affiliation=
| language=
| birth=
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| age=
| notablefor=Capturing [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]]
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=
| race=Orc
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
'''Shagrat''' was an [[Uruk-hai|Uruk]] commanding the garrison of the [[Tower of Cirith Ungol]] during the [[War of the Ring]].


==References==
==History==
* [[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]], pg. 608
During a patrol to [[Shelob's Lair]], Shagrat's company encountered a troop of Orcs from [[Minas Morgul]] led by [[Gorbag]]. The two did not get along, but before things escalated, they noted something out of place: a [[Frodo Baggins|strange small creature]], all wound up in [[Shelob]]'s webs. The discovery of what appeared to be an undersized [[Elves|Elf]] led the two commanders to compare their notes; they concluded that there must have been another nearby. But they could not find this "great Elf warrior".  


[[Category:Uruk-Hai]]
Turmoil rose again amongst the group when Gorbag and Shagrat disagreed with what they had to do with the prisoner. Shagrat's orders from [[Sauron|above]] were simple; all personal effects were to be sent to [[Barad-dûr]]. Shagrat did not trust many of his own troops, and none of Gorbag's, so he locked up the prisoner in the top chamber of the [[Tower of Cirith Ungol]].<ref>{{TT|IV10}}</ref>
[[Category:Mordor and Sauron]]
 
Gorbag coveted the ''[[Mithril]]'' shirt Frodo wore, and attempted to usurp Shagrat's rule but lost to Shagrat's superior numbers. Soon, Gorbag's faction was pressed back. Shagrat eventually killed [[Gorbag]], and ran off to Sauron with the prisoner's belongings.<ref>{{RK|Tower}}</ref> He did not reach Barad-dûr until four days later; Sauron killed him after he delivered the news of intruders.<ref>[[Wayne G. Hammond]], [[Christina Scull]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]'', page 609</ref>
[[File:The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King - Shagrat.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Shagrat in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'']]
==Portrayal in adaptations==
 
'''[[1981]]: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:[[Chris Fairbank]] played Shagrat.  He is overheard by Sam discussing [[Shelob]] with [[Gorbag]], and then Sam encounters him again on the stairs in the [[Tower of Cirith Ungol]].
 
'''[[1989]]: [[Crack of Doom Software Adventure|''Crack of Doom'' Software Adventure''']]
:Shagrat is simply referred to in-game as a "large angry Orc". He is carrying a long red knife and a black bundle. He can be killed by Sam.
 
'''[[2003]]: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:[[Peter Tait]] played Shagrat. In this adaptation, it is Shagrat and not Gorbag who covets the ''[[Mithril#The Mithril Coat|mithril]]'' shirt and starts the fight. In the [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (extended edition)|Extended Edition]], he is shown escaping with the ''mithril'' shirt, which is then presented later by the [[Mouth of Sauron]] to the Captains of the West. It is unclear if this means Shagrat had changed his mind and brought the shirt to [[Barad-dûr]], or if he was waylaid by Orcs loyal to Sauron during his escape, and the shirt was confiscated.
 
{{references}}
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Uruk-hai]]
[[Category:Servants of Sauron]]
[[de:Schagrat]]
[[de:Schagrat]]
[[fi:Shagrat]]
[[fi:Shagrat]]

Revision as of 14:20, 23 April 2019

Shagrat
Orc
John Howe - Shagrat.jpg
"Shagrat" by John Howe
Biographical Information
PositionUruk-chieftain
LocationTower of Cirith Ungol
Notable forCapturing Frodo
Physical Description
RaceOrc
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Shagrat

Shagrat was an Uruk commanding the garrison of the Tower of Cirith Ungol during the War of the Ring.

History

During a patrol to Shelob's Lair, Shagrat's company encountered a troop of Orcs from Minas Morgul led by Gorbag. The two did not get along, but before things escalated, they noted something out of place: a strange small creature, all wound up in Shelob's webs. The discovery of what appeared to be an undersized Elf led the two commanders to compare their notes; they concluded that there must have been another nearby. But they could not find this "great Elf warrior".

Turmoil rose again amongst the group when Gorbag and Shagrat disagreed with what they had to do with the prisoner. Shagrat's orders from above were simple; all personal effects were to be sent to Barad-dûr. Shagrat did not trust many of his own troops, and none of Gorbag's, so he locked up the prisoner in the top chamber of the Tower of Cirith Ungol.[1]

Gorbag coveted the Mithril shirt Frodo wore, and attempted to usurp Shagrat's rule but lost to Shagrat's superior numbers. Soon, Gorbag's faction was pressed back. Shagrat eventually killed Gorbag, and ran off to Sauron with the prisoner's belongings.[2] He did not reach Barad-dûr until four days later; Sauron killed him after he delivered the news of intruders.[3]

Portrayal in adaptations

1981: The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series):

Chris Fairbank played Shagrat. He is overheard by Sam discussing Shelob with Gorbag, and then Sam encounters him again on the stairs in the Tower of Cirith Ungol.

1989: Crack of Doom Software Adventure

Shagrat is simply referred to in-game as a "large angry Orc". He is carrying a long red knife and a black bundle. He can be killed by Sam.

2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King:

Peter Tait played Shagrat. In this adaptation, it is Shagrat and not Gorbag who covets the mithril shirt and starts the fight. In the Extended Edition, he is shown escaping with the mithril shirt, which is then presented later by the Mouth of Sauron to the Captains of the West. It is unclear if this means Shagrat had changed his mind and brought the shirt to Barad-dûr, or if he was waylaid by Orcs loyal to Sauron during his escape, and the shirt was confiscated.

References