Uglúk

Ugluk by John Howe
Orc
Uglúk
Biographical Information
Affiliation	Saruman
Language	Common Speech
Death	29 February, T.A. 3019 Edge of Fangorn Forest
Notable for	Leading the orcs who slew Boromir Capturing Merry and Pippin
Physical Description
Gender	Male
Height	Slightly taller than most Uruk-hai
Weaponry	Sword, bow
Gallery	Images of Uglúk

”

We are the fighting Uruk-hai! We slew the great warrior. We took the prisoners. We are the servants of Saruman the Wise, the White Hand: the Hand that gives us man's-flesh to eat. We came out of Isengard, and led you here, and we shall lead you back by the way we choose. I am Uglúk. I have spoken.

The Two Towers', "The Uruk-hai"

Uglúk was an Uruk captain in the service of Saruman during the War of the Ring. The company of orcs of Isengard under his leadership killed Boromir, captured Merry and Pippin and attempted to bring them to Isengard.

History

On 26 February T.A. 3019 Uglúk was the leader of the Orc-company that attacked the Fellowship of the Ring on the slopes of Amon Hen, slew Boromir and carried off Merry and Pippin.

Orcish Medicine by Irvin Rodriguez

Uglúk and his fellow Isengarders were servants of the Wizard Saruman, whom he called the Wise and respected him for his giving of man’s-flesh to eat. However, not all of his company were from Isengard – the group contained a contingent of Orcs from Mordor led by Grishnákh and a party of Northerners from Moria. Uglúk's orders had been to kill all of the Fellowship except the Halflings, who were to be brought back to Isengard and Saruman alive, captured and unspoiled, as quickly as possible. Grishnákh's orders were the same, except that his destination was to be Lugbúrz (Barad-dûr) and Sauron. The Northerners had no orders; they had come from the Mines for vengeance and killing, followed by a quick return to the north.

Swift Strokes by Donato Giancola

Not long after the capture of the hobbits these conflicting aims led to a brief fight in which some of the Mordor-orcs and Moria-orcs were slain. Uglúk won and was able to impose his will; his Orc-company headed west while Grishnákh's group withdrew.

On the evening of 26 February Uglúk learned that a single horseman of Rohan had been spotted but had not been stopped. Realizing that pursuit by the Rohirrim would swiftly follow he applied medicine on Merry's wound and forced drinks down both hobbits' throats. He then cut their leg bonds so that they could run with the company. When the Northerners objected to his plan to keep on running by daylight Uglúk promised that they would run with him behind them, and he ran at the rear to keep an eye on all of his company.

Despite the fast pace set by Uglúk on 28 February an Éored of mounted Men began to overtake the Orcs. Near the Entwash most of the Northerners broke away and dashed off towards the Misty Mountains. At the same time Grishnákh returned with a couple of score of fellow Mordor-orcs. Due to the threat from the riders the two Orc-companies combined and headed for the forest. As they sped along they caught up with the Northerners who perforce rejoined Uglúk's command.

Despite all the speed they could muster the Orcs, now numbering two hundred, were surrounded just three furlongs from the eaves of the forest. The hemmed-in Orcs began to grumble against Uglúk until he assured them that reinforcements led by an Orc named Mauhúr were close at hand. As the night wore on the Riders made a sortie against the Orcs. Uglúk led his Isengarders to stem the attack, which gave Grishnákh the opportunity to attempt to steal away with the two hobbits.

Grishnákh was killed and the hobbits escaped just as Mauhúr tried but failed to break the encirclement. Merry and Pippin fled into the woods as the Éored attacked at dawn on 29 February. In the ensuing battle Uglúk almost broke through the Riders with a wedge of soldiers, but he was brought to bay at the very edge of the woods and slain by Éomer in a hand-to-hand sword fight.

Uglúk died not knowing that the two hobbits he had captured did not have the One Ring. As Gandalf later noted, Uglúk's efforts would unwittingly lead to the downfall of Saruman.

Appearance

Uglúk was a large black orc. Being an Uruk, he was larger and stronger than the other Orcs and, presumably due to an exhaustive training.^:449, he was not bothered by sunlight. Uglúk bore the symbol of the White Hand of Saruman. Like the other Isengard Uruk-hai, Uglúk carried a great bow and a short broad-bladed sword.

Portrayal in adaptations

• 

  The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)

• 

  Middle-earth Collectible Card Game: The Lidless Eye

• 

  The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

• 

  Guardians of Middle-earth

• 

  The Lord of the Rings Online

• 

  The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game: The Uruk-hai Nightmare

• 

  The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth

• 

  War of the Ring: Second Edition: Kings of Middle-earth

1978: The Lord of the Rings (1978 film):

An Orc of Isengard sharing Uglúk's dialogue appears in the film. Pippin later tells Grishnákh that "Uglúk will be back any minute", indicating that the Orc was meant to be Uglúk. Uglúk scolds a group of Orcs for wasting arrows trying to attack the Rohirrim. He orders Snaga and Lugdush to stand guard and bind Merry and Pippin's legs and to refrain from killing them unless the Whiteskins break through. An Orc of Mordor quarrels with Uglúk, claiming "You and your stinking Wizard. You got us into this. When I tell them in Mordor..."

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

Uglúk was played by Brian Haines. Ugluk's scenes were severely abridged, but his death at the hands of the riders of Rohan can be heard.

1997: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:

Uglúk is depicted in the 1997 expansion Middle-earth: The Lidless Eye on two cards, the first of which being Swift Strokes illustrated by Donato Giancola. The card has the following effects:

Warrior receives +1 prowess against one strike and obtains two random values against it, choosing the one to use.

The second is Orc-draughts, illustrated by Daniel Frazier which has the following effects:

Discard to give +1 prowess to all characters in bearer’s company until the end of turn.

2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers:

Uglúk was portrayed by Nathaniel Lees. Instead of being the leader of the Uruk-hai that caused Boromir's death, Lurtz is given the role.

2002: Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series):

The voice of Uglúk is provided by Pavol Topoľský.

2012: Guardians of Middle-earth:

Uglúk is a warrior-type "guardian" with four abilities: Charge of the Uruk-hai, White Hand's Whip, Fury of Isengard and Orcish Medicine.

2012: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Uglúk makes a cameo appearance in a flashback session play. The site of Uglúk's death has become known as Eomer's vengeance and his body can be found there where the player's narration notes that Boromir has been avenged.

2015: The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game:

Uglúk is depicted in the 2015 expansion The Uruk-hai Nightmare on the "Orc-draught" card, illustrated by Rafal Hrynkiewicz . The card has the following effects:

Peril. Surge.
When Revealed: Either discard an ally you control, or increase the pursuit value by 1.
Shadow: Exhaust a character you control.

2023: The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth:

Uglúk is depicted on the Orcish Medicine card, illustrated by Irvin Rodriguez. The card has the following effects:

Target creature gains your choice of lifelink or indestructible until end of turn.
Amass Orcs 1. (Put a +1/-1 counter on an Army you control. It's also an Orc. If you don't control an Army, create a 0/0 black Orc Army creature token first.)