What happened to the orcs after Sauron was defeated?
After Sauron’s defeat, the Orcs were largely destroyed or fled in disarray, with many of them killed by Aragorn and his army in Mordor, while others escaped to the Mountains of Angmar and the Grey Mountains. The Orcs without Sauron were left without a unifying purpose, and as a result, they disappeared over time, much like the Elves, Dwarves, and Dragons, although it is unlikely that they became extinct due to their ability to survive and multiply.
Understanding the Fate of the Orcs
The fate of the Orcs after Sauron’s defeat is a complex and multifaceted topic, with various accounts and interpretations within the Lord of the Rings lore. To provide a deeper understanding of what happened to the Orcs, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions and answers.
FAQs
1. Did Orcs survive after Sauron?
Yes, the Orcs survived after Sauron’s defeat, but they ceased to be a power in Middle-earth and were largely destroyed or fled in disarray.
2. Did Orcs go extinct after Lord of the Rings?
No, the Orcs did not become extinct after the Lord of the Rings, although they disappeared over time due to their lack of a unifying purpose and the decline of their numbers.
3. Where did the Orcs gather after Morgoth’s defeat?
The Orcs that survived Morgoth’s defeat fled east of the Blue Mountains and hid in the northern reaches of the Hithaeglir near Angmar or the Grey Mountains.
4. What happened to the Orcs after Helm’s Deep?
The Orcs that fled into the Huorn forest after the Battle of Helm’s Deep were destroyed by the Huorns.
5. Has there ever been a good orc in Lord of the Rings?
No, there are no good Orcs in the Lord of the Rings, as they are corrupted and twisted creatures that are beyond redemption.
6. Did Tolkien regret Orcs?
Yes, Tolkien regretted the Orcs, as he could never find a solution for their souls and struggled with the concept of their existence.
7. What happened to Mordor after Sauron died?
After Sauron’s death, Mordor was largely empty, with the Dark Tower, Black Gate, and Towers of Teeth collapsing into ruin, and Mount Doom erupting.
8. Who is the father of the Orcs?
The father of the Orcs is Morgoth, who created the first Orcs by torturing and corrupting Elves.
9. Are Orcs born or made?
The Orcs were made by Morgoth through the corruption and torture of Elves, although they can multiply and reproduce on their own.
10. How do Orcs reproduce?
The Orcs multiply after the manner of the Children of Iluvatar, with female Orcs giving birth to new Orcs.
11. Why do the Orcs look different in the Hobbit?
The Orcs in the Hobbit look different because they are from a different time period, with the Second Age Orcs being more raw and untamed.
12. Why did they add Elves to Helm’s Deep?
The Elves were added to the Battle of Helm’s Deep to show that Saruman was a threat to all the peoples of Middle-earth, not just Men.
13. How many Elves survived Helm’s Deep in the movie?
Only Legolas survived the Battle of Helm’s Deep in the movie, as he was the only Elf present.
14. Did any Elves survive Helm’s Deep?
Yes, Legolas survived the Battle of Helm’s Deep in the book, as he was the only Elf present.
15. What happened to Legolas and Gimli after Aragorn died?
After Aragorn’s death, Legolas and Gimli sailed into the West together, with Legolas leaving no family members behind, as he was the last of his line.