Khamûl

Khamûl was one of the nine Ringwraiths, second only to the Witch-king himself in Middle-Earth.

Biography
Khamûl was the Wraith who pursued the Hobbits to the Ferry at Buckleberry in the Shire, and who asked Hamfast Gamgee for "Baggins" just before Frodo Baggins left Hobbiton.

He commanded the fortress of Dol Guldur after Sauron's return to Mordor. Khamûl also appeared in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields with the other Nazgûl, mounted on his fell beast and killing Gondorian soldiers at the beginning of the battle. When it was taking shape, he and the other seven Nazgûl flew to Mordor while the Witch-king, who commanded the armies of Mordor, remained, and was eventually killed by Eowyn of Rohan and Meriadoc Brandybuck.

With the Witch-king's demise, Khamûl became the most powerful Nazgûl in Middle-Earth and possibly took command of the Ringwraiths. (In the Peter Jackson movie of "The Return of the King") He commanded the other Nazgûl to attack the Rohirrim and Gondorian soldiers in the Battle of the Morannon, and perished when the One Ring was destroyed.

(In the original novels) Khamûl was stationed at Dol Guldur on March 6th, when Aragorn revealed himself to Sauron and began marching on the wood elf kingdoms on March 10th. On March 11th, his forces began assailing the nearby Lórien. After this failed, much of his force passed around the border of the woods and entered the Wold of Rohan. On March 12th, they were met with Ents sent east from Fangorn and Isengard, and were routed. Lórien was then attacked twice more on March 15th and 22nd, but was never entered. The forces of Dol Guldur also went north into Mirkwood, battling the forces of King Thranduil under Mirkwood's trees, the climax of these battles being on March 15th which after a "long battle... and great ruin and fire" was won by Thranduil's forces. When Sauron gave Rings to all of the Kings of men he literally gave them to every King of Men. Khamul was King of Rhun and Harad at this time. When he took the Ring he became a Wraith like the others. This could possibly explain Rhun and Harads allegeince with Mordor

Names
He was called Sauron's lieutenant, Shadow of the East, and the Black Easterling. He was a lord of Easterlings before being given one of the Nine Rings. He was the only Ringwraith whose name was given by J.R.R. Tolkien.

In Peter Jackson's film adaptions of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Khamûl is shown and speaks, "Shire... Baggins...". is also shown in Return of the King, where he is the one Nazgûl who is the first to be attacked by the Eagles, perishing right before the One Ring falls into the Crack of Doom. He is destroyed by a direct hit from some lava.