The Barrow Cache, with speculation on the Reason for the WK sending

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Alfirin

We know the WK is the Lord of the Nazgul but whether this is by mutual acclaim by Sauron's pick (most of his titles seem to have come after he took ring, so we dont know if he was already a king or prince before taking it (he was probably already a sorceror of some sort, but that has nothing to do with one's blood) becuse he was the first, or just by being bigger and nastier than the others and being able to keep them all cowed.

The WK was placed in charge by Sauron because he had the most power and command ability. The other Nazgûl would have obeyed his orders without question, since his orders would have been entirely in line with Sauron's wishes. No disunity would be seen in the ranks of the Nazgûl.

A great king and sorcerer he was of old, and now he wields a deadly fear.

FOTR The Council of Elrond

The Witch-king, their leader, is more powerful in all ways than the others.

Letters (# 210)

Originally Posted by Alfirin

(I)t makes a kind of sense, to wound the WK a barrow blade must (unlike a normal blade) trancend the divide between this side and the "other side"

I've never had the idea that the Barrow-blades were the only means of harming the Nazgûl; they simply did more damage due to the nature of the spells placed on them. After all, it wasn't Merry who delivered the death blow to the Morgul-lord; Éowyn did so, with an ordinary sword.