Azog

Azog, commonly referred to as Azog the Defiler, is a character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He is an Orc chieftain best remembered for killing Thrór, king of the Dwarves, during an assault on the dwarven realm at Moria. This act precipitated the War of the Dwarves and Orcs and deepened the long-standing enmity between dwarves and orcs. In the traditional legends, Azog is slain by Dáin Ironfoot at the Battle of Azanulbizar during the early years of the War of the Dwarves and Orcs.

In Tolkien's published works, Azog's role is primarily historical and instrumental rather than a central narrative figure; he is described as the Orc chieftain who killed Thrór and sparked the dwarven conflict. The aftermath and the details of his death are recorded as part of the dwarves' history rather than as a main plotline in The Hobbit.

In Peter Jackson's The Hobbit film trilogy, Azog is depicted as a main antagonist who survives into the events of the journey and pursues Thorin Oakenshield. The character is given a sustained presence across the three films and is ultimately slain in the climactic Battle of the Five Armies.

Apart from literature and film, Azog appears in various Middle-earth video games, tabletop games, and other media, where his portrayal may vary but his role as the dwarves' historical foe remains a common thread.