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Rohan

2012-01-24T01:59:19Z

Kingabben: Just adding definition of Rohan: The Mark. If I'm wrong correct me, if you don't want it go ahead and delete it.

{{cleanup}}
{{Kingdom
| image=[[Image:Rohan.gif|250px]]
| name=Rohan
| type = Monarchy
| headofstate = [[King of Rohan]]
| hidep=yes
| executive = Royal council
| legislative =
| judicial =
| capital = [[Edoras]]
| language = [[Westron]]/[[Rohirric]]
| location= North of the [[White Mountains]], South of [[Fangorn Forest]]
| populous= Mostly [[Men]] (the [[Rohirrim]])
| currency =
| religious =
| holiday =
| anthem =
| formed = People of [[Éothéod]]
| established = [[Third Age 2510|TA 2510]]
| reorganized =
| fragmented =
| dissolved =
| restored =
|}}
'''Rohan''' was the territory of the [[Rohirrim]], a people of herdsmen and farmers on the northern borders of [[Gondor]] in [[Middle-earth]]. Well-known for their [[horses]] and cavalry, they were Gondor's most important ally. Rohan's official definition in Sindarin is "The Mark".

== Background==
In the 1200s of the [[Third Age]] (T.A.), the Kings of Gondor made close alliances with the [[Northmen]] of [[Rhovanion (region)|Rhovanion]], a people akin to the [[Edain#The Three Houses|Three Houses of the Edain]] (later the [[Dúnedain]]) from the [[First Age]].

In the 2000s, a remnant tribe of such Northmen that called itself the [[Éothéod]] moved from the valleys of [[Anduin]] to the north west of [[Mirkwood]], clearing out what remained of the recently defeated witch kingdom of [[Angmar]], east of the [[Misty Mountains]]. While there, some dispute arose between them and the dwarves over the treasure-hoard of [[Scatha]] the dragon.
[[File:Ted Nasmith - The Oathtaking of Cirion and Eorl.jpg|thumb|left|Ted Nasmith - The Oathtaking of Cirion and Eorl]]
Later, in [[Third Age 2509]], [[Cirion]] the [[Steward of Gondor]] sent summons to the Éothéod for aid in stopping a combined invasion of Men from the north east of Middle-earth, and [[Orcs]] from the [[Misty Mountains]]. [[Borondir]] reached [[Eorl the Young]], king of the Éothéod, who answered the summons, and arrived unexpectedly at a decisive [[battle of the Field of Celebrant]].

As a reward, Cirion invited Eorl on [[Amon Anwar]], over the [[tomb of Elendil]] and he swore mutual alliance and cooperation between the two peoples.
==History==
[[Calenardhon]], a province of Gondor, was devastated by the earlier [[Great Plague]] and the survivors to a large extent were slain in the recent invasion; Dunlendings attempted to repopulate it without Gondor's consent. Cirion gave this area to Eorl who moved his people there driving out the Dunlendings. Migration was continued to the days of second king [[Brego]] who defended the borders against the Dunlendings and Easterlings, and drove off [[the Wold]] the remaining [[Orcs]] and [[Balchoth]].

[[File:Jan Pospisil - Edoras.jpg|thumb|Edoras]]
Rohan's first city was [[Aldburg]] built by Eorl, but soon after Brego built the Golden Hall of Meduseld, and made Edoras the capital of Rohan.

King [[Aldor]] was the founder of a golden age in Rohan's history, during which he completed Rohan's conquest east of the [[Isen]] and the [[Rohirrim]] increased greatly in numbers, who even settled valleys of [[Ered Nimrais]] including [[Harrowdale]]. He succeeded in driving all the remaining Dunlendings from his realm. During [[Goldwine]]'s rule, the golden age continued and the guard of the borders lessened, but the Dunlendings began to slowly return to northern [[Westfold]], settling the area around the (friendly to them) [[Ring of Isengard]] and the southern eaves of [[Fangorn Forest]]<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>. By [[Déor]]'s time, a powerful Dunlendish force had been established, and the King was forced to ride northward from Edoras, ultimately to defeat his enemies but he was unable to recapture the Ring of Isengard. The following years the Dunlendings harassed and mingled with the Rohirrim.

The first line of kings lasted for 249 years, until the ninth king [[Helm Hammerhand]]. In {{TA|2758}}, Rohan was invaded by Dunlendings under [[Wulf]], son of Freca, of mixed Dunland and Rohan blood. The King, Helm Hammerhand, took refuge in the [[Hornburg]] until reinforcements from Gondor and [[Dunharrow]] (a refuge of the Rohirrim) arrived a year later and defeated the invaders. In a daring raid [[Fréaláf]] recaptured Edoras, and managed to reclaim it. He eventually drove the Dunlendings back across the rivers Isen and Adorn, freeing all of Rohan.

The Rohirrim now kept a strong force in north [[Westfold]], however at some time King [[Folcwine]] would need the help of Gondor to drive some of them from the area.<ref>{{App|Mark}}</ref> He was successful but the people who remained were largely of mixed blood, and not loyal to Edoras.<ref>{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

It was soon after this that [[Saruman]] arrived and took over [[Isengard]], and was welcomed as a strong ally, since it would take Rohan close to 200 years to recover its strength after the invasion.

As Rohan was still recovering from the war with the Dunlendings, hostilities remained at the western borders. For two generations, during the coincidental [[War of Dwarves and Orcs|conflict]] many thousands of [[Orcs]] tried to claim a refuge in the [[White Mountains]] and troubled the Rohirrim; [[Brytta]] fought them off, and when he died it was believed Rohan was free of Orcs; they were not entirely driven from the White Mountains until {{TA|2864}} by [[Folca]].

During [[Thengel]]'s reign, a mysterious Northerner calling himself [[Thorongil]] entered his service, and rode with him for some time.

Around {{TA|2960}} Saruman started to harass Rohan and in {{TA|3014}}, he began using his influence to weaken the King, [[Théoden]], as part of a campaign to invade or take over the kingdom. In [[Third Age 3019]], he launched a full-scale invasion of Rohan, with victories; (Théoden's son, [[Théodred]] was killed during the [[First Battle at the Fords of Isen]]) and defeat at the [[Battle of the Hornburg]], where the [[Huorns]] came to the aid of the Rohirrim.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Pursuit in Rohan.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Three Hunters]] enter Rohan]]
On the heels of this victory, [[Théoden]] rode with an army to [[Minas Tirith]] and helped break its siege in the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]], where he was slain. [[Éomer]], the nephew of King [[Théoden]], then succeeded to the throne, beginning the third line. [[Éomer]] rode with the armies of [[Gondor]] to the gates of Mordor and took part in the final battle with the forces of [[Sauron]], who was defeated when the [[The One Ring|Ruling Ring]] was destroyed.

The rule of the Stewards of Gondor was now over. King Éomer and the new king of Gondor, [[Aragorn|Aragorn II]] (Aragorn), renewed their oath of alliance, and reaffirmed Cirion's grant of Calenardhon to the Rohirrim. But though Sauron had perished Éomer often fulfilled the Oath of Eorl and went with [[King Elessar]] far into the East and South. He was known as Éomer Éadig, or "the Blessed", because during his reign Rohan recovered from the hurts of the War and became a rich and fruitful land again.

== Description ==

The borders of Rohan were the river [[Isen]] in the west, bordering [[Saruman]]'s [[Isengard]]; the river [[Adorn]], a tributary of Isen, also in the west, forming the border with the unfriendly [[Dunlendings]]); the [[White Mountains]] in the south; the [[Mering Stream]] in the southeast, at the border between Rohan and Gondor; the Mouths of [[Entwash]] in the east; and the [[Limlight]], a tributary of the [[Anduin]] as the northern border.

The most significant feature of Rohan's geography was the river [[Entwash]], which divided the country between [[Eastemnet]] and [[Westemnet]], itself divided as [[Eastfold]] and [[Westfold]]. Other lands were [[the Wold]], the [[Folde]], the [[Downs]] and the [[Undeeps]].
[[File:Ted Nasmith - The Riders of Rohan.jpg|thumb|Ted Nasmith - The Riders of Rohan]]
The Rohirrim found abandoned Gondorian fortresses and refuges in the White Mountains, such as the [[Dunharrow]], the [[Orthanc]] and the [[Hornburg]] which they restored and used themselves.

The capital of Rohan was the hill fort of [[Edoras]] which lay on the slopes of the [[White Mountains]]. Another large city was '''[[Aldburg]]''', the capital city of the Eastfold and original city of Eorl the Young. Other cities must have existed but are not named.

At the time of the War of the Ring, Rohan was roughly a third the size of Gondor, whose borders had slowly been shrinking for decades.

===Climate and countryside===
The countryside of Rohan was described as a land of pastures and lush tall grassland. The lands of Rohan are frequently described as appearing like "seas of grass". Most of the Rohirrim dwelt in small villages or farms.

== Politics ==
===Military===
[[File:Forth Eorilingas!.jpg|thumb]]
The military of the Rohirrim was commanded by Marshals. The [[First Marshal of the Riddermark]] was the highest military rank and commanded the [[Muster of Edoras]]: Riders of the capital Edoras and the surrounding lands, including the King's Lands and [[Harrowdale]]. In his youth, King Théoden had led the Riders of the Muster of Edoras himself, so that no First Marshal was needed and at the time of the War of the Ring, there was no First Marshal.

The Second and Third Marshals had no fixed duties, and their roles changed according to the needs of the time. The [[Second Marshal of the Riddermark]] and was based in the [[Helm's Deep]] and around the War of the Ring it was filled by Théoden's son, Prince [[Théodred]]. The [[Third Marshal of the Riddermark]] was based at [[Aldburg]] in the [[Folde]] and around the War of the Ring it was filled by [[Éomer]].

After the War of the Rings, the new rank of [[Marshal of the East-mark]] was created for the eastern Rohan by King Éomer. The first Rider to hold it was his lieutenant, [[Elfhelm]].

===Alliance with Gondor===
The alliance between Rohan and Gondor came into existence in the year 2510 of the [[Third Age]]. In that year the [[Easterlings]] launched a massive invasion of Gondor. The army of Gondor was defeated and trapped between the Limlight and the [[Celebrant]]. Gondor, which had always been on friendly terms with the different tribes of the [[Northmen]], sent messengers to the closest tribe, the [[Éothéod]]. Although it was unlikely that the message calling for aid would come through, it did. Then [[Eorl the Young]] and his fierce Éothéod Riders unexpectedly took the field during the Battle of Celebrant and turned the tide in the favour of Gondor. As a reward [[Cirion]], the [[Steward of Gondor]], gave Eorl the depopulated province of Calenardhon for his people to settle, while fulfilling Gondor's need for a strong ally. The [[Oath of Eorl]] was sworn by both Cirion and Eorl. Neither nation has ever broken the alliance ever since. Rohan has gone through great lengths to fulfill their part of the treaty including sacrificing two of its heirs when Gondor was under threat from the [[Haradrim]] in 2885, when [[Fastred, son of Folcwine|Fastred]] and [[Folcred]], the twin sons of King [[Folcwine]], were killed during the Battle of Crossings of [[Poros]]. King [[Théoden]] once again honoured the alliance in the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]].

===War with the Dunlendings===
To the west of Rohan lived the [[Dunlendings]], a native people who had been hostile against the Free Peoples for a long time. The Dunlending [[Wulf]] briefly usurped of the throne of Rohan during the long winter.

During the [[War of the Ring]], Saruman would incite them against the Rohirrim and they would fight alongside the [[Uruk-hai]] in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]].

===Wormtongue===

When king Théoden began to grow old, he took as an advisor [[Gríma Wormtongue|Gríma]], later called ''Wormtongue''. Gríma quickly became Théoden's chief advisor, but unknown to all he was secretly working for Saruman. Gríma played on Théoden's fears to further weaken the strength of the king and all of Rohan, always advising retreat where an attack was needed. He may have also begun poisoning the king at this time. This nearly proved disastrous for Rohan, and also for Gondor, by robbing them of their strongest ally in the north. Gríma Wormtongue's plans were not revealed until [[Gandalf]] arrived in Edoras during the War of the Ring.

==Etymology==

The name ''Rohan'' (coined by [[Hallas]]) is [[Gondor Sindarin]], meaning "Horse-country". ''Rohan'' is a debased form of the proper [[Sindarin]] name ''Rochand'' (or ''Rochan''), containing the elements ''[[roch]]'' ("horse") and the toponymical ending ''[[-nd|-and]]''.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Nancy Smith]], ""[[Index questions]]"</ref><ref name=Cirion>{{UT|Cirion}}, "iii. Cirion and Eorl"</ref><ref>{{HM|RC}}, pp. 247-8</ref>

The native name of the country was '''[[Riddermark]]''', or simply '''the Mark'''.

In a draft of ''The Appendices'', Tolkien noted that ''Rohan'' "is of [[Noldorin]] origin, a translation of the native ''[[Lōgrad]]''", having the "strictly correct form [...] ''Rochann''."<ref>{{PM|II}}, p. 53</ref>

==Other versions of the legendarium==
Conceptualized as the "Horse kings of Rohan" allied with [[Mordor]] in early drafts of [[1939]], the Rohirrim took their final form in 1942 when the text of the Lord of the Rings was completed to about one third.

==Inspiration==
Several aspects of Rohan's culture and history seem to be inspired by both Goths, Scandinavians and the medieval Anglo-Saxons.

Just like the Germanic Ostrogoths, Rohanese culture was a mounted culture. It had separated from the [[Northmen]], moved south, and had settled in close proximity with a civilization. In the Goths' case it was the Byzantine Empire and in the case of the Rohirrim, it was Gondor.

Especially Hervarar saga, with its [[Mirkwood]], Gothic horsemen and shieldmaidens, appears to have inspired Tolkien when creating the Rohirrim, although he exchanged the Gothic tongue with the Anglo-Saxon.

The antipathy between the Rohirrim and the [[Dunlendings]] resembles the historical tension between the Anglo-Saxon settlers of Britain and the native Celts.

[[Category:Regions]]
[[Category:Rohan| Rohan]]
[[Category:Sindarin Locations]]
{{references}}
[[de:Rohan]]
[[fa:روهان]]
[[fi:Rohan]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/royaumes/rohan]]

Gondor

2012-01-24T01:56:47Z

Kingabben: I added the definition of Gondor in Tolkien's language: Stone

{{kingdom
| image = [[Image:Gondor.jpg|250px]]
| name = Gondor
| meaning = Land of Stone
| type = Monarchy/Stewardship
| hidep=yes
| headofstate = [[King of Gondor]]/[[Ruling Steward]]
| executive = [[Council of Gondor]]
| legislative =
| judicial =
| capital = [[Osgiliath]]/[[Minas Tirith]]
| language = [[Westron]]
| location = South of the [[White Mountains]], west of [[Mordor]]
| populace= Mostly [[Men]]
| currency = The [[castar]]
| religious =
| holiday =
| anthem =
| formed = The escape of the [[Faithful]] from the [[Downfall of Númenor]] in [[Second Age 3319|S.A. 3319]]
| established = [[Second Age 3320|S.A. 3320]]
| reorganized = [[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]]
| fragmented =
| dissolved =
| restored =
}}{{Pronounce|Gondor.mp3|Ardamir}}
<center>{{quote|Gondor! Gondor, between the Mountains and the Sea! West Wind blew there; light upon the Silver Tree|[[Aragorn]]<ref name="tRoR">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The Riders of Rohan]]"</ref>}}</center>

'''Gondor''' was the '''South Kingdom''' of the [[Númenóreans]] in [[Middle-earth]], established soon after the downfall of [[Númenor]] by [[Isildur]] and his brother [[Anárion]]. Their father [[Elendil]], who ruled the North Kingdom [[Arnor]], held the overlordship of the realm, however. Though it waned in power over time and the line of its Kings failed, Gondor survived to the end of the [[Third Age]], and had an instrumental role in the [[War of the Ring]]. After the defeat of [[Sauron]], Gondor was ruled by [[Aragorn|Elessar]], Heir of Isildur. Gondor was the seat of the [[Dominion of Men]] in the beginning of the [[Fourth Age]], and many of the tales and legends of the earlier [[Ages of the Children of Ilúvatar|Age]]s of Middle-earth come from the lore and history it preserved. The definition of Gondor means stone, implying the fact that Gondor, in its zenith, had many stone castles and fortresses.

== History ==
=== Early History ===
Before the Downfall of Númenor, the region that would become Gondor was home to many Númenórean colonists, who either mingled with the indigenous [[Middle Men]] if they were friendly, or dispersed them into [[Ras Morthil]], [[Dunland]], and [[Drúadan Forest]]. The land on which Gondor was founded was more fertile than the more northerly areas of Middle-earth, and therefore it already had a fairly large population before the ships of Elendil's sons arrived, including a well-established haven, [[Pelargir]].<ref name="UTD">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', "[[The Drúedain]]"</ref> Pelargir was founded by the [[Faithful]] Númenóreans in the year [[Second Age 2350|2350 of the Second Age]].

The refugees from [[Númenor]] led by [[Isildur]] and [[Anárion]] were given a warm reception upon their arrival by those that had already colonized this area of Middle-earth. The colonists north of the river [[Anduin]] accepted Elendil's claim to kingship over them. South of the Great River, however, the also-newly-exiled [[Black Númenóreans]] did not recognize Elendil's claim. Since the Black Númenóreans were the descendants of the [[King's Men]] of Númenor, who were opposed to the Faithful, they did not unite with Elendil and his sons, who represented the [[Faithful]] in Middle-earth. Much of Gondor's early history was marked by conflict with the Black Númenóreans.

[[Image:Ted Nasmith - The White Tree.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''The White Tree'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]After their arrival and acceptance by the people, Isildur and Anárion put themselves to the task of ordering their realm. Isildur built the tower of [[Minas Ithil]] near Mordor as a threat to the [[Mordor|Black Land]], and within its walls he planted a seedling of the [[Nimloth of Númenor|White Tree]] of Númenor that he had taken before its destruction. Anárion raised the tower of [[Minas Anor]] on the other side of Anduin's floodplain as a bulwark against the [[Wild Men]]. In between their cities, the brothers founded [[Osgiliath]], their capital. From this city Isildur and Anárion ruled side-by-side, and used the ''[[palantíri]]'', the Seeing Stones that the Faithful had taken with them from Númenor, to maintain contact with Elendil and the other areas under their control.

=== First Conflict with Sauron ===
The Dúnedain were at first unaware that Sauron, who had been taken as a prisoner to Númenor before its destruction, had survived the disastrous Downfall. However, not long after the kingdom's cities were built, the awakening of the fires of [[Orodruin]] signaled his return. At that time, the Men of Gondor first called the mountain ''Amon Amarth'', or Mount Doom. Soon after, Sauron launched an attack on Minas Ithil, which forced Isildur into a retreat. Sauron took the fortress and burned the White Tree that had grown there, but Isildur saved one of its seedlings and took it and his family on a ship down the Anduin. He sailed to the north to confer with Elendil about these events. Anárion remained in Gondor and continued to hold Osgiliath. He also managed to push back Sauron's forces to the mountain range of [[Ephel Dúath]], but Sauron began to gather reinforcements, among whom were a large number of Black Númenóreans, and the Men of Gondor knew that their realm was in great danger of being destroyed unless aid came.

=== The [[War of the Last Alliance]] ===
Elendil reacted to the threat of Sauron by combining forces with [[Gil-galad]] the [[Elves|Elven]]-king to make the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]]. Their armies marched southeast from Arnor and Gil-galad's realm of [[Lindon]]. Supported by the forces of Gondor, [[Lórinand]], [[Mirkwood]] and the dwarves of [[Moria]], the Alliance fought a great battle on the plain of [[Dagorlad]] north of Mordor. The armies of Elendil and Gil-galad were victorious, and entered Mordor itself, where they laid a siege on Sauron's Tower of [[Siege of Barad-dûr|Barad-dûr]] for seven years. During this time, Anárion was killed by a rock thrown from the Tower that broke his helm. The siege ended when Sauron himself emerged from Barad-dûr to fight the Alliance. Gil-galad and Elendil attacked and destroyed Sauron, though they themselves were slain the process.<ref name="OtRoP">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "[[Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age]]"</ref>

=== Gondor in the Beginning of the [[Third Age]] ===
====Rebuilding====
After the battle, during which the long Second Age came to an end, Isildur built a secret tomb for Elendil on the mountain [[Amon Anwar]].<ref name="CE"/> He also aided Anárion's son [[Meneldil]], who was now King, in reorganizing Gondor. Isildur planted the seedling of the White Tree that he had saved in Minas Anor, and it endured for several centuries. After these acts, Isildur left Gondor in the third year of the Third Age with the intent of ruling his father's kingdom of Arnor. He [[Battle of the Gladden Fields|never arrived]].<ref name="Gladden">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', "[[The Disaster of the Gladden Fields]]"</ref>

==== Gondor Prospers ====
After the war, Gondor's power and wealth grew steadily (only interrupted by an [[Easterlings|Easterling]] invasion in [[Third Age 492]]). Its power would continue to grow into the 9th century of the Third Age. While the power of Gondor's sister kingdom [[Arnor]] peaked during the 9th century, when it broke into various successor states, Gondor's greatest glory was yet to come.

==== Gondor's Golden Age ====
[[File:Gondor TA1050.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Gondor in [[Third Age 1050|T.A. 1050]]]]Gondor's power reached its Golden Age under the four "[[Ship-kings]]"<ref name="Gondor">{{AA|Gondor}}</ref>

The reign of Tarannon was an unhappy one: he married [[Berúthiel]], nefarious and loveless. Unlike her husband, she hated the Sea, its smells and its sounds. Mystery began to surround her as she used her [[cats]] to spy on every one, and paranoia and fear rose. After much ado, Tarannon banished her from Gondor, setting her on an adrift ship with her cats. It was last seen passing [[Haven of Umbar|Umbar]] in the South.<ref name="UTI7">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', "[[The Istari]]", note 7</ref>

In the reign of the powerful king Hyarmendacil I Gondor reached the height of its power. During Hyarmendacil's reign Gondor's borders reached their furthest extent. The Kingdom extended east to the [[Sea of Rhûn]], south to the nearest lands of the [[Haradrim]], as far north as [[Mirkwood]] and west towards the borders of [[Arnor]]. Gondor would also enjoy several centuries of peace due to its military might.<ref name="Gondor"/>

[[Rómendacil II]] built on the northern approach to [[Nen Hithoel]] the giant pillars [[Argonath]] to mark the northern border of Gondor around [[Third Age 1340]].

=== The Decline of Gondor ===
But after his reign decadence spread under the kings of Gondor and a long period of decline began (although Gondor experienced several revivals). Three great calamities struck Gondor during the second millennium of the Third Age, which are held to be the chief reasons for its decline: the [[Kin-strife]], the [[Great Plague]], and the invasion of the [[Wainriders]] (a tribe of Easterlings), one of series of conflicts in the [[Wainrider/Balchoth War]].

==== The Kin-strife ====
In the 15th century a great civil war named the Kin-strife tore the nation apart. The current King Eldacar was of mixed blood: his mother was of the Northmen. Popular displeasure at this led to the overthrow of King Eldacar by Castamir, the admiral of all of Gondor's naval forces who possessed some royal blood. Eldacar's son was slain, and he fled north. Castamir was afterward known as [[Castamir|Castamir the Usurper]]. During his ten year rule he proved to be very cruel, and because of his love of his old fleet, he lavished attention on the coastal regions while the interior provinces were ignored and left to rot. Eldacar then returned with an army of his Northmen kinsmen, and they were joined by armies of Gondorians from interior provinces such as Anórien. [[Osgiliath]] was devastated during this conflict, its great bridge destroyed and its ''[[palantíri|palantír]]'' lost. Eldacar slew Castamir and reclaimed his throne, but Castamir's sons and their forces were besieged in Pelargir, the great port of Gondor. They eventually retreated to Umbar, where they joined with the Corsairs, and troubled Gondor for many years, until their descendants died out.

==== The Great Plague ====
In [[Third Age 1636]] the [[Great Plague]] struck and the [[White Tree of Gondor|White Tree]] died. This Plague was no localized event: the Plague swept through all of Middle-earth, reaching the successor states of Arnor and the [[Hobbits]] of [[the Shire]] in the North. King [[Tarondor (King of Gondor)|Tarondor]] found a sapling of the White Tree, and moved the capital from Osgiliath to [[Minas Anor]], the City of Anárion. During this time, Gondor was so depopulated that the fortifications guarding against the re-entry of evil into Mordor were abandoned. It is believed that had the Haradrim or Easterlings been capable of attacking Gondor at this time, it would have fallen. However, the Plague left Gondor's enemies in no better condition than Gondor itself, and neither side was capable of mounting new offensives.

==== The Invasion of the Wainriders ====
Following the sapping of Gondor's strength by the plague, the Wainrider invasions devastated Gondor, and the conflict lasted for almost a century. The Wainriders destroyed the Northern Army of Gondor, but survivors linked up with the victorious Southern Army of Gondor, led by a general named Eärnil, and they destroyed the Wainriders as they celebrated their victory during the [[Battle of the Camp]], in [[Third Age 1944]].

=== The Line of the Kings Fails ===
==== Reunification Rejected ====
In 1944, Gondor also faced a constitutional crisis when King [[Ondoher]] was slain in a previous battle with both his sons. [[Arvedui]], King of [[Arthedain]], Ondoher's son-in-law, and the victorious general Eärnil, who was a distant blood-relative of Ondoher, claimed the throne. Arvedui's claim lay mainly in the reintroduction of the old Númenórean law of accession, which stated the eldest (remaining) child should succeed the king. If the law was reintroduced, then Arvedui's wife [[Fíriel]], Ondoher's daughter and last remaining child would become [[Ruling Queens of Númenor|Ruling Queen]], making their descendants Kings of both Arnor and Gondor. Arvedui also tried to put weight behind his claim as he was Isildur's heir. The council of Gondor recognised that the name of Isildur was held in honour in Gondor, but they dictated that the South-Kingdom must be ruled by an Heir of Anárion. Due to his ancestry from Fíriel and Arvedui, more than a millennium later, Aragorn Elessar put forward his claim as the heir of both Isildur and Anárion.

Eärnil lay his claim as being a direct descendant of King [[Telumehtar]] Umbardacil. His claim was also greatly bolstered by the popularity he had gained as the victorious general who saved Gondor from the Wainriders after winning the southern theatre of the war. Steward [[Pelendur]] who was temporarily ruling Gondor as serving as arbiter of succession, intervened in favour of Gondor's victorious general who would rule as [[Eärnil II]].

==== The Last Heir of Anárion ====
During the [[Battle of Fornost]], Eärnil II's heir Eärnur led Gondor's forces to victory over the [[Witch-king]] of [[Angmar]], who was actually the Lord of the [[Nazgûl]]. Although Eärnur wished to fight him, Eärnur's horse was terrified and fled the battle against his wishes. By the time he mastered his horse and return, the Witch-king had fled. [[Glorfindel of Rivendell|Glorfindel]] the Elf then prophesied to him that it was better that he not fight the Lord of the Nazgûl because "never by the hand of man shall he fall".

Eärnur later ascended to the throne, ruling from Minas Anor (Tower of the Sun). During this time, the Ringwraiths captured Minas Anor's sister city, Minas Ithil (Tower of the Moon), renaming it Minas Morgul (Tower of Sorcery) and taking it as their lair. Minas Anor was renamed Minas Tirith (Tower of Guard) as a result. The Lord of the Nazgûl repeatedly sent messengers to Minas Tirith challenging Eärnur to single combat, taunting him that he had fled out of cowardice from facing him during the Battle of Fornost. Eventually, King Eärnur was overcome by wrath and rode with a small company of knights to Minas Morgul, to accept the challenge. They were never heard from again. So ended the Line of [[Anárion]].

=== The Stewards of Gondor ===
==== The Ruling Stewards ====
The realm was governed by a long line of hereditary Stewards after the disappearance of [[Eärnur]], son of Eärnil, since there was no proof that the last king was dead, and no claimant had enough support to be accepted as his successor. The line of Anárion was held to have failed, and Gondor was not willing to risk to another Kin-strife, which would surely have destroyed it. Whenever there was a new Steward, he would swear an oath to yield rule of Gondor back to the King, in essence only an heir of Isildur, if he should ever return. In Gondor there was no one who could claim descent from Isildur in direct line, and the northern line of Arnor had effectively disappeared, so this oath was not considered seriously. The line of Stewards ruled as Kings, without having the title.

==== Cirion and Eorl ====
[[Image:Ted Nasmith - The Oathtaking of Cirion and Eorl.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''The Oathtaking of Cirion and Eorl'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
In [[Third Age 2510]], when Steward [[Cirion]] ruled over Gondor, the nation faced one of its greatest perils: an Easterling tribe named the ''[[Balchoth]]'' invaded Gondor with massive force. Gondor's army marched to fight the Balchoth but were cut off from [[Minas Tirith]] and pushed back in the direction of the [[Limlight]].

Messengers were sent to get help from the [[Éothéod]], a tribe which lived in the northern vales of the [[Anduin]], but nobody expected the messengers to reach their destination. When certain peril came upon Gondor, however, the Éothéod turned the tide of the [[Battle of the Field of Celebrant]]. After the victory the Éothéod were awarded the fields of [[Calenardhon]] north of the [[Ered Nimrais]] from the Gap of Rohan at the southern end of the [[Misty Mountains|Hithaeglir]], [[Fangorn Forest]], rivers Limlight to river [[Anduin]], western [[Emyn Muil]] and the [[Mering Stream]], where they established the kingdom of [[Rohan]] with [[Eorl the Young]] as their first king. A perpetual alliance between Gondor and Rohan was established by the oath Eorl swore to Cirion.<ref name="CE"/>

=== [[War of the Ring]]===
[[File:Gondor TA3019.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Gondor in [[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]]]]
In 3019, during the [[War of the Ring]], Gondor was the strongest of the free nations that opposed Sauron, and thus, its defeat was his primary strategic goal in the war.<ref name="MT">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Minas Tirith (chapter)|Minas Tirith]]"</ref> Gondor faced an all out attack on its capital Minas Tirith in the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]. Although nearly defeated, the Rohirrim once again turned the tide of battle, and helped win the war, though with heavy losses.<ref name="tBotPF">{{RK|Battle}}</ref> The combined army of the West then carried the battle to Sauron at the Battle of the Morannon, a feint to distract Sauron's attention from Frodo Baggins's quest to destroy the One Ring in Mount Doom, thus causing Sauron's destruction and the allies' ultimate victory.

After the second and final defeat of Sauron the Kingship was restored, [[Aragorn|Aragorn II]] became king of the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor.

[[Faramir]], last heir of the Ruling Stewards, was to retain the office of steward (though not ruling), and was made [[Prince of Ithilien]], which had been reconquered from the forces of Mordor.<ref name="tSatK">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"</ref> Faramir would serve as the King's representative during absence or illness, and became the chief counsellor of the [[Council of Gondor]].<ref name="L244">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Humphrey Carpenter]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (eds.), ''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'', [[Letter 244]] (dated c. [[1963]])</ref>

==Geography==
Initially, Gondor was comprised of the lands to the North and South of the [[White Mountains]], but [[Calenardhon|a large part of the northern territories]] was gifted to the [[Éothéod]] in [[Third Age 2510]].<ref name="CE">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', "[[Cirion and Eorl]]"</ref> Gondor's close proximity to Sauron's land was the catalyst of many battles and skirmishes, but its location also gave the Gondorians more ability to protect the other regions of Middle-earth from the Dark Lord and his servants.<ref name="CoE">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Council of Elrond]]"</ref>
===Regions===
Gondor was divided between several nearly autonomous regions. These were the following:
* [[Ithilien]], across the [[Anduin]] from Minas Tirith
* [[Anórien]], surrounding [[Minas Tirith]]
* [[Lossarnach]]
* [[Lebennin]]
* [[Belfalas]]
* [[Dor-en-Ernil]], ruled by the [[Prince of Dol Amroth]]
* [[Lamedon]], north of the [[Ringló]]
* [[Anfalas]], or the Langstrand, in the south-west
* [[Ethir Anduin]]

The long cape of [[Andrast]] was not populated.

Additionally, Gondor held or had held the following regions at certain points in its history:
* [[Harondor]] or South Gondor, which was contested between Gondor and [[Harad]]
* [[Calenardhon]], which was given to the Éothéod and became Rohan
* [[Enedwaith]], never really populated by Gondor and soon abandoned
* [[Rhovanion (region)|Rhovanion]], which was never fully under the control of Gondor but under Gondorian influence at certain times during the Third Age

===Cities===
Cities in Gondor included:
* [[Calembel]]
* [[Dol Amroth]], a city on the coast of Belfalas
* [[Erech]], fortress of Gondor, abandoned by the end of the Third Age
* [[Linhir]]
* [[Minas Tirith]] (originally named Minas Anor), City of the Kings
* [[Osgiliath]], city and former capital of Gondor on the river Anduin, largely destroyed and abandoned by the end of the Third Age
* [[Pelargir]]
* [[Tarnost]] (debatable)<ref name="t2M">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]], ''[[The War of the Ring]]'', "[[The Second Map]]"</ref>

===Fortresses and outposts===
Additionally, Gondor used the following locations as military strongholds at certain points in its history, many of which Mordor later took:
* The outposts of [[Amon Hen]] and [[Amon Lhaw]] on [[Emyn Muil]] probably had small garrisons
* [[Isengard|Angrenost]], the fortress of Isengard, later granted to [[Saruman]]
* [[Aglarond]], the Gondorian fortress, later known as Helm's Deep
* The [[Towers of the Teeth]], built by the Gondorians to keep watch over Mordor
* The Gondorian fortress guarding the pass of [[Cirith Ungol]]
* The castle that came to be called [[Durthang]], the largest fortress in Mordor, originally built to guard the [[Ephel Dúath]]
* [[Minas Ithil]], conquered by [[Mordor]] and renamed [[Minas Morgul]] by the Gondorians
* [[Tharbad]] to the north, held by both Gondor and Arnor but abandoned and later ruined after Gondor retreated from [[Enedwaith]]
* The [[Haven of Umbar]], a harbour in the south which was contested by the Haradrim and lost and reclaimed several times

==Languages==
As the Gondorians came from Númenor, so came their language: [[Westron]], or the Common Speech, was the main language of the people of Gondor. Though the source of Westron lied in Pelargir,<ref name="AppF">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[Appendix F]]'', "Of Men"</ref> the clearest form, without any accent, was spoken in Minas Tirith.<ref name="L193">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Humphrey Carpenter]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (eds.), ''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'', [[Letter 193]] (dated [[2 November|November 2]], [[1956]])</ref> This style was nobler and more antique than other dialects, and this was the Westron the Elves adopted.<ref name="L144">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Humphrey Carpenter]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (eds.), ''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'', [[Letter 144]] (dated [[25 April|April 25]], [[1954]])</ref> In reverence of the mighty lords of Númenor of old, Eldarin was spoken by nobility. Quenya was known to the learned, and Sindarin was used to be polite, especially by those of high [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] blood.<ref name="L347">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Humphrey Carpenter]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (eds.), ''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'', [[Letter 347]] (dated [[17 December|December 17]], [[1972]])</ref> However, especially the Sindarin contained several [[Gondor Sindarin|dialectical differences]].<ref name="CE49">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', "[[Cirion and Eorl]]", note 49</ref>

==Etymology==
In earlier times, it was called the South Kingdom, or ''[[Hyaralondie]]'', ''[[Hyallondie]]'' and ''[[Turmen Hyallondiéva]]'' in Quenya, and ''[[Arthor na Challonnas]]'' in Sindarin from the Númenórean point of view: the elements ''[[londie]]'' and ''[[lonnas]]'' mean "harbour, landing".<ref name="PE17">{{PE|17}}</ref>

The name '''Gondor''' was likely adopted from the lesser people's terminology<ref name="L324">{{L|324}}</ref> and translates from [[Sindarin]] as "Stone-land", from the words ''[[gond]]'', "stone", and ''(n)[[dor]]'', "land".<ref name="L324"/> The (generally not used) [[Quenya]] form of the name was ''[[Ondonóre]]''.<ref name="VT42">{{VT|42}}</ref> Gondor received its name because of the abundance of stone in the [[Ered Nimrais]], and the usage of it in great stone cities, statues, and monuments, such as Minas Tirith and the Argonath.

In [[Rohan]], it was known as '''[[Stoningland]]''',<ref name="tBotPF"/> and [[Ghân-buri-Ghân]] of the [[Drúedain]] also recognized their use of stone.<ref name="RotR">{{RK|Ride}}</ref>

{{references}}
[[Category:Gondor| ]]
[[Category:Regions]]
[[Category:Sindarin Locations]]
[[de:Gondor]]
[[fa:گاندور]]
[[fi:Gondor]]

Sauron

2012-01-24T01:53:36Z

Kingabben: Fixed a typo.

{{Countdown}}
{{evil infobox
|image=[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Sauron.jpg|250px]]
|name=Sauron
|othernames=Annatar<ref name="SRings"/> The Dark Lord<ref name="SIndex"/> Gorthaur the Cruel<ref name="SVala">{{S|Vala}}</ref> Mairon<ref name="PE17.1"/> Necromancer<ref name="SIndex"/>
|created=Before the [[Music of the Ainur]]
|years=''circa'' {{SA|500}} - {{SA|3441}} ''circa'' {{TA|1000}} - {{TA|3019}}
|age=
|destroyed=[[25 March]], {{TA|3019}}
|realm=[[Tol-in-Gaurhoth]] ([[Tol Sirion]]) [[Dol Guldur]] [[Mordor]]
|gender=Male
|race=[[Maiar]]
|appearance=Various: see [[Sauron#Appearance|appearance section]].
|accomplishments=Decieved the [[Elves]] into forging the [[Rings of Power]]; created the [[One Ring]]; brought about the [[Downfall of Númenor]]; and nearly conquered the whole of [[Middle-earth]].
}}
{{pronounce|Quenya - Sauron.mp3|Gilgamesh}}
{{Pronounce|Annatar.mp3|Ardamir}}
{{pronounce|Sindarin - Gorthaur.mp3|Gilgamesh}}
{{pronounce|Quenya - Mairon.mp3|Gilgamesh}}
<center>{{Quote|Sauron [...] was only less evil than his [[Morgoth|master]] in that for long he served another and not himself.|[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]<ref name="SVala"/>}}</center>

'''Sauron''' was the greatest and most trusted servant of [[Morgoth]] before and during the [[First Age]]. After the downfall of his master, he continuously strove to conquer [[Middle-earth]] throughout the [[Second Age|Second]] and [[Third Age|Third]] Ages. Deceiving the [[Elves]] of [[Eregion]], who under his guidance had created the [[Rings of Power]], he secretly forged the [[One Ring]] in [[Mount Doom]]. Thus Sauron became "[[The Lord of the Rings]]".

==History==
===Origin===
As one of the [[Maiar]], Sauron was created by [[Ilúvatar]] before the [[Music of the Ainur]].<ref name="Ainu">{{S|Ainu}}</ref> At the beginning of Time, he was amongst the [[Ainur]] who entered into [[Eä]].<ref name="SVala">{{S|Vala}}</ref> Here he became one of the Maiar of [[Aulë]],<ref name="SVala"/> and was known as '''''Mairon'''''.<ref name="PE17.1">{{PE|17}}, p. 183</ref> However, he was soon ensnared by [[Morgoth|Melkor]] and became his greatest and most trusted servant.<ref name="SRings">{{S|Rings}}</ref> Thus he came to be known '''''Gorthaur''''' by the [[Sindar]] of [[Beleriand]] and '''''Sauron''''' by others.<ref name="SIndex">{{S|Index}}</ref>

===[[Years of the Trees]]===
After [[Morgoth|Melkor]] made his great fortress of [[Angband]] in the north-west of [[Middle-earth]], he appointed Sauron to be its commander.<ref name="SCaptivity">{{S|Captivity}}</ref> When the [[Valar]] captured Melkor at the [[Siege of Utumno]], they stormed and searched Utumno and Angband; they, however, failed to find Sauron.<ref name="SCaptivity"/>

===First Age===
{{Blockquote|Sauron was become now a sorcerer of dreadful power, master of shadows and of phantoms, foul in wisdom, cruel in strength, misshaping what he touched, twisting what he ruled, lord of werewolves; his dominion was torment.|[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]<ref name="SFingolfin">{{S|Fingolfin}}</ref>}}
With the unchaining of Morgoth and his subsequent destruction of the [[Two Trees|Two Tress of Valinor]], the [[Sun]] first rose and ushered in the awakening of [[Men]]. Leaving Sauron in command of the war, Morgoth left Angband in secret to find the second-born kindred of the [[Children of Ilúvatar]] and to corrupt them to his will.<ref name="SWest">{{S|West}}</ref>

After the fall of [[Fingolfin]], Sauron launched an attack on [[Tol Sirion]]. Utter fear descended upon [[Orodreth]] and those who defended the isle. Sauron assailed [[Minas Tirith (Beleriand)|Minas Tirith]] and turned it into a watch tower for Morgoth. Therein Sauron sat and Tol Sirion the fair became [[Tol-in-Gaurhoth]], the Isle of Werewolves.<ref name="SFingolfin"/>

Upon hearing of the deeds of [[Barahir]] and his companions, Morgoth ordered Sauron to find and kill them. [[Gorlim]], one of Barahir's companions, was captured and brought before Sauron. There Sauron promised that he would he would free Gorlim and his wife [[Eilinel]] in return for information. Under the terror of Sauron's eyes, Gorlim revealed everything he knew and thus the hiding place of Barahir was betrayed to the enemy. Subsequently, Sauron had Gorlim put to death.<ref name="Beren">{{S|Beren}}</ref>

[[Beren]], son of [[Barahir]], promised to avenge his father's death. He wandered [[Dorthonion]] as an outlaw and achieved great deeds that were heard far and wide. Thus Morgoth set a high price on his head and Sauron, commanding a great army of [[werewolves]] and [[fell beasts]], sought for Beren.<ref name="Beren"/>

Later, [[Finrod|Finrod Felagund]], Beren, and their ten companions left [[Nargothrond]] in search of the [[Silmarils]]. Despite being disguised as Orcs, Sauron espied them as they entered into the vale between [[Ered Wethrin]] and [[Taur-nu-Fuin (Dorthonion)|Taur-nu-Fuin]]. He had them captured and they were brought to him. There Finrod and Sauron fought in songs of power; the strength of both was great, but Sauron was more powerful. He then stripped them of their Orc disguise but failed to discern who they were. He had them thrown into a dark pit where one by one they were devoured by a werewolf. Withstanding this horror, they refused to betray one another.<ref name="Beren"/>

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Huan Subdues Sauron.jpg|thumb|right|''Huan Subdues Sauron'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
When all of their companions were dead, Finrod and Beren were the last who remained alive in Sauron's pit. When a werewolf went to attack Beren, Finrod Felegund used all his power to defeat it. In this he was successful. However, he was critically wounded and soon passed away. In that dark moment, [[Lúthien]] came to the bridge of [[Tol-in-Gaurhoth]] and sang. From his tower of Minas Tirith, Sauron saw Lúthien and knew that it was the famous daughter of [[Melian]] and [[Thingol]]. He desired to capture her and hand her over to Morgoth. Therefore he sent a wolf to the bridge, but it was quickly and silently slain by [[Huan]]. He sent many more and each one Huan killed. Finally, he sent [[Draugluin]], sire of the werewolves of Angband. The fight between Huan and Draugluin was fierce. Eventually Draugluin fled and, before dying, he told his master that Huan was there. Therefore Sauron took the form of a werewolf, the greatest the world had ever seen, and went towards the bridge. He leaped to attack Lúthien, but Huan sprang upon Sauron and there they fought. But Sauron could not subdue the hound of [[Valinor]]. He yielded to Lúthien, giving her control of the isle in return for his release. He then took the form of a vampire and fled to [[Taur-nu-Fuin (Dorthonion)|Taur-nu-Fuin]], filling the forest with horror.<ref name="Beren"/>

After the [[War of Wrath]], with the downfall of [[Morgoth]] and the destruction of [[Thangorodrim]], Sauron adopted a fair form and repented his evil deeds in fear of the wrath of the Valar. [[Eönwë]] then ordered Sauron to return to [[Valinor]] in order to receive the judgement of Manwë. Sauron was not willing to suffer such humiliation and so he fled and hid himself in [[Middle-earth]].<ref name="SRings"/>

===Second Age===
[[File:AnnatarLarge.png|thumb|left|''Annatar'' as envisioned by [[Weta Workshop|Weta]] from [[The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy]]]]
After lying hidden and dormant for about one thousand years, Sauron put on a fair visage in the [[Second Age]]. Calling himself '''''Annatar''''', the Lord of Gifts, he befriended the Elvish smiths of [[Eregion]], and counseled them in arts and magic. Not all the Elves trusted him, particularly Lady [[Galadriel]] and [[Gil-galad]], High King of the Ñoldor, but few listened to them. The Elves forged [[Rings of Power]], but in secret Sauron forged [[the One Ring]] in [[Mount Doom]] to rule the other rings, investing most of his own power into the Ring as he forged it.

In this time Sauron became known as the [[Dark Lord]] of [[Mordor]]. He raised [[Barad-dûr]], the Dark Tower, near Mount Doom; constructed the [[Black Gate]] of Mordor to prevent invasion; corrupted nine mortal Men with Rings of Power and turned them into the [[Nazgûl]] (Ringwraiths), his chief servants; and raised massive armies of [[Orcs]], [[Trolls]], and Men, chiefly [[Easterlings]] and [[Southrons]].

Sauron's power reached its zenith 700 years after Mordor's creation, in the 17th century of the Second Age. Immediately after Sauron created the One Ring, Celebrimbor and the other Ring-bearers realized his treachery and went to war with him. The [[War of the Elves and Sauron]] was a bloody conflict which destroyed Eregion and devastated much of Eriador. Celebrimbor was slain and his body impaled on a spike paraded at the head of Sauron's legions. The Elves were pushed back almost to the Blue Mountains, while their Dwarf allies (who had also rejected Sauron) retreated behind the walls of [[Moria]] where Sauron could not assail them. Sauron was master of almost all of Middle-earth beyond the coasts, but the Numenoreans responded to the Elves' call for aid and sent a relief force. The combined armies rallied and were able to defeat Sauron's armies in Eriador after heavy fighting, and the Dark Lord fled back to Mordor with little more than his own bodyguard and a handful of orcs.

Nonetheless, while Sauron's subsequent power never quiet matched the height it had during the War with the elves, many of his most powerful enemies' homelands had been devastated. ''Relative'' to his enemies, Sauron's empire was actually in a stronger position than it used to be. His empire continued to expand to dominate barbarian Men to the far south and east. Throughout this, Sauron remained faithful in his old allegiance, building temples to the worship of Morgoth, where human sacrifice was practiced. Because of this, towards the end of the Second Age, Sauron assumed the titles of '''Lord of the Earth''' and '''King of Men'''.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - The Forging of the One.jpg|thumb|''The Forging of the One'', by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
This offended the Númenóreans, the powerful Men descended from the line of Beren and Lúthien, who lived on the island of Númenor in the sea between Middle-earth and Valinor. The proud Númenóreans came to Middle-earth with great force of arms, and Sauron's forces fled. Realizing he could not defeat the Numenoreans with military strength, Sauron allowed himself to be taken as a hostage to Númenor by King [[Ar-Pharazôn]]. There, he quickly grew from captive to advisor and was known as '''Tar-Mairon'''; he converted many Númenóreans to the worship of Morgoth, and raised a great temple in which he performed human sacrifices. Finally, he convinced the king to rebel against the Valar and attack Valinor itself. [[Ilúvatar|Eru]], the supreme god, then directly intervened: Númenor was drowned under the sea, and the great navy of Númenor was destroyed. Sauron was diminished in the flood of Númenor, and fled back to Mordor, where he slowly rebuilt his strength during the time known as the [[Dark Years]].

From this point on he was unable to assume a fair shape, and ruled now through terror and force. A few faithful Númenóreans were saved from the flood, and they founded [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]] in Middle-earth. These faithful Men, led by [[Elendil]] and his sons, allied with the Elves of [[Lindon]] under the Elven-king [[Gil-galad]], and together fought Sauron in the [[War of the Last Alliance]] and, after a long period, defeated him in the year [[Second Age 3441|S.A. 3441]], although both Elendil and Gil-galad were killed. [[Isildur]], son of Elendil, cut the One Ring from Sauron's finger and claimed it. Later, the Ring betrayed him and was lost for more than two thousand years.

===Third Age===

====Sauron's Return====
After his defeat in the War of the Last Alliance, Sauron had lost his ability to form a physical body for a great while. It is thought that he fled to the far east to regain his power and strength before returning. It was not until c. [[Third Age 1000|T.A. 1000]] that Sauron could again begin to take shape and in [[Third Age 1050|1050]] his power was enough that he began again to throw a shadow across portions of [[Middle-earth]]. It is around this time that he first began to inhabit southern [[Mirkwood|Greenwood the Great]], choosing the hill of [[Amon Lanc]] as a place to build the fortress of [[Dol Guldur]]. At first, it was thought by the wise that it was one of the [[Nazgûl]] who had returned and taken up residence in southern Greenwood, but when [[Gandalf]] entered the fortress in [[Third Age 2063|2063]] the power in Dol Guldur fled before him into the East thus beginning the [[Watchful Peace]].

====The Watchful Peace====

Sauron returned from the east in [[Third Age 2460|2460]] and again took up residence in [[Dol Guldur]]. Eventually, after many hundreds of years of pressing the [[White Council]] to take action against the Necromancer, [[Gandalf]] entered Dol Guldur in secret in [[Third Age 2850|2850]] and learned that the Necromancer was actually none other than Sauron. In [[Third Age 2851|2851]], the White Council were informed of this, and [[Gandalf]] urged an immediate attack upon the fortress, but [[Saruman|Saruman the White]] opposed him, having already learned of the presence of the [[The One Ring|Ruling Ring]] near the [[Gladden Fields]].

It was not until 90 years later, in [[Third Age 2941|2941]] that Gandalf finally prevailed upon the [[White Council]] to attack Dol Guldur and drive Sauron out (see ''[[Attack on Dol Guldur]]''). At this point, Sauron returned to [[Mordor]] and finalized the reconstruction of [[Barad-dûr]], which had been prepared for him by the [[Nazgûl]] for many years prior to this.

====The War of the Ring====
[[File:Ted Nasmith - The Shadow of Sauron.jpg|thumb|220px|left|''The Shadow of Sauron'', by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
Sauron bred immense armies of Orcs and allies with which enslaved Men from the east and south. He adopted the symbol of a lidless eye, and he was able at that time to send out his will over Middle-earth, so that the [[Eye of Sauron]] was a symbol of power and fear.

After torturing [[Gollum]], he learned that the One Ring had been found by [[Bilbo Baggins]]. He sent his deadliest servants, the [[Nazgûl]], to [[the Shire]], only to find that both Bilbo and his nephew, [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], had departed. Unbeknownst to Sauron, Frodo had, at the behest of Gandalf, joined the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] on a quest to destroy the Ring. He rallied his vast armies to conquer the resistance's strongholds, and sent the Ringwraiths to find and kill Frodo. At about this time, he also learned that [[Aragorn]], Isildur's heir, had also joined the Fellowship, and was rallying armies to defeat his.

When Saruman's army was defeated at [[Isengard]], Aragorn used the Palantir of [[Orthanc]] to reveal himself to Sauron. Sauron made the premature conclusion that Aragorn had the Ring, and sent an army commanded by his strongest servant, the Witch-King of Angmar, to overthrow [[Minas Tirith]]. This battle would become known as the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]].

Although Sauron lost the Battle of Pelennor Fields, the free forces of the West were greatly weakened, and Sauron still had sufficent armies in reserve to ensure military victory. He was outwitted, however, by the strategy of Gandalf, who urged the captains of the [[Free peoples]] to march against Sauron, thus diverting the Dark Lord's eye from the real threat of Frodo, the Ring Bearer, who was nearing the end of his quest to destroy the One Ring.

Frodo, however, failed at the last moment, unable to resist the power of the Ring at the place of its birth. But Gollum inadvertently saved him by recovering the Ring in a desperate attempt to possess it, and then falling with it into the fire. Thus Sauron's power was unmade, and his corporeal power in Middle-earth came to an end. His spirit towered above Mordor like a black cloud, but was blown away by a [[Manwë|powerful wind]] from the [[Aman|West]]. Sauron was now permanently crippled, never to rise again. Saruman would suffer a similar fate.

==Appearance==
{{Stub}}

==Etymology==
{{Transcribed|Sauron Tengwar Quenya mode.png|Sauron|Tengwar, Quenya mode}}
'''''Sauron''''' (pron. {{IPA|[ˈsaʊron]}})<ref group=note>''Sauron'' is pronounced "sour-on" (''sour'' as in not sweet).</ref> is a [[Quenya]] name, said to mean "the Abhorred".<ref>{{S|Index}}</ref>

Several accounts of the origin of the name ''Sauron'' were suggested in different linguistic manuscripts:
*deriving from Quenya ''[[saura]]'' ("foul, evil-smelling, putrid", from the [[Sundocarme|root]] [[THUS#Other versions|THUS]]).<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 393 (entry THUS-)</ref>
*deriving from Quenya ''[[saura]]'' ("foul, vile"; from root [[SAWA]]). The manuscript continues saying that ''Sauron'' "could be a genuine [[Sindarin]] formation from ''[[saur]]''; but is probably from Quenya". However, this origin appears to have been rejected, as it is followed by the comment "No. [[THAW|THAW-]], cruel. ''[[Saura]]'', cruel" in the manuscript.<ref>{{PE|17}}, pp. 183-4</ref>
*deriving from the [[Primitive Quendian]] form ''Øaurond-'' (formed from the adjective ''Øaurā'' "detestable", from root [[THAW]]).<ref>{{L|297}}, p. 380</ref>
*deriving from '''''Thauron''''', which includes the [[Sindarin]] element ''[[thaur]]'' ("abominable, abhorrent"; also found in [[Sauron#Other names and titles|''Gor'''thaur''''']]).<ref>{{S|Appendix}} (entry for ''thaur'')</ref>

==Other names and titles==

{{pronounce|Sindarin - Gorthaur.mp3|Gilgamesh}}
'''''Gorthaur''''' ([[Sindarin]], pron. {{IPA|[ˈɡorθaʊr]}}) was a name used of Sauron by the [[Sindar]] during the [[First Age]],<ref>{{S|18}}</ref><ref>{{WJ|15}}, p. 240</ref> meaning "Terrible Dread".

In some of Tolkien's notes from the 1950s, it is said that Sauron's original name was '''''Mairon''''', "the admirable" ([[Quenya|Q]], pron. {{IPA|[ˈmaɪron]}}), "but this was altered after he was suborned by Melkor. But he continued to call himself Mairon the Admirable, or Tar-mairon 'King Excellent', until after Númenor's downfall."<ref name="PE17.1"/>

Among his many titles were the '''[[Necromancer]]''', '''the Abhorred Dread''', the '''Nameless Enemy''', the '''Cruel''',<ref>{{S|IId}}</ref> the '''Dark Lord of Mordor''' and the '''Lord of the Rings'''. The Dúnedain called him '''Sauron the Deceiver''' due to his role in the downfall of Númenor and the Forging of the Rings of Power.

== Other versions of the Legendarium ==
Prior to the publication of ''The Silmarillion'' Sauron's origins and true identity were unclear to those without full access to Tolkien's notes. In early editions of the ''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth|Guide to Middle Earth]]'', Sauron is described as "probably of the Eldar elves."

Since the earliest versions of the ''Silmarillion'' legendarium as detailed in [[the History of Middle-earth]] series, Sauron has undergone many changes. The prototype of this character was '''[[Tevildo]]''', lord of the cats, who played the role later taken by Sauron in the earliest version of the story of [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', '''[[The Tale of Tinúviel]]'''. Tevildo later (but still in the ''Book of Lost Tales'' period) was transformed into '''[[Thû]]''', the Necromancer. The name was then changed to '''Gorthû''', '''Sûr''', and finally to Sauron. ''Gorthû'', in the form ''Gorthaur'' remained in ''The Silmarillion''.

===The Necromancer===

In ''[[The Hobbit]]'' the Necromancer is an obscure villainous entity mentioned fleetingly by [[Gandalf]] as one of the dangers of the wider world. He is peripheral to the plot of the book: explaining why the company takes the dangerous road though Mirkwood rather than going around, and providing a reason for Gandalf's absence for that section of the journey. Thematically the Necromancer, a truly 'terrible' force beyond the power of the main protagonists, gives the world of ''The Hobbit'' a greater level of reality which Tolkien felt was necessary for a 'fairy-tale' to ring true.<ref name="Letter17">{{L|17}}</ref>

Despite the alias it would appear that the Necromancer was always intended to stand for [[Sauron]], a figure from the very earliest phases of his [[Legendarium]] (as [[Tevildo]] in ''[[The Tale of Tinúviel]]''). Shortly after the publication of ''The Hobbit'' Tolkien wrote:
{{blockquote|Mr Baggins began as a comic tale among conventional and inconsistent Grimm's fairy-tale dwarves, and got drawn into the edge of it – so that even Sauron the terrible peeped over the edge.|[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]<ref name="Letter19">{{L|19}}</ref>}}

However, as ''The Hobbit'' was not originally intended to be integrated with Tolkien's wider mythology the Necromancer did not necessarily need to be consistent with his [[First Age]] counterpart Sauron, rather the two were loosely linked to add an 'impression of depth' to the narrative of ''The Hobbit''. With Tolkien's decision to merge the two 'worlds' and make Sauron the central antagonist ''[[Lord of the Rings]]'' came the need to reconcile the two figures and account for his whereabouts in the millennia between the end of the First Age and his dwelling in Bilbo's Mirkwood. This was largely achieved in the ''[[Appendix B|Tale of Years]]'', with Sauron becoming a much greater figure after the fall of his master, one who argueably drove the history of the entire Second and Third Ages of Middle-earth.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Sauron in Adaptations
|width=160
|height=160
|lines=3
|File:Prologue - A Ring's Tale.jpg|Sauron in ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]''
|File:LOTR-vol2-Sauron1.png|Sauron in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers]]''
|File:Peter Jackson's Sauron.jpg|Sauron ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
|File:The Eye Of Sauron.jpg|Eye of Sauron in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''
|File:Necromancer.jpg|The Necromancer in the ''[[Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game]]''
|File:Lord of the Rings The Third Age - Eye of Sauron.png|Eye of Sauron in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age]]''
}}

'''1955: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)]]'':'''
:The voice of Sauron is provided by [[Felix Felton]].<ref name="RT1724">Radio Times, Volume 133, No. 1724, [[23 November|November 23]], [[1956]]</ref>

'''1966: ''[[The Hobbit (1966 film)]]'':'''

'''1968: ''[[The Hobbit (1968 radio series)]]'':'''
:Sauron is mentioned only very briefly at the end; [[Gandalf]] and [[Elrond]] discuss how the "Necromancer" had been driven from his abode in the south of [[Mirkwood]].

'''1977: ''[[The Hobbit (1977 film)]]'':'''

'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''

'''1979: ''[[The Hobbit (1979 radio series)]]'':'''

'''1979: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)]]'':'''

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''

'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)]]'':'''

'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
:Sauron is treated as a Mage of level 180 (level 360 if using the One Ring). Among his items are the Elf-slaying Black Sword (S. ''Mormegil''), the Gauntlet of Slaying ("Narsil's Bane"), and the Black Scale of dragonskin. Among his special powers are Domination (control over other players using the One Eye), resistance to normal weapons, and the ability to force anyone within his sight to resist fear (or otherwise becoming frozen).<ref>{{ICE|8002}}, pp. 98-102</ref><ref>{{ICE|2006}}, pp. 97-105</ref>

'''1985: ''[[Lord of the Rings: Game One]]'':'''

'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''

'''1990: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I (1990 video game)]]'':'''
:Sauron is mentioned by [[Gandalf]] in the beginning of the game.

'''1993: ''[[Hobitit]]'':'''

'''1993: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Sauron is mentioned in the beginning of the game, when [[Gandalf]] explains the history of [[the One Ring]].

'''1995-8: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':'''
:The card "[http://www.tradecardsonline.com/im/selectCard/card_id/54534/cards_lang/1 Sauron]", appearing in the set ''[[Middle-earth: The Balrog|The Balrog]]'', is playable as a manifestation of the card "[http://www.tradecardsonline.com/im/selectCard/card_id/54002/cards_lang/1 The Lidless Eye]" (from the set [[Middle-earth: The Lidless Eye|''The Lidless Eye'']]), and can be used by players to enhance their general influence.<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.tradecardsonline.com/im/selectCard/game_id/20/goal/|articlename=Home page for the game Middle Earth|dated=|website=[http://www.tradecardsonline.com/ Trade Cards Online]|accessed=5 January 2012}}</ref>

'''2001-3: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy]]'':'''

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)]]'':'''

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)]]'':'''

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)]]'':'''

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring]]'':'''

'''2003: ''[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)]]'':'''
:Sauron and the events of the south of Mirkwood are left unmentioned. However, whilst in Mirkwood, [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] has to defeat creatures that he calls "Minions of the Necromancer".

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age]]'':'''
:At the end of the game, Berethor and company (the playable characters) have to defeat the eye of Sauron by physically attacking him on top of [[Barad-dûr]].

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''

'''2005: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Tactics]]'':'''

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar]]'':'''

'''2008: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria]]'':'''

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''

'''2010: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest]]'':'''

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'''''

'''2012-3: [[The Hobbit films|''The Hobbit'' films]]:'''

==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Sauron|Images of Sauron]]

{{References|note}}

{{sequence
|prev=''N/A''
|next=[[Isildur]]
|list=[[Ring-bearer]] c. [[Second Age 1600|S.A. 1600]] – [[Second Age 3441|3441]]}}{{ainur}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Maiar]]
[[Category:Quenya names]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]
[[Category:Servants of Melkor]]
[[de:Sauron]]
[[fa:سائورون]]
[[fi:Sauron]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/ainur/maiar/sauron]]

Sauron

2012-01-24T01:52:59Z

Kingabben: Just making a few sentences sound better. Nothing big, that's all.

{{Countdown}}
{{evil infobox
|image=[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Sauron.jpg|250px]]
|name=Sauron
|othernames=Annatar<ref name="SRings"/> The Dark Lord<ref name="SIndex"/> Gorthaur the Cruel<ref name="SVala">{{S|Vala}}</ref> Mairon<ref name="PE17.1"/> Necromancer<ref name="SIndex"/>
|created=Before the [[Music of the Ainur]]
|years=''circa'' {{SA|500}} - {{SA|3441}} ''circa'' {{TA|1000}} - {{TA|3019}}
|age=
|destroyed=[[25 March]], {{TA|3019}}
|realm=[[Tol-in-Gaurhoth]] ([[Tol Sirion]]) [[Dol Guldur]] [[Mordor]]
|gender=Male
|race=[[Maiar]]
|appearance=Various: see [[Sauron#Appearance|appearance section]].
|accomplishments=Decieved the [[Elves]] into forging the [[Rings of Power]]; created the [[One Ring]]; brought about the [[Downfall of Númenor]]; and nearly conquered the whole of [[Middle-earth]].
}}
{{pronounce|Quenya - Sauron.mp3|Gilgamesh}}
{{Pronounce|Annatar.mp3|Ardamir}}
{{pronounce|Sindarin - Gorthaur.mp3|Gilgamesh}}
{{pronounce|Quenya - Mairon.mp3|Gilgamesh}}
<center>{{Quote|Sauron [...] was only less evil than his [[Morgoth|master]] in that for long he served another and not himself.|[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]<ref name="SVala"/>}}</center>

'''Sauron''' was the greatest and most trusted servant of [[Morgoth]] before and during the [[First Age]]. After the downfall of his master, he continuously strove to conquer [[Middle-earth]] throughout the [[Second Age|Second]] and [[Third Age|Third]] Ages. Deceiving the [[Elves]] of [[Eregion]], who under his guidance had created the [[Rings of Power]], he secretly forged the [[One Ring]] in [[Mount Doom]]. Thus Sauron became "[[The Lord of the Rings]]".

==History==
===Origin===
As one of the [[Maiar]], Sauron was created by [[Ilúvatar]] before the [[Music of the Ainur]].<ref name="Ainu">{{S|Ainu}}</ref> At the beginning of Time, he was amongst the [[Ainur]] who entered into [[Eä]].<ref name="SVala">{{S|Vala}}</ref> Here he became one of the Maiar of [[Aulë]],<ref name="SVala"/> and was known as '''''Mairon'''''.<ref name="PE17.1">{{PE|17}}, p. 183</ref> However, he was soon ensnared by [[Morgoth|Melkor]] and became his greatest and most trusted servant.<ref name="SRings">{{S|Rings}}</ref> Thus he came to be known '''''Gorthaur''''' by the [[Sindar]] of [[Beleriand]] and '''''Sauron''''' by others.<ref name="SIndex">{{S|Index}}</ref>

===[[Years of the Trees]]===
After [[Morgoth|Melkor]] made his great fortress of [[Angband]] in the north-west of [[Middle-earth]], he appointed Sauron to be its commander.<ref name="SCaptivity">{{S|Captivity}}</ref> When the [[Valar]] captured Melkor at the [[Siege of Utumno]], they stormed and searched Utumno and Angband; they, however, failed to find Sauron.<ref name="SCaptivity"/>

===First Age===
{{Blockquote|Sauron was become now a sorcerer of dreadful power, master of shadows and of phantoms, foul in wisdom, cruel in strength, misshaping what he touched, twisting what he ruled, lord of werewolves; his dominion was torment.|[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]<ref name="SFingolfin">{{S|Fingolfin}}</ref>}}
With the unchaining of Morgoth and his subsequent destruction of the [[Two Trees|Two Tress of Valinor]], the [[Sun]] first rose and ushered in the awakening of [[Men]]. Leaving Sauron in command of the war, Morgoth left Angband in secret to find the second-born kindred of the [[Children of Ilúvatar]] and to corrupt them to his will.<ref name="SWest">{{S|West}}</ref>

After the fall of [[Fingolfin]], Sauron launched an attack on [[Tol Sirion]]. Utter fear descended upon [[Orodreth]] and those who defended the isle. Sauron assailed [[Minas Tirith (Beleriand)|Minas Tirith]] and turned it into a watch tower for Morgoth. Therein Sauron sat and Tol Sirion the fair became [[Tol-in-Gaurhoth]], the Isle of Werewolves.<ref name="SFingolfin"/>

Upon hearing of the deeds of [[Barahir]] and his companions, Morgoth ordered Sauron to find and kill them. [[Gorlim]], one of Barahir's companions, was captured and brought before Sauron. There Sauron promised that he would he would free Gorlim and his wife [[Eilinel]] in return for information. Under the terror of Sauron's eyes, Gorlim revealed everything he knew and thus the hiding place of Barahir was betrayed to the enemy. Subsequently, Sauron had Gorlim put to death.<ref name="Beren">{{S|Beren}}</ref>

[[Beren]], son of [[Barahir]], promised to avenge his father's death. He wandered [[Dorthonion]] as an outlaw and achieved great deeds that were heard far and wide. Thus Morgoth set a high price on his head and Sauron, commanding a great army of [[werewolves]] and [[fell beasts]], sought for Beren.<ref name="Beren"/>

Later, [[Finrod|Finrod Felagund]], Beren, and their ten companions left [[Nargothrond]] in search of the [[Silmarils]]. Despite being disguised as Orcs, Sauron espied them as they entered into the vale between [[Ered Wethrin]] and [[Taur-nu-Fuin (Dorthonion)|Taur-nu-Fuin]]. He had them captured and they were brought to him. There Finrod and Sauron fought in songs of power; the strength of both was great, but Sauron was more powerful. He then stripped them of their Orc disguise but failed to discern who they were. He had them thrown into a dark pit where one by one they were devoured by a werewolf. Withstanding this horror, they refused to betray one another.<ref name="Beren"/>

[[File:Ted Nasmith - Huan Subdues Sauron.jpg|thumb|right|''Huan Subdues Sauron'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
When all of their companions were dead, Finrod and Beren were the last who remained alive in Sauron's pit. When a werewolf went to attack Beren, Finrod Felegund used all his power to defeat it. In this he was successful. However, he was critically wounded and soon passed away. In that dark moment, [[Lúthien]] came to the bridge of [[Tol-in-Gaurhoth]] and sang. From his tower of Minas Tirith, Sauron saw Lúthien and knew that it was the famous daughter of [[Melian]] and [[Thingol]]. He desired to capture her and hand her over to Morgoth. Therefore he sent a wolf to the bridge, but it was quickly and silently slain by [[Huan]]. He sent many more and each one Huan killed. Finally, he sent [[Draugluin]], sire of the werewolves of Angband. The fight between Huan and Draugluin was fierce. Eventually Draugluin fled and, before dying, he told his master that Huan was there. Therefore Sauron took the form of a werewolf, the greatest the world had ever seen, and went towards the bridge. He leaped to attack Lúthien, but Huan sprang upon Sauron and there they fought. But Sauron could not subdue the hound of [[Valinor]]. He yielded to Lúthien, giving her control of the isle in return for his release. He then took the form of a vampire and fled to [[Taur-nu-Fuin (Dorthonion)|Taur-nu-Fuin]], filling the forest with horror.<ref name="Beren"/>

After the [[War of Wrath]], with the downfall of [[Morgoth]] and the destruction of [[Thangorodrim]], Sauron adopted a fair form and repented his evil deeds in fear of the wrath of the Valar. [[Eönwë]] then ordered Sauron to return to [[Valinor]] in order to receive the judgement of Manwë. Sauron was not willing to suffer such humiliation and so he fled and hid himself in [[Middle-earth]].<ref name="SRings"/>

===Second Age===
[[File:AnnatarLarge.png|thumb|left|''Annatar'' as envisioned by [[Weta Workshop|Weta]] from [[The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy]]]]
After lying hidden and dormant for about one thousand years, Sauron put on a fair visage in the [[Second Age]]. Calling himself '''''Annatar''''', the Lord of Gifts, he befriended the Elvish smiths of [[Eregion]], and counseled them in arts and magic. Not all the Elves trusted him, particularly Lady [[Galadriel]] and [[Gil-galad]], High King of the Ñoldor, but few listened to them. The Elves forged [[Rings of Power]], but in secret Sauron forged [[the One Ring]] in [[Mount Doom]] to rule the other rings, investing most of his own power into the Ring as he forged it.

In this time Sauron became known as the [[Dark Lord]] of [[Mordor]]. He raised [[Barad-dûr]], the Dark Tower, near Mount Doom; constructed the [[Black Gate]] of Mordor to prevent invasion; corrupted nine mortal Men with Rings of Power and turned them into the [[Nazgûl]] (Ringwraiths), his chief servants; and raised massive armies of [[Orcs]], [[Trolls]], and Men, chiefly [[Easterlings]] and [[Southrons]].

Sauron's power reached its zenith 700 years after Mordor's creation, in the 17th century of the Second Age. Immediately after Sauron created the One Ring, Celebrimbor and the other Ring-bearers realized his treachery and went to war with him. The [[War of the Elves and Sauron]] was a bloody conflict which destroyed Eregion and devastated much of Eriador. Celebrimbor was slain and his body impaled on a spike paraded at the head of Sauron's legions. The Elves were pushed back almost to the Blue Mountains, while their Dwarf allies (who had also rejected Sauron) retreated behind the walls of [[Moria]] where Sauron could not assail them. Sauron was master of almost all of Middle-earth beyond the coasts, but the Numenoreans responded to the Elves' call for aid and sent a relief force. The combined armies rallied and were able to defeat Sauron's armies in Eriador after heavy fighting, and the Dark Lord fled back to Mordor with little more than his own bodyguard and an handful of orcs.

Nonetheless, while Sauron's subsequent power never quiet matched the height it had during the War with the elves, many of his most powerful enemies' homelands had been devastated. ''Relative'' to his enemies, Sauron's empire was actually in a stronger position than it used to be. His empire continued to expand to dominate barbarian Men to the far south and east. Throughout this, Sauron remained faithful in his old allegiance, building temples to the worship of Morgoth, where human sacrifice was practiced. Because of this, towards the end of the Second Age, Sauron assumed the titles of '''Lord of the Earth''' and '''King of Men'''.

[[File:Ted Nasmith - The Forging of the One.jpg|thumb|''The Forging of the One'', by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
This offended the Númenóreans, the powerful Men descended from the line of Beren and Lúthien, who lived on the island of Númenor in the sea between Middle-earth and Valinor. The proud Númenóreans came to Middle-earth with great force of arms, and Sauron's forces fled. Realizing he could not defeat the Numenoreans with military strength, Sauron allowed himself to be taken as a hostage to Númenor by King [[Ar-Pharazôn]]. There, he quickly grew from captive to advisor and was known as '''Tar-Mairon'''; he converted many Númenóreans to the worship of Morgoth, and raised a great temple in which he performed human sacrifices. Finally, he convinced the king to rebel against the Valar and attack Valinor itself. [[Ilúvatar|Eru]], the supreme god, then directly intervened: Númenor was drowned under the sea, and the great navy of Númenor was destroyed. Sauron was diminished in the flood of Númenor, and fled back to Mordor, where he slowly rebuilt his strength during the time known as the [[Dark Years]].

From this point on he was unable to assume a fair shape, and ruled now through terror and force. A few faithful Númenóreans were saved from the flood, and they founded [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]] in Middle-earth. These faithful Men, led by [[Elendil]] and his sons, allied with the Elves of [[Lindon]] under the Elven-king [[Gil-galad]], and together fought Sauron in the [[War of the Last Alliance]] and, after a long period, defeated him in the year [[Second Age 3441|S.A. 3441]], although both Elendil and Gil-galad were killed. [[Isildur]], son of Elendil, cut the One Ring from Sauron's finger and claimed it. Later, the Ring betrayed him and was lost for more than two thousand years.

===Third Age===

====Sauron's Return====
After his defeat in the War of the Last Alliance, Sauron had lost his ability to form a physical body for a great while. It is thought that he fled to the far east to regain his power and strength before returning. It was not until c. [[Third Age 1000|T.A. 1000]] that Sauron could again begin to take shape and in [[Third Age 1050|1050]] his power was enough that he began again to throw a shadow across portions of [[Middle-earth]]. It is around this time that he first began to inhabit southern [[Mirkwood|Greenwood the Great]], choosing the hill of [[Amon Lanc]] as a place to build the fortress of [[Dol Guldur]]. At first, it was thought by the wise that it was one of the [[Nazgûl]] who had returned and taken up residence in southern Greenwood, but when [[Gandalf]] entered the fortress in [[Third Age 2063|2063]] the power in Dol Guldur fled before him into the East thus beginning the [[Watchful Peace]].

====The Watchful Peace====

Sauron returned from the east in [[Third Age 2460|2460]] and again took up residence in [[Dol Guldur]]. Eventually, after many hundreds of years of pressing the [[White Council]] to take action against the Necromancer, [[Gandalf]] entered Dol Guldur in secret in [[Third Age 2850|2850]] and learned that the Necromancer was actually none other than Sauron. In [[Third Age 2851|2851]], the White Council were informed of this, and [[Gandalf]] urged an immediate attack upon the fortress, but [[Saruman|Saruman the White]] opposed him, having already learned of the presence of the [[The One Ring|Ruling Ring]] near the [[Gladden Fields]].

It was not until 90 years later, in [[Third Age 2941|2941]] that Gandalf finally prevailed upon the [[White Council]] to attack Dol Guldur and drive Sauron out (see ''[[Attack on Dol Guldur]]''). At this point, Sauron returned to [[Mordor]] and finalized the reconstruction of [[Barad-dûr]], which had been prepared for him by the [[Nazgûl]] for many years prior to this.

====The War of the Ring====
[[File:Ted Nasmith - The Shadow of Sauron.jpg|thumb|220px|left|''The Shadow of Sauron'', by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
Sauron bred immense armies of Orcs and allies with which enslaved Men from the east and south. He adopted the symbol of a lidless eye, and he was able at that time to send out his will over Middle-earth, so that the [[Eye of Sauron]] was a symbol of power and fear.

After torturing [[Gollum]], he learned that the One Ring had been found by [[Bilbo Baggins]]. He sent his deadliest servants, the [[Nazgûl]], to [[the Shire]], only to find that both Bilbo and his nephew, [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], had departed. Unbeknownst to Sauron, Frodo had, at the behest of Gandalf, joined the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] on a quest to destroy the Ring. He rallied his vast armies to conquer the resistance's strongholds, and sent the Ringwraiths to find and kill Frodo. At about this time, he also learned that [[Aragorn]], Isildur's heir, had also joined the Fellowship, and was rallying armies to defeat his.

When Saruman's army was defeated at [[Isengard]], Aragorn used the Palantir of [[Orthanc]] to reveal himself to Sauron. Sauron made the premature conclusion that Aragorn had the Ring, and sent an army commanded by his strongest servant, the Witch-King of Angmar, to overthrow [[Minas Tirith]]. This battle would become known as the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]].

Although Sauron lost the Battle of Pelennor Fields, the free forces of the West were greatly weakened, and Sauron still had sufficent armies in reserve to ensure military victory. He was outwitted, however, by the strategy of Gandalf, who urged the captains of the [[Free peoples]] to march against Sauron, thus diverting the Dark Lord's eye from the real threat of Frodo, the Ring Bearer, who was nearing the end of his quest to destroy the One Ring.

Frodo, however, failed at the last moment, unable to resist the power of the Ring at the place of its birth. But Gollum inadvertently saved him by recovering the Ring in a desperate attempt to possess it, and then falling with it into the fire. Thus Sauron's power was unmade, and his corporeal power in Middle-earth came to an end. His spirit towered above Mordor like a black cloud, but was blown away by a [[Manwë|powerful wind]] from the [[Aman|West]]. Sauron was now permanently crippled, never to rise again. Saruman would suffer a similar fate.

==Appearance==
{{Stub}}

==Etymology==
{{Transcribed|Sauron Tengwar Quenya mode.png|Sauron|Tengwar, Quenya mode}}
'''''Sauron''''' (pron. {{IPA|[ˈsaʊron]}})<ref group=note>''Sauron'' is pronounced "sour-on" (''sour'' as in not sweet).</ref> is a [[Quenya]] name, said to mean "the Abhorred".<ref>{{S|Index}}</ref>

Several accounts of the origin of the name ''Sauron'' were suggested in different linguistic manuscripts:
*deriving from Quenya ''[[saura]]'' ("foul, evil-smelling, putrid", from the [[Sundocarme|root]] [[THUS#Other versions|THUS]]).<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 393 (entry THUS-)</ref>
*deriving from Quenya ''[[saura]]'' ("foul, vile"; from root [[SAWA]]). The manuscript continues saying that ''Sauron'' "could be a genuine [[Sindarin]] formation from ''[[saur]]''; but is probably from Quenya". However, this origin appears to have been rejected, as it is followed by the comment "No. [[THAW|THAW-]], cruel. ''[[Saura]]'', cruel" in the manuscript.<ref>{{PE|17}}, pp. 183-4</ref>
*deriving from the [[Primitive Quendian]] form ''Øaurond-'' (formed from the adjective ''Øaurā'' "detestable", from root [[THAW]]).<ref>{{L|297}}, p. 380</ref>
*deriving from '''''Thauron''''', which includes the [[Sindarin]] element ''[[thaur]]'' ("abominable, abhorrent"; also found in [[Sauron#Other names and titles|''Gor'''thaur''''']]).<ref>{{S|Appendix}} (entry for ''thaur'')</ref>

==Other names and titles==

{{pronounce|Sindarin - Gorthaur.mp3|Gilgamesh}}
'''''Gorthaur''''' ([[Sindarin]], pron. {{IPA|[ˈɡorθaʊr]}}) was a name used of Sauron by the [[Sindar]] during the [[First Age]],<ref>{{S|18}}</ref><ref>{{WJ|15}}, p. 240</ref> meaning "Terrible Dread".

In some of Tolkien's notes from the 1950s, it is said that Sauron's original name was '''''Mairon''''', "the admirable" ([[Quenya|Q]], pron. {{IPA|[ˈmaɪron]}}), "but this was altered after he was suborned by Melkor. But he continued to call himself Mairon the Admirable, or Tar-mairon 'King Excellent', until after Númenor's downfall."<ref name="PE17.1"/>

Among his many titles were the '''[[Necromancer]]''', '''the Abhorred Dread''', the '''Nameless Enemy''', the '''Cruel''',<ref>{{S|IId}}</ref> the '''Dark Lord of Mordor''' and the '''Lord of the Rings'''. The Dúnedain called him '''Sauron the Deceiver''' due to his role in the downfall of Númenor and the Forging of the Rings of Power.

== Other versions of the Legendarium ==
Prior to the publication of ''The Silmarillion'' Sauron's origins and true identity were unclear to those without full access to Tolkien's notes. In early editions of the ''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth|Guide to Middle Earth]]'', Sauron is described as "probably of the Eldar elves."

Since the earliest versions of the ''Silmarillion'' legendarium as detailed in [[the History of Middle-earth]] series, Sauron has undergone many changes. The prototype of this character was '''[[Tevildo]]''', lord of the cats, who played the role later taken by Sauron in the earliest version of the story of [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', '''[[The Tale of Tinúviel]]'''. Tevildo later (but still in the ''Book of Lost Tales'' period) was transformed into '''[[Thû]]''', the Necromancer. The name was then changed to '''Gorthû''', '''Sûr''', and finally to Sauron. ''Gorthû'', in the form ''Gorthaur'' remained in ''The Silmarillion''.

===The Necromancer===

In ''[[The Hobbit]]'' the Necromancer is an obscure villainous entity mentioned fleetingly by [[Gandalf]] as one of the dangers of the wider world. He is peripheral to the plot of the book: explaining why the company takes the dangerous road though Mirkwood rather than going around, and providing a reason for Gandalf's absence for that section of the journey. Thematically the Necromancer, a truly 'terrible' force beyond the power of the main protagonists, gives the world of ''The Hobbit'' a greater level of reality which Tolkien felt was necessary for a 'fairy-tale' to ring true.<ref name="Letter17">{{L|17}}</ref>

Despite the alias it would appear that the Necromancer was always intended to stand for [[Sauron]], a figure from the very earliest phases of his [[Legendarium]] (as [[Tevildo]] in ''[[The Tale of Tinúviel]]''). Shortly after the publication of ''The Hobbit'' Tolkien wrote:
{{blockquote|Mr Baggins began as a comic tale among conventional and inconsistent Grimm's fairy-tale dwarves, and got drawn into the edge of it – so that even Sauron the terrible peeped over the edge.|[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]<ref name="Letter19">{{L|19}}</ref>}}

However, as ''The Hobbit'' was not originally intended to be integrated with Tolkien's wider mythology the Necromancer did not necessarily need to be consistent with his [[First Age]] counterpart Sauron, rather the two were loosely linked to add an 'impression of depth' to the narrative of ''The Hobbit''. With Tolkien's decision to merge the two 'worlds' and make Sauron the central antagonist ''[[Lord of the Rings]]'' came the need to reconcile the two figures and account for his whereabouts in the millennia between the end of the First Age and his dwelling in Bilbo's Mirkwood. This was largely achieved in the ''[[Appendix B|Tale of Years]]'', with Sauron becoming a much greater figure after the fall of his master, one who argueably drove the history of the entire Second and Third Ages of Middle-earth.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Sauron in Adaptations
|width=160
|height=160
|lines=3
|File:Prologue - A Ring's Tale.jpg|Sauron in ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]''
|File:LOTR-vol2-Sauron1.png|Sauron in ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers]]''
|File:Peter Jackson's Sauron.jpg|Sauron ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
|File:The Eye Of Sauron.jpg|Eye of Sauron in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''
|File:Necromancer.jpg|The Necromancer in the ''[[Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game]]''
|File:Lord of the Rings The Third Age - Eye of Sauron.png|Eye of Sauron in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age]]''
}}

'''1955: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)]]'':'''
:The voice of Sauron is provided by [[Felix Felton]].<ref name="RT1724">Radio Times, Volume 133, No. 1724, [[23 November|November 23]], [[1956]]</ref>

'''1966: ''[[The Hobbit (1966 film)]]'':'''

'''1968: ''[[The Hobbit (1968 radio series)]]'':'''
:Sauron is mentioned only very briefly at the end; [[Gandalf]] and [[Elrond]] discuss how the "Necromancer" had been driven from his abode in the south of [[Mirkwood]].

'''1977: ''[[The Hobbit (1977 film)]]'':'''

'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''

'''1979: ''[[The Hobbit (1979 radio series)]]'':'''

'''1979: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)]]'':'''

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)]]'':'''

'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)]]'':'''

'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
:Sauron is treated as a Mage of level 180 (level 360 if using the One Ring). Among his items are the Elf-slaying Black Sword (S. ''Mormegil''), the Gauntlet of Slaying ("Narsil's Bane"), and the Black Scale of dragonskin. Among his special powers are Domination (control over other players using the One Eye), resistance to normal weapons, and the ability to force anyone within his sight to resist fear (or otherwise becoming frozen).<ref>{{ICE|8002}}, pp. 98-102</ref><ref>{{ICE|2006}}, pp. 97-105</ref>

'''1985: ''[[Lord of the Rings: Game One]]'':'''

'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''

'''1990: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I (1990 video game)]]'':'''
:Sauron is mentioned by [[Gandalf]] in the beginning of the game.

'''1993: ''[[Hobitit]]'':'''

'''1993: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:Sauron is mentioned in the beginning of the game, when [[Gandalf]] explains the history of [[the One Ring]].

'''1995-8: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':'''
:The card "[http://www.tradecardsonline.com/im/selectCard/card_id/54534/cards_lang/1 Sauron]", appearing in the set ''[[Middle-earth: The Balrog|The Balrog]]'', is playable as a manifestation of the card "[http://www.tradecardsonline.com/im/selectCard/card_id/54002/cards_lang/1 The Lidless Eye]" (from the set [[Middle-earth: The Lidless Eye|''The Lidless Eye'']]), and can be used by players to enhance their general influence.<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.tradecardsonline.com/im/selectCard/game_id/20/goal/|articlename=Home page for the game Middle Earth|dated=|website=[http://www.tradecardsonline.com/ Trade Cards Online]|accessed=5 January 2012}}</ref>

'''2001-3: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy]]'':'''

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)]]'':'''

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)]]'':'''

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)]]'':'''

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring]]'':'''

'''2003: ''[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)]]'':'''
:Sauron and the events of the south of Mirkwood are left unmentioned. However, whilst in Mirkwood, [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] has to defeat creatures that he calls "Minions of the Necromancer".

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age]]'':'''
:At the end of the game, Berethor and company (the playable characters) have to defeat the eye of Sauron by physically attacking him on top of [[Barad-dûr]].

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''

'''2005: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Tactics]]'':'''

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar]]'':'''

'''2008: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria]]'':'''

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''

'''2010: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest]]'':'''

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'''''

'''2012-3: [[The Hobbit films|''The Hobbit'' films]]:'''

==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Sauron|Images of Sauron]]

{{References|note}}

{{sequence
|prev=''N/A''
|next=[[Isildur]]
|list=[[Ring-bearer]] c. [[Second Age 1600|S.A. 1600]] – [[Second Age 3441|3441]]}}{{ainur}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Maiar]]
[[Category:Quenya names]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]
[[Category:Servants of Melkor]]
[[de:Sauron]]
[[fa:سائورون]]
[[fi:Sauron]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/ainur/maiar/sauron]]