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User talk:TeleriWhite1999!

2026-06-29T04:54:10Z

TeleriWhite1999!: /* Images */ Reply

==Images==

Hello and welcome. I reverted your first edits because there is a rule that says that we need a discussion and concensus before altering the infobox image of a major protagonist. Imagine every now and then, if any user or newcomer freely changed Frodo's or Aragorn's image, according to their favorite artist, each week or each month. [[User:Sage|Sage]] ([[User talk:Sage|talk]]) 04:43, 29 June 2026 (UTC)

:How do I do a discussion? [[User:TeleriWhite1999!|TeleriWhite1999!]] ([[User talk:TeleriWhite1999!|talk]]) 04:54, 29 June 2026 (UTC)

Sauron

2026-06-29T02:59:03Z

TeleriWhite1999!: I am not sure who this is, but could possibly be Eol? Anyway I thought a watercolor by the professor would be good!

{{short description|Servant of Morgoth and master of the One Ring}}{{header image|mordor}}
{{infobox character
| people=[[Maiar|Maia]]
| name=Sauron
| image=J.R.R. Tolkien - Sauron.jpg
| caption="Sauron" by [[:Category:Images by J.R.R. Tolkien]]
| pronun=[[Quenya|Q]], {{IPA|[ˈsaʊron]}}
| othernames=''Annatar'' ([[Quenya|Q]]) ''Gorthaur'' ([[Sindarin|S]]) ''Mairon'' ([[Quenya|Q]]) ''Zigûr'' ([[Adûnaic|A]]) The Enemy [[Eye of Sauron|The Eye]] The Necromancer The Shadow ''([[#Other names|See below]])''
| titles=The [[Dark Lord]] The [[Lord of the Ring (title)|Lord of the Rings]] [[King of Men]] Lord of the World Ring-maker
| position=Smith of [[Aulë]] Lieutenant to [[Morgoth]]
| location=[[Timeless Halls]], [[Almaren]], [[Valinor]], [[Utumno]], [[Angband]], [[Tol-in-Gaurhoth]], [[Barad-dûr]], [[Ost-in-Edhil]], [[Armenelos]], [[Temple]], [[Dol Guldur]], and [[Window of the Eye]]
| affiliation=[[Aulë]] (originally) [[Morgoth|Melkor]] (later on)
| language=[[Valarin]], [[Black Speech]], [[Adûnaic]], and possibly [[Westron]]
| birth=[[Creation of the Ainur]]
| birthlocation=[[Timeless Halls]]
| rule={{SA|1600}} - {{TA|3019}}
| death=[[25 March]], {{TA|3019}}
| deathlocation=[[Barad-dûr]], [[Plateau of Gorgoroth]]
| age= Unquantifiable
| notablefor=Deceived the [[Elves]] into forging the [[Rings of Power]]; Created [[The One Ring]]; Brought about the [[Downfall of Númenor]]; Nearly conquered the whole of [[Middle-earth]]
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=
| gender=Male
| height=''[[#Physical form|See below]]''
| hair=
| eyes=''[[#Eye of Sauron|See below]]''
| clothing=
| weapons=[[The One Ring]]
| steed=
}}
<center>{{Quote|But in after days he rose like a shadow of Morgoth and a ghost of his malice, and walked behind him on the same ruinous path down into the Void.|''[[Valaquenta]]'': Of the Enemies}}</center>

'''Sauron''' was a highly gifted [[Maiar|Maia]], originally an apprentice of [[Aulë]], who became skilled at crafting and making. Coveting the power through which he would coordinate all things according to his own will, he joined with [[Morgoth|Melkor]]. As "Gorthaur" he became the most trusted lieutenant of Morgoth, being reckoned as the greatest of his allies and servants in the [[Battles of Beleriand|Wars of Beleriand]]. From his fortress of [[Tol-in-Gaurhoth]], Sauron was directly responsible for the death of [[Barahir]] and later the [[Noldor]]in king [[Finrod]] during the [[Quest for the Silmaril]]. He demonstrated the ability to take the form of a wolf, a serpent, and a vampire.

After the downfall of Morgoth, Sauron continually strove to conquer [[Middle-earth]] throughout the [[Second Age|Second]] and [[Third Age|Third]] Ages. In the Second Age, under the guise of '''Annatar''', he deceived the [[Elves]] of [[Eregion]], who under his guidance had created the [[Rings of Power]], whilst he secretly forged [[the One Ring]] in [[Mount Doom]]. Thus Sauron became "'''[[Lord of the Ring|the Lord of the Rings]]'''". Failing to corrupt the Elves, he assaulted the [[Westlands]], beginning a period called the [[Dark Years]], the first time he became known as the '''[[Dark Lord]]'''. The arrogant [[Númenóreans]], contesting their rule on Middle-earth, challenged him, and Sauron accepted to be brought to [[Númenor]] as a captive; however his influence corrupted the Númenóreans further - leading to the [[Downfall of Númenor]]. His spirit escaped, as did [[Elendil]] and his sons, founding the Realms in Exile of [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Elves and the [[Dúnedain]], formed the [[Last Alliance]] and, in {{SA|3441}}, Elendil and Elven [[High King of the Noldor|High King]] [[Gil-galad]] died fighting Sauron. Following Sauron's defeat, Elendil's son, [[Isildur]], severed his Ringed finger and took the One Ring for himself.

In the Third Age, Sauron the Enemy returned to Middle-earth and, as the '''Necromancer''', took the hill of [[Amon Lanc]] as his fortress of [[Dol Guldur]]; one of his foremost servants, the [[Witch-king]], formed the realm of [[Angmar]] in the north of [[Eriador]]. Following an attack by the [[White Council]] in {{TA|2941}}, the Dark Lord Sauron returned to his fortress of [[Barad-dûr]] in [[Mordor]], marshalling his armies and using his two-faced ally, the corrupted [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Saruman]]. By {{TA|3018}}, [[Frodo Baggins]] was in possession of the Ring, and he was led by [[Gandalf]] as a member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] in the [[Quest of the Ring]]. Whilst Sauron waged the [[War of the Ring]] against the [[Free peoples]] of Middle-earth, Frodo Baggins, [[Samwise Gamgee]] and [[Gollum]] reached Mount Doom on [[25 March]] {{TA|3019}}, and the Ring was destroyed. The breaking of the Ring caused Sauron's fall, and his stepping on Morgoth's path down into the [[Void]], resulting in the start of the [[Fourth Age]] and the [[Dominion of Men]].

==History==
===Origin===
[[File:Maureval - Mairon.jpg|thumb|left|''Mairon'' by [[:Category:Images by Maureval|Maureval]]]]
{{quote|For nothing is evil in the beginning. Even Sauron was not so.|[[Elrond]]<ref name="lotr-coe"/>}}
As one of the most powerful [[Maiar]], Sauron was [[Creation of the Ainur|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|IId}}</ref> Here he became one of the Maiar of [[Aulë]], among whose people he was deemed mighty and surpassed only by the Smith himself,<ref name="SVala" /> and was known as '''''Mairon'''''.<ref name="PE17.1">{{PE|17}}, p. 183</ref><ref group="note">Although it could be possible the name 'Mairon' was adapted by the Elves to [[Quenya]] originally from [[Valarin]] name with the same meaning much later, this pure Valarin form vanished in history.</ref>

Mairon's virtue was his love for order, planning and coordination, disliking confusion and chaos. But his obsession with order gradually overshadowed his love for the other intelligent beings of Arda, who would benefit from his planning; it became the sole object of his will, the end in itself. He started admiring [[Morgoth|Melkor]]'s power to realize his designs quickly and masterfully.<ref name="myths" />

Early on, already by the blissful [[Spring of Arda]], he was ensnared by Melkor, becoming his spy on the isle of [[Almaren]], the dwelling-place of the Valar.<ref name="Annals">{{MR|P2a}}, p. 52</ref> While [[Tulkas]] was asleep, Melkor ruined the [[Two Lamps]], and when Almaren was also destroyed, the [[Valar]] moved to the [[Aman|Blessed Realm of Aman]], still not perceiving Sauron's treachery.<ref name="Valinor">{{L|131}}: "''… Sauron was a being of Valinor perverted to the service of the Enemy …''"</ref> Soon Mairon left the Blessed Realm for [[Middle-earth]], [[Sleep of Yavanna|in a dark time]] where Melkor dominated limitlessly, and bent the knee before him as his greatest and most trusted servant.<ref name="SRings">{{S|Rings}}</ref> Thus he came to be known as '''''Gorthaur''''' by the [[Sindar]] of [[Beleriand]] and '''''Sauron''''' by others. Sauron initially was not as evil as Morgoth, as he was serving someone and not himself;<ref name="SVala" /> and unlike Melkor, who wanted to unmake and corrupt the world, Sauron wished to rule it and do what he wanted with it.<ref name="myths">{{MR|Myths}}, pp. 394-398</ref>

After [[Morgoth]] 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>

===First Age===
{{quote|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.|''[[Quenta Silmarillion]]'', "[[Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin]]"}}
At some point after the [[Awakening of the Elves]], it was Sauron who first discovered them and their dwellings.<ref>{{NM|P1xiv}}, p. 107</ref> Following their subsequent discovery by [[Oromë]], the Valar [[Battle of the Powers|made war against Melkor]] to protect them and though they stormed Angband and Utumno, they failed to find Sauron.<ref name="SCaptivity" /> Thus Sauron continued his evil operations; during the [[Great Journey|Great March]] of the [[Eldar]] to Valinor, it is said that he may have been responsible for the affliction upon the [[Atyamar|land of the Elves]] in the [[Vales of Anduin]], forcing the [[Elves]] to resume their journey.<ref>{{NM|P1vii}}, pp. 50-51</ref>

With the unchaining of Morgoth and his subsequent destruction of the [[Two Trees 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">{{S|Fingolfin}}</ref>

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. Sauron promised that 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 revealed Eilinel was dead and had Gorlim put to death.<ref name="Beren">{{S|Beren}}</ref>

[[Beren]], son of [[Barahir]], promised to avenge his father's death. He wandered throughout [[Dorthonion]] as an outlaw and achieved great deeds that were heard far and wide. 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 their being disguised as Orcs, Sauron espied them as they entered into the vale between [[Ered Wethrin]] and [[Taur-nu-Fuin (Dorthonion)|Taur-nu-Fuin]] and was suspicious, as Orcs passing were supposed to report to him. 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 disguises 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 Felagund 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. According to prophecy, Huan would not die until he had encountered the greatest of all wolves, so Sauron contrived to take on that role and defeat the hound. Therefore Sauron took on the form of a werewolf, the greatest the world had ever seen then, and went towards the bridge. So great was the terror of his approach that even Huan momentarily recoiled. Sauron leaped to attack Lúthien, but she drew her magic veil over his eyes, afflicting him with fatigue and blindness. Then Huan sprang upon Sauron and there they fought. The force of Sauron's malice alone left Lúthien weak and nearly unconscious, and the fighting was brutal and prolonged; however, he could not subdue the hound of [[Valinor]]. He was trapped within Huan's jaws and could not break free, even when he took the form of a serpent and finally his own shape. Rather than leave his physical form, 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]] ordered Sauron to return to [[Valinor]] in order to receive the judgement of Manwë. Sauron was not willing to suffer such humiliation, and he instead fled and hid himself in [[Middle-earth]].<ref name="SRings" />

===Second Age===
[[File:Gareth Sleightholme - Annatar, “Gift-Lord”.jpg|thumb|right|''Annatar, “Gift-Lord”'' by [https://hesir.artstation.com/ Gareth Sleightholme]]]
It was {{SA|500|n}} years into the [[Second Age]] when Sauron started to stir again.<ref name="lotr-toy" /> Sauron decided that the [[Valar]] had forgotten about [[Middle-earth]] and he once again turned to evil; many Men in [[East]] and [[South]], already corrupted by Melkor, fell under the [[Shadow]] by following him.<ref name="SRings" /> By {{SA|882}}, [[Gil-galad]] sensed a shadow arising in the East and sent a [[Gil-galad's letter|warning]] to [[Númenor]].<ref>{{UT|Wife}}</ref> Around {{SA|1000}} Sauron was alarmed by the growing power of the [[Númenóreans]], and chose [[Mordor]] as a land to make into a stronghold. He began the building of [[Barad-dûr]], the Dark Tower, near Mount Doom.<ref name="lotr-toy" />

Although Sauron long knew that [[Men]] were easier to sway, he sought to bring the [[Elves]] into his service, as they were far more powerful.<ref name="SRings" /> After lying hidden and increasing his power in secret, in {{SA|1200}} Sauron put on a fair visage, calling himself '''Annatar''', the Lord of Gifts, an emissary from the Valar.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', "[[The History of Galadriel and Celeborn]]", "Concerning Galadriel and Celeborn"</ref> He was never welcome in [[Lindon]] as [[Elrond]] and [[Gil-galad]] did not trust him and refused to treat with him, although they did not perceive who he truly was.<ref name="SRings" />
[[File:Mysilvergreen - Sauron-Annatar and the creation of the One Ring.png|thumb|right|''Sauron-Annatar and the creation of the One Ring'' by [[:Category:Images by Mysilvergreen|Mysilvergreen]]]]
Elsewhere Annatar was gladly received, especially in [[Eregion]], where only [[Galadriel]] distrusted him. The [[Noldorin]] smiths there learned much from him in art and magic, as their thirst for knowledge was great.<ref name="lotr-coe">{{FR|Council}}</ref><ref name="lotr-toy">{{App|SA}}</ref> Under the tutelage of Annatar and the leadership of [[Celebrimbor]], grandson of [[Fëanor]], the [[Gwaith-i-Mírdain]], became more skilled than anyone save Fëanor himself. In the year {{SA|1500}}, when they reached the very height of their power, the Elves began the forging of the [[Rings of Power]], which according to Annatar, would help them preserve their powers over Middle-earth.

But Sauron was ready to begin his own plans, and in {{SA|1600}} - ten years after the completion of the Rings of Power - he created [[The One Ring]] to control the bearers of the other Rings. He invested most of his own power into the Ring as he forged it, so that it would be more powerful than the others. With its power he completed the building of the Dark Tower.<ref name="SRings" /><ref name="lotr-toy" />

But the Elves were not so easily ensnared, and as soon as Sauron put on the One Ring they and Celebrimbor were aware of him, and realised they were betrayed.<ref name="lotr-coe" /><ref name="lotr-toy" /> They hid their Rings from Sauron and did not use them. Sauron demanded that the other Rings be given to him, for they would not have been made without his knowledge. The Elves refused, and the War was inevitable.<ref name="SRings" />

====[[Black Years]]====
During this time, Sauron constructed the [[Black Gate]] of Mordor to prevent invasion, and raised massive armies of [[Orcs]], [[Trolls]], and Men, chiefly [[Easterlings]] and [[Haradrim]] whom he dominated as a king and god. He had them make many fortified towns, and armed those under him with iron.<ref name="SRings" /><ref name="dm" />

The [[War of the Elves and Sauron]] began in {{SA|1693}} and was a bloody conflict which destroyed Eregion and devastated much of Eriador.<ref name="lotr-toy" /> Celebrimbor was slain and his body tied to a pole paraded at the head of Sauron's legions.<ref>{{UT|Galadriel}}</ref> The Elves were pushed back almost to the Blue Mountains, while their Dwarven allies (who had also rejected Sauron) retreated behind the walls of [[Moria]] where Sauron could not assail them.

Sauron was the [[Dark Lord]] of almost all of Middle-earth beyond the coasts, but the [[Númenóreans]] responded to the Elves' call for aid and sent a relief force. With united forces, Sauron's army was driven back and defeated near the [[Sarn Ford]] and withdrew to [[Tharbad]] where he was reinforced. But the Númenórean admiral [[Ciryatur]] had sent a fleet up the river Gwathló and Sauron's army was [[Battle of the Gwathló|attacked in the rear and utterly defeated]]. The Dark Lord fled back to Mordor with little more than his own bodyguard and a handful of Orcs.<ref>{{UT|Galadriel}}</ref>

Nonetheless, while Sauron's subsequent power never quite matched the height it had during the War with the Elves, many of his most powerful enemies' homelands had been devastated. As the Númenóreans established dominions around the [[Westlands]] (c. {{SA|1800}}),<ref name="lotr-toy" /> Sauron's empire continued to expand to dominate barbarian Men as servants and worshippers to the far south and east.<ref name="dm">{{PM|Dwarves}}</ref><ref>{{UT|Amroth}}</ref>

As the Elves had failed him, he had decided to distribute the Rings of Power to three corrupted lords of [[Númenor]]<ref name="Akallabeth">{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref> and [[Khamûl|an Easterling king]] and other five Men, as well as lords of the Dwarves. The Dwarves proved too hardy and resistant to their effects; but the Men eventually faded and in {{SA|2251}} they appeared as [[Ringwraiths]], his greatest slaves.<ref name="lotr-toy" />

Believing he would dominate all of Middle-earth, Sauron assumed many glorious titles: '''King of Kings''',<ref name="L131">{{L|131}}</ref> '''King of Men''',<ref name="Akallabeth" /> '''Lord of the Earth''',<ref name="SRings" /> and even '''Lord of the World'''.<ref name="L131" />

====On Númenor====
[[File:Elena Kukanova - The Temple of Melkor.jpg|200px|thumb|right|''The Temple of Melkor'' by [[Elena Kukanova]]]]
This offended the arrogant [[Númenóreans]] who had already started to fall under the [[Shadow]]. The proud Númenóreans came to Middle-earth with great force of arms, and Sauron's forces fled. Realising he could not defeat the Númenóreans with military strength, Sauron allowed himself to be taken as a hostage to Númenor by King [[Ar-Pharazôn]] in {{SA|3262}}.<ref name="lotr-toy" />

There, he quickly grew from captive to adviser and was known as '''Zigûr''', the Wizard;<ref name="Defeated">{{HM|SD}}, ''passim''</ref> he seduced the King and further corrupted the people.<ref name="lotr-toy" /> He converted many Númenóreans to the worship of Darkness, becoming High Priest of a Melkor cult. He had the [[Nimloth (tree)|White Tree]] cut down and in its place raised a great [[Temple]] in which he performed human sacrifices, persecuting those who were still [[Faithful]]. Finally, he convinced the king to rebel against the Valar and attack Valinor itself, claiming they would gain immortality. [[Ilúvatar|Eru]], the supreme God, then directly intervened: Númenor was drowned under the sea, and the great navy of Númenor was destroyed.

Sauron was on Númenor in the Temple of Melkor and was caught in the ensuing [[Downfall of Númenor|flood]]. However, his spirit survived, although severely weakened by the destruction, and it fled back to Middle-earth.

====Against the Faithful====
Sauron's spirit returned to Mordor in {{SA|3320}},<ref name="lotr-toy" /> where he slowly rebuilt his strength, although he was unable to assume a fair shape. From this point on he started to rule through terror and force, largely filling the fearsome role left vacant by his former master.

Meanwhile, a few faithful Númenóreans, led by [[Elendil]], were saved from the flood, and they founded [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]] in Middle-earth. Sauron still considered them his hated enemies and he launched a pre-emptive attack on Gondor in {{SA|3429}}.<ref name="lotr-toy" />

In response, the Númenóreans formed the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]] with the Elven-king [[Gil-galad]]. Learning of them, Sauron dispatched some [[Orcs of Mordor]] to the [[Misty Mountains]] to ambush them.<ref>{{UT|Gladden}}, Note #20</ref> He also burned the [[Brown Lands|gardens]] of the [[Entwives]] against the advance of the Allies down the [[Anduin]].<ref>{{L|144}}</ref> Nonetheless, the Allies reached Mordor and defeated Sauron's forces in the [[Battle of Dagorlad]] in {{SA|3434}} and finally laid siege before [[Barad-dûr]].<ref name="lotr-toy" />

The siege lasted for seven years until {{SA|3441}}, when Sauron left his fortress, engaging in direct combat. Elendil and Gil-galad fought Sauron and vanquished him, but both were killed.<ref name="lotr-toy" /> [[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. After his defeat in the War of the Last Alliance, Sauron lost his ability to form a physical body for a great while.

===Third Age===
Sauron's defeat released his subjects, like the [[Easterlings]], from his tyranny, but they fell into chaos. Their tribes and kingdoms battled against each other and some withdrew to the hated west.<ref>{{UT|6b}}, p. 259</ref> Weakened by his defeat and the loss of the One Ring, it is thought that he fled to the far east to regain his power and strength before returning.

It was not until c. {{TA|1000}} that Sauron could again begin to take shape in a physical living body. Worried by this prospect, the [[Valar]] sent [[Wizards|five]] [[Maiar]] from the West to assist the peoples of Middle-earth against Sauron.<ref>{{UT|Istari}}, pp. 388-389</ref>

His power was enough that he began again to throw a shadow across portions of [[Middle-earth]]. Apparently, Sauron's spirit managed to move some Easterlings, who invaded [[Rhovanion]] and came to the [[Vales of Anduin]].<ref>{{PM|XNotes}}, #60</ref>

====The Necromancer====
These moves coincided with the coming of the [[Shadow]] to [[Mirkwood|Greenwood the Great]].<ref>{{PM|Atani}}</ref> Around {{TA|1050|n}} he chose [[Amon Lanc|a hill]] in southern Greenwood as a place to build the fortress of [[Dol Guldur]]. At first, the [[Wise]] thought that this "Necromancer" was one of the [[Nazgûl]] who had returned and taken up residence in southern Greenwood.<ref name="TA" />

The year {{TA|1300}} marked Sauron's increased power, evidenced by "evil things" who multiplied and grew bold again, like the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] and some of the [[Dragons]], who attacked the [[Dwarves]]; and the return of the Nazgûl, with the founding of the evil realm of [[Angmar]].<ref name="TA" /> In the following centuries, Sauron's subjects in Angmar, the East and the South concentrated against his ancient enemies. Kings [[Araphant]] of [[Arnor]] and [[Ondoher]] of [[Gondor]] realised that a single force was coordinating the attacks on both of their kingdoms and that they needed to work together to combat this evil. However, Angmar was successful in destroying Arnor, and soon after the Nazgûl gathered in Mordor and [[Second Fall of Minas Ithil|conquered]] [[Minas Ithil]] to prepare for Sauron's return; their final success was ending the [[King of Gondor|royal line]] of Gondor.<ref name="SRings" /><ref name="TA" /><ref name="gondor">{{App|Gondor}}</ref> As his shadow deepened, [[Durin's Bane|a balrog]] awoke, causing the desertion of [[Moria]].<ref name="TA" />
[[File:John Howe - Pass the Doors of Dol Guldur.jpg|thumb|left|''Pass the Doors of Dol Guldur'' by [[John Howe]]]]
By {{TA|2060}} the power of Dol Guldur grew so much that [[the Wise]] were alerted that Sauron was returning. [[Gandalf]] entered the fortress in {{TA|2063|n}} but the shadow fled before him. Returning to the [[East]],<ref name="TA" /> Sauron started corrupting the [[Easterlings]] and forging a strong alliance between their tribes.{{fact}} The period of his absence was known as the ''[[Watchful Peace]]'', because the Shadow on Mirkwood had lessened and the Nazgûl stayed quiet in Minas Morgul,<ref name="TA" /> using this period to prepare for Sauron's return.

====Return to Dol Guldur====
The Necromancer returned in {{TA|2460|n}} more powerful, with many Men in his service, and again took up residence in [[Dol Guldur]].<ref name="TA" /> His return coincided with the One Ring revealing itself [[Third Age 2463|three years later]], falling in the hands of [[Gollum|a Stoor]]. Sensing the danger, the [[Wise]] formed the [[White Council]].<ref name="TA" />

The Necromancer's aims remained to gather the Rings of Power, find news about the One Ring, and eliminate the [[Heir of Isildur]], if one remained in [[Middle-earth]].<ref name="TA" /><ref>{{App|Tale}}</ref> In {{TA|2475}} the [[Uruk-hai]] exited Mordor and briefly conquered [[Ithilien]]. [[Third Age 2480|Some years later]] the Orcs of the Mountains organised themselves, blocking the passes to the West; Moria had been depopulated centuries earlier by the Balrog, and Sauron sent Orcs and [[Trolls]] there.<ref name="TA" /> Also under his shadow were the [[Balchoth]], who invaded Mirkwood and cooperated with Orcs to attack Gondor.<ref name="stew" /> Sauron's servants captured the [[King of Durin's Folk|Dwarf King]] [[Thráin|Thráin II]] and took [[Ring of Thrór|one]] of the [[Seven Rings|Seven Dwarf rings]] from him.<ref name="TA" />

Still investigating the Necromancer, [[Gandalf]] snuck into Dol Guldur in {{TA|2850|n}} and met the dying Dwarf King, learning that the Necromancer was none other than Sauron. [[Third Age 2851|The next year]], Gandalf informed the White Council and urged an immediate attack upon the fortress, but [[Saruman|Saruman the White]] had learned of the presence of the [[The One Ring|Ruling Ring]] near the [[Gladden Fields]], and he thought it best to allow Sauron to build up his strength in order to reveal its location so that Saruman could seize it himself. Following this strategy, Saruman opposed Gandalf.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref>

As his power was growing and his arising came closer, his minions moved again against Gondor; his agents stirred the [[Haradrim]] to resume attacking Gondor, while [[Uruk-hai]] and [[Orcs of Mordor]] infested [[Ithilien]]<ref name="TA" /><ref name="stew" /> but never managed to pass beyond Anduin, further into Gondor.<ref name="hunt">{{UT|Hunt}}</ref> All this time Sauron apparently had learned about the [[Disaster of the Gladden Fields]] where his old enemy Isildur was killed, shortly after his own demise, almost three millennia ago. He sent his minions to look for the One Ring around [[Anduin]] near the [[Gladden Fields]], not knowing that it had been already in the possession of [[Gollum|a Stoor]].<ref name="TA" />

====Attack of the White Council====
Considering the situations, and the occupation of the dragon [[Smaug]] of [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]], Gandalf was worried that Sauron's military assault against the [[West]] was a matter of time, and that he would use Smaug in his force; Gandalf started considering a simultaneous attack both against Dol Guldur and against Smaug, to weaken Sauron.<ref name="erebor">{{UT|Erebor}}</ref>
[[File:Angus McBride - Dol Guldur.jpg|thumb|''Dol Guldur'' by [[Angus McBride]]]]
In {{TA|2939}}, Saruman learned that Sauron was searching for the Ring, and worried that he would find it sooner than he. In {{TA|2941|n}}, he conceded with Gandalf to [[Attack on Dol Guldur|attack Dol Guldur]].<ref name="TA" /> Indeed, in the meantime Gandalf managed to eliminate Smaug, and the Orcs of the Mountains were decimated in the [[Battle of Five Armies|ensuing battle]], allowing the [[Kingdom under the Mountain]] and [[Dale]] to flourish again.<ref name="erebor" /><ref>{{H|Return}}</ref>

Although Gandalf was weakening Sauron's potential grasp in the [[Wilderland|North]],<ref name="erebor" /> Sauron had been expecting the White Council's attack against Dol Guldur and fled from there.<ref name="TA" />

====Return to Mordor====
The [[Nazgûl]] had been preparing [[Barad-dûr]] for Sauron's return, so it was easy for Sauron to return secretly to his old stronghold [[Third Age 2942|a year later]]. Sauron declared himself openly in {{TA|2951}}, sent three Nazgûl back to Dol Guldur and started rebuilding the Dark Tower, and once it was completed, the [[Mount Doom]] erupted.<ref name="TA" /><ref name="stew">{{App|Stewards}}</ref>

From then on, Sauron stayed in Barad-dûr to conduct his war on the [[Free peoples]]. The shadow of Mordor caused despair and sickness to the Gondorians, like [[Finduilas (wife of Denethor)|Finduilas]], and in his desperation, the Steward [[Denethor]], Sauron's most immediate enemy, used the [[Anor-stone]] to gain knowledge. That ''[[palantír]]'' was directly linked to the [[Ithil-stone]] that the Nazgûl had taken from Minas Morgul, and when Sauron used it, he discovered Denethor was using his. Sauron attempted to wrench the Anor-stone to his will, but failed due to Denethor's strength of will and birth-right to the stone. But this stressed and wore out the steward, who lost his hope.<ref name="stew" /><ref>{{UT|Palantiri}}</ref>

By {{TA|3000}}, the shadow lengthened, and Saruman, who was residing in [[Orthanc]], had secretly found and decided to use the [[Orthanc-stone]]. As happened with Denethor, Sauron linked with his mind, managing to corrupt him;<ref name="TA" /> from one of his wisest enemies, Saruman became one of his greatest allies.

Around {{TA|3009}}, [[Gollum]], who formerly bore the One Ring and now pursued its thief, ventured into Mordor and was captured by Sauron's minions. Gollum was tortured and interrogated for the following years,<ref name="TA" /> and before releasing him, Sauron learned that the One Ring had been found by [[Bilbo Baggins]] of [[the Shire]].

Sauron bred immense armies of Orcs and allied with or 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]] became a symbol of power and fear.

====The War of the Ring====
Sauron was alarmed when the [[Elves of Mirkwood]] captured Gollum,<ref name="TA" /> so in June of {{TA|3018}} he dispatched the Nazgûl to hunt for [[the One Ring]] in secrecy. To disguise the crossing of the Nine over the Great River, Sauron staged an [[Sauron's attack on Osgiliath|attack on Osgiliath]]. This feint served two purposes: first, to test the strength and preparedness of Denethor, and second and more importantly, to present the Nazgûl as merely a military asset, concealing from the [[Wise]] their true mission.<ref name="hunt" /> Denethor's forces were stronger than Sauron hoped, but Sauron took the eastern half of the city nonetheless. This allowed the Nazgûl to cross the Great River and begin their hunt.<ref name="hunt" /> Now knowing the measure of his enemy, Sauron continued to amass his forces in Minas Morgul and Mordor in preparation for the siege of Gondor.<ref name="TT|IV4">{{TT|IV4}}</ref>

By September, the Nazgûl had failed to discover the Shire, and Sauron's wrath and fear were mounting. Via messenger, Sauron ordered the Nine to discard secrecy in favour of speed and go to Isengard to confront Saruman about his knowledge of the whereabouts of the Ring. At this time, Sauron also conveyed to the Nine such dire threats as to dismay even the Lord of Morgul.<ref name="hunt" /> The Nine ultimately failed in their mission, being defeated and unhorsed by the flood of the Bruinen. The Witch-king returned alone to Mordor in December of 3018 to Sauron's great fear, for Sauron perceived that his foes still had strength left in them, and luck seemed to be on their side.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "The Ring Goes South", p. 262</ref>

Sauron's next glimpse of the Ring (or so he believed) would come in the late hours of [[5 March]] T.A. 3019, when Pippin looked into the ''palantír'' of Orthanc that he had recovered from the flood of Isengard. Sauron, unaware of Saruman's defeat at hands of the [[Ents]], assumed Pippin was the Wizard's prisoner, and was being forced to look into the ''palantír'' as a form of cruel sport. Rather than interrogate Pippin immediately, Sauron chose to torment him, and bid him tell Saruman that he would send for the prisoner immediately.<ref>{{TT|Palantir}}</ref> He was therefore deceived into thinking the Ring was finally within his grasp.

A few hours later, on the morning of [[6 March]], Sauron encountered one of his foes in the ''palantír'' of Orthanc: Aragorn looked into the Stone, revealing himself to Sauron as the Heir of Isildur and wielder of [[Andúril]], the Blade Reforged. Aragorn spoke no word to Sauron and with a great effort of will wrested control of the Stone from him. As Aragorn intended, this played on Sauron's gnawing doubts and filled him with fear, believing that Aragorn might have overthrown Saruman, seizing Pippin and therefore the Ring. Thus, he ordered the Witch-king to launch his long-planned assault on Gondor immediately, rather than wait for all preparations to be made, hoping to destroy his enemies before they had a chance to make full use of the Ring's power.<ref name="RKV2">{{RK|V2}}</ref>

The death of the Witch-king and the defeat of his army in the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] were a setback to Sauron, but he still had a great force of arms held in reserve in Mordor, more than enough to eventually secure military victory against all of his enemies combined. After his encounter with Aragorn in the ''palantír'', Sauron believed that one of his foes in Minas Tirith held the One Ring and would soon attempt to use it. As such, Gandalf was able to exploit Sauron's false beliefs with an audacious plan: the army of the Free Peoples would march on the Black Gate as a feint, keeping Sauron's Eye fixed upon them and blind to all else that moved, as the true Ringbearer made his way to Mount Doom.<ref name="RKV9">{{RK|V9}}</ref>

For the next nine days, Gandalf's plan worked - as the Host of the West made its way east and north, Sauron kept his entire focus upon it and diverted the whole strength of Mordor to the Black Gate to meet them. Even when Shagrat brought news of an "Elvish" intruder in [[Cirith Ungol]], Sauron's belief that the Ring was with the Host of the West remained unshaken and he made no attempt to investigate further; he could certainly not imagine that his enemies were trying to sneak the Ring into Mordor. Frodo and Sam thus made it to the [[Cracks of Doom|Sammath Naur]] undetected, and Sauron did not become aware of them until the very moment that Frodo claimed the Ring for himself.<ref name="RKVI3">{{RK|VI3}}</ref> [[File:Ted Nasmith - The Shadow of Sauron.jpg|thumb|''The Shadow of Sauron'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]

Only then did Sauron finally perceive Frodo and, realising he had been tricked, was overwhelmed with wrath and fear. He instantly lost all interest in the ongoing [[Battle of the Morannon]] and dispatched the Nazgûl from the skies above the battle to Mount Doom with all haste. It was too late; Gollum fell into the Crack of Doom with the Ring, destroying it and himself. In the moment of the Ring's destruction, Barad-dûr and many other of Sauron's fortresses crumbled to ruin. Sauron's spirit emerged and rose above Mordor like a black cloud - he stretched out his hand towards the army of the West, but even as he did so, he was blown away by a great wind and vanished.<ref name="RKVI4">{{RK|VI4}}</ref>

==Legacy==
Thus Sauron's power was unmade, and his dominion in Middle-earth came to an end. According to Gandalf, Sauron was "maimed for ever, becoming a mere spirit of malice that gnaws itself in the shadows, but cannot again grow or take shape."<ref name="RKV9" /> Sauron's corporeal body that was in the Dark Tower died, and without the Ring, his spirit no longer had the power to create a new one. Though his indestructible mind and being were bound forever to [[Eä]], Sauron had lost all power to effect his will upon the world<ref>{{L|200}}</ref> and could never again grow in strength.<ref>{{MR|P5VII}}, section iii, p. 403 and note 11, p. 407</ref>

It is said of Sauron, in summary of his long career of wickedness in Arda, that "he rose like a shadow of Morgoth and a ghost of his malice, and walked behind him on the same ruinous path down into the Void."<ref name="SVala" />

==Characteristics==
Sauron was a being of exceptional power, both in personal might and in sorcery, yet his greatest strength lie in his cunning, intellect, and charisma; through persuasion, deception, and coercion, he brought ruin to many mortal realms and united others unto himself, often without ever having to physically intervene, and he nearly cast Middle-earth into darkness several times throughout his existence.

Much like his [[Morgoth|master]], pride in his own abilities was his greatest personal weakness, and this arrogance, coupled with an underestimation of his enemies, would ultimately doom him.<ref>{{RK|Doom}}</ref>

===Physical form===
[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Sauron.jpg|thumb|right|Tolkien's unfinished sketch of Sauron, apparently showing him just after the destruction of the Ring]]
At first Sauron appeared as a royal and commanding figure in a strong body. He was also able to veil his power and change his shape. Later, however, he could take only a terrible form, of a stature greater than a [[Men|Man]]'s, though not giant,<ref>{{L|246}}</ref> "an image of malice and hatred made visible; and the Eye of Sauron the Terrible few could endure."<ref name="Akallabeth" /> [[Isildur]] recounted that at the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]], Sauron's hand was black with a deadly burning touch.<ref name="lotr-coe" /> Gollum would also call him "Black Hand", noticing he only had four fingers after Isildur cut one off.<ref name="Closed">{{TT|IV3}}</ref>

===Eye of Sauron===
The '''[[Eye of Sauron]]''', called by various names, was the symbol of Sauron the Dark Lord following the loss of [[the One Ring]]. This symbol was adopted to show his unceasing vigilance and piercing perception, and was displayed on the weaponry of his servants, or at least the [[orcs]].

Sauron's Eye as Frodo sees it in the [[Mirror of Galadriel]] is the only feature of his later form described in detail. It is yellow and rimmed with fire, with a slit pupil, "a window into nothing."<ref>{{FR|II7}}</ref> The colour is compared to that of a cat's eye, but because of the references to Sauron's Lidless Eye, it may also resemble that of a snake, such as an adder. Readers differ as to whether Sauron's eyes were literally lidless and resembled what Frodo saw, or instead the Eye was only a symbol that Frodo saw in the Mirror in an elaborate form.

Sauron's gaze, even indirectly, was known to wither, exhaust, and weaken his foes, with [[Denethor II|Denethor]], [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]], and [[Gandalf]] all rendered weary and dreadful after confronting him.<ref>{{FR|Breaking}}</ref> The sheer malevolence Sauron exuded through his presence alone was enough to render Lúthien frail and nearly unconscious.<ref name="Beren" />

==Etymology==
{{pronounce|Quenya - Sauron.mp3|Gilgamesh}}
'''''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}}, entry "Sauron"</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}}, 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 ''þaurond-'' (formed from the adjective ''þaurā'' "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|''Gor'''thaur''''']]).<ref name="Appendix">{{S|Appendix}}, entries ''gor'', ''thaur''</ref>

==Other names==
{{pronounce|Sindarin - Gorthaur.mp3|Gilgamesh}}
{{pronounce|Quenya - Mairon.mp3|Gilgamesh}}
{{Pronounce|Annatar.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Gorthaur''''' was a name used of Sauron by the [[Sindar]] during the [[First Age]],<ref name="SVala" /><ref>{{WJ|15}}, p. 240</ref> which was composed of the elements ''[[gor]]'' ("horror, dread") and ''[[thaur]]'' ("abominable, abhorrent"), thus meaning "Terrible Dread";<ref name="Appendix" /> an alternate variation of this name was '''''Gorsodh'''''.<ref>{{WJ|One}}, entry 455, §153, p. 54</ref> The Quenya equivalent was '''''Ñorsus'''''.<ref name="PE17.1" />

In some of Tolkien's notes from the 1950s, it is said that Sauron's original name was '''''Mairon''''' ([[Quenya|Q]], "the Admirable"), but this was altered after he was suborned by Melkor. He continued to call himself Mairon the Admirable, or '''Tar-mairon''' ("King Excellent"), until after Númenor's downfall,<ref name="PE17.1" /> although he could not use that name in Númenor, as it was a Quenya name with royal implications. There he was called '''''Zigûr''''',<ref name="Defeated" /> meaning "Wizard" in [[Adûnaic]].<ref>{{SD|3vi9}}, p. 437</ref>

'''''Annatar''''' is Quenya for "Lord of Gifts", from ''[[anna]]'' + ''[[tar]]''.<ref>{{S|Appendix}}, entries ''anna'', ''tar''</ref> It can be noticed that Morgoth used a similar name when he seduced the first [[Men]]: "Giver of Gifts".<ref>{{MR|P4i}}, The '[[Tale of Adanel]]', p. 344</ref> In an isolated note, Tolkien gives other names used by Sauron when he seduced the Elves in the Second Age: '''''Artano''''' ("High-smith") and '''''Aulendil''''' ("Devoted to Aulë").<ref>{{UT|6}}, Notes, p. 254</ref>

Among his many titles and epithets were:
*The '''Base Master of Treachery''', used once by Gandalf to explain why the [[Mouth of Sauron]] should not be trusted.<ref name="Mouth">{{RK|V10}}</ref>
*The '''[[Black Hand]]''', used twice by Gollum.<ref name="Closed" />
*The '''[[Master|Black Master]]''', used by [[Isildur]] when cursing Sauron's former servants, the [[Oathbreakers]].<ref name="RKV2" />
*The '''Black One''', used once by [[Gollum]].<ref name="Closed" />
*The '''[[Dark Lord]]''', given by the [[Free Peoples]] after he rose in the Second Age.<ref name="SRings" />
*The '''Dark Power''', used by Gandalf.<ref name="Shadow">{{FR|I2}}</ref>
*The '''Deceiver''', given by [[Amandil]] before departing to ask the Valar deliverance from Sauron's corruption.<ref name="Akallabeth">{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref>
*The '''Enemy''', given by the [[Free Peoples]] after he rose in the Second Age.<ref name="SRings" />
*The '''[[Eye of Sauron|Eye]]''', with its variants, mainly referred to his mental form and his [[Eye of Sauron|emblem]], but also applied to Sauron himself.<ref>{{RK|I3}}, entry "Eye, The"</ref>
*The '''Great''', following the name of ''Sauron'', it is only used once by Gandalf,<ref name="Shadow">{{FR|I2}}</ref> once by [[Glóin]],<ref name="lotr-coe" /> and once by the Mouth of Sauron.<ref name="Mouth">{{RK|V10}}</ref>
*The '''[[King of Kings]]''', given by himself when he rose in the Second Age, enraging Ar-Pharazôn.<ref name="L131" />
*The '''[[King of Men]]''', given by himself when he rose in the Second Age, enraging Ar-Pharazôn.<ref name="Akallabeth" />
*The '''Lord of the Earth''', given by himself when he rose in the Second Age.<ref name="SRings" />
*The '''Lord of [[Barad-dûr]],''' given to Sauron during the periods he inhabitated the Dark Tower; used by [[Denethor]]<ref name=":0">{{RK|V4}}</ref> and [[Gandalf]].<ref name="RKV9" />
*The '''[[Lord of the Ring (title)|Lord of the Ring]]''' or '''Lord of the Rings'''.
*The '''Lord of the World''', given by himself when he rose in the Second Age, enraging Ar-Pharazôn.<ref name="L131" />
*The '''Nameless''', probably given by the [[Gondorians|people of Gondor]], as it is only used by Boromir as '''Nameless Enemy''',<ref name="lotr-coe" /> by Faramir as '''Nameless One''',<ref>{{TT|IV5}}</ref> and by the watchmen of Gondor.<ref name=":0" />
*The '''Necromancer''', used during his rule in [[Dol Guldur]] when his identity was unknown.<ref name="lotr-coe" />
*The '''King''', given by the people of [[Agar]].<ref>{{PM|Elmar}}</ref>
*The '''One Enemy''', used once by Frodo Baggins.<ref name="TT|IV4" />
*The '''[[Ring-maker]]'''.<ref name="Shadow" />
*The '''Ruler''', used once by Saruman during his confrontation with Gandalf.<ref name="lotr-coe" />
*The '''[[Shadow]]''', not properly given to him, but to his power when he expanded it in the Third Age.<ref name="SRings" />
*The '''Sorcerer''', used during his rule in [[Dol Guldur]] when his identity was unknown.<ref name="lotr-coe" />
*'''Wolf-Sauron''', the name given to the dreadful werewolf-shape that Sauron took on when he went to do battle with [[Huan]].<ref name="Beren" />

==Other versions of the legendarium==
Since the earliest versions of the [[legendarium]], 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]]". Morgoth also had another servant named '''[[Fankil]]''' who led evil [[Dwarves]] and notably acted as his lieutenant, a role assumed by Sauron in the final works.

Tevildo later was transformed into '''[[Thû]]''', the Necromancer - the first proper iteration of the later Sauron. The name was then changed to ''Gorthû'', ''Sûr'', and finally to Sauron. ''Gorthû'', in the form ''Gorthaur'', remained in ''The Silmarillion''.

In the first version of the Fall of Númenor, Sûr (Thû) originally came to Númenor in the likeness of a great bird and preached a message of deliverance, and he prophesied the second coming of Morgoth. He spoke with the king (Angor) and queen (Istar) and promised them undying life and lordship of the Earth. They believed him and fell under the shadow, and the greatest part of the people of Númenor followed them. Angor raised a great temple to Morgoth in the midst of the land, and Sûr dwelt there.<ref name="downfall1">{{LR|P1II2}}</ref>{{rp|§5}} As Angor felt the oncoming of old age, Sûr convinced the king that that the gifts of Morgoth were withheld by the Gods, and that to obtain plenitude of power and undying life he must be master of the West. Sûr then aided the Númenóreans in making their great armament.<ref name="downfall1" />{{rp|§6}} Thû survived the destruction of the island and retreated to Middle-earth where he fought wars against the surviving Númenóreans, whose hearts were not crooked and hated Thû, that assailed his temples and servants.<ref name="downfall1" />{{rp|§13}} Eventually Amroth,<ref group="note">This Amroth is a predecessor to Eldendil, hence is a Man, not an Elf</ref> the King of Beleriand, took council with Elrond, and with what Elves remained they crossed over the mountains and assailed the fortress of Thû; Amroth himself was slain, but Thû was brought to his knees, with his servants dispelled and his dwellings destroyed, and he fled to a dark forest and hid himself.<ref name="downfall1" />{{rp|§14}}

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

===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 through 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.|[[Letter 19]]}}

Indeed, in the ''[[Lay of Leithian]]'', [[Thû]] is called a "necromancer" who "held his hosts of [[phantoms]] and of wandering [[ghosts]]" (l. 2075) in [[Tol-in-Gaurhoth]].<ref>{{LB|C7}}</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 of ''[[The 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 arguably drove the history of the entire Second and Third Ages of Middle-earth.

Fans have noted that the alias "Necromancer" for Sauron is obscure, as in the context of neither ''The Hobbit'' nor ''The Lord of the Rings'' Sauron is ever specifically mentioned to use [[Wikipedia:necromancy|necromancy]], i.e. controlling the [[spirits]] of the dead.<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/47756/why-is-sauron-called-the-necromancer|articlename=Why is Sauron called the "Necromancer"?|dated=|website=Stackexchange|accessed=9 January 2020}}</ref>

A later essay mentions the practice of necromancy concerning the ''[[fëar]]'' of the [[Unbodied]] Elves, mentioning that Sauron possibly did so and also taught his followers,<ref>{{MR|P3II3c}}, p. 224</ref> although this reference is not given in the context of the story.

==Minions and allies==
*[[Thuringwethil]]- Vampire Herald
*[[Draugluin]]- First of the Werewolves of Angband; mortally-wounded by [[Huan]]
*The [[Witch-king|Witch-king of Angmar]] - Lord of Morgul, Lord of the Nazgûl and deadliest servant; vanquished by [[Éowyn]] and [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]]
**[[Khamûl]] - Lieutenant of Dol Guldur, second only to the Witch-king among the Nazgûl; undone by the destruction of [[the One Ring]]
**Other 7 [[Nazgûl]] - Most terrible of his servants; perished with the One Ring
*The [[King of the Dead]] - King of the Oathbreakers, former servant bound to the [[Heir of Isildur]]
*[[Ar-Pharazôn]] - Last King of Númenor, rival-turned-puppet, coerced to the worship of the Darkness
*[[Herumor]] - Lord among the Haradrim
*[[Fuinur]] - Chief among the Haradrim
*[[Captain of the Haven]] - Commander of the Corsairs of Umbar; slain by [[Aragorn]]
*The [[Mouth of Sauron]] - Lieutenant of the Dark Tower and personal Ambassador
**[[Grishnákh]] - Orc captain of the Dark Tower; slain by the Riders of Rohan
*[[Saruman]] - Lord of Isengard, corrupted White [[Wizards|Wizard]] and treacherous ally; stabbed in the back by Gríma
**[[Gríma]] - Chief counsellor of King [[Théoden]] in Rohan, Saruman's mole at the court; shot by Hobbit arrows
**[[Squint-eyed southerner]] - Dunlending spy at the Prancing Pony Inn
**[[Bill Ferny]] - Outlaw of Bree-land
**[[Harry Goatleaf]] - Gate-keeper of the West-gate of Bree, informant
*[[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]] - Lieutenant of Morgul, second only to the Witch-king among the Morgul-host
**[[Gorbag]] - Captain of the Orcs of Morgul that captured [[Frodo Baggins]]; murdered by Shagrat
*[[Shagrat]] - Captain of Cirith Ungol; put to death for his failures
**[[Muzgash]] - Orc guard at Cirith Ungol; shot by treacherous comrades
**[[Lagduf]] - Orc sentry stationed at Cirith Ungol; shot by treacherous comrades
**[[Radbug]] - Orc sentinel of Cirith Ungol; had his eyes squeezed out by Shagrat
**[[Snaga (orc of Mordor)|Snaga]] - Torturer of Cirith Ungol; fell to his demise in a fight with [[Samwise Gamgee]]
**[[Ufthak]] - Orc subordinate in Cirith Ungol; caught by Shelob in her webs
*[[Shelob]] - Descendant of [[Ungoliant]] and convenient guardian of the pass through Mordor
*The [[Two Watchers]] - Statues inhabited by evil spirits
;Characters from older concepts
*[[Naglur-Danlo]] - Orc of Cirith Ungol
*[[Shagram]] - Orc soldier of Cirith Ungol

==Portrayal in adaptations==
<gallery class="center" mode="nolines" widths="225" heights="150">
File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Prologue.jpg|Sauron in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''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:The Lord of the Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy - 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 ''[[Middle-earth 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]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings Online Shadows of Angmar - Eye of Sauron.png|Eye of Sauron in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings Online Shadows of Angmar - Annatar.png|Annatar in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Sauron.jpg|Sauron in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]: [[Minas Morgul]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings Conquest - Sauron1.png|Sauron in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]''
File:Guardians of Middle-earth - Sauron Icon.jpg|Sauron in ''[[Guardians of Middle-earth]]''
File:The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey - Necromancer.jpg|The Necromancer in ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]''
File:Shadow of Mordor - Annatar.png|Annatar in ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor]]''
File:Shadow of Mordor - Sauron.png|Sauron in ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor]]''
File:The Rings of Power (TV series) - Sauron in Dúrnost.jpg|Sauron in [[Dúrnost]] within ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]''
File:The Rings of Power (TV series) - Halbrand in Mordor.jpg|[[Charlie Vickers]] as Sauron/[[Halbrand]] in [[Mordor]] within ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]''
File:Jack-lowden-as-a-form-of-Sauron-on-the-Rings-of-Power-season-two-2.webp|[[Jack Lowden]] as [[Forodwaith (people)|Forodwaith]] Sauron in [[Dúrnost]] within [[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]
File:Rings-of-power-annatar-3-ku4bifbuj2befldajixhkw2uwy.jpg|[[Charlie Vickers]] as Annatar in [[Eregion]] within ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]''
File:SauronDarkLord ToME.jpg|Sauron, the Dark Lord card from [[The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth]]
</gallery>

===Films===
'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:Sauron is briefly shown in the prologue sequence as a shadowy figure in a horned helmet in a non-speaking role.

'''2001-03: [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]:'''
:Sauron is played by [[Sala Baker]] and voiced by [[Alan Howard]]. In these films, he is depicted as a tall -yet not gigantic - armored warlord wielding a huge mace (a blend between his vague description by Tolkien and the more detailed appearance of [[Morgoth]] as described in ''[[The Silmarillion]]''). In the first film, he is depicted dispatching a number of Elves and Men with his mace, before killing [[Gil-galad]] (offscreen; the scene figured in the concept art done for the prologue, however) and then [[Elendil]] before being defeated by [[Isildur]] using his father's [[Narsil|broken sword]] to cut off the finger wearing [[the One Ring]], as well as three others on the same hand. This strangely causes his body to explode, producing a shockwave that knocks everyone on the battlefield off their feet.

:Later on, [[Saruman]] implies to [[Gandalf]] that Sauron was unable to retain his physical form and that the Eye was his astral form, a detail which is never brought up in the novel. It is unknown if Saruman was truthful with this statement, or if he was either misinformed or lying (since he was already corrupted by his yearning for power and Sauron's influence).

:For the portrayal of Sauron as a giant eye of fire in these movies, see [[Eye of Sauron#Portrayal in adaptations]].

'''2012-14: [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]:'''
:Sauron is played and voiced by [[Benedict Cumberbatch]], under his assumed identity as the Necromancer. In these films, it is stated that the White Council does not discover he is Sauron until much later, during the events of these films, previously believing him to be a human with skills in magic. In these films, Sauron initially appears as a shadowy figure before assuming his armoured form from the previous films. With him as the slit black pupil, he projects flames around him, creating the visage of the Great Eye.

'''2017: ''[[Wikipedia:The Lego Batman Movie|The Lego Batman Movie]]'':'''
:In the film, Sauron, appearing as a flaming eye from atop his tower, is among the villains recruited by The Joker to aid in his conquest of Gotham City. His powers of vision prove to be a hindrance to Batman and his companions, but he is eventually inadvertently destroyed by the Kraken's mouth projectile. He is voiced by Jemaine Clement.

===Television===
'''2022: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]'':'''
:'''1 September: Episode 1. ''[[A Shadow of the Past]]'':'''
::Sauron appears overseeing an army of [[Orcs]] at [[Dúrnost]] during the prologue, narrated by [[Galadriel]]. No actor is credited for the specific role.

:'''14 October: Episode 8. ''[[Alloyed]]'':'''
::It is revealed that Sauron was disguised as [[Halbrand]] (portrayed by [[Charlie Vickers]]) the entire time. After being supposedly "split open" by [[Adar (The Rings of Power)|Adar]], he took on the form of a mortal [[Men|Man]] and gave to himself the name Halbrand. At some point in time, he came upon the corpse of the last King of the [[Southlands]] and took up the crest because he thought that it suited him well.

===Radio series===
{{Incomplete}}
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''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>

'''1968: [[The Hobbit (1968 radio series)|''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]].

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

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

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

===Video games===
{{Incomplete}}
'''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)|''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: ''[[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]].

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

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

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

'''2003: [[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|''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".

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

'''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]]'':'''
:Sauron, in his fair guise, appears during the flashback to the years of the [[Second Age]]. He uses the name "Antheron" instead of "Annatar", which only appears in the works not covered by the game' licese.
:Visiting Sauron's personal chambers in [[Dol Guldur]] leads to a vision of the Dark Lord, still weak and recovering from his defeat at the hand of [[Isildur]].
:During an extended flashback sequence to the [[War of the Last Alliance]], Sauron himself is met within [[Barad-dûr]] by the player, who controls a historic character.

'''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: ''[[Lego The Lord of the Rings: The Video Game]]'':'''
:Sauron appears in a boss battle in the first level. His boss form appears as a massive CCBS figure-similar to something from LEGO's Knights Kingdom line. He is also unlocked as a playable character after the bonus level. His Annatar form appears as a playable character in a downloadable DLC.

'''2012: ''[[Guardians of Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Sauron is a "guardian".<ref name="Trailer">{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caYW7d-8MIY&feature=player_embedded|articlename=''Guardians of Middle-earth'': First Official Gameplay Trailer|dated=29 June 2012|website=YT|accessed=16 July 2012}}</ref>

'''2014: ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor]]'':'''

'''2014: ''[[Lego The Hobbit: The Video Game]]'':'''
:Sauron has two playable forms. The first is based on the Necromancer mini-figure from the "Dol Guldur Battle" LEGO set while the second is a fiery version of his playable form in the [[Lego The Lord of the Rings: The Video Game|first game]].

'''2015: ''[[Wikipedia:Lego Dimensions|Lego Dimensions]]'':'''
:Sauron (voiced by Steven Blum), appearing in mini-figure form, invades the DC Comics' dimension and takes over Metropolis with the aid of the Rift Keystone. Soon thereafter, Sauron uses the Rift Keystone to bring Barad-dûr across dimensions to stand atop Lexcorp tower. When Batman, Gandalf, and Wildstyle arrive in the city to retake the Keystone, Sauron engages the three in a battle atop a Doctor Who Dalek saucer. Eventually, he is defeated, being pulled through a rift by Lord Vortech, the primary antagonist. Sauron is turned into a cube and does not appear again.

'''2017: ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of War]]'':'''

'''2021: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War]]'':'''

===Others===
'''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 become frozen).

'''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>

==External links==
*[http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/sauronname.htm ''A Name for the Dark Lord''] by [[Helge Fauskanger]].

{{references|note}}

{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=evil
| house=[[Maiar|Maia]] of <s>[[Aulë]]</s> [[Morgoth|Melkor]]
| born = [[Creation of the Ainur]]
| died=[[25 March]], {{TA|3019}}
}}
{{seq
| pvac=Vacant
| prev=Last held by: '''[[Morgoth]]''', c. 1603 years earlier
| list=2nd [[Dark Lord]]
| dates=c. {{SA|1600}} - [[25 March]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=None
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=Ring created
| list=1st [[Ring-bearer]]
| dates=c. {{SA|1600}} – {{SA|3441|n}}
| next=[[Isildur]]
}}
{{seq-end}}

{{ainur}}
{{numenor}}
{{ringbearers}}
{{hobbitfilms}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Evil]]
[[Category:First Age characters]]
[[Category:Maiar]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]
[[Category:Rulers in Middle-earth]]
[[Category:Second Age characters]]
[[Category:Servants of Melkor]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]
[[Category:Quenya names]]
[[Category:Smiths]]
[[de:Sauron]]
[[fi:Sauron]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/ainur/maiar/sauron]]

Fëanor

2026-06-29T02:45:36Z

TeleriWhite1999!: Practicing editing and thought this was a great picture!

{{short description|Mightiest of the Children of Ilúvatar}}
{{infobox character
| people=[[Noldor|Noldo]]
| name=Fëanor
| image=Elena Kukanova - Feanor and his greatest creation.jpg
| caption="Fëanor and his greatest creation" by [[Elena Kukanova]]
| pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈfɛ.anɔr])}}
| othernames=''[[Curufinwë]]'' ([[Quenya|Q]], [[Father-name|fn]]) ''Fëanáro'' ([[Quenya|Q]], [[Amilessë|mn]])
| titles=[[King of the Noldor]] Son of the Þerindë Lord of the lights
| position=
| location=[[Tirion]], [[Formenos]]
| affiliation=[[Oath of Fëanor]]
| language=[[Quenya]], [[Valarin]]<ref>{{VT|39a}}, pp. 7-8</ref>
| birth={{YT|1169}}
| birthlocation=[[Tirion]]
| rule={{YT|1495}} – {{YT|1497|n}}
| death={{YT|1497}}
| deathlocation=Slopes of [[Ered Wethrin]]
| age=c. 3142<ref group="note">[[Years of the Sun]]. Each [[Years of the Trees|Year of the Trees]] is equal to 9.582 Years of the Sun, and the Years of the Trees ended in the [[Year of the Trees 1500|year 1500]].</ref>
| notablefor=Created the [[Silmarils]] and ''[[Palantíri]]'' Invented the [[Tengwar]]
| house=[[House of Finwë]], founded the [[House of Fëanor]]
| parentage=[[Finwë]] & [[Míriel]]
| siblings=[[Findis]], [[Fingolfin]], [[Írimë]], and [[Finarfin]] (half-siblings)
| spouse=[[Nerdanel]]
| children=[[Maedhros]], [[Maglor]], [[Celegorm]], [[Caranthir]], [[Curufin]], [[Amrod]], and [[Amras]]
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=Dark and long<ref>{{NM|P2iv}}, p. 186</ref>
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=Sword
| steed=
}}
<center>{{quote|For Fëanor was made the mightiest in all parts of body and mind: in valour, in endurance, in beauty, in understanding, in skill, in strength and subtlety alike: of all the Children of Ilúvatar, and a bright flame was in him.|''[[Quenta Silmarillion]]'', "[[Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor]]"}}</center>

'''Fëanor''' was the eldest and most beloved son of [[Finwë]] and succeeded him to the [[King of the Noldor|Kingship of the Noldor]].

Being the greatest of the [[Noldor]] — and indeed of all Elves — he had the greatest skill of word and hand, was a renowned craftsman, gem-smith, and warrior. His most famous deed was the creation of the [[Silmarils]], whose theft made him lead his people to the [[Exile of the Noldor|exile]]. As the leader of the rebellion, his passionate hatred of [[Morgoth]] and terrible [[Oath of Fëanor|oath]] led directly to the great triumphs and tragedies of the [[First Age]].

==History==
===Life in Tirion===
Born in {{YT|1169}},<ref>{{MR|P2k}}, p. 101, note 1</ref> Fëanor was the eldest son of [[Finwë]], the first [[King of the Noldor]], and his first wife [[Míriel|Míriel Þerindë]]. He had an unusually long gestation period,<ref>{{NM|P1iv}}, p. 36</ref> and drew so much of Míriel's life energy that after he was born she grew weary of living, and departed to [[Lórien in Valinor|Lórien]], where she voluntarily left her corporeal form and died. Following a [[Statute of Finwë and Míriel|judgment]] by the [[Valar]], Finwë was allowed to remarry and, with his second wife [[Indis]], had two more sons, Fëanor's half-brothers [[Fingolfin]] and [[Finarfin]],<ref name="Feanor">{{S|Feanor}}</ref> and two daughters, [[Findis]] and [[Írimë]].<ref name="Shibboleth" />
[[File:Ryszard Derdziński - Feanor.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Feanor, deviser of the Tengwar. Art by [[Ryszard Derdziński]]]]
Fëanor's skills began to blossom, and besides being a skilled smith, he was a linguist and [[Lambengolmor|Loremaster]].<ref name="WJ">{{WJ|Quendi}}, pp. 396-8</ref> In {{YT|1250|n}}, he devised the lettering system of [[Tengwar]], improving the work of [[Rúmil (elf of Tirion)|Rúmil]]. He created the ''[[palantíri]]'',<ref name="SIndex">{{S|Index}}, entry "Fëanor"</ref> and also wrought the [[Fëanorian lamps]] in this time.<ref>{{UT|Tuor}}, note 2</ref> He then turned his mind to the study of gems.<ref name="AAsec4">{{MR|P2j}}</ref>

While still in his youth, Fëanor wedded [[Nerdanel]], daughter of [[Mahtan]], a great craftsman,<ref name="Feanor" /> who bore him [[Sons of Fëanor|seven sons]]: [[Maedhros]], [[Maglor]], [[Celegorm]], [[Caranthir]], [[Curufin]], [[Amrod]], and [[Amras]].<ref>{{S|Princes}}</ref>

In {{YT|1400|n}},<ref name="AAsec4" /> [[Melkor]], the mightiest of the [[Valar]] and source of evil, deceived the [[Valar]] into thinking that he had repented of his evil ways. Pardoned and residing in [[Valinor]], he undertook to corrupt the [[Noldor]] and succeeded in making them instruments of his malice, particularly Fëanor. But Fëanor greatly mistrusted [[Melkor]], which was part of Melkor's plan.<ref name="Feanor" />

Inspired by a shadow of foreknowledge, he pondered how the [[light]] of the [[Two Trees]] might be preserved imperishable.<ref name="Silmarils">{{S|Unrest}}</ref> Many thought that this idea came first after seeing the [[Hair of Galadriel]], which was both golden and silver. He admired her hair so much that he requested a tress three times, but [[Galadriel]] refused each time and would not give him even a single strand.<ref>{{UT|6}}, p. 230</ref> Therefore, in {{YT|1449|n}}, Fëanor began, and by {{YT|1450|n}} he had succeeded<ref name="AAsec4" /> in the greatest of his achievements: capturing the light of the Two Trees to make the three [[Silmarils]], also called the Great Jewels. He prized the Silmarils above all else, and displayed them in feasts upon his brow. But later he grew increasingly suspicious that the Valar and other Eldar coveted them, until he jealously guarded them from all except his immediate family.<ref name="Silmarils" />

===Feud with Fingolfin===
[[Image:Antti Autio - The Threat of Feanor.jpg|thumb|left|''The Threat of Feanor'' by [[Antti Autio]]]]
[[Melkor]] greatly desired the [[Silmarils]] and his hatred for Fëanor grew, but the Valar still did not know of Melkor's true intentions. Melkor played upon Fëanor's temperament and pride to convince him that his own half-brother [[Fingolfin]] was not only planning to usurp his place as heir to [[Finwë]], but also seize the jewels for himself.<ref name="Silmarils" /> The Noldor then began forging weapons, which at that point no other [[Eldar]] possessed in [[Valinor]]. Fëanor's hostility grew to the point where, in {{YT|1490|n}},<ref name="AAsec4" /> he threatened Fingolfin's life. For this, the Valar exiled him to [[Formenos]]. He took a substantial treasure with him, including the [[Silmarils]], which he stowed in a locked box. In a show of support for his eldest son, Finwë withdrew to Formenos as well.<ref name="Silmarils" />

The [[Valar]] realized that Melkor was behind Fëanor's actions. They sent [[Tulkas]] to imprison him again, but he could not be found. Melkor was not seen for a long time until, in {{YT|1492|n}},<ref name="AAsec4" /> he unexpectedly showed up at [[Formenos]]. Melkor tried again to manipulate Fëanor, but he went too far, and Fëanor realized that Melkor's true goal was to obtain the Silmarils. He shut the door in Melkor's face and, in a rage, Melkor left. When the Valar heard of the incident, they resumed their hunt, but it was apparent that Melkor had fled from Valinor.<ref name="Silmarils" />

===Theft of the Silmarils===
In {{YT|1495|n}},<ref name="AAsec4" /> the Valar sought to reconcile Fëanor and [[Fingolfin]], and to mend the enmity between the Noldor and Valar, and invited them all to Valimar to make peace. Fingolfin offered a hand to his half-brother, recognizing Fëanor's place as the eldest, which he grudgingly accepted.
[[File:Lída Holubová - Feanor and his sons.jpg|thumb|''Feanor and his sons'' by [[:Category:Images by Lída Holubová|Lída Holubová]]]]
Meanwhile, after first feigning to go north, [[Melkor]] had stolen away to [[Avathar]] in the south of [[Aman]] to seek out the evil, spider-like creature [[Ungoliant]]. Even as Fëanor and Fingolfin were reconciled, Ungoliant helped Morgoth destroy the Two Trees, bringing darkness to [[Valinor]].<ref>{{S|Darkening}}</ref>

[[Yavanna]] examined the [[Two Trees]] and found them lifeless. The light of the Trees survived only in the [[Silmarils]] and she said that only by their power could she restore the Trees. [[Manwë]] then asked Fëanor to give them up for this purpose, but Fëanor emphatically declared that he would not give up his Silmarils of his own free will; if the Valar forced him, he said, they would be no better than Melkor. It was after this that messengers came telling of the raid at [[Formenos]].

According to the messengers, Melkor, surrounded by an impenetrable black fog, had come to Fëanor's vault in [[Formenos]]. [[Finwë]] fought and lost against Melkor, and was the first to be slain in Valinor. Melkor ransacked the vault, taking many valuable jewels, including the Silmarils. He and Ungoliant escaped by crossing the [[Helcaraxë]], or Grinding Ice, in the north to [[Beleriand]] in [[Middle-earth]].<ref name="Flight">{{S|Flight}}</ref>

===Kingship===
====Kin-slaying at Alqualondë====
[[File:Angel Falto - Feanor (The Oath).jpg|thumb|left|''Fëanor (The Oath)'' by [[:Category:Images by Angel Falto|Angel Falto]]]]

The Valar and Eldar now fully understood the extent of Melkor's treachery. Fëanor, upon learning of his father's murder and the theft of his prized Silmarils, named Melkor "''Morgoth''", or "Black Enemy". Following his father's death, Fëanor claimed the [[King of the Noldor|kingship of the Noldor]] and delivered an [[Speech of Fëanor|impassioned speech]], which he unwittingly filled with Morgoth's lies. He rallied the Noldor against the Dark Lord, but because of Morgoth's influence, he also blamed the Valar for Morgoth's deeds. He persuaded most of his people that because the Valar could not protect them, the Noldor must follow him to Middle-earth and fight the Dark Lord. Fëanor then swore the terrible [[Oath of Fëanor]] which all seven of his sons also proclaimed, vowing to fight anyone and everyone—whether Elf, Man, Maia, or Vala—who withheld the Silmarils, and invoking even [[Ilúvatar]] as a witness. This Oath led to much conflict and later caused great tragedy among his seven sons.

Seeking a way to get to Middle-earth, he went to the shores of Aman, where the seafaring [[Teleri]] lived, and demanded the use of their ships. When the Teleri refused to give or lend their vessels, Fëanor ordered the Noldor to take the ships by force. The Teleri resisted, and a battle broke out, in which many of the Teleri were slain, for they were armed with mere hunting bows, against the fully armed Noldor. Three times the Teleri were able to push back Fëanor until Fingon, leading the host of Fingolfin his father, joined the battle thus overwhelming the Teleri.

Due to this act, the Valar proclaimed the [[Doom of the Noldor]], in which they prophesied failure for all those who followed the House of Fëanor. Fëanor resolved to go on, and added a further prophetic statement that their deeds would live on in song until the ending of the world. However, those who repented came back with [[Finarfin]], [[Finwë]]'s third son. They were accepted by the Valar, and Finarfin ruled as King of the remaining Noldor in [[Valinor]].<ref name="Flight" />

====Exile to Middle-earth and death====
[[File:NOLANOS - La Quema de las Naves.jpg|thumb|''La Quema de las Naves'' by [[:Category:Images by NOLANOS|NOLANOS]]]]
As the year {{YT|1496|n}} wore on, Fëanor led the Noldor northward. By {{YT|1497|n}}, the host had reached the [[Helkaraxë]] and halted.<ref>{{MR|P2m}}</ref> There were not enough ships to carry all of the Noldor across the sea, so Fëanor and his sons seized the ships and departed. Upon arriving at [[Losgar]], the outlet of the Firth of Drengist in the land of [[Lammoth]], in the far west of [[Beleriand]], where Morgoth and Ungoliant had passed not long before, Fëanor decided to burn the ships and leave the followers of Fingolfin behind.<ref name="Flight" /> As [[Arda]] was flat in those days, the remaining Noldor saw the flames and perceived that, if they were to reach Middle-earth, they had no choice but to cross the Helcaraxë. This they did under the leadership of Fingolfin, and suffered heavy losses along the way, which greatly added to the animosity they had for the [[House of Fëanor]].<ref name="Flight" />
[[File:Jenny Dolfen - Death of Feanor.jpg|thumb|200px|left|''Death of Feanor'' by [[Jenny Dolfen]]]]
Learning of the Noldor's arrival, Morgoth summoned his armies from his fortress of [[Angband]] and attacked Fëanor's encampment in [[Mithrim]]. This battle was called the [[Dagor-nuin-Giliath]] ("Battle-under-Stars"), for the [[Sun]] and [[Moon]] had not yet been made. The Noldor managed to win the battle and disperse Morgoth's armies. Fëanor, still in a great rage, pressed on toward Angband with his sons. He came upon the confines of [[Dor Daedeloth]], but was ambushed by a force of [[Balrogs]], with few Elves about him. He fought mightily, hewing his foes, even after receiving several wounds, but was bested by [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]], Lord of Balrogs.

His sons came upon the Balrogs with a great force of Elves, and were able to drive them off. However, as Fëanor was being carried off the battlefield, he knew his wounds were fatal. He was brought to the slopes of the [[Ered Wethrin]] where he saw from afar the peaks of [[Thangorodrim]]. He cursed Morgoth thrice, but with the eyes of death, he knew that the Elves, unaided, would never throw down the dark towers. At the moment of his death the passing of his fiery spirit reduced his body to ashes. He was the only person to die this way, for no death like his was ever seen or heard.<ref name="S|Return">{{S|Return}}</ref>

His sons were still bound by the Oath to recover the Silmarils, which would determine many of the events of Middle-earth during the First Age.

Fëanor's spirit remained in the [[Halls of Mandos]].<ref name="S|Return">{{S|Return}}</ref> It is said that he will return for [[Dagor Dagorath]], and will finally reclaim his beloved Silmarils and break them so [[Yavanna]] can use their light to restore the Two Trees.<ref name="Last">{{WJ|Last}}, p. 247</ref>

==Works==
[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Fëanor heraldic device.jpg|right|120px|thumb|Fëanor's device by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]]]
*''[[Fëanorian lamps]]''
*''[[Heraldry|Heraldry of Fëanor]]''
*''[[Palantíri]]''
*''[[Silima]]''
**''[[Silmarils]]''
*''[[Tengwar]]''
**''[[Quanta Sarmë]]''

In later days, many devices were attributed to Fëanor, such as the ''[[ñaltalma]]r''. Despite this, however, they were also said to be far older.<ref>{{NM|P3xvi}}, pp. 353-4, note 9</ref>

==Etymology==
{{Pronounce|Feanor.mp3|Ardamir}}
''Fëanor'' is an unusual combination of [[Quenya]] and [[Sindarin]]: ''[[fëa]]'' ("spirit, soul") + ''[[naur]]'' ("fire").<ref name="Nar">{{S|Appendix}}, entries ''[[fëa]]'', ''[[Nár (Quenya)|nár]]''</ref> The name is actually a half [[Sindarized]] version of his Quenya mother-name ''Fëanáro''; the proper [[Sindarin]] form should have been '''''Faenor'''''.<ref name="Shibboleth" />

The name has changed since early versions of the [[legendarium]]. In the [[Parma Eldalamberon 11|Gnomish Lexicon]], written around [[1917]], ''Fëanor'' is given as the [[Qenya]] cognate of [[Gnomish]] ''Fionor'' ("Goblet Smith"), but is mentioned with no apparent connection to the later Noldoli character.<ref>{{LT1|Appendix}}, entry ''Fionwë-Úrion''</ref> However, [[Tolkien]] used ''Fëanor'' in the narrative of the [[Lost Tales]] for the character.<ref>{{LT1|Index}}, entry "Fëanor"</ref> In the [[Noldorin]] phase, ''Fëanor'' is the original name while ''Fëanáro'' is the Qenya cognate. Both meant "Radiant Sun", from [[Primitive Quendian]] ''Phayanâro''.<ref name="Etymologies">{{LR|Etymologies}}, entries "NAR1", "PHAY"</ref>

==Other names==
When Fëanor was born, he was first called '''''Minyon''''' ("First-begotten").<ref>{{MR|P2h}}, p. 87, note 3</ref> His [[father-name]] was at first the same as his father: ''Finwë'',<ref name="Shibboleth" /> or simply '''''Finwion''''' ("Son of Finwë").<ref>{{MR|P3II3a}}, p. 217</ref> But when he showed his abilities it was enlarged to '''''[[Curufinwë]]''''',<ref name="Shibboleth" /> by adding ''[[curu]]'' ("skill").<ref>{{S|Appendix}}, entry ''[[curu]]''</ref>

His [[Amilessë|mother-name]] was '''''Fëanáro''''', which translates as "Spirit of Fire",<ref name="Shibboleth">{{PM|Finwe}}</ref> being formed by adding ''[[fëa]]'' ("spirit") and ''[[Nár (Quenya)|nár]]'' ("flame").<ref name="Nar" /> Fëanor called himself the ''"Son of the Þerindë"''<ref>{{PM|Case}}</ref> after the shifting of “Þ" to "s".

In the days of the [[Exile of the Noldor|Flight of the Noldor]], Fëanor believed that the Silmarils had become symbols and instruments of his power, and thus bestowed upon himself the title of the "'''lord of the lights'''".<ref name="Concerning">[[Letter to Eileen Elgar (5 March 1964)]], ''[[Concerning ... 'The Hoard']]'', Last paragraph</ref>

==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | MHT | | MIR |y| FIN |y| IND | | | | | | | | | | | | |MHT=[[Mahtan]] ''b. {{YT}}''| MIR=[[Míriel]] ''d. {{YT|1170}}''|FIN=[[Finwë]] ''d. {{YT|1495}}''|IND=[[Indis]] ''b. {{YT}}''}}
{{familytree | |!| | | | | |!| | | |)|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| | | |}}
{{familytree | NRD |~|y|~| FEA | | FDS | | FNG | | IRM | | FRF | | |NRD=[[Nerdanel]] ''b. {{YT}}''|FEA='''FËANOR''' ''{{YT|1169}} - {{YT|1497|n}}''|FDS=[[Findis]] ''b. {{YT}}''|FNG=[[Fingolfin]] ''{{YT|1190}} - {{FA|456}}''|IRM=[[Írimë]] ''b. {{YT}}''|FRF=[[Finarfin]] ''b. {{YT|1230}}''}}
{{familytree | |,|-|-|^|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| |}}
{{familytree | MDH | | MAG | | CEL | | CAR | | CUR | | AMD | | AMR |MDH=[[Maedhros]] ''d. {{FA|587}}''|MAG=[[Maglor]] ''b. {{YT}}''|CEL=[[Celegorm]] ''d. {{FA|506}}''|CAR=[[Caranthir]] ''d. {{FA|506}}''|CUR=[[Curufin]] ''d. {{FA|506}}''|AMD=[[Amrod]] ''d. {{FA|538}}''|AMR=[[Amras]] ''d. {{FA|538}}''}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLB | | | | | | | | |CLB=[[Celebrimbor]] ''d. {{SA|1697}}''}}
{{familytree/end}}

==Other versions of the legendarium==
===Early legendarium===
The character of Fëanor first appears in the ''[[Book of Lost Tales]]'', in which Fëanor, one of the [[Noldoli]], gathers pearls and other jewels, and stores in them the light of the trees [[Laurelin]] and [[Telperion|Silpion]], creating the three Silmarils: gems that shine with their own light, and surpass all other jewels in beauty.<ref>{{LT1|V}}, pp. 128, 138</ref> When [[Morgoth|Melko]] begins to spread discontent among the Noldoli, Fëanor, along with [[Inwë]] and [[Ellu Melemno]], counsel [[Finwë|Nólemë]] that [[Manwë]] should be informed of Melko's doings. However, Melko also speaks to Manwë, telling him that the Noldoli are stirring against the [[Valar]], and when Nólemë's embassy arrives, Manwë is displeased with both parties, and sends Melko back to [[Mandos]], and orders that the Noldoli leave their home upon [[Kôr]] and dwell elsewhere, lest their discontent spread among the other kindreds. <ref name="Theft" />{{rp|140-143}}

The Noldoli relocate to the vale of [[Sirnúmen]] and remain there for a while, until the time of a great [[Samírien|feast]] held in [[Valimar|Valmar]], to which they fare along with the rest of the [[Eldar]]. During the feast, Melko and his accomplices travel to the emptied dwelling of the Noldoli and slay the guards they had left there, including Fëanor's father, [[Bruithwir]]. They plunder the treasury there, taking the most glorious gems, including the Silmarils. After this tragedy, the Noldoli are distraught, and Manwë grants them permission to return to their home at Kôr. However, some, Fëanor among them, choose to remain behind in [[Sirnúmen]]. There Fëanor broods, striving and failing to recreate the Silmarils, and sitting beside his father's tomb, his discontent growing until at last he fares to Kôr, speaking against the Valar and urging the Noldoli to leave Valinor.<ref name="Theft">{{LT1|VI}}</ref>{{rp|143-150}} Soon afterwards, following Melko and [[Gwerlum]]'s destruction of the [[Two Trees of Valinor|Two Trees]], Fëanor persuades his people to arm themselves, follow him and [[Flight of the Noldor|leave Valinor]].<ref name="VII">{{LT1|VII}}</ref>{{rp|162}}

There are key differences in this section of the story from later versions, but there are also similarities. For one, Bruithwir, rather than Finwë Nólemë, is Fëanor's father in ''Lost Tales''. However, the element of a close kinsman of Fëanor's being slain by Melko at their home in exile remains. Fëanor is still the creator of the Silmarils, and, angered at their loss and the loss of his father, still rallies his people to flee Valinor using the same rhetoric as in later versions.<ref>{{LT1|VIn}}, pp. 156-160</ref>

In the next portion of the tale, Fëanor leads the Noldoli into exile from Valinor. An inserted rider also describes him as initiating the [[First Kinslaying|Kinslaughter]] at [[Alqualondë|Kópas Alqalunten]] in a bid to steal the ships of the [[Solosimpi]]. The Noldoli suffered much loss at the crossing of the [[Helkaraksë]], and many blamed Fëanor bitterly for their plight. However, they at last succeeded in crossing into Middle-earth.<ref name="VII" /> Fëanor's sons are first mentioned later in the tale, as having hidden a store of crystals in Sirnúmen, which were later used by Aulë in the making of the [[Ship of the Moon]] after the departure of the Noldoli.<ref>{{LT1|VIII}}, p. 192</ref>

According to earlier outlines of ''The Book of Lost Tales'', the Noldoli spread out in the land of Hisilómë. Different outlines from around this time have different fates of Fëanor. In one, he is lost at the [[Lake Mithrim|Waters of Asgon]], sailing out to the [[Islanded Rock]] there in search of his jewels. In another, it is Nólemë that dies at [[Asgon]], and Fëanor, rather than his son (as in later versions, and the other outline), leads a host against Melko, and is captured and tormented. In later outlines, the Noldoli also reach [[Hisilómë]], and Fëanor drowns in the Waters of Mithrim. In this version, Maidros, son of Fëanor, is the one to lead a host against Melko and be captured.<ref>{{LT1|X}}</ref> While Fëanor's manner of death here is different from that in the published Silmarillion, it mirrors it in that he dies soon after leading the Noldoli out of [[Middle-earth]], and is survived by his sons and his people.

====Story of Wéland/Fëanor====
There exists a compilation of texts called the ''[[Early Runic Documents]]'', contemporary with ''The Book of Lost Tales'', one of which identifies Fëanor with the legendary Germanic smith called [[wikipedia:Wayland the Smith|Wayland]]. That story is placed during the wars of the Elves with [[Melko]].

In that text, Fëanor was captured by a man called [[Niðad]],<ref group="note">In the text as originally written, ''Niðad'' was a replacement for ''Melko'', and the ''Niaroth'' for ''Orcs''.</ref> King of the [[Niaroth]]. However, Fëanor killed Niðad's sons<ref group="note">In the original text, Fëanor killed Melko's "captain of orcs", instead of Niðad's sons.</ref> and managed to escape by crafting artificial wings for himself; he also made love to the king's daughter [[Beaduhilde]] and fled with her, but ultimately lost her in the woods.

Eventually Beaduhilde (who was now pregnant) forgave Fëanor, and in spite of her father's wrath at her pregnancy, she still managed to obtain Niðad's blessing upon her son.<ref>{{PE|15}}, "[[Early Runic Documents]]", ''ER1f: Sixth and seventh pages'', p. 97</ref> For more information, see [[Fëanor#Inspiration|Inspiration]].

==Portrayal in adaptations==
[[File:The Rings of Power (TV series) - Fëanor.png|thumb|240px|right|Statue of Fëanor in [[Ost-in-Edhil]] from ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]'': [[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power - Season 2|Season 2]]]]
'''2022: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]'', [[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power - Season 1|Season One]]:'''
:'''Episode 2: ''[[Adrift]]'':'''
::As [[Elrond]] enters [[Celebrimbor|Celebrimbor's]] workshop, Celebrimbor points out many artifacts he possesses, including Fëanor's hammer, the very device that Fëanor used to wrought the [[Silmarils]] themselves.

:'''Episode 8: ''[[Alloyed]]'':'''
::Upon attempting to forge a "crown" of power, Celebrimbor uses Fëanor's hammer over all of his other hammers.

{{references|notes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Feanor}}

{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
|race=noldor
|house=[[House of Finwë]]
|born={{YT|1169}}
|died={{YT|1497}}
}}
{{seq
|prev=[[Finwë]]
|list=2nd [[King of the Noldor]]
|dates={{YT|1495}} - {{YT|1496|n}} ''(disputed by [[Fingolfin]])''
|next=[[Finarfin]]
}}
{{seq
|pvac=None
|prev=Title established
|list=1st [[High King of the Noldor|King of the Noldor]] in exile
|dates={{YT|1496}} - {{YT|1497|n}} ''(disputed by [[Fingolfin]])''
|next=[[Fingolfin]] ''(disputed by [[Maedhros]])''
}}
{{seq-end}}
[[Category:Calaquendi]]
[[Category:Characters in The Book of Lost Tales]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:First Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Fëanor| ]]
[[Category:House of Finwë]]
[[Category:Noldor]]
[[Category:Noldorin names]]
[[Category:Qenya names]]
[[Category:Rulers in Aman]]
[[Category:Rulers in Beleriand]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Smiths]]
[[de:Feanor]]
[[fi:Fëanor]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/elfes/noldor/feanor]]