The Fantasy Review’s brief history of Sauron.
Sauron is the main villain of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien and the Dark Lord of that saga. After Melkor’s final defeat, Sauron set about his conquest of Middle-earth. This is the brief history of Sauron.
Sauron had many names over the course of his long life. Sauron itself comes from the Quenya Thauron, meaning abominable, but his Sindarin name was Gorthaur the Cruel. He was also known as:
- Sauron the Deceiver
- the Lord of the Earth (SA)
- the Enemy
- the Master / the Black Master
- the Dark Power
- the Dark Lord
- the Lord of Mordor / the Dark Lord of Mordor
- the Power of the Black Land
- the Black One
- The Lord of Barad-dûr
- the Lord of the Dark Tower
- the Shadow
These names go on, including the Great Eye, the Red Eye, the Eye of Barad-dûr, the Lidless Eye, the Nameless Eye, and the Evil Eye. These names refer to Sauron during the Third Age when he frequently appeared as an ever-searching Eye.
Gollum knew Sauron as the Black Hand, and during the events of the War of the Ring, Sauron was called the Lord of the Ring, and the Ring-maker.
Origins of Sauron
Sauron was originally one of the Ainur, and was one of the Maiar of Aulë. He was one of the most powerful Maiar and had a love of order and hatred of chaos. Apprenticed to Aulë, Sauron (then known as Mairon), learned much about crafting. Curumo was another of the Maiar of Aulë, known to most readers as Saruman.
However, Mairon, with his love of planning and order, was seduced by Melkor/Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, and became his most devoted servant.
Sauron, as Mairon, worked as a spy on the isle of Almaren for Melkor. It was at this time Melkor destroyed the Two Lamps and Almaren, forcing the Valar to move to Aman. Sauron, unknown as a spy, joined the Valar on their journey.
Melkor now dominated Middle-earth, so Marion joined his master and became the First Dark Lord’s most trusted servant. This is when the Sindar of Beleriand started calling Marion Gorthaur and others called him Sauron.
Sauron was later made commander of Morgoth’s fortress of Angband.
Sauron in the First Age
Sauron directed the War during Melkor’s attempt to corrupt Men soon after their awakening. He took Minas Tirith on Tol Sirion in 457, filling it with werewolves. He later captured Gorlim and secured Dorthonion.
In 466, Sauron captured Finrod and Beren. He killed Finrod after a Wizard’s duel, but Beren was saved by Lúthien and Huan. Sauron took the form of a dreadful werewolf and went out to battle Huan, but he was subdued. After his defeat, Sauron escaped in the form of a vampire to Taur-nu-Fuin, where he stayed for the rest of the First Age.
Once Morgoth was defeated and Thangorodrim destroyed, Sauron shifted into a fair form and repented his evil. He was ordered to return to Valinor for Manwë’s judgement, but he refused, deciding instead to flee to Middle-earth and hide.
The Rise of the Second Dark Lord
In the Second Age, Sauron rose to power in Middle-earth, setting up his base in Mordor and crafting the One Ring to control the bearers of the other Rings of Power. Around 1000 SA, Sauron established a stronghold in Mordor and began building Barad-dûr.
He deceived the Elves, Dwarves, and Men, presenting himself as Annatar, the Lord of Gifts. This is arguably the most impactful part of the history of Sauron. Disguised as Annatar, he convinced Celebrimbor and the Elven-smiths of Eregion (Gwaith-i-Mírdain) to forge the Rings of Power.
Sauron’s plan was partially thwarted when the Elves sensed his betrayal and hid their rings from him, refusing to use them.He therefore resorted to force, and in 1693 began the War of the Elves and Sauron (ending in 1700). During the war, Eregion was destroyed, however Sauron’s army was eventually defeated by Gil-galad and his army, plus a fleet of Númenóreans sent by Tar-Minastir.
From 1700 to 3262, Sauron only gained power, calling himself King of Men and converting populations to the worship of Melkor. However, in 3262, Ar-Pharazôn, King of Númenor, landed in Umbar and captured Sauron, taking him back to Númenor.
Over the course of fifty years, Sauron manipulated the Númenóreans into worshipping Melkor and hating the Valar. He convinced Ar-Pharazôn to seize the immortality forbidden from the Númenóreans by sailing to the Undying Lands.
However, the Valar reacted by calling on Eru Ilúvatar who destroyed Númenor. Sauron was caught in the destruction, but his spirit survived. Most Númenóreans died, except some of the Faithful, such as Elendil.
The War of the Last Alliance
In his anger, Sauron returned to Mordor, gathered an army, and marched on Gondor in 3429. He took Minas Ithil and destroyed the White Tree.
In 3434, Sauron was defeated by the Last Alliance of Elves and Men in the Battle of Dagorlad, and later besieged in the Barad-dûr. It was there, in 3441, on the slopes of Orodruin, Sauron was defeated by the armies of Gil-galad and Elendil, however both Kings were killed by Sauron.
It was Isildur who cut the One Ring from Sauron’s hand and ended the war.
The Return of Sauron in the Third Age
Initially as the Necromancer in the fortress of Dol Guldur in TA 1000, Sauron began regaining power. He was more cautious at this time, with the location of the One Ring, which formed the base of his power, unknown to him.
In 1300, he started to attack the Free Peoples of Middle-earth. First he sent the Lord of the Nazgûl to the North, founding Angmar. Sauron then allied himself with the Haradrim and Easterlings and set them against Gondor, who guarded Mordor from Sauron’s return.
In 1636, the Great Plague (which may have been sent by Sauron) weakened Gondor, allowing the Nazgûl to retake Mordor and prepare it for Sauron. The Nazgûl then took Minas Ithil in 2002, obtaining the Palantir Sauron would later use to manipulate Saruman and trick Denethor II.
Gandalf went to Dol Guldur in 2063 to discover who the Necromancer was, but Sauron fled and did not return until 2460. In 2941 Sauron was driven out of Dol Guldur by the White Council, so he returned to Mordor, openly proclaimed himself, rebuilt the Barad-dûr, and prepared for war.
The End of Sauron
Despite not having the One Ring in his possession, its mere existence gave Sauron enough power to destroy Gondor and crush the West. Gandalf and Elrond realised this and saw the only option was to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom.
They brought together their allies in Rivendell and the Fellowship of the Ring was formed, with the task of protecting the Ring-bearer, Frodo Baggins, on his journey to destroy the One Ring. Upon the completion of this task, Sauron was completely defeated. Without the One Ring, which contained so much of himself, he no longer had enough power to take shape again, which marks the end of the history of Sauron.
