This article contains spoilers forThe Silmarillion.Sauron is the eponymous villain of J.R.R. Tolkien’s famousThe Lord of the Rings, but Sauron followed in Morgoth’s footsteps afterMorgoth was defeated. Morgoth was the original villain of Middle-earth, “the Prime sub-creative Rebel,” as described by Tolkien in a letter. Only Middle-earth’s God, Eru Ilúvatar, had the gift of creation - the Secret Fire. Morgoth was of the Ainur, Eru’s first-created species, and he lived in the Timeless Halls outside the Void with Eru and the other Ainur. Morgoth sought the Secret Fire in the Void, wishing to create when he could only subcreate. This foreshadowed his downfall.
Called Melkor at the time,Lord of the Rings’Morgothsang with the other Ainur in the Ainulindalë, a song led by Eru that visualized Arda and its future. Harboring rebellious sentiments, Morgoth’s input was discordant, troubling Arda’s course before it began. Eru sent the Secret Fire into the void, creating the universe - Eä - and explaining to the Ainur that it was their task to build what they had visualized. Despite being reprimanded by Eru during the Ainulindalë, Melkor was allowed to build Eä, but he continued to be wayward, fighting the Valar and losing a few times.
3Morgoth Fled Before Tulkas During The First War
Morgoth Hated Tulkas With A Vengeance
The 15 Valar inThe Lord of the Ringswere the most powerful Ainur, with the Maiar being the order below them, and they opposed and beat Morgoth in the First War. The First War occurred at Arda’s beginning, which was also roughly when Morgoth corrupted the Maia Sauron. Arda is the world ofLotR, contained in Eä. J.R.R. Tolkien’s posthumousThe Silmarilliondescribes how the ValarManwë, Aulë, and Ulmo built most of Arda while Morgoth fought them. Just as he sought the Secret Fire, Melkor sought control over Arda, clarifying his pride and desire for Godhood.
How The Valar & Maiar Are Different In The Lord Of The Rings Explained
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, the Valar and the Maiar have a mysterious presence and the difference between the two is often confused.
In his attempt to control or destroy what he couldn’t possess,Morgoth sabotaged much of the Valar’s work, pouring his cruel essence out into Arda as he reformed it. Of what remained of Arda Marred, none was as the Valar had intended. The Valar’s prime physical fighter,Tulkas, tipped the scales in this war and chased Morgoth into hiding. Tulkas had Morgoth’s hatred forever after. This is unfortunate for Morgoth because Tulkas is prophesied to defeat him again in the Dagor Dagorath - the final battle after which Arda will be remade, this time with no marring.
2Morgoth Was Chained By The Valar After The War Of The Powers
Morgoth Was Imprisoned And Then Released Under Supervision
Finally, the Elves awoke in Arda as the Ainulindalë foretold andthe Valar took on Morgoth once again, attempting to protect the Elves. All species on Middle-earth were either Eru’s creation, blessed by Eru with the Secret Fire, or corruptions of lifeforms already in existence.Eru Ilúvatar put Elves and Men into the Ainulindalë, while the Ainur input everything else. After the First War, while the Valar had been busying themselves making the continent of Aman lovely, Morgoth had been corrupting Elves into Orcs on Middle-earth. Eventually, the Valar intervened, resulting in the Battle of the Powers.
The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil,andThe Road Goes Ever Onare the onlyLotRbooks Tolkien published in his lifetime. Tolkien entrustedThe Silmarillion- his standalone book coveringLotRmyths - to his son to edit and publish posthumously. Tolkien’s son did this but agonized over what to include, so he followed upThe Silmarillionwith 12The History of Middle-earthbooks, compiled from the texts excluded fromThe Silmarillion.They explainedThe Silmarillion’sinconsistencies and dived further intoLotRlore.
Middle-earth’s North-west saw the majority of the fighting, located nearMorgoth’s northern Utumno stronghold. Morgoth’s favorite Vala,Tulkas, descended into the pits of Utumno and fought himin single combat with his bare hands, winning and chaining him. The chaining of Melkor has been illustrated by Roger Garland and Jacek Kopalski, inspired byThe Silmarillion’spowerful description of Morgoth’s second significant defeat. Morgoth was chained in Valinor for three long ages before he was released under supervision, but he didn’t waste time in turning the Elves against each other and the Valar, causing more war.
1Morgoth Lost To The Host Of Valinor In The War Of Wrath
Morgoth Was Defeated In The Last Battle Of The War Of The Jewels
Having destabilized the Elves, Morgoth stole their key asset,Fëanor’s powerful Silmarils, but he would lose the war that this caused. Fëanor’s Elves brutally followed Morgoth from Valinor to Middle-earth in war, letting nothing stand in their way. These bright jewels contained the only remaining light of the Two Trees, which Morgoth had destroyed with his giant spider accomplice, Ungoliant.The War of the Jewels was waged across many battles, including the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, the Battle of Unnumbered Tears - a decisive victory for Morgoth that devastated the Elves.
Morgoth hated the Elves ever since it became clear that the Valar would protect them at all costs…
Morgoth also won the Dagor Bragollach, while the Sack of Nargothrond and the Fall of Gondolin followed the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, caused by Morgoth’s wrath against the Elves. Morgoth hated the Elves ever since it became clear that the Valar would protect them at all costs, including dislodging him from any position of power he might attain inThe Lord of the Rings. This conflict ended with the War of Wrath, which was so cataclysmic it sunkthe realm of Beleriand. But Morgoth was beaten and thrust into the Void, guarded by Eärendil until his preordained return in the Dagor Dagorath.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a multimedia franchise consisting of several movies and a TV show released by Amazon titled The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The franchise is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book series that began in 1954 with The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings saw mainstream popularity with Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
