Radagast the Brown is one of the five wizards in the Lord of the Rings universe. He is a valuable ally of Gandalf and a protector of nature. From his place in Tolkien's writings to his role in Peter Jackson's films and the Expanded Universe, here are eight facts you (maybe) don't know about Radagast.
#8 It's unclear how Radagast arrived in Middle-earth (canon)
Like other wizards, Radagast the Brown was, before that, a different being, a Maia. These entities were "immaterial" creatures before taking on a physical form upon their arrival in Middle-earth. Before their arrival, the Maiar therefore had no particular form. They were spirits capable of taking on various physical appearances, and it was in human form that they chose to manifest themselves to interact with the free peoples of Middle-earth. This human appearance obviously allowed them to not appear too intimidating and to blend better into the mortal world.
However, the question of how these magicians, including Radagast, actually reached this land remains unclear. Tolkien briefly mentions that they arrived "from beyond the sea," recalling that they previously roamed the Undying Lands, but the details of their journey remain unknown. It is likely that they traveled by boat, as Gandalf and the other characters do when they set off for the Undying Lands at the end of the story. However, it is difficult to imagine the point of traveling by any vehicle for an intangible being. The lack of details could also stem from the fact that their mission had to be discreet so as not to alert the forces of evil too quickly. Note that the series The Rings of Power offers a version where they arrive on Earth like shooting stars crashing in various places, a solution far from unanimous among fans.
#7 Radagast cannot help the forest as much as he would like (canon)
Radagast the Brown, like the other Istari, was sent to Middle-earth with a mission: to help the free peoples fight against Sauron. Dedicated to flora and fauna, he focuses primarily on the creatures of Middle-earth, far from the conflicts that shake this world. Unlike Gandalf, who actively uses his powers to protect the free peoples, Radagast, living as a hermit and away from the turmoil, can only watch helplessly as the forces of evil wreak havoc.
One might wonder why a wizard like Radagast, endowed with great magical potential, does not use his magic to repel the corruption of the forests or save creatures corrupted by evil, such as the black squirrels (which we mentioned here).
The answer lies in the limits imposed on magicians. The Valar (demigods or archangels, depending on how Tolkien's writings are interpreted) have given the Istari strict instructions: they may not use their power to alter the natural order or become directly involved in the affairs of men and other creatures. Their role is therefore limited to offering advice and moral support to free peoples. Radagast's peaceful nature and love of animals, while commendable, do not allow him to help as much as he would like.
#6 What if Radagast had faced the Balrog (fan theory)
In The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf confronts and defeats the Balrog in the mines of Moria, demonstrating the extent of his power. But if Radagast the Brown had been in his place, would the outcome have been the same? After all, like Gandalf and the Balrog, Radagast was once a Maia named Aiwendil. Sent to Middle-earth to counter Sauron, like Gandalf and Saruman, his spirit quickly wandered in his incarnate form. He then chose to live as a hermit, devoting himself mainly to nature and animals, far from conflict. Less combat-minded than his peers, Radagast was often despised by Saruman, while Gandalf considered him a wizard worthy of respect. Had he had to face the As a Balrog, his chances of victory would likely have been slim. However, as a Maia, he possessed genuine inner strength and enigmatic powers that are rarely explored. In Peter Jackson's films, he successfully repels a Nazgûl blade and participates in the Battle of the Five Armies on a giant eagle. In the absence of precise information, we can imagine that, without necessarily winning, Radagast could have briefly resisted the Balrog thanks to his magic.
#5 Radagast faced a disciple of Morgoth (expanded universe)
Since the adventures experienced by Radagast were not extensively documented in Tolkien's writings, the expanded universe was able to imagine them more freely. Thus, in The Lord of the Rings Online, the Brown Wizard experiences epic quests that finally give him the opportunity to use his magic. During a long segment dedicated to the mysterious ruins of Ost Guruth, located in the desolate region of the Lone Lands, Radagast discovers a strange abandoned tower. The place turns out to be an ancient place, still carrying wisdom despite its cracked stones. Unfortunately, around Ost Guruth, darkness is gaining ground. Radagast will continue the sacred mission entrusted to him by the Valar.
Spectres lurk, sinister emanations of an ancient evil seeking to awaken again, threatening a human people living in the surrounding area: the Eglain. Radagast then stands alone against the malevolent spirits. Armed with his powers and artifacts found in the tower, he delves into the haunted valley of Agamaur. There, he confronts Yvar Bloody Hand, a Gaunt Man, a creature fashioned by Morgoth and made more powerful by the imminent return of Sauron. Thanks to his magic and the indirect help of the Eglain, he manages to repel the spectral assault, temporarily sealing the evil in the mists.
#4 Here's where Radagast was during Frodo's Quest (canon)
During Frodo's Quest and the War of the Ring, Radagast the Brown remains largely absent from major events. Unlike Gandalf, he was not a fighter, nor a strategist. More solitary, he preferred the company of animals to that of heroes. Although barely mentioned in the books and completely ignored in the Lord of the Rings films, Radagast was not inactive. Before Saruman betrayed him, he had asked his winged allies – notably the Giant Eagles – to spy on Sauron's movements. In the book, it was thanks to this initiative that Gandalf was saved from the tower of Orthanc (as we explained in detail here). Radagast was therefore working behind the scenes, in his own way, far from the tumult of battle. True to nature, he likely remained in his forests throughout the quest, playing a discreet but real role in the fight against the darkness.
#3 Radagast confronted Tom Bombadil's sister-in-law (Expanded Universe)
During Radagast's quests in The Lord of the Rings Online, the wizard must face an ancient and tormented entity: Naruhel, the Red Sister. Once called the Lady of the Fountain, she was a river lady, sister of Goldberry, the wife of Tom Bombadil. But where Goldberry embodies the gentleness and light of the rivers, Naruhel was corrupted by war, pain, and bloodshed in the region of Agamaur. When the kingdoms of Angmar and Rhudaur descended into war against the human kingdom of Arthedain, Naruhel's sanctuary was defiled. Mad with rage, abandoned by her own people, she became a vengeful creature, enveloping the swamps in a blood-red mist.
Radagast, guided by the Valar, enters the fortress of Garth Agarwen, where he confronts Naruhel. The magician then attempts to both defeat and save her. When the Red Sister finally falls into the still waters of her spring, Radagast pours a vial of pure water into it, offered by Goldberry herself. Thus, a fragment of the true Naruhel seems to return to the surface. The evil is repelled—but not destroyed. Radagast's fight becomes a small glimmer of hope in a swamp choked with Sauron's corruption.
#2 It is unclear what happened to Radagast after Sauron's fall (canon)
Although he failed to fully fulfill his mission, Radagast never ceased to act on his heart. However, unlike Gandalf, he played no direct role in the war against the Dark Lord. A nature-loving Istar, Radagast turned away from his divine mission to devote himself to the protection of animals and forests. In fact, after Sauron's defeat, Radagast the Brown's fate remains unclear. Tolkien doesn't specify his fate, and Peter Jackson's films haven't filled that void either. However, it is reasonable to assume that Radagast remained in Middle-earth, in his domain (which we discussed in detail here), working to restore it after the ravages caused by Sauron. True to the being of flesh and blood that he had become, he could thus have continued to watch over free creatures, far from the intrigues of the powerful.
#1 Did Radagast really fail in his mission? (fan theory)
In our previous article on Radagast, we expressed the idea that Radagast, like most wizards except Gandalf, had failed in the mission entrusted to him by the Valar. But is it really that simple? Certainly, he never stood up against Sauron with Gandalf's determination, preferring peaceful woods to bloody battles. However, wasn't his love of nature and living creatures an act of resistance in itself? He warned Gandalf of the Nazgûl, put his birds to the service of surveillance, and indirectly enabled his liberation from Orthanc.
If he was manipulated by Saruman, this shows his candor more than his betrayal. Tolkien himself admits that he did not fulfill his mission, but also recognizes that he was less guilty than Saruman. Perhaps Radagast didn't fail: he simply chose another path, more discreet, but no less faithful to the spirit of the Valar. Either way, the result remains the same: Radagast will not return to the Undying Lands and will continue to live (forever?) in the forests of Middle-earth.
And if you want to know more about Tolkien's world of wizards, you can also discover our files on Gandalf the Grey, Gandalf the White, Radagast the First part andSaruman.
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