Sauron is the main antagonist of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. This powerful dark lord is a multifaceted threat that threatens the heroes at every turn. 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 Sauron.
#8 The Creation of the Dwarves is the First Step in Sauron's Fall (Canon)
In the Lord of the Rings universe, the Dwarves are created by Aulë, a Valar (a god or archangel, depending on your interpretation of the lore). Aulë, though acting out of love for creation, defied the god of gods of this lore, Eru Ilúvatar, by single-handedly creating an entire new population. However, Aulë acknowledges his mistakes and is forgiven. Among Aulë's close associates and "servants" are Maiar like Sauron and Saruman, before they were embodied in flesh, blood, and magical power in Middle-earth. However, Sauron and Saruman are clearly more vulnerable to corruption.
When Morgoth betrays Eru Ilúvatar by settling in Middle-earth with the desire to dominate it, he draws inspiration from the errors of Aulë. Unable to create life like Aulë, Morgoth transforms and distorts existing life forms to conform them to his image and tastes, making them more or less docile servants. Then, Sauron, formerly a Maiar of Morgoth, follows his master in the quest for evil (to put it simply). Later, after the fall of his master, Sauron pursues the path of evil and seeks a way to manipulate the creations of the gods through his Rings of Power. This parallel between Aulë, Morgoth, and then Sauron highlights a central theme in Tolkien: the temptation of power and how even the noblest creations can be perverted.
#7 There are Maiar more powerful than Sauron, but there is debate (canon)
Sauron, the Dark Lord, is without a doubt one of the most formidable Maiar in Tolkien's universe. His power, ambitions, and ability to manipulate people make him an iconic antagonist. However, there is an interesting debate regarding whether Sauron is truly the most powerful of the Maiar. Although Sauron achieved exceptional power through his corruption and his heritage from Morgoth, some Maiar surpass him in strength or wisdom. For example, Olórin, known as Gandalf, is considered the wisest of the Maiar, and his ability to inspire the free peoples of Middle-earth to resist Sauron's shadow demonstrates a subtle but immensely powerful power. Other Maiar, such as Melian, have also demonstrated impressive powers. extremely powerful protection. However, Sauron's true strength lies in his lack of moral boundaries and his unwavering focus on his goals of domination. He has been able to harness his knowledge and power to manipulate and crush his enemies, unlike other Maiar who, like Gandalf, prefer to lead rather than dominate. However, on a more down-to-earth level, it should be remembered that Tolkien himself believes Gandalf can defeat Sauron. On the other hand, the Ring can "overcome the will" of Gandalf the White (as explained in detail here).
#6 Sauron is immune to this effect of the One Ring (canon)
The One Ring, forged by Sauron, is at the heart of The Lord of the Rings Although the Ring is presented as an object that makes its wearer invisible, it actually transports the wearer into a parallel world, between the living and the ghosts. This phenomenon explains the gray and white vision produced by the Ring. The Nazgûl, for example, are corrupted and live in this parallel world. However, Sauron, creator of the Ring, does not become invisible. This is due to his divinity-like nature (Ainu), which already places him beyond the physical world. While the other wielders are transported to the Unseen World, Sauron remains visible, as his true form belongs to this other world. Unlike the other wielders, he is already bound to this unseen world, which explains his insensitivity to this effect.
#5 Here's why Sauron didn't ally himself with the Balrogs (canon)
Although powerful, the Balrogs did not join Sauron in his quest for domination over Middle-earth, for several reasons. First, Sauron and the Balrogs are both Maiar, primordial spirits of similar rank. As a result, and quite logically, it is extremely complex for Sauron to subjugate entities as powerful as himself to his cause. Even Saruman, who was also a Maia, is not truly subservient to Sauron (as explained in detail here). Indeed, unlike weaker servants like Orcs or Trolls, the Balrogs were autonomous and indomitable forces.
Furthermore, the history of the Balrogs shows that these creatures, although they served Morgoth, were far from mere slaves. The epic battle between Gandalf and the Balrog in the Mines of Moria illustrates the difficulty Sauron would have had in the event of a revolt by such overpowered creatures. Moreover, for Sauron, who was trying to conserve his strength while waiting to find his ring, engaging in even a single fight with a Balrog would have been a waste of precious resources. Finally, most of the Balrogs were destroyed at the end of the First Age during the defeat of Morgoth. Those who survived hid in the depths of Middle-earth, far from Sauron's eyes.
#4 The duel between Sauron and Celebrimbor continued long after the creation of the Rings (extended universe)
The Shadow of saga offers a new adventure in Tolkien's universe, exploring, among other things, a little-known rivalry between Sauron and Celebrimbor. The story follows Talion, a human possessed by the spirit of the Elf who forged the Rings of Power after being tricked by Sauron (to put it simply). The first game, Shadow of Mordor, revisits Sauron's brutal murder of Celebrimbor and his subsequent transformation into a wraith driven by a desire for revenge. But it is with Shadow of War that their confrontation takes on a whole new dimension.
In this sequel, in his spectral form, Celebrimbor forges a new Ring of Power capable of rivaling Sauron. However, after a disagreement with his host Talion, he ends up possessing the body of Eltariel, an elven assassin, and prepares to confront the Dark Lord. During their final battle, Celebrimbor attempts to enslave Sauron with his Ring, but the latter, although diminished, turns the situation to his advantage. He cuts off Eltariel's finger and absorbs Celebrimbor's soul, a fusion that condemns him to become the Flaming Eye of Barad-dûr. In this form, the two adversaries oppose each other in a perpetual mental battle that will last until the destruction of the One Ring.
#3 Sauron was destroyed by a Kraken and transformed into a cube (Expanded Universe)
In The LEGO Batman Movie, the Dark Lord, represented in his Flaming Eye form, joins the troop of villains assembled by the Joker to wreak havoc in Gotham. Thanks to his powers of vision, he proves to be a formidable adversary for Batman and his allies. Yet, against all odds, he is annihilated when a projectile fired from the Kraken's mouth pulverizes him, thus ending his threat in a manner as absurd as his presence in this universe. But the irony doesn't stop there for Sauron.
Indeed,in the video game LEGO Dimensions, he returns, invades Metropolis and attempts to enslave the world of DC Comics with the help of Lex Luthor. He even engages in a spectacular battle against Batman, Gandalf and Cool-Tag (the heroine of the films) on a Dalek ship from Doctor Who (yes, it's nonsense). However, he is eventually defeated when Lord Vortech (the game's big bad) sucks him into a dimensional rift. His fate then takes a much less epic turn: Sauron is transformed into a simple cube, disappearing into oblivion, once again a victim of the offbeat scenarios of the LEGO universe. in the novels of J.R.R. Tolkien. The author, although lavish in detailed descriptions of Middle-earth, left his appearance somewhat vague. While his influence and presence are undeniable, he is never described in detail. However, Tolkien himself once made a drawing of Sauron, a fascinating and little-known depiction. This drawing, quite different from the cinematic interpretations, shows us a menacing shadow with clawed fingers, an indistinct, almost spectral body, topped with imposing flaming red eyes.
Sauron's face is devoid of distinctive features, reinforcing his evil and inhuman aura. On his head stands a dark crown or a series of circular horns. This drawing illustrates a crucial moment: the "final" destruction of Sauron. Tolkien describes him in a striking passage from the novel: "a shadow crowned with lightning rising over Mordor, throwing out a helpless hand before being swept away by a great wind." This moment when Sauron disappears forever takes on an even more striking dimension through this drawing made by the author himself.
#1 Sauron could return, but there is debate (canon and fan theory)
In Tolkien's universe, although Sauron seems irretrievably destroyed after the loss of the One Ring, a debate persists on his possible return, notably through the prophecy of the Battle of Dagor Dagorath. This apocalyptic battle, which heralds the end of Middle-earth, sees the return of Morgoth, the primordial enemy, who could potentially resurrect Sauron to aid him in this final confrontation. However, the question of Sauron's resurrection is complex. Since part of his life essence resided in the Ring, its destruction mutilated his power to the point of making his reincarnation extremely unlikely.
Gandalf himself suggests that after several billion years such a resurrection would be possible, but Sauron's spirit would then be reduced to a form of powerless malice. Even if a resurrection were possible, only higher powers, such as those of the Middle-earth god, Eru Ilúvatar, could potentially restore his original form and power. So, while Sauron may not be completely erased, his return to full power remains highly uncertain.
And if you want to discover more about Sauron's universe, we offer you 9 facts you didn't know about Sauron or 8 facts you didn't know about the Mouth of Sauron.
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