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Sauron, also known as Mairon, was the most powerful of the [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valar) servants of Melkor. He was a [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maiar) spirit in the shape of a humanoid, or one of the [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ainur). He was the chief lieutenant of Morgoth (Melkor) and the most trusted.

His name *Sauron* is Quenya, and *Mairon* is also Quenya. However, in [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sindarin) he was known as *Gorthaur*. Other names known in [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westron) include *Annatar* (“Lord of Gifts”) and *Zigûr*.

He had the power to take on many forms, but generally did not do so. He could be a huge [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant) of a man, or could be a being of [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire) with a crown of [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron). He was a [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shape-shifting).

In the earlier works of Tolkien, Sauron was often considered a [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necromancer). Some even say that he was the reason for [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch-king_of_Angmar) being such a [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wraith). Sauron could influence the minds of others, even the great ones, with his power, and this, combined with his powers of [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deception) and [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption), made him a powerful foe.

He appears in *The Silmarillion* as a lieutenant of Melkor. In the [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Age) he tricked the [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elves) of [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eregion) into forging the [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rings_of_Power) but secretly forged the [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Ring) in the [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Doom). This was done in Mordor.

He then waged war on the elves and the men of [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numenor). He was defeated by a coalition of elves and men, but his spirit survived. He then returned to [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordor) and gathered his forces to fight against the free people of [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth) in the [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Ring).

Eventually, Sauron was defeated when the One Ring was destroyed by [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frodo_Baggins) in the fires of [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Doom). His spirit was thus dispersed and he was unable to take any physical form again.