"A look into Middle-earth" PART I: The Order of Istari (The Five Guardians)

 

“'You are not the only Guardian to stand watch over Middle-earth.'” 

– Elrond, to Gandalf, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

HISTORY

The Elder Days

“The Valar send Five Guardians (great spirits of the Maiar) – with Melian (the only woman, but the chief) these make six. The others were Tarindor (later Saruman), Olórin (Gandalf), Hrávandil (Radagast), Palacendo, and Haimenar.“ - The Nature of Middle-earth

In the Elder Days, the Elves awakened in Middle-earth and were eventually discovered by Oromë. The Valar resolved to send Melian and then five other Maiar – Tarindor (Saruman), Olórin (Gandalf), Hrávandil (Radagast), Palacendo and Haimenar (the Blue Wizards) - under her command to Middle-earth to protect the Elves from the servants of Morgoth. At that time, the Lords of the West conferred on how to best ensure the safety of the Elves and finally moved against the First Enemy. Morgoth was defeated and taken prisoner by the Valar, whereas his chief agent, Sauron, evaded capture. Oromë then returned to the Elves and invited them to travel with him back to the Far West, the Undying Lands of Valinor. Those who accepted became known as the Eldar and those who remained were the Avari; the Five Guardians likely accompanied accompanied Oromë as he guided the Eldar on their Great Journey. 

“But of Olórin that tale [of the War of the Jewels] does not speak; for though he loved the Elves, he walked among them unseen, or in form as one of them, and they did not know whence came the fair visions or the promptings of wisdom that he put into their hearts.“ - The Silmarillion

“And wise was Olorin, counsellor of Irmo: secret enemy of the secret evils of Melkor, for his bright visions drove away the imaginations of darkness.“ - Morgoth's Ring

The Five Guardians' time in Middle-earth left Gandalf with much love for the Elves - he continued to walk among them, as a naked spirit or even in Elf-form, or appearing in their dreams. He played no active part in the War of the Jewels, but, according to one account, Gandalf was a helper of Irmo and his visions and counsels brought hope and comfort to those whose lives Morgoth was making as miserable as possible. 

The Second Age

“It is very reasonable to suppose that Manwë knew that before long (as he saw ‘time’) the Dominion of Men must begin, and the making of history would then be committed to them: for their struggle with evil special arrangements [i.e. the Order of Istari] had been made! Manwë knew of Sauron, of course.” - Morgoth's Ring

“Emissaries they were from Lords of the West, the Valar, who still took counsel for the governance of Middle-earth, and when the Shadow of Sauron began first to stir again took this means of resisting him. For with the consent of Eru they sent members of their own high order, but clad in bodies of as of Men, real and not feigned, but subject to the fears and pains and weariness of Earth, able to hunger and thirst and be slain; though because of their noble spirits they did not die, and aged only by the cares and labours of many long years.” – Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth

The overthrow of Morgoth in the Great Battle at the end of the Elder Days was the last direct action of Manwë (and the rest of the Valar) against the Enemies. In time, the Dominion of Men would begin and the shaping of Middle-earth be left to them. The Valar were aware, however, of the re-emergence of evil: Sauron had escaped his master's overthrow and arose as Morgoth's successor in the Second Age. The Valar's confrontations with Morgoth in the past had taken their toll and ruined much of Middle-earth: the Lords of the West would not take actions into their own hands again. Instead, the Valar asked the consent of Eru (the One) and chose the same five Maiar who had defended the Elves to go back to Middle-earth as the Order of Istari.  As emissaries of the Powers, the duty of these Five Wizards (as they became known) was to stand watch over Middle-earth and, in time, to rally all Free Peoples of the World against the Dark Lord.

“In the likeness of Men they appeared, old but vigorous, and they changed little with the years, and aged but slowly, though great cares lay on them; great wisdom they had, and many powers of mind and hand. Long they journeyed far and wide among Elves and Men, and held converse also with beasts and with birds; and the peoples of Middle-earth gave to them many names, for their true names they did not reveal.“ - Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth

“For it is said indeed that being embodied the Istari had needs to learn much anew by slow experience, and though they knew whence they came the memory of the Blessed Realm was to them a vision from afar off, for which (so long as they remained true to their mission) they yearned exceedingly. Thus by enduring of free will the pangs of exile and the deceits of Sauron they might redress the evils of that time.“ - Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth

Their true names, the Five Wizards did not reveal, nor did they take on majestic forms: instead they  came humbly in the guise of wise elderly Men, though they did not age. Still, they had to learn much from the beginning, being confronted with the experience, needs and sensations of physical bodies - this, coupled with their leave from the Undyings Lands of Valinor whose memory they yearned for (as long as they stayed faithful to their appointed task), was the voluntary sacrifice of the Istari in the hopes that their presence in Middle-earth could do some good and lessen the Shadow of Sauron. Although they were peers of Sauron, the Istari were of lesser rank and might and stood no chance of engaging him in direct combat. Not to mention: the Valar would not allow it: one cannot counter fire with fire. The Five Wizards had  been forbidden from abusing their power, that is imitating the Dark Lord by seeking dominion over the Free Peoples: they were supposed to help them, not to command them. 

“But none of these chances were impossible to be; for, strange indeed though this may seem, the Istari, being clad in bodies of Middle-earth, might even as Men and Elves fall away from their purposes and do evil, forgetting the good in the search for power to effect it.“  – Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth

Indeed, being embodied as Incarnates, these Five Wizards were, like Men and Elves, susceptible to temptations and impatience to realize their works. In pursuit of the power needed achieve noble ends, the lust for said power could become the end in itself. The Valar’s  interdictions had been placed so as to dissuade the Istari from following Sauron’s path; the Dark Lord had not been evil from the beginning, once he had considered the well-being of the inhabitants of Middle-earth. But in the end, Sauron’s passion for order became only a twisted justification for his tyrannical rule over the World.

“The [Blue Wizards] came much earlier, at the same time probably as Glorfindel, when matters became very dangerous in the Second Age.”– The Peoples of Middle-earth

“I think they went as emissaries to distant regions, East and South, far out of Númenórean range: missionaries to ‘Enemy-occupied' lands, as it were.” – The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter 211

The Chief of the Order of Istari was Saruman the White, with Gandalf the Grey ranking as second and Radagast the Brown as third. But it was the last two, the Blue Wizards, that came first just when the Enemy was beginning to move. Not much is known of these two Istari in the West of Middle-earth, and they had no names among the peoples there. That is because their mission took them far eastwards and southwards into Rhûn and Harad, where Sauron’s dominion was slowly expanding.

“[Sauron]’s gathering of armies had not been unopposed, and his success much less than his hope. But this is a matter spoken of in notes on ‘The Five Wizards’. He had powerful enemies behind his back, the East, and in the southern lands to which he had not yet given sufficient thoughts.” – The Nature of Middle-earth

Back in the Elder Days, many Men in the East had fallen under the Shadow of the Enemy and still worshipped the darkness. Since Sauron was gathering into his service all those his master had corrupted of old, it seems these two Istari had been charged with helping those Easterlings and Haradrim who had renounced evil, or were willing to. The Blue Wizards stirred rebellion amongst the Dark Lord’s subjects, frustrating and delaying his gathering of forces. Had things gone the Enemy’s way, the Easterlings and Southrons would all have been enslaved and would have outnumbered the Free Peoples. What became of the Blue Wizards is unknown: the earliest accounts claim that they likely failed, having been either slain or ensnared by the Dark Lord and become his servants (a fate that befell one of their kind in the Third Age); others claim that, although they stayed faithful to their appointed task, they ultimately failed; the last accounts suggest that these two Istari stayed faithful to their appointed task up until the early Third Age: they kept  Rhûn in a state of disarray and, following the first downfall of Sauron, they sought to discover whether Sauron had truly been vanquished or was in hiding somewhere in the East. Whatever happened to them, the legacy of these two Istari outlasted the overthrow of Sauron: in their time among Men, they had established magic cults and traditions which passed down from one generation after another. 

The Third Age

“When maybe a thousand years [of the Third Age] had passed, and the first Shadow had fallen on Greenwood the Great, the Istari or Wizards appeared in Middle-earth. It was afterwards said that they came out of the Far West and were messengers sent to contest the power of Sauron, and to unite all those who had the will to resist him; but they were forbidden to match his power with power, or to seek to dominate Elves or Men by force and fear.” – The Lord of the Rings: Appendices

Though the Dark Lord seemed overthrown in the War of the Last Alliance, the Lords of the West feared his potential re-emergence: the One Ring, in which he had poured much of his strength and malice had endured. Therefore, the Valar sent the other three Istari to aid and rally the Free Peoples should Sauron take shape again. Saruman was the first to arrive, landing at the Grey Havens, where he was greeted by the havens’ lord, Círdan; Gandalf came afterwards, probably with Radagast as his companion. Some accounts and not few at that, however, claim that Gandalf was the last to come. 

“It is written that of the Five Istari, or Wizards, to come to Middle-earth, [Gandalf] was the last but, as Círdan perceived immediately, perhaps the greatest. For this reason, Círdan gave to him Narya, his Elven-ring of Fire, for he saw Gandalf would have need of it in the trials ahead. Sauron had used fire and flame to terrify, torture and destroy; with Narya, Gandalf would kindle the fire in Men’s hearts, and provide a beacon to which all the Free Peoples could rally.” - The Lord of the Rings: Weapons and Warfare

It is said that when Gandalf landed at the Grey Havens, Círdan with his foresight guessed in him the greatest of the Istari and that a mighty destiny awaited him. The Elf-lord even gave the Grey Pilgrim Narya, the Elven-ring of Fire, to support him in his efforts and defend him from weariness. Saruman got wind of this and begrudged Gandalf for the gift he had received; this would be the beginning of their sour relationship.

“If [Sauron] thought about the Istari, especially Saruman and Gandalf, he imagined them as emissaries from the Valar, seeking to establish their lost power again and 'colonize' Middle-earth, as a mere effort of defeated imperialists (without knowledge or sanction of Eru). His cynicism, which (sincerely) regarded the motives of Manwë as precisely the same as his own, seemed fully justified in Saruman. Gandalf he did not understand. But certainly he had already become evil, and therefore stupid, enough to imagine that his different behaviour was due simply to weaker intelligence and lack of firm masterful purpose. He was only [in Sauron's view] a rather cleverer Radagast - cleverer, because it is more profitable (more productive of power) to become absorbed in the study of people than of animals.” 

- Morgoth’s Ring

Thinking Manwë’s reasons to be no better than his own, Sauron dismissed the Istari's presence as an ill-conceived power-play by the Valar. Saruman, proud and already over mindful of his position as the first and greatest of the Istari, seemed to justify his belief. But Sauron’s most grievous mistake was underestimating Gandalf, whose lack of ambition he mistook for weaker intelligence. But it was this Grey Pilgrim that rose as the Dark Lord’s nemesis, hindering his plans time and time again. Gandalf sought neither praise nor reverence: his sole desire was to help all those that Sauron, if he returned, would seek to dominate or corrupt. Even their respective mastery of fire made them opposites: Sauron was the hungry flame that devoured and lay waste to all, whereas Gandalf was a beacon of light to all those in need. 

“But at length the Shadow returned and its power increased; and in that time was first made the Council of the Wise that is called the White Council, and therein were Elrond and Galadriel and Círdan, and other lords of the Eldar, and with them were Mithrandir and Curunír.” - The Lord of the Rings: Appendices

Around the time a darkness and sickness began festering in Mirkwood, Gandalf and Saruman joined the greatest Elf-lords (i.e. Galadriel, Elrond and Círdan) in forming the White Council. Together they conferred on how to face the possibility of their ancient Enemy’s return. Now, Saruman was chosen be the leader of the White Council for he had the most understanding of Sauron. Though Galadriel had wished Gandalf to fill the role of chief of the Wise, Gandalf, however, had declined. He preferred to carry out his appointed task in his own way, as the Grey Pilgrim wandering Middle-earth, bound not to earthly matters and subject to no summons - his only ties were to the Valar who had him sent in the first place. He was much loved by Men and by Elves, and he himself was especially fond of the peaceful Hobbits of the Shire, whom he often visited. 

“Saruman soon became jealous of Gandalf, and this rivalry turned at last to a hatred, the deeper for being concealed, and the more bitter in that Saruman knew in his heart that the Grey Wanderer had the greater strength, and the greater influence upon the dwellers in Middle-earth, even though he hid his power and desired neither fear nor reverence. Saruman did not revere him, but he grew to fear him, being ever uncertain how much Gandalf perceived of his inner mind, troubled more by his silences than by his words. So it was that openly he treated Gandalf with less respect than did others of the Wise, and was ever ready to gainsay him or to make little of his counsels; while secretly he noted and pondered all that he said, setting a watch, so far as he was able, upon all his movements.” - Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth

“Too long [Saruman] studied the ways of his Enemy, believing that in better understanding Sauron’s nature he might discern a means of victory.” - WETA Workshop Collectibles

Saruman's dislike of Gandalf intensified, for he saw how beloved Gandalf was by Free Folk - the White Wizard came to loathe the Grey Pilgrim as his rival: ever was Saruman ready to gainsay Gandalf and to belittle him in front of their peers in the White Council. Suspicious of the Grey Pilgrim, the White Wizard also secretly set a watch, as far as he was able, on all his movements. Saruman's mistrust was not reserved for Gandalf solely: he was certain that all others in the Council had private schemes for self-enhancement. The Wizard devoted much of his time to researching the lore of Middle-earth, especially the works of the Enemy, believing that he might find therein a means to victory. Instead, his opposition towards Sauron was replaced by admiration and he became enamored of power, and dark thoughts of his own mastery took root. He grew more concerned with the idea of ruling rather than counselling the Free Peoples, and bringing order and doing with the World as he willed. In the end, Saruman was brought low by his pride and gride, as he followed in Sauron's footsteps.

“'The Dragon Sauron might use with terrible effect. Often I said to myself: ‘I must find some means of dealing with Smaug. But a direct stroke against Dol Guldur is needed still more. We must disturb Sauron's plans. I must make the Council see that.'”- Gandalf, Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth

“'Your own ideas are those of a king, Thorin Oakenshield; but your kingdom is gone. If it is to be restored, which I doubt, it must be from small beginnings. Far away here, I wonder if you fully realize the strength of a great Dragon. But that is not all: there is a Shadow growing fast in the world far more terrible. They will help one another.' And they certainly would have done so, if I had not attacked Dol Guldur at the same time. 'Open war would be quite useless; and anyway it is impossible for you to arrange it. You will have to try something simpler and yet bolder, indeed something desperate.'” - Gandalf, to Thorin, Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth

Soon enough, Gandalf began to see the signs of Sauron’s return: the Nazgûl came out of the shadows, the Orcs of the Misty Mountains and the Dragons were harassing the Dwarves and the Men of Darkness were invading the territories of Rohan and Gondor. Troubled by word of a ‘Necromancer’ living in the ruins of Dol Guldur, Gandalf feared that mysterious presence was none other than Sauron in another guise. If his suspicions were true, then the North of Middle-earth was in danger: the Dúnedain there had been reduced to a folk of rangers, the Dwarves of Erebor had been driven out by Smaug and the Dwarves of the Iron Hills would not be much of an obstacle to Sauron’s hordes. Smaug especially troubled Gandalf. If the Dragon sided with the Enemy, he could be used to terrible effect, leading armies in laying waste to Rivendell, Lothlórien, the Shire and even Gondor. Seeking to prevent Sauron from gaining Smaug’s allegiance, Gandalf urged Thorin to reclaim gold and homeland. Gandalf himself joined Thorin’s Company on the quest of Erebor, while also taking on the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins to share in their adventure.  The Grey Pilgrim was thus able to force the Enemy to show his hand early. Gandalf’s efforts led to the slaying of Smaug, Sauron losing his northern legions in the Battle of the Five Armies, Erebor finally restored and Sauron himself (finally confirmed to be the ‘Necromancer’)  driven out of Dol Guldur alongside the Nazgûl by the White Council. 

“'You don’t really suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck? Magic rings should not be used lightly, Bilbo. Don’t take me for a fool. I know you found one in the Goblin tunnels. And I’ve kept my eye on you ever since.” - Gandalf, to Bilbo Baggins, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

“'My doubts were awakened again to sudden fear. Whence came the Hobbit's Ring? What, if my fear was true, should be done with it? Those things I must decide. But I spoke yet of my dread to none, knowing the peril of an untimely whisper, if it went astray. In all the long wars with the Dark Tower treason has ever been our greatest foe.'” - Gandalf, to Bilbo Baggins, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (novel)

What Gandalf had not foreseen, however, was Bilbo Baggins’ finding of a small golden ring in the gloom of Gollum's cave. At first, the Grey Pilgrim thought it to be one of the many lesser magic rings that the Elves had wrought in the Second Age and certainly not one of the Rings of Power forged with the help of the Dark Lord. Gandalf kept a closer eye on Bilbo ever since, even revealing that he knew the Hobbit's ring had more often than not been the source of his luck through the perilous quest of Erebor. Aware that the Enemy would strike hard against Men, Gandalf sought to restore the Heir of Isildur, Aragorn, upon his rightful throne in Gondor – a symbol of defiance and unity against Sauron. At this time, Gandalf began having doubts as to the origin of Bilbo's magic ring: what if it was none other than Sauron's One Ring? His fears were eventually confirmed. 

“'I would weave a plan for a great war, yet count upon others as agents of our fate. It was the destiny of Aragorn, heir to the throne [of Gondor], to lead this war. I foresaw warriors of every race fighting as companions alongside him. Together we would spring a great trap, before the walls of Minas Tirith. But in truth our war is but a diversion, for to destroy Sauron utterly, the Ring must be taken to Mount Doom. And for this, our fate would lie in the hands of two small Hobbits.'” - Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)

During the War of the Ring, Gandalf was the chief mover of the resistance against Sauron. He helped direct and personally involved himself in the defense of the Free-lands of Rohan and Gondor from the chief agents of Sauron, brandishing the Elven-sword Glamdring -which he had acquired from a Troll-hoard during the quest of Erebor. But this feint of opposition against the Enemy was a diversion: the Grey Pilgrim was well aware that to cast the Dark Lord down utterly, the One Ring needed to be destroyed in the fires whence it came in Mount Doom. So secretly, Gandalf organized the Fellowship of the Ring at Rivendell with the help of Elrond and Aragorn and set two young Hobbits from the Shire, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee, on a perilous journey to Mordor. Thanks to the foresight and careful planning of the Grey Pilgrim, the War of the Ring ended in the final overthrow of the Dark Lord - like Morgoth before him, Sauron was banished to the Void, from where there could be no return.

“'The Third Age was my Age. I was the Enemy of Sauron; and my work is finished. I shall go soon.'” 

- Gandalf, to Aragorn, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (novel)

As the Enemy of Sauron, Gandalf had finally accomplished his task. The Dominion of Men, which the Valar had long expected, was ready to begin and Gandalf felt the call to Valinor. After crowning Aragorn the King of Gondor and bidding his Hobbit friends farewell, Gandalf left Middle-earth on the last of Círdan's ships and sailed back home into the blissful Far West. 

“'Perhaps you've heard of my colleague Radagast the Brown. He resides in the southern borders of Mirkwood.'” - Gandalf, to Beorn, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

In many of his endeavors, Gandalf was aided by Radagast, his most trusted friend and colleague; as had been said already, some accounts even claim Radagast had been Gandalf's assigned companion. Saruman, for his part, despised him. Although the Brown Wizard had largely neglected Men and Elves in favor of the wild things of nature, he still opposed the Enemy and was firmly loyal to the Grey Pilgrim. Residing in a tree-house in Rhosgobel, Radagast often acted as Gandalf’s messenger to their many allies among bird and beast, such as the Eagles. The Eagles’ intervention at the Battle of the Five Armies was owed to Radagast, who had been tasked to enlist their and Beorn's aid. It is likely that the Eagles' next intervention at the Battle of the Black Gate, when the Free Peoples were at need, was also the Brown Wizard's doing. Having played a smaller, but still valuable part, in the downfall of Sauron, as the helper of Gandalf, it is possible that Radagast too eventually returned to his home in the Far West; otherwise, his love for nature might have determined him to remain in Middle-earth.

“'But evil grows strong in the Tower of Orthanc, for one of my kind now serves the Enemy. Saruman the White has embraced madness, and rages against this land. He covets greater power than you can imagine.'” - Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age

“Saruman fell under the domination of Sauron and desired his victory, or no longer opposed it.” - Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth 

Whereas Saruman fell from his high errand, wanting to have his own will by force and to follow in Sauron’s footsteps, as the ruler of Middle-earth. He made his seat of power in the Tower of Orthanc at Isengard and, over the years, sought clues to the One Ring’s whereabouts, hoping he would be the first to find it and perhaps wield its power for himself. Lured with promises of power, he was soon ensnared by the Dark Lord and became one of his greatest servants. Having already betrayed the Free Peoples, the White Wizard now plotted to usurp his new master’s place as Lord of the Rings and Middle-earth. If that gamble failed and Sauron was victorious, Saruman thought that his fawning and his usefulness would see him counted among Sauron’s good servants. He fancied that he would be the Dark Lord’s right-hand, his lieutenant in the West of Middle-earth that would rule in his name; in truth, he was merely a puppet, whose strings were being pulled by his dark master. Sauron saw through Saruman's feigned allegiance and would likely have cast him aside once he had subjugated all the Free Peoples of the Dark Lord.

“'Yes, we will have peace,’ [Théoden] said now in a clear voice, ’we will have peace, when you and all your works have perished - and the works of your dark master to whom you would deliver us.'” - Théoden, to Saruman, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (novel)

“'Your servants are destroyed and scattered; your neighbours you have made your enemies; and you have cheated your new master, or tried to do so.'” - Gandalf, to Saruman, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (novel)

During the War of the Ring, Saruman was counted among the aforementioned chief agents of Sauron alongside the Nazgûl. Sauron had commanded Saruman to build him an army to conquer Rohan with. Saruman did as instructed, drawing his friends and servants from among the enemies of Rohan and Gondor (wicked Men like Gríma and the Dunlendings, Orcs of the Misty Mountains and other evil creatures) and breeding his own Uruk-hai. But, hoping to seize the Ring first and claim it for himself, the White Wizard also attacked the Fellowship of the Ring. Failing in this, his position became dangerously isolated: he was a traitor to the Free Peoples and he now appeared a rebel to his new master as well. Desperate to claim lordship over Rohan and appease Sauron, Saruman promised he would deliver the Rohirrim to him: he then unleashed his army to destroy Théoden and his people at Helm's Deep. In the end, he was defeated and was backstabbed by his own oppressed footman, Gríma. For his defection to the service of the Dark Lord, which had cost many lives, Saruman's naked spirit was then banished from Middle-earth and barred from ever returning - condemned to a fate not unlike that of Sauron, his fallen master. 

MEMBERS

Note: See "A look into Middle-earth" Part III: SERVANTS OF SAURON: Saruman the White

“Saruman was able to exert much control over Men’s minds, especially through his voice, and was greatly skilled with his hands, earning him the name Curunír, meaning ‘Man of Skill’. Saruman’s vast knowledge of Ring-lore and his researches into the works of Sauron led him to believe that he could use the One Ring to be the ruler of Middle-earth, and he went to Orthanc in TA 2579 specifically to locate and use its Palantír to search for it. But in doing so he was soon ensnared by Sauron and became little more than the Dark Lord’s puppet, acting out his will.” – The Lord of the Rings: Weapons and Warfare

“Pride blinded him to his own weakness, and Sauron, through lies and sheer force of will, made the White Wizard his vassal; an instrument to be wielded and ultimately discarded in his design to subjugate all Free Peoples of the World.” - WETA Workshop Collectibles

“And the vale [of Isengard] that was once fair was filled with wolves and Orcs, for Saruman was mustering there a great force for the service of his new master.” - The Treason of Isengard

“In his arrogance he believed himself capable of usurping Sauron’s place. Even as he did his new master’s bidding, the corrupted Wizard plotted a second betrayal.”  - WETA Workshop Collectibles

“Warm and eager was his spirit (and it was enhanced by the Ring Narya), for he was the Enemy of Sauron, opposing the fire that devours and wastes with the fire that kindles, and succours in wanhope and distress; but his joy, and his swift wrath, were veiled in garments grey as ash, so that only those that knew him well glimpsed the flame that was within. Merry he could be, and kindly to the young and simple, and yet quick at times to sharp speech and the rebuking of folly; but he was not proud, and sought neither power nor praise, and thus far and wide he was beloved among all those that were not themselves proud. Mostly he journeyed unwearyingly on foot, leaning on a staff; and so he was called among Men of the North Gandalf, ‘the Elf of the Wand’. For they deemed him (though in error, as has been said) to be of Elven-kind, since he would at times work wonders among them, loving especially the beauty of fire; and yet such marvels he wrought mostly for mirth and delight, and desired not that any should hold him in awe or take his counsels out of fear. Elsewhere it is told how it was that when Sauron rose again, he also arose and partly revealed his power, and becoming the chief mover of the resistance to Sauron was at last victorious, and brought all by vigilance and labour to that end which the Valar under the One that is above them had designed. Yet it is said that in the ending of the task for which he came he suffered greatly, and was slain, and being sent back from death for a brief while was clothed then in white, and became a radiant flame (yet veiled still save in great need).” – Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth

“Well, I think he is a very great Wizard... in his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals for others. He keeps a watchful eye over the vast forest lands to the East, and a good thing too. For always evil will look to find a foothold in this World.” - Gandalf, to Bilbo Baggins, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

“Probably Gandalf and Radagast came together, though this has not yet been said.” – The Peoples of Middle-earth

“Eschewing grand halls or battlements there was one among the Istari who instead sought the solace of the wilderness, preferring the company of wild creatures to that of kings. To those who might not peer more closely, Radagast the Brown is a gentle hermit, soft in character and mind, often fumbling or fretful, with tattered robes and mismatched footwear, his raiment home to a bewildering menagerie of miniature beasts and fungi. This façade is an illusion so complete even the Wizard himself is sometimes fooled, but in truth great power resides within him, as it does in each of the Five Istari, and he is ever watchful for the return of the Enemy against whom he was sent from the West centuries ago.” 

– WETA Workshop Collectibles

“Thus he got his name (which is in the tongue of Númenor of old, and signifies, it is said, “Tender of Beasts").” – Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth

“But the other two Istari were sent for a different purpose. Morinehtar and Rómestámo. ‘Darkness-slayer’ and ‘East-helper’. Their task was to circumvent Sauron: to bring help to the few tribes of Men that had rebelled from Melkor-worship, to stir up rebellion… and after his first fall to search out his hiding (in which they failed) and to cause [?dissension and disarray] among the dark East. They must have had very great influence on the history of the Second Age and Third Age in weakening and disarraying the forces of the East... who both in the Second Age and Third Age otherwise have... outnumbered the West.” - The Peoples of Middle-earth

“What success they had I do not know; but I fear that they failed, as Saruman did, though doubtless in different ways; and I suspect they were founders or beginners of secret cults and 'magic’ traditions that outlasted the fall of Sauron.” - The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter 211

“Of the Blue little was known in the West, and they had no names save Ithryn Luin 'the Blue Wizards'; for they passed into the East with Curunír, but they never returned, and whether they remained in the East, pursuing there the purposes for which they were sent; or perished; or as some hold were ensnared by Sauron and became his servants, is not now known.” – Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth

“They were never seen or known in the lands West of Mordor.” - The Peoples of Middle-earth

“The other two [Wizards] are only known to have existed by Saruman, Gandalf, and Radagast, and Saruman in his wrath mentioning five was letting out a piece of private information.” - The Peoples of Middle-earth

ETYMOLOGY OF ISTAR

“Wizard is a translation of Quenya Istar (Sindarin Ithron): one of the members of an 'order' (as they call it), claiming to possess, and exhibiting, eminent knowledge of the history and nature of the World. The translation (through suitable in its relation to 'wise' and other ancient words of knowing, similar to that of Istar in Quenya) is not perhaps happy, since Heren Istarion or 'Order of Wizards' was quite distinct from “wizards” and “magicians” of later legend; they belonged solely to the Third Age and then departed, and none save maybe Elrond, Círdan and Galadriel discovered of what kind they were or whence they came.“ – Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth

INDEX OF POSSIBLY UNFAMILIAR  NAMES 

Characters

• Oromë – one of the Valar, hunter of evil beasts. He discovered the Elves and escorted those who heeded the Valar's summons to the Far West.
• Melian - one of the Maiar, chief of the Guardians of the early Elves and later Queen of Doriath, an Elven realm of the Elder Days. Through her daughter, Lúthien, her descendants include both Elrond and Elros’ bloodlines.
• Irmo - one of the Valar, master of dreams, visions and desires. 
• Morgoth=Melkor – the rebel Vala, the First Enemy back in the Elder Days. 
• Glorfindel - an Elven-lord and warrior from Gondolin, a hidden Elven city of the Elder Days. He died valiantly in battle with a Balrog, but was sent back by the Valar as an emissary to aid against Sauron in the Second Age. 
• Círdan – the Elven-lord and shipwright of the Grey Havens, the seaports to the Far West. He was the original keeper of Narya, one of the Three Rings of Power given to the Elves, which he would later entrust to Gandalf. 
• Manwë – the King of the Valar, vice-regent of Eru in the World. The Eagles are his messengers . 
• Eru=Ilúvatar=The One – the creator of the Universe. One of his rare direct interventions was Gandalf’s resurrection.

Places 

• Rhûn – far eastern lands of Middle-earth, home to the Easterlings, Men serving Morgoth and his heir, Sauron.
• Harad – far southern lands of Middle-earth, home to the Haradrim (Southrons), Men serving Sauron.
• The Far West=Aman – the continent beyond the Great  Sea; therein lie the Undying Lands of Valinor, the Blessed Realm of the Valar and Maiar, as well as the home of those Elves who did not return to Middle-earth and were known as the Vanyar.
• The Dark Tower=The Tower of Barad-dûr - the fortress of Sauron, found near Mount Doom in Mordor. 
• Rhosgobel – a part of southern Mirkwood (called Greenwood before Sauron made his abode in Dol Guldur), where Radagast  lived.
• The Void – the nothingness beyond the walls of the World. Morgoth was cast into it by the Valar following his defeat in the Great Battle and Sauron was banished here after his overthrow in the War of the Ring. 

Peoples

• Valar – angelic beings granted regency of the World by Eru. Often called ‘the Powers’, 'the Authorities' or ‘the Lords of the West’. They are the highest order of the race called Ainur. Chief among them were the Eight known as the Aratar. 
• Maiar – angelic beings that act as the Valar’s helpers and belong to the same Ainu race.
• Eldar - the Elves who accepted to live with the Valar and Maiar in the Far West. There were three kindreds: the Ñoldor, the Teleri and the Vanyar.
• Men of Darkness=wicked Men – Men fallen under the domination of Morgoth, Sauron or their servants, such as Saruman and the Nazgûl. These include: Easterlings, Variags, Haradrim, Black Númenóreans, Corsairs of Umbar, Men of Rhudaur and Dunlendings.
• Dúnedain - Men from Númenor, as well as their descendants: the Men of Arnor and Gondor. They were the descendants of the Edain, Men who had fought alongside the Eldar against Morgoth back in the Elder Days. They were bitter enemies of Sauron in later ages, although some renegade - the so-called Black Númenóreans - were corrupted by him and were compelled into his service.

Languages

• Quenya and Sindarin - Elvish tongues

Ages

• The Elder Days (includes the First Age=FA)– the primeval times that lasted until the ousting of Morgoth in the Great Battle. 
• The Second Age=SA – the times between the banishment of Morgoth in the Great Battle and the first downfall of Sauron in the War of the Last Alliance.
• The Third Age=TA – the times between the first great defeat of Sauron in the War of the Last Alliance and his final overthrow in the War of the Ring. 

Conflicts

• The War of the Jewels - the war waged by the High Elves against Morgoth following his theft of the Great Jewels, the Silmarils.
• The Great Battle=War of Wrath - the final battle of the War of the Jewels in which the the Valar sent the Host of the West to cast down Morgoth.
• The War of the Last Alliance - the waged by the Last Alliance of Men and Elves led by Elendil and Gil-galad against Sauron.
• The Battle of the Five Armies - the battle waged after the death of Smaug for possession of the Lonely Mountain of Erebor and its treasure hoard. The five armies were the: Dwarves of Erebor and the Iron Hills, the Men of Lake-town, the Elves of Mirkwood, the Eagles and the Orcs of the Misty Mountains. 
• The War of the Ring - the war waged by the Free Peoples against Sauron following the rediscovery of the One Ring.

Artefacts

• Narya - the Ring of Fire, one of the Three Rings of Power given to the Elves. It was worn initially by Círdan who eventually gave it to Gandalf in hopes it would aid him in his task.

SOURCES

Books

• The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
• The Treason of Isengard
• Morgoth's Ring
• The Peoples of Middle-earth
• The Nature of Middle-earth
• Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth
• The Silmarillion
• The Lord of the Rings

Adaptations

• The Hobbit motion picture trilogy
• The Lord of the Rings motion picture trilogy
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age
• The Lord of the Rings: Weapons and Warfare
• WETA Workshop collectibles

ARTISTS

• Angel Falto
• mairon666
• Giuliano Brocani
• Shishkina
• Gus Hunter
• Jerry Vanderstelt
• Alecaballero
• Ruiz Burgos
• Yingjia Huang
• Kimberly
• Leah Mangue

Note: if you find any artists not mentioned here, please write in the comments so I can add them as well