Morgoth

Morgoth Bauglir (Morgoth means "The Dark Enemy", Bauglir is "The Constrainer"), originally named Melkor ("He Who Arises in Might"), is a fictional character of Middle-earth, created by J. R. R. Tolkien. At the creation of Tolkien's world, he was the most powerful of the Ainur (angelic beings). He contended with Eru (the creator) in the Music of the Ainur, increasingly attempting to alter the music to his own design, but only ended up perverting its harmony. Melkor was incarnated into Middle-earth as the first to bear the title the Dark Lord and is the principal antagonist in the book The Silmarillion. As a fallen "angelic" being, he is largely based on Christian teachings about Satan (Satan is a seraph, the most powerful servants of God, and the Ainur also are the most powerful servants of Eru). Morgoth drew about him an army of Balrogs and other assorted demons, who were Maiar whom he managed to trick or corrupt, and made war on Middle-earth and the Children of Ilúvatar, but was defeated by the Valar and was overthrown. He was first taken away in chains, and later cast out of the circles of Arda after being weakened by dispersing his essence into the fabric of the world, marring it permenantly.

History

Even before Arda was created Melkor was jealous of his creator, and he wanted to be king of other wills himself. He spent a long time looking for the Secret Fire, either unaware or uncomprehending that this was a quality exclusive to Eru and his servants through him. During his search, which took him far away from Eru and his brethren, his thoughts gradually became less and less in harmony with their own, and this was the beginning of his downfall. During the Music of the Ainur Melkor directly competed with Eru's theme, and managed to draw many lesser Ainur to him. Melkor's competition with the themes of Eru only enriched the creation; however, when Ulmo thought of water Melkor tried to destroy it with immense heat and then immense cold, only achieving clouds and ice. When Eru revealed the results of their song to the Ainur (the material world, called Arda), Melkor was one of the first to enter it, mainly from this desire.

Related Topics:
Arda - Wills - Secret Fire - Ulmo - Cloud - Ice - Ainur

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Melkor fought with the other Valar for a long time for the control of Arda. While he was the single most powerful Vala, he was not able to stand up to the might of all other Valar combined. However, these were busy ordering the new world, creating the mountains, the sky, the earth, the waters, and were desperate to create order among Melkor's chaos — so the fight was not even.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Melkor was held at bay by the aid of Tulkas, who arrived late in Arda only to fight him, and the Valar ordered Arda to their pleasing. Melkor was only biding his time, however, so when the Valar finally rested, he and his followers (downfallen Ainur) attacked and destroyed the Two Lamps (precursors to the Two Trees and the Sun and Moon). In the process, Arda was plunged into darkness, and Almaren, the home of the Valar, was destroyed.

Related Topics:
Tulkas - Two Lamps - Two Trees - Sun - Moon - Almaren

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Valar then retired to Valinor in the West, and Melkor held dominion over Beleriand from his fortress of Utumno in the North. Melkor at this time began diluting himself all throughout Arda: he managed to taint all matter with his essence, in essence marring all of the world. However, this weakened him so that he became in essence far less powerful. Melkor's reign ended after Eru awoke the Elves in the East of Beleriand, and the Valar resolved to rescue them from him. They made immediate and devastating war on him, and he was brought to Valinor in chains to serve a term in the Halls of Mandos for three Ages. During this war much of the north of Beleriand was destroyed. Unknown to the Valar, Melkor had already begun capturing Elves, turning them into Orcs — a process which continued during his capture under his servant Sauron.

Related Topics:
Valinor - Beleriand - Utumno - Elves - Halls of Mandos - Ages - Orcs - Sauron

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It was after this sentence was ended, and he used his newfound freedom to corrupt the Ñoldor (a people of the Elves who had relocated to Valinor) and steal the Silmarils, that Fëanor of the Ñoldor first named him the Morgoth, "The Dark Enemy of the World". With the aid of Ungoliant he also managed to kill Finwë, Fëanor's father and High king of the Ñoldor, destroy the Two Trees, and bring darkness to Valinor, before he fled.

Related Topics:
Ñoldor - Silmaril - Fëanor - Ungoliant - Finwë - Two Trees

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Back in Beleriand, he took up his reign in the North again, this time in Angband, which had not been destroyed as thoroughly by the Valar as Utumno had. This time however, there were Elves and after a time also Men and Dwarves who resisted him, so he was not the sole ruler of Beleriand. Melkor had also become weakened because of his dilution throughout Arda, and as Morgoth, although by far overpowering the might of Elves, Men, and Dwarves combined, he could no longer achieve the deeds of which he had once been capable.

Related Topics:
Angband - Men - Dwarves

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, after building his strength (mainly enforced through his Orcs, which by now outnumbered the Ñoldor and Sindar), he soon dispatched his enemies, one by one, through violence or treachery, until only isolated pockets of resistance remained (such as the strongholds of the Dwarves in the Blue Mountains, and minor refuges at the Mouths of Sirion and the Isle of Balar). His mastery was again complete.

Related Topics:
Sindar - Blue Mountains - Mouths of Sirion - Isle of Balar

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

But it was not to last. Eärendil, descended from Elves, Maiar, and Men, managed to plead with the Valar until they agreed to send an army to vanquish Morgoth. This time, the Valar themselves did not go, in fear of destroying even more of Middle-earth in a devastating war, but many of the Maiar went, and most of the Calaquendi (Elves living in Valinor) ferried over into Middle-earth by the ships of the Teleri (a people of the Elves akin to the Sindar).

Related Topics:
Eärendil - Maiar - Calaquendi - Teleri

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During the ensuing War of Wrath, Beleriand and much of the north of Middle-earth was destroyed, but at the end Morgoth was utterly defeated, and his punishment was final. Because he had weakened himself so he could no longer resist the Valar. Melkor/Morgoth was executed, and his fëa was shut outside the gates of the world forever. Shut off from Arda where most of his essence remained he was unable to ever return (or at least until the rumored Final Battle when he supposedly returns to fight a united army of Valar, Maiar, Elves and Men). Morgoth's evil, however, remained in Arda Marred.

Related Topics:
War of Wrath - Beleriand - Executed - Fëa - Final Battle

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

One legend of Middle-earth suggests that in the Last Battle, Morgoth will be slain by Túrin Turambar, who will return from the dead to defeat him. This legend was included in one of Tolkien's many notes on The Silmarillion, and it was published in The Shaping of Middle-earth (Book 4 of the History of Middle-earth series).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~