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.

Politics

As the mightiest dweller in Arda, Morgoth's chief servants were certain Maiar he corrupted: Sauron, later the Dark Lord of Mordor and his Chief Lieutenant; Gothmog, the Lord of Balrogs and High-Captain of Angband; Glaurung, the Father of Dragons; and Ancalagon the Black, greatest of the Winged Dragons. Morgoth did not trust any of them and considered them all his inferiors.

Related Topics:
Mordor - Gothmog - Balrog - Glaurung - Dragons - Ancalagon

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Unlike the later Dark Lord Sauron, Morgoth's goal was not to dominate all of Arda, but rather to destroy it: because he could not control all of it, he wished to eliminate it completely. He saw the Children of Ilúvatar (Men and Elves) as a direct threat, since they were independent souls he could not easily dominate.

Related Topics:
Ilúvatar - Soul

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At some point during the formation of Arda, Morgoth either had an alliance with or had as a servant the spider-shaped entity Ungoliant, and during the Darkening of Valinor he formed an unholy alliance with her to destroy the Two Trees.

Related Topics:
Spider - Ungoliant - Darkening of Valinor - Two Trees

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When the race of Men came about, Morgoth is hinted to have temporarily left his caves of Angband, and dwelled amongst them: ancient legends the Atanatári (Fathers of Men) tried to forget spoke of a Dark Lord who led men to worship him, banning Ilúvatar from their hearts. The Atanatári were those Men who repented and fled, but Morgoth ever after had many legions of fallen Men at his service. (Morgoth's Ring: "Tale of Adanel")

Related Topics:
Atanatári - Morgoth's Ring

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Morgoth even betrayed his own servants: after the Ñoldor were defeated, he bound all Men in his service to the lands of Hithlum, forbidding them to stray from there. It seems that, once victorious, he would have destroyed them as he intended to destroy those whom they fought for him.

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