Sauron and the Rings of Power (Second Age 1000 - 1731)
This post is a part of our Book Club reading of The Fall of Númenor: And Other Tales from the Second Age of Middle-earth: January - April 2023
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Learn more about this book club here.
The Fall of Númenor Book Club Notes: Part Six
Sauron and the Rings of Power: "Sauron, alarmed by the growing power…" through "Sauron is driven out of Eriador…" (pg. 115 - 145)
C. 1000: Sauron, alarmed by the growing power of the Númenoreans, chooses Mordor as a land to make into a stronghold. He begins the building of Barad-dûr.
News of the founding of Eregion and the friendship between the Noldor and Dwarves compounded Sauron’s fears regarding the Númenóreans coming to Lindon.
He left Eriador alone and went to Mordor (as it was afterwards called) and began to build the stronghold of Barad-dûr as a counter to the Númenorean threat.
Barad-dûr “suffered no rival, and laughed at flattery, biding its time, secure in its pride and its immeasurable strength.”
Tar-Ancalimë becomes the first Ruling Queen of Númenor
1075: Ancalimë Becomes the 7th Ruler of Númenor (Rule: 1075-1280; 205 Years)
She was proud and willful, and did not lead a happy life.
When her father passed away, she neglected his policies and gave no futher aid to Middle-earth.
She did not allow her son’s daughters to marry and so his son Súrion became the ninth Ruler of Númenor.
C. 1200: Sauron endeavours to seduce the Eldar. Gil-galad refuses to treat with him; but the smiths of Eregion are won over. The Númenóreans begin to make permanent havens.
“Very great changes came to pass as the Second Age proceeded.”
Sauron revealed himself in his fair form in his pursuit of the Eldar. While men would be easiest to ensnare, he knew that Elves were more powerful.
“For long he paid little heed to Dwarves or Men and endeavoured to win the friendship and trust of the Eldar. But slowly he reverted again to the allegiance of Morgoth and began to seek power by force, marshalling again and directing the Orks [Orcs] and other evil things of the First Age…”
He was not allowed into Lindon where Elrond and Gil-galad doubted him, though they did not know who he was.
1280: Tar-Anarion Becomes the 8th King of Númenor (Ruled 1280 - 1394; 114 Years)
1394: Tar-Súrion Bcomes the 9th King of Númenor (Ruled 1394 - 1556; 162 Years)
C. 1500: The Elven-smiths instructed by Sauron reach the height of their skill. They begin the forging of the Rings of Power.
Despite the warnings from Gil-galad in Lindon, Sauron was received in Eregion under the name Annatar, the Lord of Gifts. He targeted Celebrimbor specifically.
(Other names mentioned in Unfinished Tales are Artano (High-Smith) and Aulendil (one who is devoted to the service of Aule).
Annatar suggested that they work together for the purpose of making Middle-earth blissful and beautiful.
The restless hearts of the Noldor made them more vulnerable to Sauron’s manipulations.
In this time, their knowledge increased and their skill surpassed all that they had achieved before; they created Rings of Power.
The Rings of Power could prevent decay as well as enhance natural powers. They also had other powers derived from Sauron, “such as rendering invisible the material body, and making things of the invisible world visible.”
1556: Tar-Telperiën Becomes the 10th Ruler of Númenor (Rule 1556-1731; 175 years)
C. 1590: The Three Rings are completed in Eregion
Sauron had success with the Noldor in Eregion where he had posed as an emissary of the Valar.
Galadriel and Celeborn were expelled from Eregion between 1350 and 1400.
Galadriel came to dwell in Lórinand (afterwards called Lórien and Lothlórien); Celeborn is left behind.
Sauron left Eregion in approximately 1500 after the Rings of Power had begun to be made.
C. 1600 - Sauron forges the One Ring in Orodruin. He completes the Barad-dûr. Celebrimbor perceives the designs of Sauron.
“Now the Elves made many rings; but secretly Sauron made One Ring to rule all the others, and their power was bound up with it, to be subject wholly to it and to last only so long as it too should last.”
Sauron could perceive and govern the thoughts of those who wore the other rings.
Sauron had been obliged to let his power pass into the Ring, which was a flaw in his plan. However, the Ring was essentially indestructible and he did not sense any risk of losing it.
In this section we learn the Ring-Verse
Celebrimbor had not been corrupted but deceived, he had “accepted Sauron as what he posed to be.”
When he discovered the existence of the One Ring, he rejected Sauron and sought out Galadriel for counsel.
The Three Elven Rings should have been destroyed at this time, but Tolkien writes that they “failed to find the strength.” But they did agree to hide and never use them.
Galadriel received Nenya, the White Ring.
The other two rings were sent to Gil-galad in Lindon.
Tolkien explains why the Elves and Men of the West did not assault Sauron as soon as possible:
“It is now vain, and indeed unjust, to judge them foolish not to do, as in the end they were obliged to do, to have quickly gathered their forces and assailed Sauron.”
“They could not have any certain knowledge of Sauron’s intentions, or his power…”
“But until [S.A.] 1600 he was still using the disguise of beneficent friend, and often journeyed at will in Eriador with few attendants, and so could not risk any rumour that he was gathering armies.”
His primary weakness was that he did not have sufficient armies to march against Elves and Men and needed time to gain his strength.
Many orcs had been killed in the war against Morgoth, and the rest were scattered and ungovernable.
“While he was obliged for the cozening of Western Men and Elves to wear as fair a form and countenance as he could, they despised him and laughed at him.”
1693: War of the Elves and Sauron begins. The Three Rings are hidden.
When Sauron realized that the Elves were not deceived, he demanded the rings be returned to him and came against them in open war.
However, he did not reclaim the Three as they were concealed and had remained unsullied by the hand of Sauron.
1695: Sauron’s forces invade Eriador. Gil-galad sends Elrond to Eregion.
Sauron came against Eregion in 1695, where his forces were briefly driven back by Celeborn. Elrond was on his way but did not arrive before Sauron.
1697: Eregion laid waste. Death of Celebrimbor. The gates of Moria are shut. Elrond retreats with remnant of the Noldor and founds the refuge of Imladris.
Sauron arrived in Eregion where Celebrimbor was taken captive.
In this time, Sauron reclaimed the Nine and the Seven rings, but not the Three.
Celebrimbor was tortured but would not reveal the location of the Three, and he was put to death.
Sauron deduced that the Three must be with Galadriel and Gil-galad.
Sauron bore Celebrimbor’s body as a banner as he returned to battle with Elrond.
Sauron’s forces withdrew after being assailed by the Dwarves of Khazad-dum, as well as Elves from Lórinand led by Amroth.
1699: Sauron overruns Eriador.
Sauron’s forces were weakened but continued ravaging the lands.
In this section, we learn a little bit more about the history of Khazad-dum via an ancient Dwarvish lament about Durin.
1700: Tar-Minastir sends a great navy from Númenor to Lindon. Sauron is defeated.
In 1695, Gil-galad had requested aid from Númenor but they did not arrive until 1700. When they did arrive, the battle was quickly won.
1701: Sauron is driven out of Eriador…
Sauron was forced to return to Mordor “broken and humiliated”, where he vowed vengeance against Númenor.
Vilya, the Blue Ring, was given to Elrond; the Red Ring was kept by Gil-galad until it is later given to Círdan.
In this time, Galadriel came to Imladris with Celebrían, her daughter.
Elrond met Celebrían and immediately loved her, though he did not tell her.
At some point later, Galadriel and Celeborn came to dwell in Belfalas, where Galadriel stayed until Third Age 1981.
1731: Tar-Minastir Becomes the 11th King of Númenor
“He loved the Eldar but envied them.”