Morgoth was the original villain of JRR Tolkien's legendarium, but he was defeated long before the events of The Lord of the Ringsleaving the novel's titular villain to take center stage. The devastating Vala Morgoth was mentioned in Tolkien's seminal novel, The Lord of the Ringsbut it was described in detail The Silmarillion. Morgoth's antics have been relegated to the First Age and earlier, while Amazon Prime Video's antics The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power The action takes place in the Second Age, and the Warner Bros. films take place in the Third Age.
The defeat of Morgoth in the First Age was so demanding that it forever changed the structure of Middle-earth. This was so significant in the history of Middle-earth that it began the Second Age of Middle-earth, ending the First. But the intriguing details of Morgoth's defeat have only been hinted at The Lord of the Rings appendices, and the full story includes numerous battles that culminated in what was arguably the worst war in the history of Middle-earth. And yet, in a sense, the story of Morgoth's defeat began at the very beginning of time.
Morgoth was initially taken back to Valinor by the Valar (but returned to Middle-earth)
The Valar initially forgave Morgoth for his crimes
Before the universe was created, the semi-divine Morgoth wanted to rival the God of Middle-earth Eru Ilúvatar, which led him to rebel against Eru and his agents, who repeatedly forgave him for his indiscretions. Living in the Timeless Halls with Eru and the other Ainur, Morgoth searched the Void for the Imperishable Flamewhich was the gift of life itself and only Eru could give it. He failed to find it. By singing with the other Ainur a song visualizing the creation of Arda, Morgoth caused discord, arrogantly dissatisfied with the topic of Eru.
Related
10 big differences between Sauron and Morgoth in The Lord of the Rings
Sauron is the predecessor of the Dark Lord Sauron. However, as Rings of Power likes to point out, these are very different Middle-earth villains.
Apart from this, Morgoth was allowed to descend to Arda as one of the 15 Valar – Tolkien's Demigods. Together they built Arda. However, Morgoth wanted total control and constantly sabotaged the work of the other Valar. He destroyed their first source of light, the Two Lamps, and was eventually captured and imprisoned by the Valar. The sentence passed and the Valar allowed him to wander Valinor under their supervision. But Morgoth stole the light of Arda again, destroying the Two Trees and fleeing to Middle-earth.
The Valar refused to fight Morgoth until Eärendil intervened
Eärendil begged the Valar for help against Morgoth
Morgoth was released into Middle-earth after escaping from Valinor. At this point The Valar began to withdraw their intervention from Middle-earth. Morgoth stole the Silmarils from the Noldor – three great jewels forged by the great Noldor elf, Fëanor. Fired with pride and vengeance, Fëanor and his sons pursued these jewels to the ends of Middle-earth, and the great battle of Beleriand ensued. Much innocent blood was shed by both the forces of Morgoth and the Noldor. But the Valar were absent from the battles for Beleriand.
Ultimately edited and published by Tolkien's son, Christopher,
The Silmarillion
was published in 1977, four years after Tolkien's death.
The Valar warned the Noldor against a bloody pursuit of the Silmarilli, but their warning was heeded. Therefore, the Valar expelled the Noldor Elves, but she still watched from afar and cared for the fate of all the Elves, creating new sources of light – the Sun and the Moon. It was not bitterness that caused the Valar to retreatbut the fear of the impact their fight would have on Middle-earth, the knowledge of how devastating it was before the elves awoke, and the knowledge that humans would soon awaken in Hildórien. Finally, the half-elven Eärendil begged the Valar for help.
An explanation of the war of the First Age against Morgoth
The First Age ended with the War of Wrath
The Valar orchestrated the Hiding of Valinor, placing their continent of Aman beyond the Enchanted Isles in the Dark Seas. This protected their kingdom from Morgoth and also held back the Noldor, ensuring that the sailors were somehow attacked. Only one sailor reached Valinor – Eärendil. Eärendil asked the Valar to have mercy on the Noldor and aid them in their unsuccessful battle against Morgoth, and his request was granted. The Valar sent an army to Middle-earth and the cataclysmic War of Wrath ensued. Morgoth's dragons fought during the war and the largest, Ancalagon, was slain by Eärendil.
|
Tolkien's age |
An event that marks the beginning |
Years |
Total length in solar years |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ahead of time |
Indefinite |
Indefinite |
Indefinite |
|
Days before Days |
The Ainur entered Eä |
1 – 3500 years Valian |
33537 |
|
Years of trees before the first era (YT) |
Yavanna created the Two Trees |
YT 1 – 1050 |
10061 |
|
First Era (FA) |
The elves woke up in Cuiviénen |
YT 1050 – YT 1500, FA 1 – 590 |
4902 |
|
Second Era (SA) |
The War of Wrath has ended |
SA 1 – 3441 |
3441 |
|
Third Age (TA) |
The Last Alliance defeated Sauron |
TA 1 – 3021 |
3021 |
The War of Wrath was so devastating to Middle-earth that it drowned most of the land of Beleriand, leaving only a small part above water. This proved that the Valar were right to be concerned about the effects of their military involvement in Middle-earth. Nevertheless, it was crucial to eliminate the threat of Morgoth once and for all, and that is exactly what the War of Wrath did. Though so devastating that it ended the First Age, In the War of Wrath, Morgoth was defeated and imprisoned again, but much more permanently than last time.
Morgoth was imprisoned by the Valar (but not killed)
Morgoth was thrown into the void
As the spiritual being Ainur, Morgoth could not be killed, so the Valar threw him into the Void through the only entrance and exit, the Door of Night. The Gates of Night were sealed and guarded forever by Eärendil. This was Eärendil's sentence for entering Valinor after his exile. In a complex interplay of fate and free will, Eärendil was destined to enter Aman, but it was not as he was destined to do so. Once Eärendil set foot on Aman, he never saw Middle-earth again, but he wore this Silmaril on his forehead.
IN
Silmarillion,
Tolkien referred to the prophecy that Morgoth would return from the Fade for the final battle called Dagor Dagorath…
Therefore, Eärendil became one of the brightest stars in the sky. This light, reflected in Galadriel's mirror, was later captured in Galadriel's vial and passed on to Frodo in The Lord of the Ringshelping him defeat Shelob. Meanwhile, Morgoth was trapped in the Void. IN Silmarillion, Tolkien alluded to a prophecy about Morgoth returning from the Void for a final battle called Dagor Dagorath, but Christopher did not include the full prophecy in the final version. However, subsequent publications of Tolkien's work suggested that Tolkien took the prophecy seriously.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a multimedia franchise consisting of several films and a television show released by Amazon titled The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power. The series is based on J. R. R. Tolkien's book series, which began in 1954 with The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings gained popularity thanks to Peter Jackson's trilogies “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit”.
- Created by
- JRR Tolkien
- To throw
- Norman Ptak, Antoni Daniels, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominik Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Krzysztof Lee, Hugo Weaving, Sean Bean, Ian Holm, Andy' Serkis' ego Brad Dourif, Karol Urban, Martin Freeman Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangelina Lilly Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Morfydd Clark Mike Wood, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Charlie Vickers, Markella Kavenagh, Megan Richards, Sara Zwangobani, Daniel Weyman Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Lenny Henry, Brian Cox, Shaun Dooley Miranda Otto, Bilal Hasna, Benjamin Wainwright, Luke Pasqualino, Christopher Guard, William Squire, Michael Scholes, John Hurt
- Writing)
- Frodo Baggins, Gandalf Legolas, Boromir, Sauron Gollum, Samwise Gamgee, Pippin Took, Celeborn, Aragorn, Galadriel, Bilbo Baggins, Saruman, Aldor, Wormtongue, Thorin Oakenshield, Balin Dwalin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Fili, Kili, Oin , Gloin, Nori, Dori, Ori, Tauriel, King Thranduil, Smaug, Radagast, Arondir, Nori Brandyfoot, Poppy Proudfellow, Marigold Brandyfoot, Queen Regent Míriel, Sadoc Burrows
