The History of Sauron [COMPILATION] | Tolkien Explained

[@NerdoftheRings]

Who is the better villain - Sauron or Morgoth?

[@maironn7]

Sauron easily

[@Epic_BostonMobTales]

Longevity u gotta give it to sauron but brute force and the destruction of a content and countless people its morgoth

[@solscepz7078]

Melkor hands down the guy is one of the Valar

[@solscepz7078]

Melkor had the sons of Finwe trippin for yearssss

[@myriadmediamusings]

Gonna have to give it to Morgoth. He was so damn close to his goals that it required direct intervention from the Valar.

[@meowijuana2322]

He did Celebrimbor so damn dirty. Easily one of the darkest things he's done, by displaying his body on a spike as a war banner.

[@SkaldCG]

I am afraid RoP wont have that in a P.J.-meatgrinder movie style. That was one of the really good things in LotR. Orc army helmets etc. Catapulting decapitated heads. On the other hand there were like one or two kind of splatter moments in RoP, so maybe they do it.

[@barrylyndon5552]

The Shadows series has him beat Celebrimbor to death with his own hammer Shows how nasty he had become as the 2 did incredible work together over decades and decades. Sauron was a smithing Maia, but clearly he had zero respect for it anymore and just coveted the power it could bring him that he felt Celebrimbor was withholding. Very dick move (also Celebrimbor was basically the only high elf that even trusted him, but yeah Sauron giving no fucks on that one)

[@rickstalentedtongue910]

@@SkaldCG You intend to watch ROP? haha.

[@SkaldCG]

@@rickstalentedtongue910 I do

[@rickstalentedtongue910]

@@SkaldCG For luaghs?

[@GreasusGoldtooth]

My headcanon for why Sauron is shown as a giant eye in the movies is that it isn't actually him, just a magical projection of his will.

[@cherryfroggo]

It's like his third eye

[@GreasusGoldtooth]

@@cherryfroggo Yeah, like an at will palantir.

[@AskMia411]

One of the few things I really liked about the hobbit movies is how they sorta retconned the flaming eye as Sauron’s figure wreathed in flame. That sequence was really cool

[@vananon51]

@@AskMia411that trilogy overall was crap.

[@Patch2112]

⁠@@vananon51 Yes, and I think the person you’re replying to agreed. Hence why they clarified it was one of the few parts they enjoyed.

[@adanomic949]

I love that this is kind of narrated like a history channel documentary. Also your Gollum is so good

[@andrewlowden322]

pretty sure its just a clip from Andy Serkis reading the Hobbit audiobook

[@sebastianahlin9677]

Morgoth Defeated (Sauron): ”Fine, I’II do it myself”

[@soorej91]

yet he never did...

[@timewanderer7773]

A for effort

[@josh29221]

@@soorej91 he came closer than Morgoth did, to be fair. Though I guess Morgoth was waging a larger scale war.

[@soorej91]

@@josh29221 morgoth was playing WW2 while sauron was playing at gang wars..

[@waykool698]

@@soorej91because author wrote it that way. 💁‍♂️

[@myriadmediamusings]

As great as Sauron is I think his further backstory in the first age of being under Aule and later Morgoth adds so much more to him. Almost a twist humble origins thing before he became the bane of the 2nd and 3rd ages.

[@valentinkambushev4968]

He is the ultimate "from lackey to the main villain" character.

[@cliffdavis3809]

NoTR shows so much of the FA, what specifically from those times did you think he missed? @@valentinkambushev4968

[@matthewshroba1511]

@@valentinkambushev4968honestly I can’t even compare him to anyone. Even if you could, categorically, who? What other lackeys rose “above” their evil, inarguably, greater master this way? I can’t even think of one right now.

[@unknowntemptation2962]

Fr shi compelling icl

[@highlandus]

​@@matthewshroba1511he never rose above Morgoth in anyway

[@Griffonyx]

This video is better than the amazon show the ring of power.

[@BendyRoy]

If only this were high praise...

[@tonyweaver2353]

The show seems to date hop back and forth between events, and isn't very consistent, plus way too many stories going on and it feels like season 2 was just a build up to the siege of Eragion.

[@teresavincent7986]

I'm only here because of the Rings of Power.

[@TheDarkHarper]

This one video is more faithful and respectful to Tolkien's work. Truly a treasure above the billion-dollar Amazon series.

[@yonas6832]

he should be the screenwriter

[@thatguysmitty9715]

Its amazing how just someone simply delivering the source material is more compelling and a better story than Rings of Power could ever hope to be.

[@Prepared_Suburbanite]

incredible rendition of this facet of Tolkien's history. Wonderful!

[@johnquach8821]

I really like this Sauron Compilation!

[@joyceoie]

I just entered the LOTR universe and watched Hobbit the trilogy last weekend for the first time in 31 years of my life 😂 have always been a Potterhead so I never watched LOTR growing up although I heard greatness of it. Now that I have experienced the Hobbitses myself, I find the whole universe extremely fascinating - hence why I'm binge watching your videos now to understand more about it! Thank you!

[@vincentwatkins6401]

Thanks for this. I’ve always been afraid of tackling massive undertaking of a story because of the overwhelming amount of lore. These videos are helpful🤘🏻

[@richnewman]

I would love a movie, or movies, all about the tale of Beren and Luthien. So much fantastic mythology in that story and plays out in a very heroic fashion (not to mention the love story).

[@I_wish_I_knew_something]

All the dude wanted was to get his rug back.

[@David-xt5yg]

Nerd, did you play middle earth shadow of mordor and war games? It's weird you didn't review them yet!

[@Theelby33]

That sauron impression was bang on as i hear him.

[@Jeffrey.Seelman]

Excellent, so well done. I am under the impression from reading all the books many years ago that Morgoth was still giving orders to Sauron even throughout the third age.

[@jowens3842]

damn, it's 2am, did I just watch this whole thing? Yes, I did, and I loved it.

[@justinsarno6847]

Your Sauron and Gollem voices are shockingly well done, even for the caliber of your voice work with other characters. I almost stopped the video when I heard you start speaking the One Ring's inscription in the Black Tongue itself! I always love watching your videos. Thank you for sharing your passion with us.

[@SandinoMEK]

That was fricken amazing, imagine if Peter Jackson made a movie on this! Wow man great job thanks for that

[@coasterkramer]

I wish they did movies about these

[@starfire451]

Imagine if Rings of Power stuck close to the story from 13:00 That would've been pretty epic

[@michealdargue2985]

This was the video I was waiting for.

[@rayguillena7336]

The map and artwork was a great touch!

[@knoxvilletz]

I wish there was some kind of series, animated or whatever of Morgoth battles alongside Sauron.

[@butHomeisNowhere___]

Damn, if I was Finrod or Beren, i would've simply fought the werewolf BEFORE allowing them to eat 10 of my friends 🤷‍♂️ But what do i know 😌

[@Vanceydress]

Not much. Potterhead.

[@TheGroundScore]

this is awesome i could listen to this all day

[@RaynmanPlays]

It really says something about the strength that Tolkien saw in men that Denethor was able to resist Sauron while Sarumon was not. It's sad that the movies do not treat mankind with the same reverence.

[@marmalade6681]

Morgoth is captured, bound in chains and his feet are hewn from under him. He was utterly de-feeted! :p

[@kevns2148]

Well, no one can ever say Sauron was lazy. My boy has a work ethic like none other.

[@masofade69]

Hoping that they make a live action movie/series about the history of earlier days, even before the events of the current Prime series

[@alexandrdmitrievich550]

38:41 I dare not ask how exactly Sauron tortured s meagol...

[@davidmarsden192]

Wow! That was really good! Very fascinating!

[@mariecook622]

complicated plot. tku for ur explanation. It helped.

[@ltsLED]

Sauron releasing Gollum was one of his biggest mistakes. If he didnt do that then i dont think The Ring would even made it into Mordor at all.

[@stalker-anoniem3515]

Jumping back on the nerd train. Rings of power is returning for a second season.

[@jordansweet7738]

I'm really glad Frodo and Sam didn't fall into that Timeless void in the end. Sauron fell into it, and Gollum fell with him, but those hobbits could have easily fallen into as well.

[@trash6960]

The Battle: Huan engages Sauron in battle. As a Maia, Sauron is immensely powerful, but Huan, who was blessed by the Valar with extraordinary abilities, including the gift of speaking three times before his death and being invincible against any creature born in Middle-earth, proves to be a formidable opponent. During the fight, Sauron changes into various fearsome shapes, but Huan manages to overcome each form.

[@jamesclancy228]

Another excellent video

[@jnbernard]

At what point was he on a raft in the ocean?

[@Anduresu]

When are they going to give the go ahead to do the beginning of lotr with morgoth, I’m longing for something truly beautiful and inspiring again, maybe even Sauron’s full story

[@michaelh5720]

Brilliant video 👍🏻👍🏻

[@yashsharma5013]

But as you said once his spirit endured before the making of ring too, how did he die permanently after the ring was destroyed ?

[@itmal8949]

35:14 they mention this in the first Hobbit movie 💯

[@BendyRoy]

I'm just starting the books for the fist time. This is a whole lot of information! I must ask, is all of this told in the LOTR Trilogy? Or the Silmarillion? Another supplimentary text?

[@Anthonygooneramerica]

Your work is truly great. Thank you.

[@GilgameshGDLK]

LOTR has always held a special place in my heart. But one thing has always bothered me (I don't think it should, perhaps), but in the video I was reminded as to how long [it] took for Sauron to cause such havoc in Middle-Earth before the "Wise" were willing to investigate/pursue such evil taking place. Am I alone in that bothering me? I must be missing some context that I have surely forgotten from decades old knowledge from when I read the series and other sources from Tolkien. Anyone able to provide me some insight or assistance in my brain fart, I fear is preventing me from correct memory.

[@punkressph1]

No wonder why they casted Charles Vickens as Sauron in Rings of power.😊😊😊😊

[@kevinxsavagegm]

Imagine losing so hard around 6 times in your entire lifetime LMFAO

[@Bund___Germs_Bund]

I see people saying how intelligent Sauron is. And I say he can't be that intelligent when he chose the losing side against the Valar.

[@andrewhamblen1002]

Great video, but I’m confused at 41:32 where you mention that the battle of five armies goes 2 days after the day that “the ring was destroyed”. This can’t be the “one ring” which defeats Sauron a generation later when an old bilbo passes it on to Frodo and the fellowship. What ring are you highlighting there?

[@Jakblade]

It’s not the battle of five armies. It’s just another battle.

[@michellehawkins4448]

All things middle earth is my favorite lore. Here in September 2024. ❤

[@marcb3097]

Thanks for the fantastic content!

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thank you for the Super! And thanks for watching/subscribing!!

[@murattiambassador9854]

Thanks for sharing

[@delavalmilker]

It took Sauron longer than expected to raise an army from the men of the East, for fighting the War of the Elves and Sauron "possibly due to the influence of the Blue Wizards"? However the Wizards (Istari) didn't appear in Middle Earth until about year 1000 of the Third Age. Nearly 2500 years AFTER the attack on Eregion!

[@aidanoestreich1680]

Imagine Sauron getting his own movie

[@JeremyIceAndFire33]

Great video. Subbed

[@aldetta0095]

what if a fish from the river when Sméagol find the ring accidentally equiped the one ring... can we call it The Lord With a Fin?

[@joakimlundgren7043]

Some wonder if Mordor meant srrw & if the eye there was a third eye symbol (spiritual intuition). Sauron was like a spectre in that region.

[@Jade-wisdom]

It’s not the dark lord that is jeopardizing. It’s the pessimism,stagnancy and complacency of men and elves!

[@ijpsavage]

This was amazing

[@kochiyama]

Your Sauron impression sounds a little like Cobra Commander.

[@lokdog257]

Fan theory about a Balrog becoming the 3rd Dark Lord during the 4th Age?

[@metanox1716]

Watching this video eerily feels like playing Vampire's Fall on Android

[@leightonolsson4846]

I'm surprised Sauron hasn't been elected speaker of the house of representatives....

[@shockgtheshawnyboy]

Whoever says he has no depth doesnt understand what great story telling is.... Think of a horror movie.....whats scarier, the buildup and the unknown, where the audience's mind can create all kinds of horror or when they finally reveal the monster and no matter how scary, never lives up to the fear created in your own mind....

[@darktower0603]

Wtf are some of these comments. People so bored they watch videos of stuff they don't care about so they can talk smack about them. Obviously trying to piss people off, but why? What's the point. People are so strange.

[@jimgilmour1221]

"Never ever give up" Sauron probably

[@itriedtochangemynamebutitd5019]

Real Sauronism has never been tried

[@reinhartvonzschock357]

Well done

[@holycow8165]

damn, just relised that the map was DEUTSCH in min 24

[@Maegliin]

So do Iron Crown or Liz Danforth know you use their artwork? Pepperidge farm remembers.

[@Maegliin]

Oh, and angus.

[@RED-t3p]

lol why it took them for sooooo long to melt the the ring. hahaha

[@feanor1865]

Good video ❤ please do Caranthir son of Feanor

[@attractor9]

how did come the ring from numenor back to middlearth?

[@surfboarding5058]

He’s like the darth bane of lotr

[@walterp773]

The best video. Amazing really. Amazon should watch your videos first before making any stupid show.

[@lucas82]

How could Sauron poison Saruman's mind through the Palantir but not Denethor's, at least not to the same extent? Surely Saruman was a lot more powerful than Denethor. Or is it more a matter of susceptibility to evil than power?

[@craigmurray4746]

That, but Sauron was a far stronger Maia than Saruman and probably used some form of temptation to tempt him with knowledge of crafting, engineering etc, stuff not even Saruman knew or could perform on his own. Basically used his lust for knowledge against him. Denethor had no lusts like that, but could be ground down and made depressed by sheer unrelenting will on the part of Sauron, made to see the ultimate folly of resisting basically.

[@caseymartin6657]

How did the Sauron keep the ring when Numenore was destroyed?

[@creativenamesmth]

He left it in Barad dur

[@jcook693]

However, Mairon would be swayed to join the evil Vala Jude Law

[@T.Q209]

When did he become Hellbrand? Or did Tolkien never write him as Hellbrand?

[@NerdoftheRings]

Halbrand is completely made up by the Rings of Power show.

[@T.Q209]

@@NerdoftheRings thought so. Thanks

[@v02max75]

Another BANGER of a video, sir! Thank you for putting in all the work you do. However, I do have one critique: "Decimate" does not mean what you are using it to mean. I'm only bringing it up because you use it multiple times throughout the video. Decimate means to lose 1/10th of your force. Not 90%. Anyways, I love your videos and I hope they keep coming for years 😊 cheers!!

[@drummerjosh901]

So upon rewatching the Fellowship, the scene where Gandalf is reading Isildurs account of the finding of the ring he states "the year 3434 of the second age" but the ring wasn't taken until 3441 correct? Is that an error from the filmmakers or am I missing something?

[@Vanceydress]

You are missing something. Is it you left testicle?

[@yuhyuh7603]

With all this lore, why did they make a random story in Rings of Power?

[@robinoflocksly6342]

Huán the Hound was really about to make LoTR trilogy a pretty short campaign what a lad.

[@mudyao]

Sounds like a fighting game stage of huan. Final boss: Sauron

[@Evoker23-lx8mb]

Who would win? A minor god servant of a dark lord turned dark lord himself Or A very good boy

[@rickhopper2732]

Thus is all made up so why does anyone care

[@The_Clash_Guide]

The good boy always wins 😊

[@djionmustard5921]

Bestest boy

[@missaliciaxxxx]

What makes Sauron so terrifying is that he’s so intelligent, so driven and so ambitious. He’s not some brain dead villan, he’s elite

[@tomothybahamothy]

And extremely patient

[@abelingaw5070]

But also arrogant and egotistical, so much so that he got tricked.

[@missaliciaxxxx]

very patient @@tomothybahamothy

[@missaliciaxxxx]

I agree, he did get too caught up in his own hubris but isn't that the best type of villan. That they have flaws other than, just being bad. He's my favourite villain for sure @@abelingaw5070

[@louisvuitton56]

I agree Sauron reminds me of the terminator.Edit defo terminator from judgement day

[@امیرارسلان-غ3ن]

Valuable lesson I learned from Sauren's story : Try again after every failure.

[@justinnyugen7015]

also have better security at your doom crack.

[@barrylyndon5552]

Lol, alternate take: Actually repent when the opportunity comes up

[@Maya_Ruinz]

Literally the history of the Roman Empire… fail up, not down.

[@andrewlowden322]

hes a regular Edison "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work"

[@NBrixH]

Sauren, Sauron's long-lost brother.

[@eternalistmorqan9476]

I hear people say that Sauron is a villain with no depth at all. In reality he is such a intricate and interesting charakter.

[@valentinkambushev4968]

These false perceptions come from people's experiences with all of Sauron's lame copycats.

[@TerenceGrimstone]

I don't really think they can be blamed. As far as LOTR is concerned, he isn't any different from the million other dark lords in fantasy. It's after you know how he felt some remorse and wanted to change his ways and stuff that you realise he isn't the typical dark lord.

[@rafaelgustavo7786]

In addition to being a great reformer who would bring law and order in a scenario of cultural decay after the War of Wrath, I think Sauron saw himself as a Promethean figure who would lift Humanity out of cultural prehistory and technological ignorance: The Silmarillion says that the men of the East and South built cities of stone and had access to metallurgical knowledge. And bringing economic benefits: he proved himself a good economist in Númenor by multiplying the Island's wealth. Furthermore, he had to see himself as a deity of a great world unification: a single theocratic government, a technocratic political-economic system and a religious reformer to bring true belief through dogmatic ideas. This religious engineering reminds me (in some ways) of Gnosticism: a liberating god (Melkor) to rid rational beings of "Archons" (Valar) from a "Demiurgic monster" (Eru) who imprisoned everyone in a world of war and death. Interesting that Sauron spoke this of Melkor in the Second Age, but later he claimed to be Melkor in the Third Age.

[@daarom3472]

​@@rafaelgustavo7786I wonder what would've become of the Orcs and other foul creatures if Sauron had conquered Middle Earth.

[@Lakota238]

**Karakter

[@HemisphereCinema]

I dont say this enough but i really like the map graphic on how they move over the land.

[@MaikeruO]

The fact that the warriors of the First Age were putting up a good fight against Morgoth proves that they were much more powerful than the people of later Ages who feared the servant Sauron so much.

[@CantusTropus]

Indeed - the Elves of the First Age were like the heroic demigods of myth, kind of like Hercules. After all, Fingolfin was so strong he held his own against Morgoth in single combat!

[@Fleato]

@@CantusTropus and lets not forget Eärendi taking on Ancalagon the Black. none in the lotr age could even come close to that feat.

[@yeetusdeletus2681]

@@Fleato or that turin turambar slew the worm of nargothrond too

[@Fleato]

@@yeetusdeletus2681 yeah the later ages the power scales wayyyyy down to a more realistic level and becomes understandable. magic isn't like god powers like it used to be and so on and It makes for such a great story.

[@StarRoving-jm4fp]

@@CantusTropus fingolfin didnt really do much lol, its a bit exaggerated, Morgoth was weak at that time and fingolfin didnt do anything, he was more of a suicidal bcs theres no way he's gonna win and all he did was dodge every blows morgoth attempt until finolfin gas himself and got killed

[@davesing]

Your finest creation yet. You have successfully compiled and explicated Sauron's arc through the entire history masterfully. A great achievement. Huzzah!

[@Smfe614]

Shut up nerd.

[@stivklif]

if by my life or death I can protect you I will

[@bajubner]

It's funny, I've never really interpreted the Eye of Sauron from Jackson's films as the Dark Lord's physical form, but as a tool in his arsenal. He can look through it, use it as an emblem, and instill fear through its unfailing gaze. But I always assumed there was a physical body of Sauron *in* the tower of Barad Dur somewhere which manipulated the Eye.

[@Evoker23-lx8mb]

Like a giant palantir in a way.

[@RobinTheBot]

​@Evoker23-lx8mb It literally is one of the giant palentirs

[@HookAndAnvil]

It is incredible that the entire arc of the LOTR movies make up only a fraction of this video. With a new Lord of the Rings movie greenlit for the cinemas, I would love to see the backstory of Sauron unfold, or other stories about Numenor. This universe is just so grand and the possibilities feel limitless.

[@rickstalentedtongue910]

Hollywood is not capable of doing those kind of movies and stories without coopting it for their own agendas. Let us hope it does not happen.

[@xazim94x]

@@rickstalentedtongue910 the poison of woke hollywood is to blame

[@kingofallworlds]

You mean the Rings of Power TV series that have been out for over a year?

[@HookAndAnvil]

@@kingofallworlds No. The show doesn't cover Sauron's backstory, his fall and servanthood to Morgoth in the first age. Plus the countless stories that occur before the timeline of Rings of Power.

[@ADSeason25]

They gonna ruin it don’t get your hopes up

[@scooterdtx]

Terrific job creating this compilation. It's amazing that anyone was able to withstand Sauron's power across the three ages. What a fool Saruman was to think he could be among the few to overcome Sauron.

[@nathangeorge6575]

If Saruman had remained true, Sauron would've been screwed so much faster. Having two of the most powerful istari together would've been an incredible boon. Especially since Saruman would've been able to demoralize Sauron's army through his voice

[@laura-bianca3130]

Both Saruman and Sauron were Maiar and disciples of Aule. So they are of the same origin.

[@_semih_]

​@@laura-bianca3130 Yes but Tolkien said Sauron was far higher order than both Saruman a and Gandalf too

[@Mark-bm5nk]

NERDS! Derp.

[@Fightsome64]

@@Mark-bm5nk Yet here you are

[@somedudewithakeyboard5388]

Morgoth may have been the original, and indeed he was more powerful Sauron, however, learned from all Melkor's mistakes. Indeed, he was only bested due to the intervention of Iluvatar, both in Numenor and with Gollum's fall into the fires. He is evil at its most dangerous shape, the shape which hides itself as good, and that which does not allow its hatred and malice to overcome its cunning, and what a cunning Suaron has Edit: Regardless of what anyone things about Shadow of War, it has by far the best design for Sauron's armored form

[@the_king_of_kings_3413]

Oh I agree, as an avid player of SoW I have always wanted a wearable helmet of the SoW sauron helm. It just looks SO GOOD!!!!

[@the_king_of_kings_3413]

Though he learned from his masters mistakes he also did exactly what Morgoth did. He put all his power into one thing and it caused his downfall. Morgoth put himself into middle earth itself but he did it so completely that he was so weak by the end of the war of wrath that he just couldn’t fight. Sauron had the one ring but was so sure of its power that he never thought to protect mount doom or just have someone watching it to make sure no one was there. He thought a head but was also very narrow minded in that sense.

[@grayden4138]

@@the_king_of_kings_3413 Morgoth's power, like the rest of the Valar, was bound the world, but his power went into many things. Instead of restraining himself and maintaining his power to govern the heats and colds, his put his power out into the world through corrupting the physical world, other spirits like Balrogs, and, of course, the living: Elves and Men. Sauron didn't lose because Mount Doom was taken. He lost because he took the field. His hubris defeated him. It may have been mere chance that Isildur cut the ring from his hand, but he underestimated the alliance of Elves and remnants of Numenor.

[@the_king_of_kings_3413]

@@grayden4138 I was speaking of the events of The Return of the King, not the Last Alliance. but yes, he got too cocky and left the safety of his fortress even though he could have easily waited out the siege.

[@mantis5208]

You both right, but let’s not forget that if valor didn’t cheat by asking eru to intervene when Sauron swayed numenor to wage war on them, the war of a last alliances and everything that happened after that would’ve taken an entirely different form.

[@coconutcreampie7930]

Others have said it, but your Gollum impression is absolutely spot on

[@digitaldreus]

Hahahahaha

[@BeowulfCav]

I learned a lot of new things, I never knew Sauron was under Aule before defecting to Melkor. That makes his knowledge of forging the rings of power make so much more sense.

[@andrewvincent7299]

Saruman was also under Aule as well. That's why Saruman was able to mimic, on a smaller scale of course, everything that Sauron did.

[@kokomo74149]

That was great. By the time I started getting into Tolkien I got sick and it can be difficult to keep the names straight to say the least. Tolkien was so detailed and built a history as long as ours so it can be a little much.

[@michaelhart7569]

In the book, Aragorn says that Sauron did not know of him until Aragorn himself looks into the the Orthanc Palantir, announces his name, and shows Sauron the sword of Elendil. This did not happen until they reach Dunharrow after the defeat of Saruman and visit to Isengard's ruins.