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- Caption: Sauron
- Description:
With Sauron's assistance, the Elven-smiths forged the Rings of Power, which conferred great power upon their bearers. The Elves did not seek "political" dominion, but rather magical powers that would let them maintain all things unstained. Sauron, however, saw that the Rings of Power could also be made into instruments of domination. He secretly forged the One Ring in the volcanic Mount Doom in Mordor. This "One Ring to rule them all" had the power to dominate the other Rings and enslave their wearers to Sauron's will. The Rings of Power were extremely potent, however, and to create an instrument that could dominate even them, Sauron was forced to place a great part of his native power into it. Yet "while he wore it, his power on earth was actually enhanced".[29]
Sauron never intended others to use this Master-ring, and at the time he ignored the possibility that anyone of sufficiently strong will who possessed the Ring would acquire much of Sauron's own power of domination:
If that happened, the new possessor could (if sufficiently strong and heroic by nature) challenge Sauron, become master of all that he had learned or done since the making of the One Ring, and so overthrow him and usurp his place. ... There was another weakness: if the One Ring was actually unmade, annihilated, then its power would be dissolved, Sauron's own being would be diminished to vanishing point, and he would be reduced to a shadow, a mere memory of malicious will. But that he never contemplated nor feared. The Ring was unbreakable by any smithcraft less than his own. It was indissoluble in any fire, save the undying subterranean fire where it was made – and that was unapproachable, in Mordor. ... It was in any case on his finger.[29]
When Sauron put on the One Ring, the Elves became aware of his intent. They recognized who "Annatar" really was, removed their Rings, and did not wear or use them anymore. Enraged, Sauron responded with military force, initiating the War of the Elves and Sauron and conquering much of the land west of Anduin. This began the Dark Years. He overran Eregion, killed Celebrimbor, leader of the Elven-smiths, and seized the Seven and the Nine Rings of Power that had been previously forged with his assistance (though Durin had already been given one of the Seven by Celebrimbor). The Three Rings, however, had been forged by Celebrimbor himself without Sauron's help. These rings were saved and remained in the hands of the Elves. According to The Lord of the Rings, Celebrimbor entrusted the Three to Gil-galad, Galadriel, and Círdan; but according to Unfinished Tales Gil-galad received two Rings and Galadriel one, and Gil-galad subsequently entrusted one to Círdan.
Sauron besieged Imladris, battled Moria and Lórien, and pushed further into Gil-galad's realm. The Elves fought back, however, and with the aid of a powerful army from Númenor, they destroyed Sauron's army and drove the remnant back to Mordor. The Númenóreans were descended from the Three Houses of the Edain who helped the Elves in their war against Morgoth. They lived on the island of Númenor in the seas between Middle-earth and Valinor, and theirs was the most powerful kingdom of Men at this time. - Actor/Actress/Director:
- Movie: The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring
- Id: 11438586
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