Saruman

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Saruman
Information
Homeland	Isengard
Alias(ses)	Curunír Saruman the Wise Saruman the White The White Hand The White Hand of Saruman My Lord (by his allies and servants)
Titles	The White Wizard Lord of Isengard
Class	Maia Istar
Died	TA 3019
Killed by	Grima Wormtongue
Race	Ainu
Gender	Male
Hair color	White-gray (black strains)
Eye color	Black
Affilliation	Order of the Istari (formerly) White Council (formerly) Sauron's forces Army of Isengard Saruman's elite force
Leaders	One (formerly) Sauron
Underlings	Gríma Wormtongue Unferth Freca Wulf Zegrid Lurtz Uglúk Lugdush Mauhûr Saruman's general Ugthak Sharku Glasha
Weapons	Saruman's staff
In possession of	Palantir of Dol Guldur
Portrayed by	Sir Christopher Lee
First Appearance	The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Last Appearance	The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

"Together, my Lord Sauron, we shall rule this Middle-earth."

— Saruman, to Sauron, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Saruman, also known as Curunír or the White Wizard, was originally the Chief of Order of Istari and the leader of the White Council. After his corruption, he became one of Sauron's greatest servants (i.e. the Dark Lord's puppet) and the lord of the Tower of Orthanc at Isengard.

The first and greatest of the Istari, Saruman was sent by the Valar to watch over the Free Peoples and helping them counter Sauron. Though he was recognized as the head of the Council of the Wise that opposed Sauron, Saruman harbored much resentment towards fellow Istar, Gandalf, and the two were often at odds on their methods. Long he researched the lore of Middle-earth, especially the works of the Enemy, believing that he might discern a way to defeat him. Instead, the White Wizard fell into the folly of imitating the Dark Lord, wanting to find the One Ring first and wield its power to become a ruler in his image. With the approval of the Steward of Gondor and the King of Rohan, Saruman settled at Orthanc in Isengard (initially as its warden) and began using the Palantir within unbeknownst to his allies. Though his grudge of Gandalf made him dismiss his findings and disapprove of the Quest for Erebor, Saruman ultimately joined Galadriel and Elrond in attacking Dol Guldur and battling the Nazgûl until Sauron's flight. In the assault's aftermath, the White Wizard ominously asked his allies to 'leave' the Dark Lord to him.

The seeds of covetousness and treachery having taken root, Saruman's first action was to claim Orthanc as his own seat of power, cutting off its ties to Minas Tirith. While his allies conferred on how to counter their ancient Enemy, the White Wizard turned away from his errand and plotted how to rule, rather than aid Free Folk. Through the Palantir, Saruman was soon ensnared by Sauron, who through threats and promises of power engaged his service. Although doing his bidding, the White Wizard planned to eventually usurp his new master's place as Lord of the Rings and of Middle-earth; if the desperate gamble for the One failed, his fawning would at least see him stand at the right hand of the victorious Dark Lord. But Saruman overreached, failing to understand how his role Sauron's subordinate would end: his master would use him to subjugate Free Folk and then discard him when he had outlived his purpose. As Sauron commanded him to overrun the Rohirrim, Saruman recruited the Orcs of the Misty Mountains, allied with the Dunlendings, bred his own Uruk-hai and bought Théoden's royal counselor, Gríma. After conquering Rohan, Isengard's fealty would have required it to join Mordor's great assault on Gondor.

At the onset of the War of the Ring, Saruman imprisoned Gandalf atop Orthanc, for refusing to submit to Sauron or reveal the Ring's whereabouts to him instead. The Grey Pilgrim escaped with the help of the Great Eagles, making the White Wizard's defection to the service of the Dark Lord known to the Free Peoples. Copying his master's methods, Saruman began building an army, both to conquer Rohan for Sauron and to try seize the Ring for himself. His elite force led by Lurtz ambushed the Fellowship at Amon Hen and captured two of the Hobbits - assuming one to be the Ring-bearer - but was decimated on the eaves of Fangorn Forest by Éomer's company. To avoid appearing a rebel to his master, Saruman intensified his attacks against the Rohirrim: Isengard Orcs and Dunlendings made sorties into the Westfold, burning entire villages, and slew Théoden's son, Théodred; with Théoden heirless and his mind poisoned, Saruman's mole, Gríma, assumed stewardship. But his sway over the king was soon broken: Gandalf had been sent back as the new White Wizard to right his wrongs. From Gríma, Saruman learned of the existence of Isildur's heir, Aragorn, and of Théoden's retreat to Helm's Deep. The removal of the two Kings sure to earn him his master's clemency, the corrupted Wizard unleashed his legions upon the stronghold. Though the forces bearing his White Hand long held the advantage, Saruman's army was ultimately vanquished thanks to Gandalf's reinforcements and the Huorns of Fangorn. In their haste to forge Isengard' arsenal, Saruman's Orcs had harvested wood from nearby Fangorn to fuel their engines of war, underestimating the Ents' ire. The shepherds of the forest fell upon the corrupted Wizard's stronghold like a hammer upon an anvil, forcing him to lock himself in his own tower with his now useless footman, Wormtongue.

When confronting his enemies from Orthanc's rooftop, Saruman belittled the likes of Théoden, Gandalf and Aragorn, being still certain of Sauron's victory. Though powerless and banished from the Order of Istari, he refused to give up information on his master's imminent attack and refused to release Gríma from his service. This proved to be a fatal mistake: Wormtongue, long cowed and mistreated, backstabbed his oppressor. Saruman's lifeless body fell down and impaled itself on a millwheel's pike, before being submerged underwater. The Seeing Stone the former White Wizard had used to commune with his master fell from his robes' sleeve.

History

The White Wizard

First of the Istari

"I must see the head of my order. He is both wise and powerful."

— Gandalf, to Frodo Baggins, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Saruman, known as Curunír (tr. from Elvish: "man of skill") to the Elves, was originally one of the Maiar, primordial spirits that came with the Valar and lived as their people in Valinor.

Around TA 1000, Saruman became the Chief of the Order of Istari, guardians chosen by the Valar to watch over the Free Peoples of Middle-earth and stand guard against Sauron's return. As the greatest of the Five Wizards, he could exert much control over Men's minds with his voice and his mastery of lore was only equaled by the skill of his hands. Saruman also became the leader of the White Council, a group of the Wise that opposed Sauron, and presided over its meetings. But his learning and power had made him proud over the years, for he looked down on Men. Saruman despised Radagast,deeming him a "foolish fellow" and an embarrassment on the Order of Istari due to his unusual ways. Gandalf he envied and saw as a rival, although he often dismissed his good fortune. This led to a strained relationship where, after quick exchanges of friendly pleasantries, Saruman would question Gandalf's assertions, overrule his decisions or belittle him in front of their allies.

Turning away from his mission

"Without the Ruling Ring of Power, the Seven are no value to the Enemy. To control the other Rings, he needs the One. And that Ring was lost long, long ago. It was swept out to sea by the waters of the Anduin."

— Saruman, to the rest of the White Council, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Over nearly three thousand years, the White Wizard researched the lore of Middle-earth, including the Rings of Power and other works of the Dark Lord, and amassed both a collection of arcane artifacts and a massive library. At first, Saruman's intention had been to better understand Sauron's nature and discern a way to count him, but over the years, he rather came to admire Sauron and desired to become his equal. The White Wizard began looking for clues on the One Ring's whereabouts, believing he could perhaps wield its power and become the ruler of Middle-earth, in the likeness of the Dark Lord. In TA 2759, Saruman received the Steward of Gondor's permission to settle in the Tower of Orthanc at Isengard, acting as its keeper on behalf of Minas Tirith. At this time, he was still reckoned a friend and ally, even by the King of Rohan. But the seeds of covetousness and treachery had already taken root. The White Wizard took charge of the stronghold, turning it into his own seat of power. Saruman also located the Palantir of Orthanc, using it to spy and to search for the One Ring. He soon noted Gandalf's interest in the Shire and the Hobbits. Though he mocked the Grey Pilgrim's "love for the halflings' leaf", the White Wizard himself held several barrels of pipe-weed in his secret storeroom. Saruman also frowned upon Gandalf's trust in their peer, Radagast.

As the Watchful Peace neared its end, Saruman became aware of Gandalf's intention to help the Dwarves in their Quest for Erebor and was strongly opposed to it. Soon after the Company of Thorin Oakenshield was hosted in Rivendell, Saruman also arrived there for a meeting of the White Council. After a false exchange of pleasantries, Saruman expressed his disapproval of Gandalf's actions concerning the expedition to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and belittled Gandalf. Sceptical of their Enemy's return, he easily dismissed the notion of an alliance between Sauron and the Dragon Smaug. When the discussion touched upon the Rings of Power (a field he was an expert in) the White Wizard reiterated that the Seven given to the Dwarves were of no value to the Enemy: to control them, the Dark Lord still required the Ruling Ring. But Saruman assured his allies that the One had been washed to the sea by the Anduin, concealing his own search for it. Saruman also questioned the threat of the "Necromancer" in Dol Guldur, dismissing Gandalf's news after learning they came from Radagast. When presented with the Morgul-blade, Saruman seemed slightly uneased - perhaps recognizing the weapon's authenticity. Nonetheless, he quickly regained his composure and stated there was no proof that it belonged to the Witch-king of Angmar. Pleased at having seemingly outplayed Gandalf, Saruman summed up all of the Council's concerns as nothing to worry about. As a final strike at the Grey Pilgrim, the White Wizard stated that he felt he could not condone the Dwarves' quest. However, unbeknownst to him, the Dwarves have already left Rivendell - Gandalf had anticipated Saruman's pettiness.

Battle of Dol Guldur

"Leave Sauron to me."

— Saruman, to Elrond and Galadriel, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

As Sauron's northern campaign began, Saruman hastened to Dol Guldur in Mirkwood along with Elrond, having been summoned there by Galadriel to rescue Gandalf. The duo appeared just as Galadriel and Gandalf were surrounded by the Nazgûl and asked if she needed assistance. At this, two of the Ringwraiths turned towards him and both the White Wizard and his Elf ally clashed with the Nine. Saruman dueled several of the Nazgûl, appearing to be able to handle up to two at a time. In the end, both he and and Elrond overpowered the Nine, who briefly retreated. After Gandalf was taken away to safety by Radagast, Sauron himself appeared before the remainder of the White Council along with the returning Nazgûl. Saruman readied himself for further battle but appeared to be paralyzed with awe and fear of Sauron's power. Galadriel rose in a terrifying ethereal form and began a battle of wills with Sauron. The White Wizard barely seems to have noticed this, still stunned in amazement of the Dark Lord and cowering. Galadriel eventually gained the upper hand and banished the still-weakened Sauron from Dol Guldur.

After recovering from his shock, Saruman noted that while Galadriel had banished Sauron, it took nearly all of her power to do it and advised Elrond to take her back to Lothlórien. When the Elf-lord argued that the Enemy must be found and permanently destroyed, the White Wizard replied that without the Ruling Ring, the Dark Lord would never again hold dominion over Middle-earth. Beckoning his allies to leave, Saruman promised he would 'deal' with Sauron.

The Dark Lord's puppet

Defection to the service of the Dark Lord

"Against the power of Mordor there can be no victory. We must join with him, Gandalf. We must join with Sauron. It would be wise, my friend."

— Saruman, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Instead of protecting the Free Peoples, the White Wizard plotted how to rule them. Saruman was enamored with the ways of Sauron and through the Palantir of Orthanc at Isengard he gazed towards Mordor. He was soon ensnared by the Dark Lord, who used lies and promises of power to twist him into his servant. Having sworn allegiance to Sauron, Isengard cut all ties with Gondor and became a fief of Mordor, with Saruman as its puppet-ruler In truth, he only pretended to be a faithful subordinate. Even as he acted out his new master's will, the White Wizard plotted to usurp his place as Lord of the Rings and of Middle-earth; if the gamble for the Ring failed, Saruman reckoned he would at least govern as Sauron's right-hand man. But the Eye had perceived the White Hand's treachery. Though he fancied himself his master's equal, Saruman was blind to what his role and fate as Sauron's servant truly were: the Dark Lord would use him to enslave the Free Peoples and then discard him.

In secret, Saruman recruited the Orcs of the Misty Mountains, using them mostly to fortify and despoil Isengard: beneath the tree gardens around Orthanc, a network of caverns was formed and filled with forges, furnaces and other machinery as well as breeding pits. Allying himself with Sharku, a veteran Orc-captain, and his Warg-rider warband, Saruman also sent "Isengard Orcs" to spy and harass the neighboring Rohirrim. Ultimately, the White Wizard dismissed them as an effective fighting force due to their weakness to daylight and sought answers in his master's foul craft. By learning Sauron's methods for making Uruks, Saruman crossbred common Orcs with Goblin-men to "farm" his own improved Uruk-hai, which he kept cocooned in their birthing sacs for the war. Saruman also bought the steward of Rohan, Gríma Wormtongue, with promises of Éowyn and wealth, teaching him to sap the strength of the king, Théoden, with poisons. Through his mole Gríma, Saruman was able to weaken the Rohirrim - lack of patrols and proper defense allowed Sauron's forces and the hordes of Dunland to mostly move at will, unhindered. Although not even the Wise knew Saruman had been compelled into Sauron's service, Denethor saw Saruman seizing Isengard as treachery.

Orders from Mordor

"The power of Isengard is at your command, Sauron, Lord of the Earth."

— Saruman, to Sauron, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

When Gandalf arrived at Isengard seeking counsel, Saruman acted humble and friendly at first. As the two conversed, the White Wizard learned that the One Ring had been in the Shire all along and dismissed any chance of countering the Dark Lord. In the throne room of Orthanc, Saruman revealed his treachery and urged Gandalf to submit to Sauron as he himself had done. The Grey Pilgrim and a battle of wills and magic soon ensued between him and his former ally. In the end, Saruman wrestled control of Gandalf's staff and imprisoned him atop Orthanc.

Sometime later in the throne room, the White Wizard communed with the Dark Lord through the Seeing Stone, asking for instructions. Saruman was commanded to build Sauron a second army to overrrun Rohan and then join Mordor's assault against Gondor. Gathering his Orcs, he had all trees toppled and the encircled plain of Isengard reduced to a scorched wasteland. Accompanied into the caverns bellow by a retinue of overseers, the Saruman watched the tinder feeding his machines and weapons being forged just as the Uruk-hai were raised from their slumber in the birthing sacs. The White Wizard kept the original batch for an elite force, one loyal to him and not to his master. Especially intrigued and pleased by the ferocity and brutality of Lurtz, Saruman picked him as captain of the Uruk-hai scouts .

A great many days later, Saruman confronted Gandalf once more atop Orthanc. The White Wizard tried to coerce the Grey Pilgrim into embracing the power of the Ring. Gandalf did not relent, merely mocking Saruman's delusions of grandeur and concluding that Sauron would ultimately cast him aside. To Saruman's surprise, Gandalf then jumped and was caught by Gwaihir, the Lord of Eagles, who ferried him away to safety in Rivendell. There, te Grey Pilgrim revealed that the White Wizard was building an army, both at the Dark Lord's behest and to try claim the Ring first.

Hunting the Fellowship of the Ring

"One of the halflings carries something of great value. Bring them to me alive, and unspoiled. Kill the others!."

— Saruman, to Lurtz, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Still trying to seize the Ring for himself, Saruman sent forth a swarm of Crebain to seek out the Fellowship. From the flock of crow spies, he learned that Gandalf was leading the company through Caradhras. Hoping he could force them to take the more dangerous road closer to Isengard, Saruman ascended to the roof of Orthanc and spoke words of power to both the weather and to Caradhras itself, bidding it to crush Gandalf's companions. Saruman soon conjured a deadly storm over Caradhras while the Fellowship was passing through. Eventually the corrupted Wizard sent forth a lightning bolt into the mountain, triggering an avalanche of snow that fell on the company. Saruman guessed Gandalf would be reluctant to enter Moria. The traitorous Istar knew that a Balrog of Morgoth, Durin's Bane, awaited in the mines. Saruman clearly hoped that Gandalf would instead take a different route, but the Grey Pilgrim resorted to going through the mines anyhow.

Knowing the Ring-bearer to be in Lothlórien from the Palantir, Saruman summoned Lurtz for an audience in Orthanc. Probing the creature's lack of mercy and his loyalty, the corrupted Wizard chose him to lead the hunt for the Fellowship behind his own master's back. After the hunting party was armed and assembled, Saruman tasked Lurtz with capturing the Ring-bearer -explicitly forbidding him from harming the Hobbits - and slaying the others.

War with Rohan

Claiming lordship over the land

"Rohan, my Lord, is ready to fall."

— Saruman, to Sauron, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

As the War of the Ring unfurled, Saruman was more often called for inspection and instruction through the Palantir by Sauron. The corrupted Wizard assured his master that their victory and dominion over Middle-earth drew near. Saruman vowed to remove those who opposed Sauron, starting with Théoden of Rohan.

Using the feud between the Dunlendings and the Rohirrim to his advantage, Saruman persuaded the leader of the wild men, Freca, to make blood-pact with him against Théoden; the tribal chiefs Zegrid and Wulf followed suit. With Dunland having joined the union of Isengard and Mordor, Saruman let the Dunlending hordes and Isengard Orc raiding parties loose upon the Westfold to pillage, burn and slay the defenseless Rohirrim peasants. At his special orders, one large Isengard Orc warband battled with a Rohirrim company led by Théoden's son, Théodred, at the Fords of Isen and mortally-wounded the young man in a bloody stalemate skirmish. Thus, the corrupted Wizard had eliminated another threat to his virtual lordship of the land - the king's heir. Through Gríma's poisons, Saruman had also been able to at times possess Théoden or influence him from afar, effectively rendering Rohan leaderless. Those who stood in the former White Wizard's way were banished through Wormtongue's edicts; Éomer, nephew of Théoden, was among those exiled by Gríma. Saruman was gradually removing Rohan as a thorn in Sauron's side, allowing his master to focus against Gondor and the northern Middle-earth.

While the skirmishes and raids were ongoing, the corrupted Wizard became alarmed by the slow moving of his own loyal elite fighting force with the Ring-bearer. He chose to hasten with the completion of the requested second army, hoping to thus conceal his second betrayal from his master and retain his goodwill. Saruman oversaw the work at Isengard with an Orc taskmaster, telling him that he wanted the Uruk-hai army ready to march within two weeks. His underling informed him, however, that resources were running low and the army could not be armed within the time period. Impatient, Saruman instructed him to work the furnaces double time, and build a dam, but the Orc taskmaster informed that they no longer had enough fuel to feed the fires. Gazing from the top of the wooden tower post, Saruman noted that the forest of Fangorn stood on their doorstep, and sanctioned its burning, to which the Orc taskmaster eagerly agreed, with both blatantly forgetting the perils of that forest.

Meanwhile, his personal Uruk-hai company was being led by Uglúk, after Lurtz's death at the hands of Aragorn. Having learned of Saruman's move and not trusting him fully, Sauron had sent his own Mordor Orc troop led by Grishnakh to hurry them up. Saruman's upstart plan to claim the Ring for himself was foiled when the Orcs were all killed by Rohirrim Riders on the eaves of Fangorn.

But his other plans soon went awry. Saruman suddenly found himself magically assaulted from afar by Gandalf, who had returned as the White Wizard. He sensed that his former ally was trying to break his spell over the king. Speaking through Théoden, Saruman claimed that Rohan "is [his]". But Gandalf did not relent and mustered all his power to exorcise Théoden. Saruman found himself violently thrown down back into Orthanc, left to bleed on the marble floor.

Gríma soon returned to Isengard, having been ousted as a traitor thanks to Gandalf's intervention. Wormtongue relayed the encounter to the Dark Lord's puppet, who was fuming over the new White Wizard's triumph over him. Still, Saruman ultimately dismissed Gandalf as a fool for not bending the knee to Sauron. Saruman was intrigued by Grima's description of Aragorn, especially his ring. Saruman deduced it was the Ring of Barahir, a heirloom of the House of Elendil. The corrupted Wizard dismissed the matter as the world of Men would fall anyhow. His control over Théoden shattered, Saruman understood he must now conquer the lands of the Rohirrim by force. Having also tried to cheat his lord and master, Saruman feared losing Sauron's favor, and thus hoped to appease him and bargain for his clemency by both delivering him Rohan on a silver splate and slaying the Heir of Isildur, Aragorn, for him.

Isengard Unleashed

"A new power is rising. Its victory is at hand. This night, the land will be stained with the blood of Rohan! March to Helm's Deep! Leave none alive! To war!"

— Saruman, to Sauron, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Gríma counselled that Théoden would not remain at Edoras as it was too vulnerable. Wormtongue further assured the corrupted Wizard that the King woud lead his people to the much stronger dwelling of Helm's Deep. Having learned that they would travel through the mountain pass, Saruman bid Sharku lead his company of Warg-riders to waylay them. The attack was heavy, but eventually the Orcs were defeated. Saruman later learned from the Crebain that Théoden had safely reached Helm's Deep.

Gríma futher revealed that Helm's Deep had at least one weakness in its impenetrable walls; a single culvert at the base of the deeping wall. With this in mind, Saruman prepared a blasting powder to blow a hole in the wall: the Fire of Orthanc. Wormtongue was skeptical of this, arguing that even if the wall is breached it would take immeasurable numbers to storm the keep. Slightly irritated, Saruman agreed, mildly suggesting tens of thousands, before he went to the balcony of Orthanc and was greeted by the chanting army of 10,000 Uruk-hai that Sauron had bid him make. From the tower, the corrupted Wizard declared that a "new power" - him and his master - was rising, boasting that its triumph was inevitable. Saruman then instructed the bloodthirsty Uruks to strike upon the weakened Rohirrim at Helm's Deep, urging them to show them no mercy and "leave none alive". As his army marched to war, the corrupted Wizard ominously mused that there would be "no dawn for Men".

The Battle of Helm's Deep soon commenced, and the Uruks successfully using the Fire of Orthanc to blast the wall into pieces. Saruman's servants held the upper hand for most of the battle, slaying most of not all of Haldir's elite Galadhrim warriors and inflicting heavy casualties on the Rohirrim defenders. The Uruks managed to overwhelm the fortress, but at the last minute the siege was broken by Gandalf arriving with Éomer and his cavalry. The reinforcements charged and broke through the Uruk ranks, cutting many down in the chaos that ensued within Saruman's army. The remaining few Uruks fled into a swarm of Huorns, who made quick work of Saruman's allies.

Things soon took a turn for the worse for the corrupted Wizard. He heard a commotion from Orthanc and went to the balcony to investigate. From the tower, he was horrified to see the vengeful Ents of Fangorn storming into Isengard. Angered by the burning of their trees as fuel for his furnaces and forges, the Ents destroyed all of Saruman's machinery and flood the whole plain by breaking the dam of the Isen. The Isengard Orcs were drowned and their pits were cleansed. Alarmed and unable to fight them, the corrupted Wizard fearfully retreated back into his tower. He was later seen by the hobbits Merry and Pippin as he watched from the balcony, dismayed at the destruction of his servants and machinery.

Fall of the White Wizard

"Something festers in the heart of Middle-Earth. Something that you have failed to see. But the Great Eye has seen it. Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon. You're all going to die."

— Saruman, to Sauron, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Gandalf, Théoden, Eomer, Aragorn, Legolas Greenleaf and Gimli later arrived in Isengard to parlay with Saruman. The Ents' chief, Treebeard had assumed the role of Isengard's new warden. Saruman emerged on the roof Orthanc and used the power of his voice to make himself heard down bellow. Initially feigning humility and enticing Théoden, Saruman reacted with scorn and showed his wicked nature when the king vowed retribution for his misdeeds. Gandalf attempted to reach Saruman's conscience, reminding him that many lives were lost because of him, urging him to reveal Sauron's schemes so he could prevent more loss of life. Unrepentant, the corrupted Wizard mocked the former Grey Pilgrim and gleefully bragged about his master's imminent move, while also teasing his adversaries by mentioning the weakness festering in the heart of Middle-earth. Saruman mocked Gandalf's plan to set up Aragorn as King of Gondor, dismissing the son of Arathorn as a mere ranger or exile. Hoping to further sow despair into his adversaries' hearts, Saruman also called Gandalf out on burdening Frodo with the impossible task of destroying the Ring. Gandalf offered to spare and forgive Saruman if he surrendered, to which Saruman shot a fire ball from his staff in a desperate attempt to kill him. But the new White Wizard dissolved the flames and banished the turncoat from their order by shattering his staff. Saruman was left fuming on top of Orthanc, having being out-gambitted by Gandalf again.

Wormtongue emerged on the rooftop beside him. Théoden urged Gríma to leave Saruman's side, reasoning that he is not as fallen like the Wizard and that once he was a good man and a fair aide. Gríma seemed to welcome the offer from Théoden. Still fuming over his losses, Saruman bitterly tauntsed Théoden that Helm's Deep was never his victory as by right it was won by Aragorn. Théoden ignored this and urged Gríma to come back with him to Rohan and be free of Saruman. The corrupted Wizard sneered that Wormtongue would never be free. When Gríma objected, Saruman slapped the "cur" down to the ground. Gandalf upbraided him and asked for more information. Saruman said he will tell them where they will eventually fall, but the incensed Gríma suddenly stabbed him in the back with a knife. Although Legolas hastily shot Wormtongue with an arrow, it was too late. The lifeless Saruman toppled over Orthanc's rooftop and fell, landing on a spiked mill wheel. The corrupted Wizard's body slipped into the water and the Seeing Stone the White Hand used to commune with the Great Eye fell from his robe's sleeve. Pippin retrieved it and gave it to Gandalf.

Legacy

"We shall have peace… when you answer for the burning of the westfold, and the children that lie dead there. We shall have peace, when the lives of the soldiers, whose bodies were hewn even as they lay dead against the gates of the Hornburg, are avenged!"

— Théoden, to Saruman, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Saruman's defeat would foreshadow that of Sauron, who would himself soon be ousted into the Void; both the corrupted Wizard and his master had underestimated the value of sacrifice and the courage and valor of the Free Peoples. As Gandalf had once mused, the idea that a mere Hobbit could have the strength to withstand the Ring's influence and destroy it in Mount Doom had never crossed their darkest dreams.

Personality and Traits

"Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found."

— Gandalf, to Galadriel, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Though initially regarded as wise, Saruman was gradually brought low by his pride. In truth, all of his character is reigned over by a hubris only lesser than that of Sauron himself. His bigotry, which led to him holding only contempt for Radagast or the "peasants"/"drunken brigands" of Rohan (including his own footman, Gríma), can be traced to this sense of superiority unbefitting a White Wizard. Further, it was pride that fueled both his hatred of Gandalf and his admiration of Sauron. On one hand, for all his knowledge and power, Saruman envies the greater recognition Gandalf enjoys among the Free Peoples and, in his paranoid state, he perceives all of Gandalf's efforts as means of contesting his authority and humbling him with his "piety". On the other hand, pride also persuades him to dismiss his supposed rival as a "fool". Saruman thus resorts to berating and questioning Gandalf, flatly denying his findings and making no concessions. This obtuse hubris-driven mentality makes him unable to understand that Gandalf is indeed his superior due to his honest dedication to their common task and humility. As for Saruman's fascination with Sauron, it is apparent that he adores Sauron, whom he views as the personification of power and an idol on whose image he can mold himself. In his pride, he deludes himself into believing he can be his chief vassal or usurping successor, being therefore blind to the truth that he is little more than a puppet acting out the will of his master. His quest for power is in the end a by-product of the same pride that has brought about his disdain of Gandalf and half-hearted obeisance to Sauron. It also gave him the surety that the slow-to-action Ents would not exact vengeance for his cutting of Fangorn, which proved to be false.

Saruman has also shown himself to be an adept liar, which can also be attributed to the persuasive power of his voice. Throughout his tenure as head of the White Council, he has allayed the fears of his peers with half-truths and concealed his thirst for power. Saruman also feigns respect for Gandalf, greeting him in a seemingly-pleased manner and keeping the facade of a friend and ally; though unaware of the full extent of Saruman's hatred of him, Gandalf was mildly aware that Saruman envied him. His ability to lie and please is also apparent in his relationship with his lord and master. Saruman fawned on Sauron for favor, taking on the mask of a humble vassal and playing the part dutifully by doing his bidding, while trying to withhold his plotting of a second betrayal from him; unbeknownst to the corrupted Wizard, his master had peered deeper into his mind than he knew and was willing to tolerate his vassal's double game as long as he is still a useful instrument. Still, Saruman feared incurring Sauron's wrath and tried to lie his way and sue for his clemency when he believed his treachery may be known.

The turncoat is also second in cruelty to his master. Saruman resolves to spread terror among those who oppose him and Sauron by sending Isengard Orcs and Dunlendings to not only pillage and burn, but also to slay innocente and unarmed Rohirrim - be they old folk, women or children. The White Hand also boasts with glee on the Great Eye's imminent victory, which he assumes will bring about doom for the world of Men and the Captains of the West. His cruelty or lack of care extends to his allies and servants as well. Saruman had no qualms on allowing the Uruk-hai to act out their primal savage impulses on the unfortunate Isengard Orcs handling them. He also let his own separate elite fighting force, whose loyalty was owed to him solely, to eat "magotty bread" while he hoarded good food for himself. Saruman also mistreated Gríma, a once valuable agent, mainly verbally but also phisically by slapping the "cur" down; Saruman's ill-treatment awarded to Gríma eventually proved to be his final mistake.

Equipment

• Wizard Staff - a black staff made of iron. It has a spiked crown, with a large round jewel seated in between the spikes. The crown of the staff bears a similar resemblance to the roof of Orthanc. Saruman uses it throughout most of the story until Gandalf destroys it.
• Palantir - the seeing stone of Orthanc allows Saruman to see things far off. His constant communication with Sauron ultimately led to him being shaped into a puppet.

Powers and abilities

"I must see the head of my order, he is both wise and powerful" - Gandalf tells Frodo of Saruman

Saruman was mostly skilled in the substances of the earth and how to use them. Therefore he could harness fire and create great forges to craft metal. He also possessed similar abilities to Gandalf.

• Telekinesis - Saruman uses this power to battle Gandalf, throwing the wizard across the tower room. He can also use the power to pull objects, such as Gandalf's staff, towards him.
• Destructive light - Saruman conjures bursts of energy to repel the Nazgul, which are powerful enough to break apart stone structures. One blast completely shatters a wraith into pieces.
• Fire - Saruman uses fire in his great furnaces, also specialising in blasting powder. He also shoots a large fireball from the tip of his staff.
• Power over storms - Saruman can influence the weather, such as when he spoke words of power to summon a storm on Caradhras. He even caused a lightning bolt to strike the mountain.
• Voice - Saruman has a power in his voice to sway others. It is not hypnotic, but rather it is very persuasive. It is powerful enough that Saruman can converse with people from a great distance, using it to converse with someone 500 feet overhead from the roof of Orthanc.
• Mind Control - a dark power similar to that of Sauron's. Using Wormtongue to place the spell, Saruman was able to gain total control over Theoden's mind. This however proved disasterous, as when Gandalf forcibly broke the spell, Saruman was physically wounded.

Appearances

Note: This list is incomplete

• The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War
• The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
• The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Extended Edition)

Reference list