The White Wizard, also referred to as Chief of the Order of the Istari, was a title held originally by Saruman, and later by Gandalf. It was given to the two Maiar who acted as head of the Order of the Istari, being thus charged with watching over the Free Peoples of Middle-earth.
History[]
The first Chief of the Order of the Istari was the Maia Saruman, who was also the nominal head of the White Council. Lusting for more power, the White Wizard deluded himself into believing he could become the quasi-equal of the Dark Lord himself and gradually turned his back on the Free Peoples. To achieve this, Saruman swore his allegiance to Sauron,[1] thinking he would end up ruling Middle-earth at the side of his new lord or rule all himself, by becoming the new Lord of the Rings. Having become little more than the Dark Lord's puppet,[2] he was the White Wizard no more.[3] Saruman assaulted Rohan on Sauron's behalf and harried the Fellowship until his demise at the hands of his mistreated footman, Gríma Wormtongue.[4]
The second Chief of the Order of the Istari was the Maia Gandalf, a notable member of the White Council and the true opponent of Sauron. Humble and seeking only to accomplish his mission - that of guiding the Free Peoples - the Grey Pilgrim sacrificed himself to protect the Ring-bearer.[5] This act of selflessness led to him being revived by the One and sent back to finish his task as the new White Wizard.[3] Having set the Hobbits on their path, Gandalf paved the way for Sauron's final downfall. Having finished his mission, that of challenging the Dark Lord's reign of terror, the White Wizard was summoned back into the far West and left the shores of Middle-earth.[4]
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings Collector's Models
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings: Weapons and Warfare
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring