From "the letters of JRR Tolkien", letter # 144

".....There are no precise opposites to the Wizards - a translation (perhaps not suitable, but throughout distinguished from other 'magician' terms) of Q. Elvish Istari. Their origin was not known to any but a few (such as Elrond and Galadriel) in the Third Age. They are said to have first appeared about the year 1000 of the Third Age, when the shadow of Sauron began first to grow again to new shape. They always appeared old, but grew older with their labours, slowly, and disappeared with the end of the Rings. They were thought to be Emissaries (in the terms of this tale from the Far West beyond the Sea), and their proper function, maintained by Gandalf, and perverted by Saruman, was to encourage and bring out the native powers of the Enemies of Sauron....."

            Istari - Istar - Ithryn - Wizards - Maiar - Wise Ones

                Radagast the Brown

Radagast	Meaning: Tender of Beast
Kind	Maia/Ista
Lifespan	no known beginning or end

Wizard associated with animals and nature. Radagast was one of the five Wizards sent to Middle-earth in the Third Age. The Wizards were Maiar spirits who took the form of old men. They were selected by the Valar to encourage the peoples of Middle-earth to oppose Sauron. Radagast was a Maia named Aiwendel. He was selected by Yavanna, the Vala of growing things. According to one tale, Yavanna asked Curumo - who became known as Saruman - to take Aiwendel with him to Middle-earth.

In Middle-earth, Radagast made his home at Rhosgobel on the western border of Mirkwood. He was known to Beorn, the skin-changer who lived to the north near the Carrock. Radagast was a master of shapes and changes of hue and he was knowledgeable in the lore of animals and plants. He befriended beasts and especially birds and he was able to communicate with them. Radagast spent most of his time with wildlife and had little time for Elves and Men.

In the summer of 3018, Radagast was contacted by Saruman, the head of the Order of Wizards. Saruman told Radagast to seek Gandalf the Grey and tell him that the Nine Ringwraiths were abroad seeking news of the Shire and that if Gandalf wanted aid he should come to Isengard at once. Radagast was an honest Wizard and he did not realize that Saruman was deceiving him and using him to lay a trap for Gandalf.

Radagast found Gandalf at Midsummer on the Greenway near Bree and delivered Saruman's message. Gandalf asked Radagast to tell the birds and beasts to bring any news of the Enemy's plans to Isengard. Radagast rode to Mirkwood and spread the word among his friends. The Great Eagles flew far and wide and gathered news of the Nine Ringwraiths and the mustering of Orcs and Wargs and the escape of Gollum from Mirkwood. Then Gwaihir the Windlord went to Isengard where he found Gandalf imprisoned on the pinnacle of Orthanc and helped him escape.

This is all that is known of Radagast's activities during the War of the Ring. While his affinity with nature was useful to Gandalf, overall it appears that Radagast neglected his mission to assist the peoples of Middle-earth in their struggle against Sauron. It is said that of the five Wizards only Gandalf remained faithful to his task and that he was the only one allowed to return to the Undying Lands. It may be that Radagast remained in Middle-earth among the wild things that he loved for a time, but his ultimate fate is unknown.

Other Names:
As a Maia, Radagast was called Aiwendel. Saruman scornfully referred to Radagast as Radagast the Bird-tamer, Radagast the Simple, and Radagast the Fool.

Etymology:
In the essay "The Istari" the name Radagast is said to mean "tender of beasts" in the language of Numenor. However, in a later note Tolkien says that the name is in the language of the Men of the Vales of the Anduin and that its meaning is not interpretable.

The name Radagast may also be related to Old English. The word gast means "ghost, spirit, angel." The element rad could be derived from the word gerád meaning "wise" or possibly from rudu meaning "ruddy, reddish."

Aiwendel means "friend of birds" in Quenya from aiwe meaning "birds" and -nil or -ndil meaning "friend."

Gandalf the Grey

Gandalf	Name among the Northern Men. Meaning: 'Elfish wight with a (magic) staff,' though he was not an elf.
Kind	Maia/Istar
Lifespan	Immortal, no known beginning or ending

Gandalf was one of the Order of Wizards sent to Middle-earth to oppose Sauron. During his 2,000 years in Middle-earth, Gandalf came to understand and love the land and its peoples, particularly Hobbits. Gandalf worked ceaselessly to counter Sauron's plans to dominate Middle-earth, and he set in motion a chain of events that ultimately resulted in the Dark Lord's downfall.

Gandalf was one of the Maiar, spirits who helped and served the Valar. When he lived in the Undying Lands he was known as Olorin, and he was the wisest of the Maiar. He sometimes walked among the Elves unseen or as one of them and shared wisdom and fair visions with them. For much of the time, Olorin dwelled in Lorien, the gardens of the Vala Irmo for which the woods of Lothlorien in Middle-earth were named. Olorin also frequently visited Nienna in her home in the far west near the walls of the world. It was said that Olorin learned pity and patience from Nienna. But Olorin seems to have been most closely associated with the Valar Manwe and Varda, and it was they who sent Olorin to Middle-earth around the year 1000 of the Third Age.

The Maiar who were sent by the Valar to Middle-earth were given the bodies of old men and were known as Istari, or Wizards. Their mission was to help the free peoples of Middle-earth oppose Sauron without seeking domination or power for themselves. Olorin was the last of the five Wizards to arrive at the Grey Havens in northwestern Middle-earth. There Cirdan the Shipwright gave him Narya, one of the Three Rings of the Elves, saying:

"Take this ring, Master, for your labours will be heavy; but it will support you in the weariness that you have taken upon yourself. For this is the Ring of Fire, and with it you may rekindle hearts in a world that grows chill. But as for me, my heart is with the Sea, and I will dwell by the grey shores until the last ship sails. I will await you."
Appendix B: "The Tale of Years," p. 366

Among Men Olorin became known as Gandalf the Grey and the Elves called him Mithrandir, the Grey Pilgrim. He wandered far and wide throughout Middle-earth and had no fixed abode. He had a long white beard and bushy eyebrows and he wore a blue pointed hat, a silver scarf, and a long grey cloak.

Around the year 1100, the Wizards and the chief Elves discovered that an evil power had built a stronghold at Dol Guldur in Mirkwood. At the time, they thought it was one of the Nazgul. But the shadow that fell on the forest grew, and by 2060 the Wise feared it might be the return of Sauron, who had been overthrown at the end of the Second Age. Gandalf went to Dol Guldur in 2063 to investigate, and Sauron fled and went into hiding in the East.

The Watchful Peace lasted until 2460, when Sauron returned with increased strength to Dol Guldur. Three years later the White Council was formed, made up of the chief Wizards and Elves. The leader of the White Council was Saruman, who was the head of the order of Wizards. Galadriel had suggested that Gandalf lead the Council, but Gandalf had refused for he did not want to be beholden to anyone or anything except his true mission in Middle-earth.

Gandalf returned to Dol Guldur in disguise in 2850 and found Thrain, father of Thorin Oakenshield, in the dungeon. Thrain gave Gandalf a map of the Lonely Mountain and a key to its secret door before he died. Gandalf learned that the evil presence in Dol Guldur was indeed Sauron and he urged the White Council to take action but Saruman overruled him.

Despite the ruling of the head of his order, Gandalf was troubled by the presence of Sauron. He feared that the Dragon Smaug, who had taken the Lonely Mountain from the Dwarves, might be used as a tool by Sauron to wreak havoc in the north and allow Sauron to attack Rivendell and Lothlorien.

By chance one day in March of 2941, Gandalf met Thrain's son Thorin Oakenshield in Bree. Thorin wanted to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from Smaug and Gandalf saw an opportunity to rid the north of the threat of the Dragon, so together they devised a plan. Thorin gathered a company of twelve Dwarves while Gandalf selected a Hobbit to be the fourteenth member of the party. This turned out to be one of the key decisions that led to Sauron's downfall.

Gandalf was unique among the Wise for his interest in Hobbits. It is not known when he first went to the Shire, but he appeared there from time to time and was famous among Hobbits especially for his fireworks. He was also held responsible for causing several Hobbit lads and lasses to embark on adventures. Gandalf came to the aid of the Hobbits during the Fell Winter of 2911 and was impressed by their courage and pity for one another in the face of dreadful hardship. He also knew Hobbits to be stealthy, a quality he deemed useful for sneaking into a Dragon's lair.

After the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, the leaders met to discuss their next move. Gandalf advised them that victory could not be achieved by arms and that their best course was to try to distract Sauron's attention to give the Ring-bearer time to complete his task.

Alatar and Pollando, The Blue Wizards

Ithryn Luin	Meaning: The Blue Wizards
Names	Alatar and Pallando, changed to Morinehtar and Romestamo
Kind	Maiar
Family/Division	Istari
Lifespan	no known beginning or end

Two of the five Wizards sent to Middle-earth in the Third Age. The Wizards were Maiar spirits who took the form of old men. They were selected by the Valar to encourage the peoples of Middle-earth to oppose Sauron. Alatar was chosen by the Vala Orome. Pallando - who was also a Maia of Orome - accompanied Alatar as a friend.

Alatar and Pallando wore robes of sea-blue and were known as the Blue Wizards, or Ithryn Luin. They arrived in Middle-earth around the year 1000 of the Third Age and travelled to the lands far east of the Anduin. They were accompanied by Saruman, but while Saruman eventually returned to western Middle-earth, the Blue Wizards remained in the East.

It is not certain what became of the Blue Wizards. Their task was to help free the Men of the eastern lands, where the influence of Sauron was especially strong. It is possible that the Blue Wizards may have had a certain amount of success at first, for it is noted in one source (HoME XII) that Sauron's eastern forces were not as strong as they might have been. (However, it should be noted that this source contradicts others by stating that the Blue Wizards arrived in Middle-earth during the Second Age long before the other three Wizards.)

Whether the Blue Wizards were initially successful or not, it appears that ultimately they failed in their mission. They may have perished, or they may have been corrupted by Sauron, or they may have strayed from their purpose. Tolkien speculated in Letter #211 that the Blue Wizards were the founders of "secret cults and 'magic' traditions" that continued after Sauron's downfall into the Fourth Age and possibly beyond.

Whatever their ultimate fate, the Blue Wizards did not return to the Undying Lands from whence they came. The only one of the five Wizards to do so was Gandalf.

Other Names:
The names of the Blue Wizards are given as Morinehtar and Rómestámo in a note written by Tolkien late in life (HoME XII). It is not clear whether these names were intended to replace the names Alatar and Pallando, or whether Morinehtar and Romestamo were alternate names for the Blue Wizards, possibly those given to them by the people of Middle-earth.

Etymology:
The meanings of the names Alatar and Pallando are not known. Pallando may contain the element palan meaing "far." The name Morinehtar is translated as "Darkness-slayer" and Rómestámo is translated as "East-helper."

Ithryn Luin is Sindarin meaning "Blue Wizards." The word ithryn is the Sindarin equivalent of the Quenya word istari meaning "wise ones" or "wizards." The singular of ithryn is ithron. The word luin means "blue."

Saruman The White

Saruman	Meaning: Man of Skill
Kind	Maia/Ista
Lifespan	b. no known beginning slain in 3019 T.A. though his spirit remained, impotent

Saruman the White was the Chief of the Order of Wizards. He was wise and powerful, but he was also proud and he became corrupted by desire for the One Ring and was ensnared by the will of Sauron. He created armies and machinery and sought to expand his power, but in the end Saruman's works were undone by a power greater than any he could devise and he was slain by one of his own slaves.

Saruman was originally a Maia known as Curumo. The Maiar were spirits who helped and served the Valar in the Undying Lands. Curumo was one of the Maiar of Aule, the Vala whose domain was the substances of which the earth was made. Aule was a smith and a master of crafts and works of skill, and from him Curumo gained much knowledge.

Sauron had also once been a Maia of Aule. He had turned to evil and sought to establish dominion over Middle-earth and the Valar decided to send emissaries oppose him. Curumo was chosen by Aule and he became one of the Istari, or Wizards. The Wizards' mission was to help the free peoples of Middle-earth in their struggle against Sauron without seeking domination or power for themselves.

Curumo went to Middle-earth around the year 1000 of the Third Age. He was said to have been the first of the Wizards to arrive in Middle-earth, although according to another story he was asked by Aule's spouse Yavanna to bring the Wizard Radagast with him.

Curumo was called Saruman by Men, among whom he spent most of his time. The Elves called him Curunir. Like the other Wizards, he had taken the form of an old man. Saruman was tall with a noble bearing. His hair was black at first, and though it turned white over time streaks of black remained. Saruman had a fair voice and a subtle manner of speech which he could use to persuade others. His robes were white, signifying that he was the highest of the Order of Wizards.

Early on, Saruman went on many journeys throughout Middle-earth. He travelled into the far East with the two Blue Wizards, but while they remained there Saruman returned to northwestern Middle-earth.

In 2463, the White Council was formed comprised of the chief Wizards and Elves - including Saruman, Gandalf, Elrond, Galadriel, and Cirdan. Their main concern was the evil power occupying the stronghold of Dol Guldur in Mirkwood, which they feared might be Sauron. When it came time to choose a leader of the Council, Galadriel favored Gandalf, but Gandalf refused and Saruman became the head of the White Council instead.

Saruman became resentful and jealous of Gandalf. He realized that Gandalf was stronger than he was, though more humble, and had greater influence among the peoples of Middle-earth. Saruman was also aware that Gandalf had been given Narya, one of the Three Rings of the Elves, and this made Saruman particularly envious because he considered the Rings of Power to be his special area of expertise. Saruman had long studied the history of the Rings and their making and eventually he even used his skills at craftsmanship to try his hand at Ring-making on a lesser scale.

Of special interest to Saruman was the whereabouts of the One Ring - the Ruling Ring forged by Sauron that had been taken by Isildur and lost in the Gladden Fields where Isildur was slain. Saruman made many visits to the archives of Minas Tirith and learned all he could about Isildur. Among the scrolls discovered by Saruman was one written by Isildur that described the Ring and the inscription it bore.

In the archives, Saruman also learned about the palantiri, or Seeing-stones - devices that could be used to gather information and communicate over great distances. Saruman knew that there was a palantir in the tower of Orthanc at Isengard - a stronghold in the Gap of Rohan at the southern end of the Misty Mountains. Though Isengard was in Rohan, it belonged to Gondor, but the guard there had grown lax. In 2759, Saruman offered to take up residence in Isengard and repair and maintain its defenses. He was given the Keys of Orthanc by Beren, the Steward of Gondor.

That same year, Saruman attended the coronation of King Frealaf of Rohan. He brought gifts and praised the valor of the Rohirrim. Rohan had just endured an invasion from Dunland as well as the Long Winter. In the years of hardship that followed they profited from their new friendship with Saruman and they were happy to have a Wizard of great power in the stronghold on their western border.

Saruman also became acquainted with Treebeard, the eldest of the Ents in nearby Fangorn Forest. He walked in the woods and spoke with Treebeard and learned many things from him, though he did not share information in kind.

The White Council met at Rivendell in 2851. Gandalf reported that he had been to Dol Guldur and had determined that the evil occupant was indeed Sauron. Gandalf recommended that the White Council attack Dol Guldur, but Saruman overruled him. Saruman told the Council that he believed the One Ring had been washed down to the Sea, where it could not be recovered, and that without it Sauron could not regain his strength. The Council agreed to continue to wait and watch, though Gandalf remained troubled.

In truth, Saruman began searching the Gladden Fields for the One Ring in order to claim it for himself. In his long study of Sauron's Ring, Saruman had become corrupted by the lure of its power and he sought to replace Sauron whom he had come to view as a rival. Saruman believed that if he found the Ring he would be capable of wielding it to establish order as he saw fit and rule the world of Men.

Saruman reasoned that if Sauron remained in Dol Guldur, the Ring might reveal itself while seeking its Master. But in 2939, Saruman learned that Sauron was also searching the Gladden Fields for the Ring. Therefore when Gandalf again proposed an attack on Dol Guldur at a Council meeting in 2941, Saruman agreed. It was by the devices of Saruman that the attack was successful, and Sauron fled Dol Guldur.

Unknown to the Council, Sauron had been prepared for the attack and he returned to his former stronghold in Mordor and began gathering his strength. He declared himself openly in 2951, and in 2953 the White Council met for the final time. They had learned that Sauron was actively seeking the Ring. Saruman assured them that he had determined that the Ring was in fact at the bottom of the Sea where Sauron would never find it.

Neither Sauron nor Saruman ever found the Ring in the Gladden Fields. Saruman did find the empty case on a chain that had once held the Ring, as well as the Elendilmir - the token of royalty of the North-kingdom - which Isildur had been wearing when he died. Saruman hid these items away in Orthanc along with many other treasures he had gathered. But the Ring was long gone. Gollum had taken it deep under the Misty Mountains where it was discovered by a Hobbit named Bilbo Baggins.

Saruman had no knowledge of Bilbo's discovery, yet he was aware of Gandalf's interest in Hobbits and he was suspicious of everything Gandalf did. Saruman visited the Shire himself in disguise, but he feared discovery by Gandalf so he sent agents to Bree and the Southfarthing to learn what they could of Gandalf's interest in the Shire.

Saruman had also secretly begun to smoke pipe-weed from the Shire, though he publicly scoffed at Gandalf's use of it. He purchased pipe-weed from plantations owned by the Bracegirdles and Sackville-Bagginses and he used his payments to corrupt some of them to spy on their fellow Hobbits.

After the last meeting of the White Council, Saruman isolated himself in Isengard. He had originally been entrusted with Isengard as a lieutenant of the Steward and a warden of the tower, but now he claimed the stronghold for himself and began to increase its fortifications. He destroyed Isengard's beautiful gardens and dug pits which he filled with forges and machinery. To fuel the fires, Saruman had trees cut down in Fangorn Forest.

Saruman began to build his own army. He recruited Men from Dunland who hated Rohan, and he also gathered Wolves and Orcs to him. Among these Orcs were a special breed of Uruk-hai who were large and strong and could withstand direct sunlight. There were also a number of Men in Saruman's service who appeared to have Orc blood. These races may have been the result of cross-breeding experiments between Orcs and Men conducted by Saruman. Saruman was also said to have fed his Uruk-hai on the flesh of Men.

Around the year 3000, Saruman began to use the palantir. At first, Saruman may have seen visions of far-off places or events in the Orthanc-stone, but eventually he came in contact with another palantir - the Ithil-stone which was held in the Dark Tower by Sauron. Saruman's integrity had been weakened by the abandonment of his moral principles in his quest for power, and he was thus vulnerable to domination by the superior will of Sauron. Before long, Saruman felt compelled to report to Sauron via the palantir. The users of a palantir communicated by thought, and it is likely that Sauron learned more from Saruman than he intended to reveal.

Saruman continued his plan to expand his power, beginning with the conquest of Rohan. Rohan was Gondor's strongest ally and therefore it also benefited Sauron's plans for Rohan to be weakened. Saruman's Uruks came down from the Misty Mountains and raided the Rohirrim's horses and Sauron's Orcs conducted raids on Rohan from the east.

Saruman enlisted a Man of Rohan named Grima to be his agent in the court of King Theoden of Rohan. Grima became Theoden's counsellor and began to exert his influence over the King on behalf of Saruman. In 3014, Theoden became ill, possibly as a result of poisons administered by Grima. Theoden appeared to age prematurely and his judgment became clouded and he became dependent on Grima's advice. It was Saruman's intention to weaken King Theoden and thereby leave Rohan open to attack.

Above all, Saruman desired to find the One Ring, which he still hoped to claim for himself. He was increasingly suspicious that Gandalf was aware of the Ring's whereabouts and that somehow the Hobbits of the Shire were involved. Saruman's spies had reported that the Rangers of the North were closely guarding the Shire, and in 3001 this guard had been doubled.