Also known as: Melkor
Originally the mightiest of all the Ainur, Melkor was the first Dark Lord and the prime source of evil in Arda. In the beginning, he was granted the greatest share of power and knowledge among the Ainur by Iluvatar, but his desire to create and dominate according to his own will led him to introduce discord into the Great Music. He sought the Imperishable Flame to give life to creations of his own devising but could never find it, for it was with Iluvatar alone.
Upon entering Arda, Melkor waged war against the other Valar, marring their work at every turn. He raised the great fortress of Utumno in the north and later Angband, where he bred Orcs, Trolls, Balrogs, and dragons to serve his will. He stole the Silmarils from Feanor, murdered Feanor's father Finwe, and destroyed the Two Trees of Valinor with the aid of Ungoliant. This act earned him the name Morgoth, "the Black Enemy," given by Feanor.
Morgoth's wars against the Elves and Men of Beleriand lasted for centuries. He captured and tortured Maedhros, cursed Hurin and his children, and destroyed the hidden kingdoms of Nargothrond, Gondolin, and Doriath through treachery and force. Yet his power diminished over time, for he poured his will into his servants and into the very substance of Arda itself (called "Morgoth's Ring" by Tolkien). At last, the Valar intervened in the War of Wrath, and Morgoth was defeated, his feet hewn from under him, his iron crown beaten into a collar, and he was cast through the Door of Night into the Timeless Void. Yet his influence persists, for his malice is woven into the fabric of the world, and his greatest servant, Sauron, continued his legacy of domination.