Also known as: Curumo, Saruman The White, Saruman Of Many Colours, Sharkey, Curunir
Originally Curumo, a Maia of Aule, Saruman was the chief of the Istari (Wizards) sent to Middle-earth to oppose Sauron. He was the most learned of the order, with deep knowledge of ring-lore and the devices of Sauron. Saruman settled at Isengard, where the Ents had granted him use of the tower of Orthanc, and for centuries he studied the arts of the Enemy, ostensibly to find ways to defeat him. But his study turned to desire, and desire to ambition. Through the palantir of Orthanc, he made contact with Sauron and was ensnared, becoming at first a tool and then a rival of the Dark Lord. He bred the Uruk-hai, half-orc soldiers of terrible strength, and stripped the ancient forests around Isengard to fuel his war machine. He betrayed Gandalf, imprisoning him atop Orthanc, and sent his forces against Rohan. His armies were destroyed at Helm's Deep, and the Ents laid waste to Isengard in retribution for his destruction of the trees. Stripped of his power by Gandalf, Saruman was reduced to a petty tyrant who took over the Shire under the name "Sharkey." He was killed by his own servant Grima Wormtongue on the doorstep of Bag End.