During the dark times of Middle-earth during Saurons reign of terror, five wizards were sent to Middle-earth to serve as advisors to oppose evil. The wizards were not allowed to dominate or control the inhabitants of Middle-earth.The order of Wizards, the Maiar, came to Middle-earth after the first millennium of the Third Age.
Of these, five came to the northwestern regions; Saruman, Gandalf, Radagast, Alatar and Pallando. Of the many spirits that descended into Arda at its beginning, those of lesser stature than the Valar, however, still powerful, were known as the Maiar. Each of the Maiar was assigned to the 'people' of a particular Vala.
In the Third Age, there were several Maiar still stayin in the realm of Middle-earth. The most important of these were Saruman, Sauron (originally also of Aule's people), and Olorin, known as Gandalf, who belonged to the people of Manwe and Varda. Among the many Ainur that entered the World long ago, there was one of the order of the Maiar named Melian. Alone of all the Ainur, she wedded one of the Children of Iluvatar, King Elu Thingol of Doriath.
From her, a strain of the Ainur entered the bloodlines of the Elves and Men, passed down through generation after generation, and were still present at the time of the War of the Ring. Elrond was Melian's great-great-grandson, and Aragorn, too, was her descendant, though through many more generations than Elrond.
The host of spiritual beings brought into existence by Eru Iluvatar before the beginning of the World. The Holy Ones were better known by their Elvish name - Ainur - of which 'holy ones' is the English translation. These Ainur were the agents through which Iluvatar created Arda, through their making of a Great Music, but that Music, and the World that sprang from it, was marred by Melkor.
After seeing a vision of the new world, many of the Holy Ones desired to bring it to fruition, and bound themselves to it to guide its formation and growth. The most powerful of these became the beings known as the Valar, while the many lesser spirits that came to their aid were the Maiar, and perhaps other orders as well. Ranged against them were others, who had in the beginning been Holy Ones themselves, but who had fallen into darkness: the Dark Lord Melkor, his mighty follower Sauron, and many corrupted Maiar, including the demons known as Balrogs.
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