Who Are The Order Of Wizards In Lord Of The Rings?

Lord of the Rings has many powerful and enigmatic characters, some aiming to counter or support Sauron’s influence. Among the elves, humans, dwarves and hobbits, there is a notable group of wizards wandering about Middle-earth, distinctive due to their appearance as old men bearing staffs and long, thick beards.

Although we mostly see two of these wizards in the movies, there are, in reality, five of them in total. As ancient spirits of great wisdom and power, they emerged on Middle-earth for a single, important mission. However, factors such as temptation and greed have caused some in the Order of Wizards to be led astray from the righteous path.

The Origins Of The Order

Before diving fully into the Order of Wizards, it’s important to know what the members of the order actually are. All five members were known as Maiar, which is a race of divine, primaeval spirits that were created to help the Valar with the creation of the world.

As a result, this suggests that they are immortal creatures with the ability to affect the world around them physically. However, we do know that these spirits can shapeshift into whatever form they please.

During the Third Age, Manwë, the King of the Valar, gathered a council to discuss a strategy to counter Sauron‘s dark influence and protect the Free Peoples of Middle-earth.

When it was decided that three representatives would be sent, only two willingly stepped forward: Curumo and Alatar, who were sent by the Valar Aulë and Oromë, respectively. Manwë himself put forward Olórin’s name, and though the spirit protested, claiming to fear Sauron, the Valar King ultimately ordered him to go.

Another of the Valar, Yavanna, requested for Aiwendil to be brought along while Alatar decided to take his dear friend, Pallando, with him. As such, five – rather than three – emissaries journeyed to Middle-earth and became known as the Order of Wizards (also referred to as the Five Guardians or the Istari).

They took on the appearance of old, kindly men so as not to alarm the races of Middle-earth, though, in most cases, no one ever guessed that they were Maiar.

But before they left, the Valar decreed that the Istari are disallowed from ruling over the Free Peoples or pursuing a power equal to – or more – than the Dark Lord. If they disobeyed and failed to succeed in their mission, the Istari would be cast out of Valinor forever and have their powers gradually stripped from them.

The five wizards of Middle-earth are:

The Fate Of The Wizards

The Blue Wizards

Alatar and Pallando are collectively known as the Ithryn Luin, or the Blue Wizards due to their blue robes. Of all the Istari, they have the least amount of information about their travels and their fates.

However, we do know that the duo traveled with Saruman to the east of Middle-earth to sway the loyalties of the Haradrim and the Easterlings away from Sauron. But this attempt must have failed, because we saw both the Haradrim and the Easterlings in Peter Jackson’s adaptations still serving Sauron, as seen in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

Although Saruman returned from the east, he did so alone and the Blue Wizards disappeared from history. Considering what happened to Saruman later on, it could be possible that Saruman may have betrayed and killed the Blue Wizards.

There is also the possibility that the Blue Wizards were defeated and killed in their mission east, or they may have diverted from their true goal and disobeyed one of the rules the Valar set.

Ultimately, their fates remain a mystery, and it’s unlikely we’ll ever get confirmation on what happened to them.

Radagast The Brown

We only hear mentions of Radagast in the Lord of the Rings movies, but he takes a more prominent role during The Hobbit trilogy. Along with his fellow Maiar, Radagast first arrived in Middle-earth at the Grey Havens during the year 1000 in the Third Age.

Unlike the other Wizards, Radagast’s great love and care for nature and the animals living in it grew to the point that he hardly focused on the mission against Sauron.

As a result, Radagast largely isolates himself from worldly concerns despite being a member of the White Council, taking residence in Rhosgobel in the east of Mirkwood, where he serves as a guardian for its wildlife. Sometime in the late Third Age, Radagast left Rhosgobel as the War of the Ring intensified, helping Saruman find the One Ring, unaware that he had turned from their mission.

Radagast also helped Saruman notify Gandalf that he wanted to meet, again unaware that it was a trap for the Grey Wizard. He did not know Gandalf had been imprisoned when he sent Gwaihir, one of the Great Eagles, to Orthanc to bear a message, inadvertently helping him escape.

It’s unknown what Radagast did for the rest of the war nor what his fate was, but it could be assumed he returned to Valinor after Sauron’s defeat.

Saruman The White

The head of the Order of Wizards, Saruman – also known as the White Messenger – was the first of the Istari to arrive on Middle-earth. Even early on in their mission, Saruman showed his arrogance and jealousy towards Gandalf when the Sindar Círdan claimed that Gandalf would be the wisest and greatest of the Wizards.

He continued to show his fear, envy and wariness of Gandalf when he insisted on heading the White Council, to which Galadriel wanted Gandalf to lead it instead.

After investigating deeper into the One Ring, Saruman’s lust for power grows exponentially, and he starts working for his own ends, manipulating his allies to get his hands on the One Ring for himself. Saruman eventually swore fealty to Sauron, basing his operations in Isengard. However, he was, at the same time, moving against the Dark Lord, creating the Uruk-hai as his personal army.

His plans were foiled when the Ents rose in anger and destroyed Isengard, along with his servant Wormtongue losing his hold on Théoden, King of Rohan. The Dark Lord also becomes aware of his treachery, leaving Saruman cornered. Gandalf, who had been resurrected, removed Saruman from the Order and destroyed his staff as punishment.

Although in the movie, Saruman was killed after Wormtongue stabbed him in the back, the book details Saruman’s end differently. The White Messenger escaped Isengard with Wormtongue and ruled the Shire as an oppressive overlord, before being overthrown and killed by Wormtongue. His spirit was sentenced to wander for eternity, never to be restored.

Gandalf The Grey

The most well-known and beloved of the Order, Gandalf the Grey was, essentially, the only one of the Wizards who succeeded in accomplishing the Istari’s ultimate mission. He was respected and considered a great friend of the Elves, befriended the Hobbits of the Shire and was the most active in assisting the Free Peoples in stopping Sauron.

Gandalf kickstarted the Quest for Erebor, fearful that Smaug’s continued presence would see him ally with Sauron. They were ultimately successful, with Smaug killed and the One Ring – unknowingly – falling into Bilbo’s hands. Gandalf also researched deeper into the lore of the One Ring, but unlike Saruman, refused to be tempted by its allure.

He was also mainly responsible for putting together the Fellowship of the Ring, guiding the company to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring. However, Gandalf died when he battled with a Balrog in the ruins of Moria, though he was resurrected as Gandalf the White after Eru deemed him too important in continuing the Valar’s mission on Middle-earth.

Restored to himself, Gandalf not only freed King Théoden from Saruman’s grip but participated in the Battle for Helm’s Deep and the Siege of Gondor. After the One Ring is eventually destroyed, Gandalf returns to Valinor alongside Bilbo and Frodo, his mission finally complete after more than two millennia.