In the Third Age of Middle Earth, 5 wizards were sent from across the sea.
The Istari as their order was called, were Maiar Spirits, sent by the Valar of Valinor,
to keep watch over the free peoples of Middle Earth and aid them where possible against
the rising spirit of the Dark Lord Sauron.
Although the threat of Sauron was great, the Valinor had already seen the tragic consequences
of direct interference at the end of the First Age, when they brought their might against
Morgoth resulting in the destruction of Beleriand, and reshaping of the world.
They also knew of the corruption and lust for power that could result from even the
Maiar’s use of magic, as evidenced by Sauron who was once a Maia of Valinor before falling
to darkness.
And so the Valar chose to help Middle Earth by sending the Istari but forbidding them
from using their full strength or using their powers directly against the Dark Lord.
They also took the form of old men, so they could speak to Elves and Men as equals, to
win their trust.
The Leader of their order, Saruman the White, originally known as Curumo, was sent by the
Vala Aule and was considered a wise and respected figure in Middle Earth, even made leader of
the White Council, a group of powerful Elves and Wizards formed to challenge the growing
power of Sauron.
However Saruman ultimately became corrupted by his lust for power, believing he could
ally with Sauron against the Free Peoples in order to seize the One Ring for himself.
However his treachery was discovered both by the White Council and Sauron, leading to
his ultimate defeat.
Yet he survived the war of the ring, though brought low, and so ended his days as small
time crime boss in the Shire, killed by his minion Grima Wormtongue on the front steps
of Bag End.
When he died his spirit sought to travel east to Valinor, but was blown away by a strong
wind, forbidden from returning.
Called Olorin in elder days, Gandalf the Grey was sent by Manwe, but was also a pupil of
Varda, Nienna and Irmo.
He was the most kindhearted and humble of the Istari, and so had to be ordered to join
them as he initially believed himself too weak and frightened of Sauron to be of any
use on their mission.
Yet he would go on to become the most pivotal leader in the fight against Sauron, proving
a master strategist in the war of the ring.
He would die fighting a Balrog of Moria only to be reborn as Gandalf the White, to replace
Saruman the betrayer as leader of their order.
When peace was at last restored, he left Middle Earth with the Elves and the Hobbit Ringbearers
Bilbo and Frodo, finally returning to his homeland of Valinor.
Once known as Aiwendil, Radagast the Brown was not originally to be sent with the Istari
but was included at the insistence of Yavanna, so he could spent his days looking after the
plant and animal life of the West, tending to the children of Yavanna and aiding Gandalf
and Saruman before the betrayal, whenever possible.
Originally known as Alatar and Pallando.
Only Alatar was asked to join the great venture, yet the great friendship he had with Pallando
allowed for both to go.
They were sent by Orome and later became known as the blue wizards Morinehtar and Rómestámo.
Although little is known about their purpose or reasoning, the blue wizards journeyed to
the east of Middle Earth, where it is believed they fought against Sauron in their own ways
and may have played pivotal roles in fighting back against his dark armies to ensure they
could not attack the West with their full strength.
But there are also tales of great cults of magic being started by the wizards and their
ultimate fate, remains unknown.