Sméagol was changed by the Ring’s influence over four and a half centuries into the creature known as Gollum. His friend and cousin Sméagol stole the Ring and murdered Déagol. The Ring remained hidden in the riverbed for almost two and a half millennia until a Stoor named Déagol discovered it while on a fishing trip in TA 2463. The Third Age Discovery by Sméagol and Déagolĭéagol observing the Ring for the first time Since it indirectly caused Isildur's death by slipping from his finger and revealing him to the Orcs, it was known in Gondor's lore as Isildur's Bane. The Ring was cut from Sauron's hand by Isildur at the end of the Siege of Barad-dûr in SA 3441, and he in turn lost it in the River Anduin (at the Gladden Fields) just before he was killed in an Orc ambush ( TA 2). The Ring on Sauron's finger shortly before his defeat by Isildur Ascending rapidly to become the King's most trusted counselor, Sauron was able to use the Númenóreans' fear of death as a way to turn them against the Valar, and toward worship of Melkor.Īlthough Sauron's body was destroyed in the Fall of Númenor, his spirit was able to bear the Ring back to Middle-earth and he wielded it in his renewed war against the Last Alliance of Elves and Men between SA 34. The Elves had not revealed to the Númenóreans the existence of the Rings of Power, and so Ar-Pharazôn was unaware of the One Ring's existence and capabilities. However, Sauron's surrender was both "voluntary and cunning", allowing him to gain access to the people of Númenor. Understanding that he could not overcome the Númenóreans through martial might, Sauron surrendered to Ar-Pharazôn and was taken back to Númenor as a prisoner. The sheer size and might of the Númenórean army was enough to cause Sauron's forces to flee. In SA 3261, Ar-Pharazôn, the last and most powerful of the Kings of Númenor, landed at Umbar at the head of an even more gigantic army to do battle with Sauron, in contention of Sauron's self-proclaimed title as Overlord of Middle-Earth and King of Men. But in SA 1700, as the Elves were nearing defeat, Tar-Minastir of Númenor sent a great armada to Middle-earth and, together with Gil-galad, completely destroyed Sauron's armies, forcing Sauron to return to Mordor to regroup. After the destruction of Eregion, Sauron was able to conquer most of western Middle-earth fairly quickly, driving the Ñoldor under Gil-galad to the Grey Havens and besieging Imladris. Celebrimbor died under torment by Sauron, refusing to reveal what he had done with the Three Rings, which he valued most. He tortured Celebrimbor until he divulged the location of the Seven Rings.
He captured Eregion in short order and took back the Nine Rings that were kept there, and also Celebrimbor, the maker of the Elven Rings of Power. Initially, the war went very well for Sauron. The conflict, which became known as the War of the Elves and Sauron, began in SA 1693. Correctly assuming that his attempt to gain lordship had been thwarted, Sauron marshalled his armies to seize the Rings of Power by force. However, when he placed the Ring on his finger, the Elves were immediately aware of him. Soon afterwards, Sauron attempted to use it first to subjugate the Elven wielders of the other Rings. If it were damaged or destroyed, so too would be Sauron's strength and power. In this way, Sauron's fate became bound to that of the Ring. As such, he concentrated within the Ring a great part of his own fëa (soul). To accomplish his goal of bringing the peoples of Middle-earth under his dominion, Sauron knew that the One Ring would need to contain an extraordinary amount of power. The Ring was forged around the year SA 1600, within Sammath Naur upon Mount Doom. Sauron forges the One Ring (by Ted Nasmith)