Not many know who Morgoth is...Morgoth was the first Dark Lord during the first age. During this time he had a servent slash leiutenent, Sauron. Sauron was only an apprentice at this time, and was a powerful sorceror.
Morgoth was a Valar originally named, Melkor. He stole the three silmarils, which were 3 perfent jewels created by Feanor, the most skilled of elves.The Valar were beings who had god-like power, created by the creator, Illuvatar.The Valar had the ability to take on any form they wished, this is why Morgoth appeared to be a huge, ominous being. This was the same with sauron in the last allience of elves and men, so whn the ring was taken, he (sauron) forsook his phisical being and became his shapeless spirit.
Most of the Valar took on the appearence of Elves and Men. All of the Valar lived in Aman (the blessed realm), which was over the great sea, separate from middle-earth. There they lived peacefully, and only intervened during the lives of elves and men whne they were in desperate need of help. Melkor disregarded the peace of valinor, and exiled himself in middle-earth to rule over all. Unlike Sauron, Morgoth resdided in the pits of Utumno and the fortress of Angband which was located in the northern regions of middle earth.
Morgoth kept many Balrogs in his service. The Balrog that Gandalf fights on the bridge at kazad-dum was indeed, one of morgoth's minions,which buried itself in the bowels of the earth after Morgoth was overthrown.
In the picture below was the famous battle between Morgoth and the high king of the Noldor: fingolfin, in his helmet are set the three stolen Silmarils. The end of the First Age was signified when Morgoth, bound by the chain of manwe, was cast into the darkness of the void, paralell to our own dimension; and a guard was forever set on watch, if Morgoth indeed ever tried to return. Which indeed was prophecized by Mandos.
In my opinion, I believe Morgoth was a much better Dark Lord then Sauron, in strength, valor, and intelligence. Also he was the first to breed Orcs from captured elves and Trolls from corrupted Ents.
Many wondered why Illuvatar didn't cast out sauron the same way that he cast out melkor, Melkor was a valar and part of the universe itself so could be taken from it directly. However, Illuvatar took pity on sauron and allowed him to remain on Middle-Earth to hold the balance of good and evil. There must always be a force of good and there must always be a force of evil in the world, that is the way it must be.
After Morgoth was banished sauron held refuge in the darkest corner of Angband not to bother anyone until he gained enough strength to attack on his own. During the time of Bilbo's adventure with the dwarves, Sauron was in the form of a Necromancer, he had phisical shape and was held up in the dense frrest of Mirkwood in his tower of Dol Guildor. When Gandalf leaves them at the edge of the wood, he states he has other business to take care of, he and the other members of the White Council, traveled into mirkwood to drive Sauron out, he then fled back to Mordor.
Long before these events occured however Sauron launched one of the biggest wars in the history of middle-earth. The Rings of Power were forged and Sauron made his One in secret. During the last allience of Men and Elves, Sauron was struck down by the broken blade Narsil which was weilded by Isildur, King of Gondor. Sauron lost phisical shape that day, when the ring was sliced from his hand after he fell at the hands of Elendil and Gil-Galad. His shapless spirit made it's way into mirkwood.
Sauron in the time of the Lord of the Rings, is in a physical shape. He is not literally a "giant eye", he is indeed in physical form, however this form is evil and twisted and gnarled. He sits upon a dark throne in Barad-Dur, clutching onto his Palantir. The Ring survived that day when Isildur fell to it's desire and kept it for his own, providing Sauron with hope that one day, he may return.
MORGOTH PIC Sauron Pic
Below is Further information on some of the more significant events of Morgoth Bauglir.
Morgoth Events..
Of Hurin Thalion
Hurin Thalion, was a member of the men of middle earth. He tried an assualt on Angband with many others. Hurin was catpured by orcs and taken deep inside Morgoth's layberinth of dark and dank tunnels and passageways. Morgoth and his Captain(Sauron), questioned Hurin immensely, but to no avail. Morogth wanted to know the where abouts of the hidden city of Gondolin. He even tempted Hurin with Power, and a lieutenant's position under him. However Hurin stood fast. Daring to look the dred lord in the eye, which no man had done before. So in a fit of rage, Morgoth cursed Hurin and all of his children and ancestors, and placed a curse of woe upon him, and seated him down upon a stone chair upon a lone peak of the Thangorodrim, he then cursed him to he would be connected to morgoth's thoughts and sight and knowledge, this allowed Hurin to see everything in Middle Earth even if he didn't want to, having to watch the plight of his people and his son, and not be able to do anything. There Morgoth left him for many years, alone. After several lifetimes, Morgoth came before Hurin, who was now a pathetic limp weakling. Morgoth laughed as he released him, for he knew even if he got back to his people they would never recognize him, and he would never have any of his former strengh again. So Hurin walked out of the main gates of Angband bearing a black staff with a long white beard, slowly making his way back to the Noldor, and all the while Morgoth stood upon the peak of Angband and laughed.
Of Turin Turambar
After Hurin was imprisioned atop of angband, his wife Morwen and his children, Turin and Neinna, were left alone in Dor-Lomin. Morwen sent Turin to Menegroth, the thousand caves, which, King Thingol Resided. There he was bidden to stay as long as needed. After many years, Turin, tired of waiting for his father's return left. Turin's lifetime spans many adventures and many names he gave himself, including the time when he took up with the wild hunters in the forests. At this time he met Mim, the petty dwarf. To the time where he dwelt in Nargothrond before the coming of Glaurund. He slew is most beloved friend, Beleg Strongbow of Doriath in a horrible misunderstanding. He then took up Beleg's black sword Gurthang and set out into the wild. Turin's end came after the death of his sister Nienna. Having lost her memory, she came to Nargothrond and was named Niniel. Turin, under the name Turambar, did not recognize his sister nor did she recognize him. They were wedded. Turin slew Glaurung near Nargothrond with his black sword, he then fell into a dark swoon due to the dragon's venomed blood. Nienna, thinking Turin was dead, fled and cast herself into the Teiglin river. Turin then awoke and came looking for her, learning she was dead, he cast himself upon his sword and died. With his children dead, Morgoth released Hurin and he came escorted into the wild, and was shunned fore he issues from the gates of Angband and appaeared as to be as on in league with Morgoth. Hurin found his wife Morwen at the grave of their children. Keeping with her through the night, she died, but he lived on, his wrath carried him.
