Sauron in the Second Age | Tolkien Explained (Extended Edition)
The story of the Second Age is one driven by its villain: Sauron. Here we see the Dark Lord use his great powers of manipulation time and again, resulting in the Rings of Power and the downfall of Numenor. We also see him use his tools of brute strength, fear, and oppression in his effort to dominate all of Middle-earth.
Today's video is brought to you by SlideBelts!
Save 20% at Slidebelts.com with the code: NERDOFTHERINGS
Hit subscribe - and the bell!
Nerd of the Rings on PATREON: / nerdoftherings
To purchase artist work, check out these amazing artists!
Anna Podedworna - www.artstation.com/akreon
Jenny Dolfen - goldseven.wordpress.com/
Turner Mohan - instagram.com/turner_mohan
Ted Nasmith - www.tednasmith.com/shop/
Anke Eissmann - anke.edoras-art.de/anke_illust...
Donato Giancola - www.donatoarts.com/online-sto...
Aronja Art - / aronjaart
Ivan Cavini - / ivan_cavini
Sara Morello - www.artstation.com/saramorello
Matěj Čadil - www.etsy.com/people/matejcadil
Tulikoura - www.deviantart.com/tulikoura
Aegeri - www.deviantart.com/aegeri
Sauron - Shadow of War
The Forging - Ralph Damiani
Sauron, The War of the Last Alliance - Matt DeMino
Drowning of Andunie - John Howe
Sauron - Jerry Vanderstelt
Gil-galad, Sauron, Elendil - Tom Romain
Sauron's Army at Barad-dur - Shadow of War
Tulkas Chaining Morgoth - Kip Rasmussen
You Can Still Repent - AnotherStranger
Will you Forgiveme - Sarka Skorpikova
Manwe - Steamey
Sauron - Toherrys
Haradrim archer - CK Goksoy
Easterling Warriors - Tom Romain
Sauron the Deceiver - Toherrys
Morgoth and the High King - Ted Nasmith
Sauron in Mordor - WETA
Battle in the distance - Felix Englund
Sauron the Deceiver - Ralph Damiani
Imperial Numenorean - Turner Mohan
Elf of Lorien - Sara Morello
Sauron, Commander of Angband - Toherrys
Sauron the Deceiver - skullb*st*rd
Annatar - WETA
Annatar - Shadow of War
The Last Alliance - Jenny Dolfen
The Mighty Sauron - Toherrys
Celebrimbor - Shadow of War
Eregion - Ralph Damiani
Celebrimbor - Angus McBride
Annatar and Celebrimbor - Soni Alcorn-Hender
Celebrimbor and Annatar - AnotherStranger
Elven Realm - Ralph Damiani
Sauron forging the ring - Alan Lee
Sauron forging the ring - Ivan Cavini
Forging the One Ring - Marko Manev
Eye of Sauron - John Howe
Sauron - Akreon
Annatar - Aleksandra Skiba
A Lament for Gil-galad - Dracarysdrekkar7
Celebrimbor - AnotherStranger
Last Alliance - Skullb*st*rd
Cirith Gorgor - Ted Nasmith
Ugluk - John Howe
Trolls - John Howe
Easterling - Turner Mohan
Moria Gate - Ted Nasmith
Celebrimbor in the dungeons - AnotherStranger
Celebrimbor - Jenny Dolfen
Eldalonde - Ralph Damiani
Sauron - Janka Lateckova
Armenelos - Ralph Damiani
Eressea - David Greset
The forging of the rings - Ivan Cavini
Dwarf sketch - Andrea Piparo
Sauron and Nine Mortal Men - Lida Holubova
The Keeper of One of the Rings - Steamey
Khamul the Easterling - Fantasy Flight
Nazgul - Felix Englund
The King of the Nazgul - Catherine Chmiel
Nazgul - Catherine Chmiel
Nazgul - Rui Goncalves
Sauron - AnotherStranger
Romenna - David Greset
Ar-Pharazon - Steamey
Ar-Pharazon - Dracarysdrekkar7
Sauron bows, submits to Ar-Pharazon - Kip Rasmussen
Sauron and Ar-Pharazon - Soni Alcorn-Hender
Sauron and Ar-Pharazon - Janka Lateckova
Eru Iluvatar - Janka Lateckova
Morgoth Came - Jenny Dolfen
Ar-Pharazon - Edvige Faini
Armenelos - Skullb*st*rd
Sauron, high priest of Melkor - Skullb*st*rd
Numenor - Sarka Skorpikova
The King's Councelor - Turner Mohan
Downfall of Numenor - Dracarysdrekkar7
The Fall of Numenor - Darrell Sweet
Morgoth breaking the siege - Dracarysdrekkar7
Dark Majesty - Jerry Vanderstelt
Sauron - Akreon
Black Numenorean - Dracarysdrekkar7
Morannon - Matej Cadil
Dead Marshes - Steamey
Sauron vs Elendil and Gil-galad on Orodruin - Kip Rasmussen
Isildur's Bane - Andrea Piparo
Isildur's Bane - Donato Giancola
Traveler to Dol Guldur - Felix Englund
The Realm of Sauron is Ended - Matej Cadil
Nazgul bowing before Sauron - Kip Rasmussen
Stalker - Skullb*st*rd
#sauron #tolkien #lordoftherings
Save 20% off your order with the code: NERDOFTHERINGS at SlideBelts.com !
I am not in the market for a belt, but I must say, that is a pretty cool product. I will try to keep them in mind for the next time I need a belt (which might be sooner rather than later. The covid pounds added up :| )
You still excited about The rings of power from Amazon? 3Million dislikes HAHHAHA
I'm worried I'll forget I'm wearing one and attempt to board a plane, that might not go over well with the TSA lol
@@humulos i fly a lot, they've stopped asking to remove belts LONG ago
Surely you've made enough money to not need to advertise belts ? . It cheapens your videos in my mind . Of course you're free to do whatever and I do hope you have success going forward - I just wanted to be honest . Thanks for the videos man 👍✊
Sauron truly is the definition of "if you don't succeed, try and try again".
What a point of view!
That is the genius of Tolkien. Sauron has many positive traits. He is patient and he is incredibly resilient. These are qualities that are admirable. In people in general. But it was also pride,ignorance and hubris that became his downfall. Also a life lesson.
Sauron was more interesting than Morgoth because Sauron had to rely on artifacts instead of raw power, alliances rather than outright intimidation and military might. Sauron was a master chess player, immortally patient, and ultimately he desired to fulfill the goals of his master so although Sauron committed great evils, he considered himself middle-earth's benefactor.
Good point.
Great point 👍
Melkors Ring ......
Still sauron is no push over when it comes to combat
Morgoths did use a artifact, his artifact of power was arda itself. During the time of the lamps Morgoth alone was more powerful than all the Valar. After he seeped his power into arda itself to corrupt it to his will he lost most of his power.
What I like about Sauron as a villain, is how he isn’t just a big brute, or cowardly schemer, but both. He’s strong but smart, rage full, yet patient, And in general just a badass.
One of the greatest villains ever conceived. Few villains got anything on Sauron.
Except Melkor.
@@shastasilverchairsg agree 100%. I wish he had more spotlight in the films
@@shastasilverchairsg but Sauron is most cunning then Morgoth, for me is better Sauron even he is less powerful then Morgoth.
@@oscurosignore8026 I'd say they are similar in cunning, Melkor did horrific things with the minds of men, which in turn brought great disasters upon the world.
@@oscurosignore8026 I prefer Morgoth more, though both are great.
Sauron's control over Numenor is the most terrifying of his manipulative feats. The man went from Prisoner to Chief Advisor in One. Year.
Wormtongue's idol.
tbf the numenoreans were a pretty fucked up bunch at that point in time as they pretty much corrupted themselves of generations, other than the faithful anyway
Do we think he is Galadriels companion
@@jordanbrooks9723 NAH, WHAT ABOUT YOU
@@jordanbrooks9723 nahh halbrand will most likely end up being a naxul or the witch queen himself I think.
Second age Sauron is my favourite and I've already watched your previous second age Sauron video probably more times than any of your other ones. An extended edition of it is such an unexpected gift! Thank you for this!
Sauron gets such bad press, it is as if all those people that gain employment through his actions, sacrifice and all; it is not that these people would have building universities, or similar, if Sauron hadn't been there to guide them 😉 😀
I like how he is cunning and choses the best aktion to gain his goal. Be it brute force or deception. What i dont like is the lack of motivation behind it. Sure ruling the world is great but both sauron and morgoth conquered a large part of it and than do nothing? The times that morgoth leaves his fortress can be counted on one hand so whats the point in doing so? Even if sauron rules above middle earth he would just sit in baradur an do nothing at all.
Nerd of the rings. I asked men of the west about this and I wanted you know opinion too. What if instead of trying to conquer Aman, AL pharazon and numenor went east to conquer middle earth? Including cutting of the road to Aman and xeclarinh war on elves and dwarves and the whole of middle earth.
@@dambrooks7578 Nice idea. Poor execution.
@@dambrooks7578 The Gulags of Sauron are only for enemies of the state, and all are free and happy. Just ask them, none of them will say otherwise...
Sauron may not be the first “evil dark overlord”, but he is undeniably the codifier. Palpatine, Voldemort, Ganondorf, and basically every other big villain created in the last fifty years owe everything to him.
Morgoth was bipolar and Sauron had autism.
Voldemort: "I see you've placed part of yourself into a thing. Mind if I steal that idea several times over?" Sauron: "PLAAAAAGARISMMMMM!!"
The rest yes but voldermort, no. Sauron and the rest started out as good with good with unknowingly selfish intentions. Voldemort was psychopathic, no empathy for any other than himself. Sauron is a better villain then voldermort. You can sympathise with Sauron and get in his head space, but voldemort is pure evil (not chaotic. Chaos is hard to predict but voldermort does not know what he wants himself except pure power over all, sauron wanted that with good intentions)
@@Saevirera if that's your argument then Palpatine would also not fit into "inspired by Sauron" even though he clearly is. Palpatine was practically that one bad kid who tortures cats on Naboo
@@bullethail3875 'We felt sorry for the young Senator Palpatine, because he lost his whole family at a young age. On reflection, we should have wondered more about that . . . '
Sauron's use of his fair form is a moral lesson for all ages. Evil often comes disguised in a cloak of beauty.
And ironically good can often appear in a robe of ugly or horror and the same can be said in reverse
it's like when frodo knows to trust aragorn because he feels that someone working for sauron would look fairer than aragorn did
There's a lot of wisdom woven into Tolkien's writing.
The fact that the Rings took _centuries_ for the greatest smiths of Middle-earth to devise and complete, speaks to their unimaginable intricacy and power. Yet another thing that the "Rings of Power" series is going to fail to portray properly...
The most scariest aspect is that the One Ring was powerful enough to control ALL the others (submitting their bearers to Sauron's will). He poured most of his power as a Maia into this object. Think of what that means - Melian was able to fend of the forces of Morgoth with her powers, Eonwe lead the host of Valinor. And all of this power is concentrated for one purpose, to control the minds of others. The One Ring is the ultimate tool of domination, the "ultimate machine" as Christopher Tolkien once said. (a "Tolkien machine" being defined as a tool of domination/coersion) So it shouldn't be a surprise that the ring drives everyone crazy with the lust for power. It is truly horrifying. The fact that Frodo was able to carry it for such a long time without going insane (like Gollum or Boromir) is really amazing. Of course, in the end he did give in to the corrupting power of the ring, when he was at his weakest point and the ring was at its most powerful (at the very place where it had been forged).
Stow it, Another human. The Rings of Power will be a great series despite Amazon only having the rights to LOTR appendix.
@@oliveremmettknox7776 Oh sweet summer child...
@@oliveremmettknox7776 evil cannot create, only corrupt
What makes you say that?
Sauron in the Second Age - Extended Edition -Let's gooooo!!!
The way you narrate, your choice of words, the music, the artwork! Everything is just perfect!
"Foul in wisdom" summarizes Sauron.
I love so much Sauron's story arc during the second age. I'd love to see a theatrical version of it such as a play in the vein of a high Greek tragedy, but I wonder if there are too many events to do justice to in just one evening. Perhaps better to focus on just one majoy event such as the capture of Celebrimbor or the Fall of Numenor.
Idea!!!
Some of this was touched upon in the games
@@khalflavian some of what was touched upon?
@@hodgrix the story of celebrimbor and his arc
Melkor is much more interesting, i dont get all the Sauron wank lol.
Gondor be like: "We call for aid." My brother in Eru Illuvitar, you're the ones who chose to found a kingdom next to Mordor.
Sauron’s story arc alone is more well written and well developed than just about anything else ever put to print or screen. And that was just one character in Tolkien’s world.
The book was named after him
I love your map graphics and how you depict and visualize troop movements. Really paints a great picture of what's going on
I've just discovered these videos - they are wonderful! What a labor of study and love. Thank you for keeping Tolkien's world alive and fresh for all of us who would go there like a shot!
What I keep dreaming of: Tolkien coming back to us to write one last big piece: about the ventures of the blue wizards especially during the second age. They are so mysterious and interesting
I keep joking that these blue wizards went to Hind and set up religious cults, and they became known down the ages as Vishnu and Krishna.
They are only mysterious because there is little known about them.
JRRT would get cancelled & blacklisted so fast these days for his outdated views.
The wizards came to middle earth in the third age, so they haven't been there yet.
There definitely was room for one more book, but its theme would have had to be quite different from the rest. You can't tell the same story over and over again.
Another fantastic video. The amount of deep backstory and history Tolkien wrote for each character is amazing. Keep up the great work.
Thank you for all the amazing content that you make. I’ve been going through so many of your videos as a reference and constantly impressed with the detail and craft you put into them. I’ve been running a One Ring TTRPG campaign and your videos have been so helpful to make Middle-earth come alive to my group.
I like your Sauron and Morgoth videos, but I want to see a video comparing them
There is no comparison, Morgoth is the devil and sauron is a mere demon.
A demon captain at least.
Morgoth didn't have to try to be evil. Sauron really had to try. End copmarison
@@Littlemilkjug533 I know, but people always ask who is more powerful on livestreams which annoys the hell out of me
@@isaacthekkumuriel8435 Melkor was orders of magnitude more powerful in his beginning. If Melkor was 1 foot, Sauron was 1 inch, or like comparing Smaug to Ancalagon.
Your reading of the Ring inscription gave me shivers 😬
Great video! I'm reading The Silmarillion right now and your video helps put all the events together nicely.
I've been a fan of lotr for a long time and since the rings of power tv show is currently streaming, I've been eager to get more background info of Tolkiens world. I have to say, your videos are AMAZING! Thank you for making such high quality videos packed with so much information. You deserve so many more subscribers
Thank you for breaking this down so nicely! Extremely helpful 🙏
Keep up the good work Nerd of the Rings!!! Loved the first video and this one is even better
Man! That's a really well put together, epic video!! I enjoyed every second of it! Use of music was great as well! Oh and I absolutely love 2 of those Sauron images: One close-up with his cape flying around with stunning lighting, and one where he has a ring of the Elvish script around his hand! 💠💠💠
I thoroughly enjoy all of your posts. Your understanding of this very complicated and convoluted story is impressive, your maps and graphics, insightful, and your command of the languages therein, wonderful. Keep up the marvelous work. Namárië
This is a great video! I always thought Sauron was one of my favorite characters. I would always enjoy looking more into Sauron's corruption of Numenor.
First time watching your videos and I must say they are brilliant. Its gives me much more insight into TLOTR. I've watched people's other videos on this topic. But yours is by the best I have come across. Thank you. 🇬🇧
Great stuff buddy. Well wrapped up and narrated. Thnx 4 uploading this.
That might be the best reading of the One Ring poem I've ever heard. 🤩
Thanks so much! :)
I find it interesting that Tolkien in some ways seemed to consider him more evil than his master.
Sauron is not inherently evil. He becomes evil by not adhering to basic principles of humanity - just as Galadriel in this show. But I am sure she will realise the evil of her ways and change into the Galadriel we know from the LOTR trilogy.
"Anna" means "to give" in Finnish. Hence the Lord of Gifts is a suitable name, even for Finnish readers. :)
Knowing that Tolkien was a cunning linguist, I'm not surprised if he knew about this.
I believe Finnish heavily influenced the Elven language Annatar is in (Sindarin?)
@@DDickinson458 It's Quenya actually. Sindarin was more influenced by Welsh.
@@Erokuson64 Nice, thanks for the correction.
AWESOME video nerd of the rings! I love that you called it "extended edition"! Very clever. Great video !
awesome vid Matt loved and as always looking forward to thee next one
Still holding out hope for a Tolkien Theory video regarding the 5 unknown Nazgul!
Great idea! That would be some fun speculation!
@@NerdoftheRings I've always enjoyed your theory videos, all the videos about characters taking/reclaiming the One Ring are so dramatic and epic
Very well put together and informative. Tolkiens works have always had my interest.
You are great! Haha, ending the video with the ad for the belts was really nice. Great video!! Thank you.
Man. the way sauron using a Manipulation and corruption rather than Forcing and military combat make him so badass just like Morgoth
Here after watching Rings of Power, but honestly idk how I haven’t stumbled across this page in the past years.
Love your channel. I am just getting into the LotR ttrpg and these videos really help me with the lore of Middle Earth.
So basically rings of power is nothing like the main story
Only discovered your content a few weeks ago and I’ve pretty much watched all your videos - thank you for all of the effort and information on this amazing world !
Danish Gambit.
This was a great update!
Awesome video man!! Well worth the time it took to re-make.
Your videos are always beautiful, but this one is absolutely GORGEOUS ❤️
Got to give Tolkien a lot of credit with this masterful work.
I'm dying to know/see a video one day explaining the empty spots on the map (like the blank between Mordor, Rûhn, and Rhovanion; or Far-Harad)
"Festering, stinking marshland far as the eye can see...." As Gimli would say.
@@warlockofwordsreturnsrb4358 I thought he was referring to the dead marshes when he said that?
@@Eric-cj8sb Indeed he was, I was just joking around.
Those are, in fact, steps. Far wide flat open grass-field, from which either the Rohirrim or the charriots riders came. A bit like the Scytian plains in real life
This video and your efforts on displaying and sharing deep background, paired with stunning images is great. Superb.
Just give the guy his ring poor guy was an eye for most of his life
Your work is beautifully done
This was very well done. Good job.
Great videos bro! Also I'm liking the slide belts.
Masterful narration, thank you.
"Darkness may come when we least expect it, which is why I love this belt from SlideBelts".
my boy was so employed during the second age, amazing
oooh this was so good, thanks for such great content
Absolutely exquisite material. Many thanks! 🤗
YES! More extended editions please!
Fantastic video as always, Second Age Sauron is so intriguing & manipulative! Possible video idea: Mordor in the early Third Age. From Gondor & the Last Alliance occupation of Mordor and its defensive perimeter to eventual withdrawal, and retreat, due to sicknesses & plagues and skirmishes with Orcs, and the very foundation of Barad-dûr not being able to be destroyed after the Second Age, is a pretty interesting story in itself.
I love the videos, but EVERYTIME the video ends & I see the survival slide belt. Whatever I'm drinking comes out me nose. KEEP UP THE LORE, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!
What an excellent summary! Thanks very much! 😎
I know people love to complain about the Amazon series, but I'm looking forward to seeing this on the screen
Great video, as your others are, as well...And wonderful segue way into the ad at the end!! :D
This was so good! Thank you as always for the amazing content and hard work. I know this last one must have been tough!
I loved watching this. Thank you!
Amazing video!! Thank you so much
An extended edition? A man of taste I see.
Yes yes yes I am beginning to get hyped for the new series!!!
Fantastic video as always
This is legit my favorite channel
Sauron really did the race. Nice video. Keep up the good work.
this might become my new series 😄 really well done 😀
This guy just doesn’t stop.
Thx for this great New updated Video.
When You Mentioned "Celebrimbor" All the memories of me Playing Shadow of Mordor/War came back
I love your content.. when are you or are you posting the mapp of middle earth in the 2nd and 3rd age ?
I've already done the 2nd age one: kzhead.info/sun/bKVygMtvpXhni6s/bejne.html Third Age will probably come in April or May! :)
@@NerdoftheRings cant w8 it 😁😇 And i also cant w8 the " Sons of Feanor " series 🤭👊
Thank you for putting so much work into this. We may know less about the Second Age than the First and the Third, but that doesn't mean it's any less fascinating. Also, thanks for including such amazing artwork. I especially love the piece shown at 2:41. Respect to all the artists whose work is featured!
Another excellently fun and informative video
That fact that you are using Celebrimbor and Sauron images from Shadow of War game 👌👌👌 so good content man! Keep them coming
Sauron (alongside Melkor) really set the footworks for other dark lords in literature and media moving forward. Amazing villain.
Always quality content here💚
Great video, i wanted it to keep going
Super video! I loved how the Blue Wizards made a theoretical appearance!
Quite incredible that this is all available for free
I've never been into LOTR until I've played shadow of Mordor and it's sequel ... But now that I've found your channel I can't get enough of this fantastic story ❤️❤️❤️
Just recently watched the LOTR trilogy with a friend, who at the time neither watched the movies nor read the books. Watching the movies again made me look up videos and stumbling across your channel. It's great to get so much information about Tolkiens world. I do have the LOTR books, but when I first started to read them I found them not easy to read. But I think I will give it a try again.
Great summary! Thanks!
Love the slide belt transition. "You never know when darkness will come, and that's why I like..."
Great job, my friend. I really enjoyed your story. You did a good justice to Tolkien.😊
Slidebelts are a really good company with good quality items, I buy all my belts, wallets and watches from them. Its nice to see smaller companies with good quality items being advertised
Super video as always. Love when the inferrence to the blue wizards pop up. Is there any backstory or lore on Sauron's forging of his armor and weaponry and when he decides to wear it in that large form?
Great stuff as usual
They should of hired you for some of the writing in the rings of power. I read the books and still didn’t realize half of this lol. Very amazing narrations and illustrations on really breaking it down!
seriously impressive voice acting! love your videos
Thanks, Corey!
Extended editions are always better
Wish we'd have books about these stories but from Sauron's perspective! 🤍🔥
I predict from today, there will likely be a LARGE uptick in views for this awesome vid!