Those who lived at Arda were called the Valar, among whom was Melkor. Maiar were lesser spirits who were formed to assist the Valar. Both Sauron and Gandalf (along with the rest of the wizards) were Maiar.
Sauron was a highly gifted Maia, originally an apprentice of Aulë, who became skilled at crafting and making. Coveting the power through which he would coordinate all things according to his own will, he joined with Melkor.
Sauron isn't stronger than them in any way whatsoever. The most powerful Vala is Melkor (Morgoth), even after losing a significant portion of his power. It took all the Valar to come to Middle-earth only to subdue Morgoth!
Sauron was originally a shape-shifting fallen angel and could take on various forms, including a vampire and a werewolf. Sauron's final form was terrifying and demonic, reflecting his own hate and evil, and he did not wear armor in the books.
Melkor is the most powerful of the Valar but he turns to darkness and is renamed Morgoth, the primary antagonist of Arda. All evil in the world of Middle-earth ultimately stems from him. One of the Maiar of Aulë betrays his kind and becomes Morgoth's principal lieutenant and successor, Sauron.
Why Was Sauron so Powerful? (Even Among Maiar) - Middle-earth Explained
Who kills Morgoth?
He will fight in the Last Battle against the Valar and their allies, but will ultimately be slain by Túrin Turambar, the Man he cursed. By finally defeating Morgoth, Túrin will avenge not only himself, but all members of the race of Men.
"So I think in his pitch to Galadriel, it cannot mean that he loves her or that there's any kind of romantic relationship. There should be no ambiguity around the fact that Sauron is evil — he's terrible, and he's using Galadriel to enhance his power."
Morgoth is the more powerful of the two. Morgoth was the mightiest of the Valar, a group whose weakest member would outpace Sauron. However, there are some circumstances and eras in which Sauron would win the day. Morgoth was born far beyond Sauron but lost and surrendered much of his power.
It's worth noting that Sauron wasn't a Balrog. His appearance was dark and wreathed in fire, but he wasn't physically the same as a Balrog. On a surface level, it's a bit of a plot hole. After all, Sauron and the Balrogs were both Maiar, and they both served Morgoth's evils during the First Age.
Additionally, while he was in his weakened state, Galadriel could hold him off through the power of will alone. However, if Sauron had his One Ring and faced off in a battle against Galadriel, it's unlikely that there would be much she could do.
Finally Sauron came out to fight Elendil and Gil-galad face to face. When Elendil fell, his sword Narsil broke beneath him. Isildur took up the hilt-shard of Narsil and cut the One Ring from Sauron's hand, vanquishing Sauron.
As they did when the elves were first born, the Valar came to Middle-earth and defeated their brother, but this time Morgoth was cast into a void outside of existence, where he remains thereafter.
Bloodlines are very important in Tolkien's stories, and it makes a lot of sense that Sauron would fear the great-grandson of the man who cut off his hand. Aragorn carried the blood of Numenor with him. His genetic connection to the heroes of the Second Age established him as a dangerous opponent of Sauron.
In The Lord of the Rings, Galadriel chose to use her powers for good, even helping to form the Council of Elrond. Galadriel was not evil. But had she been, there would be none who could stand against her forces, especially if she was in possession of the Ring.
Though wizards are technically Maiar, they do not possess all the same abilities in their wizard forms. This is why, despite Balrogs and Sauron also being Maiar, Gandalf wasn't evenly matched in his wizarding form—especially as Gandalf the Grey.
In this case, Morgoth was more cunning, as his rule and terror lasted for an unfathomable amount of time, and his corruption spread further than Sauron could ever muster. It could be argued, however, that in an emotional and perhaps political sense, Sauron was once superior to Morgoth.
In his notes, Tolkien remarks that Sauron saw Galadriel as his equal. Add that to the fact that she's untrusting of Sauron (yes, even when he's in his Annatar guise) and an unwavering, single-minded force, and it's more likely than not that Sauron feared Galadriel — or the potential she held to upend his plans.
This was how Halbrand/Sauron actor Charlie Vickers played the part, saying he believed the proposition to become his queen came "from a place of selfishness." Regardless, Galadriel denied the proposal. However, her answer did not come without hesitancy -- which was exactly why Celeborn needed to be out of the picture.
After trying and failing to murder Sauron to save Middle Earth in the final episode, Season 2 of The Rings of Power could see Galadriel blinded by rage at Sauron's betrayal and deception. One thing is now certain; the friends, and even potential lovers, have become sworn enemies.
Defeated by the Host of Valinor in the War of Wrath, Morgoth was banished from Middle-earth into the Timeless Void, though it was prophesied that he would one day return.
Is Sauron a human or elf? Sauron was neither a human nor an Elf, but he could have resembled either in his fair disguise in the Second Age, particularly as Annatar.
Valinor. In Valinor, Gandalf was called Olórin. He was one of the Maiar of Valinor, specifically, one of the people of the Vala Manwë; he was said to be the wisest of the Maiar. He was closely associated with two other Valar: Irmo, in whose gardens he lived, and Nienna, the patron of mercy, who gave him tutelage.
