Sauron was the most powerful of the Maiar—primordial spirits created to help the Valar first shape the World. His original name was Mairon, which means "the Admirable," and as an immortal spirit born before the world's creation, he was able to perceive the Creator Eru Ilúvatar directly.
After lying hidden and increasing his power in secret, in S.A. 1200 Sauron put on a fair visage, calling himself Annatar, the Lord of Gifts, an emissary from the Valar.
Sauron's original name was Mairon. He was the mightiest Maia of the Vala Aulë the Smith, and learned much from Aulë of smithing and handiwork, becoming a great craftsman and "mighty in the lore of" Aulë's people. He was among the most powerful Maiar.
Before the rise of Sauron, the land of Mordor was known as the Southlands and the Plateau of Gorgoroth was inhabited by Men who called themselves Southlanders. These Men had built countless settlements.
Sauron was the most powerful of the Maiar—primordial spirits created to help the Valar first shape the World. His original name was Mairon, which means "the Admirable," and as an immortal spirit born before the world's creation, he was able to perceive the Creator Eru Ilúvatar directly.
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.
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.
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.
Sauron did appear as an elf once, calling himself Annatar, but his true form is that of The Ainur, an angel. Sauron's original form was that of Mairon, one of the Ainur who descended to Arda and became a Maia in service of Aule.
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.
Isildur used a broken sword to cut the Ruling Ring off Sauron's hand. Sauron was fatally wounded by Gil-galad and Elendil as Sauron killed them. Gandalf took the job of blocking the Balrog - and he was barely able to defeat the Balrog (in fact, he died in the process).
Galadriel asked if he really meant to save Middle-earth or rule it, and when he could not tell the difference, she refused to join him and planned to kill him but was thrown into the water.
"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."
In a one-on-one battle, Galadriel would likely lose to Sauron. Even though she's an Elf, both powerful and intelligent, Sauron is Maiar. Odds are, Sauron didn't fear a physical defeat — only a fellow Maia ring-bearer could physically oppose him and win, after all — but Galadriel is threatening in other ways.
This Gandalf defeated Saruman, so he is also above Saruman. However, he is still les powerful then Sauron. But, there are other beings in Middle-Earth at that time (Third Age). For example, Galadriel and Elrond.
Mainly Eru for going against his will and siding with Morgoth. After the fall of Morgoth and Sauron's rise to power his primary nemesis would be a collection of leaders who opposed him: Gil-Galad, Elrond, Cirdan, Galadriel, Celeborn, the line of Elros and the Numenoreans.
Eventually, Morgoth was bound in chains by the Valar and thrown into the Void, leaving the permanent damage his evils had done, and his former lieutenant Sauron, to trouble the world. One day, according to a prophecy, Morgoth will rise again in great wrath, but he will be destroyed in the Dagor Dagorath.
Morgoth, the first to reign terror upon Middle-earth, was more powerful than Sauron and commanded an army of dragons and Balrogs. While both Morgoth and Sauron were cunning, Morgoth's rule and terror lasted longer and his corruption spread further, making him more formidable in the Lord of the Rings universe.
It was said that Morgoth hated and feared the House of Fingolfin most among the Houses of the sons of Finwë, especially Fingolfin's son Turgon, as it was prophesied that his doom would come from the House of Turgon.
While Morgoth doesn't appear in The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit, he plays a significant role in The Silmarillion and Tolkien's other writings, and his reign of terror had a far bigger impact on Middle-earth history than Sauron's — as seen in Amazon's The Rings of Power series.
Envy: He hates how he cannot make life and is jealous of Eru's ability to create life which is why he creates Discord and is the prime motivation of Morgoth. If it isn't mine, then I will destroy it. Gluttony: He breaks his promise and betrays Ungoliant, so he can keep the Silmarils for himself.
