Saruman the White was the Chief of the Order of Wizards. He was wise and powerful, but he was also proud and he became corrupted kwa desire for the One Ring and was ensnared kwa the will of Sauron. He created armies and machinery and sought to expand his power, but in the end Saruman's works were undone kwa a power greater than any he could devise and he was slain kwa one of his own slaves.

Saruman was originally a Maia known as Curumo. The Maiar were spirits who helped and served the Valar in the Undying Lands. Curumo was one of the Maiar of Aule, the Vala whose domain was the substances of which...