Several [[Maia (Middle-earth)|Maiar]] were associated with Aulë: [[Sauron]], before being corrupted by Melkor; and [[Saruman|Curumo]] (Saruman), who later went to Middle-earth as an [[Wizard (Middle-earth)|Istar]] to combat Sauron. Sauron was among the mightiest, if not the mightiest of the Maiar who served Aulë and used his knowledge of the metaphysical structure of Arda to great effect as a servant of [[Morgoth]] in the First Age of Middle-earth and then was his own master in the second and third ages of Middle-earth. When Sauron sought to corrupt the Elves in the Second Age one of the names he assumed was Aulendil, meaning devotee of Aulë. It is interesting to note that two of the greatest Maiar sent to Middle-Earth, that fell, were in the beginning both aligned with Aulë. The reason for this is probably that this is the order most associated with craft, skill, and by these means, power. Weaker- willed spirits often fall prey to craving for power in Tolkien's works, and these prove no exception.
