As we ascend from the shadows of Middle-earth to the highest peaks of the Undying Lands, we encounter the supreme authority among the Valar. Manwë is the King of the World, the Peer of Melkor in the mind of Eru Ilúvatar, and the primary representative of the divine will.
Manwë Súlimo: Elder King of Arda
Manwë is the Lord of the Breath of Arda and the King of the Valar. He dwells atop Taniquetil, the highest mountain in the world, in the halls of Ilmarin. From his throne, alongside his spouse Varda, he watches over all the lands and seas, seeing further than any other being in Arda.
The Lord of Air and Winds
Manwë’s dominion is over the atmosphere—the air, the winds, the clouds, and the birds. He is particularly associated with the Great Eagles, who act as his messengers and eyes in Middle-earth.
- Súlimo: His surname, meaning "Lord of the Breath of Arda," signifies his role in the very vitality of the world.
- The First of the Kings: In the Ainulindalë (The Music of the Ainur), Manwë was the main instrument of the second theme of Eru, standing against the discord of Melkor.
Relationship with Melkor
Manwë and Melkor were brothers in the thought of Ilúvatar. While Melkor was the most powerful of the Ainur, Manwë was the dearest to Eru and understood His purpose most clearly.
- The Great Oversight: Manwë’s greatest flaw was his own lack of evil; he could not fully comprehend the depths of Melkor’s malice. This led him to release Melkor after his initial three-age imprisonment in the Halls of Mandos, a mercy that eventually led to the darkening of Valinor.
Intervention in Middle-earth
Though the Valar largely withdrew from direct interference after the First Age, Manwë never fully abandoned Middle-earth.
- The Great Eagles: Through Thorondor and later Gwaihir, Manwë provided aid to heroes like Beren, Lúthien, and the Fellowship of the Ring.
- The Istari: It was Manwë who convened the council of the Valar to send the Istari (Wizards) to Middle-earth to contest the power of Sauron.
- The Winds of Fortune: Many "lucky" shifts in weather or wind—such as the wind that sped Aragorn to the Pelennor Fields—are attributed to Manwë’s subtle influence.
The Final Judgment
Manwë sits in judgment at the Ring of Doom outside the gates of Valmar. It is he who will ultimately signal the end of the world and the Dagor Dagorath (the Battle of Battles), where it is prophesied that the Elder King and the Dark Lord will meet one last time before the world is remade.