Glaurung

Known as the Deceiver, Glaurung was the first land-bound fire-breathing Dragon.

First of the Fire-Drakes was Glaurung, the Father of Dragons. After only a century of brooding and growing in the dark pits of Angband, Glaurung in fiery wrath burst from the gates of the realm and came into a startled World. Though not of the winged race that would later arise, Glaurung was the greatest terror of his time. He burned and savaged the land of the Elves in Hithlum and Dorthonion before being driven back by Fingon, prince of Hithlum. Melkor, however, was displeased with Glaurung for his impulsiveness, planning to allow the Dragon to grow to full power before unleashing him.

To Glaurung, this attack was but an adolescent adventure, a youthful testing of power. Terrible as he was to the Elves, his strength was barely developed, his scale armor still vulnerable to the attack of weapons. Glaurung was contained in Angband for another two centuries before he was loosed. This was the beginning of the Fourth Battle of the War of Beleriand. It became known as the Battle of Sudden Flame when Glaurung in full power led Melkor's forces against the High Elves of Beleriand. His vast bulk and scorching fire cleared a path into the enemy armies, and with the Balrogs at his side, Glaurung led the Orcs to an astounding victory and broke the siege of Angband.

In the fifth battle, the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, Glaurung caused even more terrible destruction, as he had in the mysterious way of Dragons fathered a brood of lesser Dragons to follow him into battle.