Dark Lord

Dark Lord was the title of the most powerful of the evil beings in Arda. The first and greater Dark Lord was the Vala known as Melkor; the second and lesser Dark Lord was the Maia, Sauron. Both Dark Lords were very influential in the history of Middle-earth. Eventually the two Dark Lords were overthrown and defeated.

Behind the Scenes
Dark Lords became something of a cliché in fantasy novels following the success of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings with the Dark Lord Sauron. Later in the Silmarillion it is revealed that Sauron was the second Dark Lord and that the first was Morgoth.

Known Dark Lords

 * Morgoth
 * Sauron