Today, on Nerd of the Rings, we are talking
about one of my favorite minor Tolkien characters: Radagast the Brown. I wanted to cover Radagast because I noticed
several comments on my Gandalf video asking why Gandalf is considered the only wizard
to remain true to his mission, and what happened to Radagast. Well, today, we will answer those questions
as we look at the life of Radagast the Brown. Real quick - please hit the subscribe button
so you don’t miss future videos here on Nerd of the Rings. Before coming to Middle-earth, Radagast is
known as Aiwendil when he lives in Aman with his fellow Maiar. Aiwendil is an elvish word meaning “lover
of birds”. As a Maia, Aiwendil serves Yavanna, the Queen
of the Earth, and one of the Valar. Yavanna is responsible for all growing things
and not only created the Ents, but also assisted Manwe in bringing about the Great Eagles. Knowing this relationship, it’s no surprise
that Radagast himself shares a love and affinity of plants and animals. As we discussed in my Gandalf video, the Valar
decide to send a group of maiar to Middle-earth as emissaries to assist the elves and men
in their struggle with the evil of Sauron. In Unfninished Tales, we learn the that each
of the Istari are associated with one or more of the Valar. Gandalf to Manwe and Varda
Saruman to Aule Alatar and Pallando - the blue wizards - to
Orome We also learn that it is only at the behest
of Yavanna that Radagast is included in this group. Yavanna begs Curumo - or Saruman - to take
Aiwendil with him. Let’s just say Saruman accepted this much
like you’d expect a kid who is ordered to let their little brother tag along. In 1000 of the Third Age, Aiwendil arrives
in Middle-earth at the Grey Havens. As the wizards come to their new dwelling
place, they roam about Middle-earth. Gandalf primarily spends time in the West,
Saruman and the Blue Wizards travel to the East, and Radagast? Well, all we are really told is that Radagast
isn’t much of a traveler. At some point in the Third Age, he makes his
home on the western borders of Mirkwood. His home would come to be known as Rhosgobel. There’s conflicting accounts as to where
exactly Rhosgobel is located. In The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, it
is said that Rhosgobel is near the southern borders of Mirkwood. However, in Unfinished Tales, we are told
it lies on the forest border between the Carrock and the Old Forest Road. While there’s is evidence to support either
location, today, we will stick with the Rhosgobel described in The Hobbit and LOTR. As I mentioned, Radagast isn’t much of a
traveler. He becomes close to the animals and birds
of the region, including a friendship with the Great Eagles. Beorn lives not too far from Rhosgobel, and
would see Radagast from time to time, as we find out when Gandalf, Bilbo and the dwarves
meet Beorn on their journey to Erebor. Beorn says Radagast is “not a bad fellow
as wizards go.” In 2851, the White Council holds its meeting
in which Gandalf urges an attack on Dol Guldur, but is overruled by Saruman. Following this meeting, Saruman begins searching
the Gladden Fields for the One Ring. Radagast, unaware of Saruman’s true intentions,
helps Saruman by enlisting birds and beasts. Radagast believes the creatures would be helpful
in watching and hindering Sauron, when in reality Saruman seeks to use them to ensure
he is able to search the area for himself. The next we know of Radgast comes in 3018. As Gandalf is putting the pieces together
in discovering the true nature of Bilbo’s ring, Radagast comes to Isengard, where he
tells Saruman that he is willing to help Gandalf. Saruman sends the brown wizard out to seek
Gandalf and deliver a message. Having not been much of a traveler, he isn’t
very familiar with Eriador. However, he sets out on his way, seeking for
the land known as The Shire, where he would likely find Gandalf nearby. On Midsummer’s Day, Radagast is sitting
on the side of the Greenway with his horse near Bree when Gandalf finds him on his way
to the village. Gandalf tells everyone of the exchange during
the Council of Elrond... '"Gandalf!" he cried. "I was seeking you. But I am a stranger in these parts. All I knew was that you might be found in
a wild region with the uncouth name of Shire." '"Your information was correct," I said. "But do not put it that way, if you meet any
of the inhabitants. You are near the borders of the Shire now. And what do you want with me? It must be pressing. You were never a traveller, unless driven
by great need." "I have an urgent errand," he said. "My news is evil." Then he looked about him, as if the hedges
might have ears. "Nazgul," he whispered. "The Nine are abroad again. They have crossed the River secretly and are
moving westward. They have taken the guise of riders in black." '"The enemy must have some great need or purpose,"
said Radagast; "but what it is that makes him look to these distant and desolate parts,
I cannot guess." '"What do you mean?" said I.
'"I have been told that wherever they go the Riders ask for news of a land called Shire." '" The Shire," I said; but my heart sank. For even the Wise might fear to withstand
the Nine, when they are gathered together under their fell chieftain. A great king and sorcerer he was of old, and
now he wields a deadly fear. "Who told you, and who sent you?" I asked. '"Saruman the White," answered Radagast. "And he told me to say that if you feel the
need, he will help; but you must seek his aid at once, or it will be too late." 'And that message brought me hope. For Saruman the White is the greatest of my
order. Radagast is, of course, a worthy Wizard, a
master of shapes and changes of hue; and he has much lore of herbs and beasts, and birds
are especially his friends. But Saruman has long studied the arts of the
Enemy himself, and thus we have often been able to forestall him. It was by the devices of Saruman that we drove
him from Dol Guldur. It might be that he had found some weapons
that would drive back the Nine. '"I will go to Saruman," I said. '"Then you must go now," said Radagast; "for
I have wasted time in looking for you, and the days are running short. I was told to find you before Midsummer, and
that is now here. Even if you set out from this spot, you will
hardly reach him before the Nine discover the land that they seek. I myself shall turn back at once." And with that he mounted and would have ridden
straight off. '"Stay a moment!" I said. "We shall need your help, and the help of
all things that will give it. Send out messages to all the beasts and birds
that are your friends. Tell them to bring news of anything that bears
on this matter to Saruman and Gandalf. Let messages be sent to Orthanc." '"I will do that," he said, and rode off as
if the Nine were after him. ----
Later, when Saruman’s treachery is revealed, he makes his true feelings about Radagast
known. Saruman:'"Radagast the Brown!" laughed Saruman,
and he no longer concealed his scorn. "Radagast the Bird-tamer! Radagast the Simple! Radagast the Fool! Yet he had just the wit to play the part that
I set him. For you have come, and that was all the purpose
of my message. And here you will stay, Gandalf the Grey,
and rest from journeys. For I am Saruman the Wise, Saruman Ring-maker,
Saruman of Many Colours!" So by sending Gandalf to Isengard, Radagast
unwittingly helps in capturing him. However, it is also thanks to Radagast that
Gandalf escapes. For Radagast had set to helping Gandalf by
telling his animal friends to bring news to Gandalf and Saruman at Isengard. Because of this, Gwaihir finds Gandalf trapped
atop Orthanc and carries him safely to Rohan. In December of that year, the members of the
fellowship are in Rivendell before setting out on their quest. Elrond’s scouts begin returning to Imladris
and we find that some had come over the Gladden Fields to Rhosgobel. Radagast, however, was not there, so they
left and returned to Rivendell. This is the last reference to Radagast we
are given in Tolkien’s works. So, why is it that I said in my previous video
that Gandalf was the only member of the Istari to remain true to his mission? Well, quite simply, it is the conclusion that
Tolkien himself came to. In an essay on the Istari, Tolkien wrote:
Indeed, of all the Istari, one only remained faithful [Gandalf], and he was the last-comer. For Radagast, the fourth, became enamoured
of the many beasts and birds that dwelt in Middle-earth, and forsook Elves and Men, and
spent his days among wild creatures. He [Gandalf] differed from Radagast and Saruman
in that he never turned aside from his appointed mission ('I was the Enemy of Sauron') and
was unsparing of himself. Radagast was fond of beasts and birds, and
found them easier to deal with; he did not become proud and domineering, but neglectful
and easygoing, and he had very little to do with Elves or Men although obviously resistance
to Sauron had to be sought chiefly in their cooperation. He even suggests that Gandalf is the only
wizard to ever return to Aman in a poem: Wilt thou learn the lore that was long secret
of the Five that came from a far country? One only returned. Others never again So where does this leave us with Radagast? Well, Radagast’s ultimate fate is just one
of those great Middle-earth Mysteries. While we’ve seen Radagast pop up in non-canon
games like LOTRO and War in the North - and most notably - in the Hobbit Trilogy, it’s
one of those things we can only wonder what truly happened. We know he didn’t sail west. For my part, I don’t believe Radagast was
killed, as some speculate due to the scouts report at the Council of Elrond. When the scouts return, notice they don’t
say that Rhosgobel was destroyed, ransacked, or even disturbed in any way - something I
would expect to happen if orcs had been involved. They simply state that they found Rhosgobel
and Radagast wasn’t there. More likely, as Gandalf mentioned, Radagast
travelled because he had great need. Perhaps this was to help thwart a scheme of
Sauron’s in the north of middle-earth - perhaps he needed to heal a hedgehog. One thing we can safely assume is that while
he neglected the company of elves and men, he certainly never turned to evil. As Gandalf tells the Council of Elrond: It
would have been useless in any case to try and win over the honest Radagast to treachery. If he survived the War of the Ring, I think
it likely that the honest Radagast continued to serve and care for the birds and beasts
of Middle-earth. A special thanks to all my Patreon supporters,
especially my wizard level patron, TomDaBombadil19. Thanks so much for watching, please leave
a like and subscribe and we’ll see you next time on Nerd of the Rings!
Those names on the blue wizards you mentioned are not something taken out of Tolkiens work.
Edit: a nice video tho. And I agree, I dont think he was killed either.
Radagast is my favorite