In the wider lore of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, the Blue Wizards are among the most enigmatic figures. While Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast all play clear roles in The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, the two unnamed Istari dressed in blue remain mostly in the shadows. Yet Tolkien returned to them several times throughout his life, offering differing accounts of their mission, names, and ultimate fate. Their story is fragmentary but rich with implications for the history of Middle-earth.
Who Were the Blue Wizards?
The Blue Wizards were two of the five Istari sent by the Valar to Middle-earth in the Second or early Third Age. Like the others, they were Maia spirits, powerful and immortal, sent in human form to aid the Free Peoples against the rising threat of Sauron.
Tolkien later gave them the names Alatar and Pallando. These names first appear in his essay “The Istari” in Unfinished Tales, and were expanded upon in his late writings.
Contradictory Accounts
Tolkien’s notes and letters provide at least two conflicting accounts of the Blue Wizards’ mission and legacy.
1. The Early View – Failure and Obscurity
In Unfinished Tales, written during the 1950s, Tolkien suggests that the Blue Wizards travelled into the East with Saruman, but unlike him, they never returned. It is implied that they failed in their task, possibly founding cults or magical traditions that led to further corruption.
“They went into the East… and never returned.” (Unfinished Tales)
In this view, the Blue Wizards may have contributed to the spread of dark magic or rival powers in the East, weakening the cause of the West rather than strengthening it.
2. The Later View – Quiet Success
In writings from the late 1960s or early 1970s, Tolkien re-evaluated their purpose. He now suggested they had been sent much earlier, in the Second Age, and may have succeeded in undermining Sauron’s influence in the East.
“They must have had very great influence on the history of the Second and Third Age in weakening and disarraying the forces of East…” (Letter 211, late notes)
In this interpretation, the Blue Wizards helped prevent Sauron from amassing even greater armies by sowing dissent or weakening his allies in the East and South. Their work would have been quiet, long-term, and unseen in the West, but ultimately vital.
Why Tolkien Changed His Mind
The shift in perspective may reflect Tolkien’s desire to create a more balanced mythology. His early vision for Middle-earth centred almost entirely on the West: Gondor, Rohan, and Eriador. But in his later years, he began sketching out the vast unknown lands beyond the maps. The Blue Wizards offered a way to acknowledge that the struggles against evil were not limited to the West.
What Might Have Happened to Them?
Given the ambiguity, several possibilities remain open:
- They were corrupted, like Saruman, and either perished or became local powers with distorted intentions.
- They were killed by agents of Sauron or lost in the wildernesses of Rhûn and Harad.
- They succeeded in turning factions in the East and South against Sauron, quietly shaping the course of events from afar.
- They became legends in lands never described by Tolkien, remembered as mysterious figures, sorcerers, or even minor deities.
Are the Blue Wizards Canon?
They are part of the canon, but in a loose sense. They do not appear in The Lord of the Rings or The Silmarillion, though references to the Istari include the “five” wizards. Most of what we know comes from Tolkien’s unfinished essays and letters, which were later published by his son Christopher. Their inclusion in the larger narrative depends on which version of Tolkien’s late writings one chooses to prioritise.
The Blue Wizards in Adaptations
The Blue Wizards have rarely been portrayed in adaptations. They do not appear in Peter Jackson’s films. However, Amazon’s The Rings of Power may be exploring similar territory through unnamed or mysterious figures. As of now, any depiction of the Blue Wizards on screen remains speculative or non-canonical.
Legacy
The Blue Wizards stand as a symbol of the vastness of Tolkien’s world. He deliberately left parts of Middle-earth unwritten, and the fate of Alatar and Pallando is part of that creative mystery. They hint at a broader resistance to Sauron beyond the borders of the known map, and at a history that continues in the East, far from the White City or the Shire.
The Seven Swords Takeaway
Tolkien never offered a single definitive answer to the question of what happened to the Blue Wizards. Instead, he allowed them to remain ambiguous, their fate scattered across his notes and revisions. Whether they failed or succeeded, vanished or endured, the Blue Wizards represent a thread of deeper mythology, always just out of reach.
