<P> The wizards landed at the Grey Havens in the North - west of Middle - earth, for the Valar felt that Arnor and Gondor, remnants of Elendil's old kingdom, had the greatest hope of mounting resistance against Sauron . Few of Middle - earth's inhabitants knew who the wizards really were; the wizards did not share their identities and purposes widely . Most thought they were Elves or wise Men; the name Gandalf, meaning "Wand - elf", reflects the belief that he was an Elf . </P> <P> Saruman originally was the most powerful of the five and was head of the White Council . In T.A. 2759 he took over the defence of Isengard with the consent of the Steward of Gondor, who gave him the key to Orthanc . Saruman was learned in the lore of the Rings of Power, and gradually became corrupted by desire for the Rings and by Sauron's direct influence through the palantír of Orthanc . Eventually he took the title "Saruman of Many Colours" and took robes to match . He assisted Sauron in the War of the Ring, biding time to secure the One Ring for himself, in order to supplant Sauron, but his plans and forces were thwarted by the power of the Ents . Gandalf broke his staff and cast him from the White Council . However, Saruman later invaded the hobbit lands of the Shire, ruling as a petty lord, but was eventually overthrown again by the hobbits . He was finally murdered by his servant Gríma Wormtongue . </P> <P> During the War of the Ring, it was Gandalf who led the Free Peoples to victory over Sauron . He also became "Gandalf the White", and defeated the traitorous Saruman . After the destruction of Sauron's forces in front of the Black Gate at the mountainous borders of Mordor, Gandalf left Middle - earth and went over the Sea to Aman, along with the Ring - bearers and many of the Elves . </P> <P> In the course of The Lord of the Rings, it is never made clear what exactly Gandalf and Saruman are . Treebeard tells Merry and Pippin that the wizards appeared after the Great Ships came over the Sea (ca . T.A. 1000, according to Appendix B, some 2,000 years before the time of The Lord of the Rings), but little else is revealed in the narrative . Riding with Pippin to Minas Tirith at the end of Book III, Gandalf ponders the ability of the palantíri to see into the past, and recalls events in Valinor from the Years of the Trees--though whether from his own memory is not clear . Later in Minas Tirith, Pippin wonders what Gandalf really is, and realizes that this is the first time in his life that he has done so . </P>

Where did the wizards of middle earth come from