<P> The One Ring is an artefact that appears as the central plot element in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (1954--55). It is described in an earlier story, The Hobbit (1937), as a magic ring of invisibility . In the sequel, The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien ascribes to the Ring a darker character, with malevolent power going far beyond conferring invisibility: it was created by Sauron the Dark Lord as part of his design to win dominion over Middle - earth . The Lord of the Rings concerns the quest to destroy the Ring to keep Sauron from fulfilling his design . </P> <P> In The Lord of the Rings and the posthumously published The Silmarillion, Tolkien provides a detailed internal development from the forging of the Ring to its destruction . In the fictional context of Middle - earth, these events take place during several thousand years in the Second and Third Age of Arda . </P> <P> The One Ring was forged by the Dark Lord Sauron during the Second Age to gain dominion over the free peoples of Middle - earth . In disguise as Annatar, or "Lord of Gifts", he aided the Elven smiths of Eregion and their leader Celebrimbor in the making of the Rings of Power . He then forged the One Ring himself in the fires of Mount Doom . </P> <P> Sauron intended it to be the most powerful of all Rings, able to rule and control those who wore the others . Since the other Rings were themselves powerful, Sauron was obliged to place much of his own power into the One to achieve his purpose . </P>

Name of the rings in lord of the rings