In the established lore of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and its broader mythology, Sauron, as a Maia, does not have any canonical children or a known daughter. His existence is that of a powerful spirit in the form of a Dark Lord, primarily focused on dominating Middle-earth.
However, in certain fan-created works, a character named Moriel is conceptualized as Sauron's daughter.
Moriel: A Fan-Created Character
Moriel is a fictional character developed within the realm of fanon—fan-created lore that expands upon or diverges from the original canonical works. In these fan narratives, Moriel is often depicted as the daughter of Sauron and Celebrian.
It is crucial to understand the distinction between canon and fanon when discussing characters like Moriel:
- Canon: Refers to the original, officially recognized works by J.R.R. Tolkien, including The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales. In canon, Sauron's lineage does not include any offspring.
- Fanon: Encompasses ideas, characters, or plotlines that originate in fanfiction and become widely accepted or recognized within a particular fan community, despite not being part of the official lore. Moriel falls into this category.
Canonical Lineage vs. Fanon Creations
Aspect | Canonical Lore (J.R.R. Tolkien) | Fanon (Fan-Created) |
---|---|---|
Sauron's Reproduction | Does not have children; his nature as a Maia precludes typical reproduction. | Some fan narratives explore him having offspring. |
Sauron's Daughter | None exists or is mentioned. | Moriel is a prominent fan-created daughter. |
Celebrian's Role | Daughter of Galadriel and Celeborn; wife of Elrond; mother of Arwen, Elladan, and Elrohir. | Some fanon depicts her as Moriel's mother with Sauron, a significant departure from established lore. |
Official Recognition | Part of the foundational texts of Middle-earth. | Exists solely within fan communities and their creative works. |
Understanding Sauron's Nature
Sauron was originally a Maia of Aulë, a spirit akin to an angel, who was corrupted by Morgoth. His power and form were tied to his will and his connection to the One Ring. While he could take on various shapes, the concept of him having a biological child is not consistent with his nature or role as depicted in Tolkien's writings. His focus was on control, order, and the accumulation of power, not on establishing a dynastic line.
Therefore, while the concept of a "Sauron's daughter" exists in the creative imagination of his fanbase, Moriel is a character found exclusively in fan-made content and is not part of the official Lord of the Rings mythology.