Full Name: Radagast the Brown
Name Meaning: Radagast = "tender of beasts" in Adûnaic (Christopher Tolkien has stated that his father J.R.R Tolkien intended to change this in order for his name to fit in with the remaining wizards)
Aliases: Aiwendil
Birth Date: Unknown
Date of Death: Unknown
Race: Istari
Parents: Unknown
Siblings Unknown
Spouse: Unknown
Children: Unknown
History:
Radagast came to Middle-earth from Valinor together with the other wizards (Gandalf, Saruman, Pallando and Alatar) around the year 1000 of the Third Age. He was, like them, one of the Maiar. Radagast was a good friend of Gandalf although disliked strongly by Saruman who was forced by the Vala Yavanna to accept him. A reason for this dislike was that Saruman didn’t respect Radagast’s bond with flora and fauna and didn’t think he was a good enough wizard. Another one of Radagast’s friends was the skin-changer Beorn. It was Radagast who helped save Gandalf when he was held prisoner at the top of Orthanc, by sending the eagle Gwahir to give Saruman news of the movements of Sauron’s forces, and with Gwahir then carrying Gandalf to safety. It was also Radagast who – without his knowledge – helped Saruman to capture Gandalf in the first place. Without knowing of Saruman’s betrayal he helped the wizard by lending him his birds who would then become Saruman’s spies.
For most of his time in Middle-earth Radagast lived at Rhosgobel in the Vales of Anduin. He had a very strong relationship and affection for wild animals as well as the nature in general and he knew more than most others about herbs and beasts.
After the council of Elrond it is mentioned that when they decided to summon allies against Saruman, scouts were sent to look for him but he was not at his home at Rhosgobel and he was not to be found. After that there is no clear information of what happens to Radagast, although Tolkien himself has stated that Radagast chose to give up his position as one of the wizards when he became obsessed with animals and plants. However, Tolkien also wrote that he didn’t consider Radagast’s failure to be as great as Saruman’s and thus he may have – if he chose to – been allowed to return to Valinor. Christopher Tolkien notes however that Radagast was chosen by Yavanna to protect the nature of Middle-earth which would mean that he was not free to leave after the war of the ring.
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