Thû

"Can you see anything?" "Nothing. There's nothing." The descriptive majority of this article's text is unsourced, and should be supported with references.

!

This content is considered pre-canon. While the subject of this article is based on official information, it was replaced or emended in later stages of the legendarium.

!

In an early stage of J.R.R. Tolkien's mythology, Thû was a temporary replacement of the villain Tevildo, Lord of Cats. He was known as the "Lord of werewolves" and "Necromancer", and was a precursor to the character Sauron.

Canon & description

As seen in Beren and Lúthien, Thû was treated as the first appearance of Sauron, while Tevildo is treated as a separate minion of Morgoth (though its history in the development of Sauron's character is mentioned in a footnote).

...there are even to be discovered elements in the story that were later altogether lost. Thus, for example, the cross-examination of Beren and Felagund and their companions, disguised as Orcs, by Thû the Necromancer (the first appearance of Sauron), or the entry into the story of the appalling Tevildo, Prince of Cats, who clearly deserves to be remembered, short as was his literary life.

That Thû is a alias of Sauron is brought up in this passage of the story from Notes On Elder Days;

But Felagund was slain in the dungeons of Thû the Necromancer, later Sauron; and Orodreth, the second son of Finarfin, took the crown of Nargothrond, as told in this book (pp. 109, 120).

...Thû, the hunter...He is, or will be, Sauron. Tevildo and his realm of cats have disappeared.

And an entry in the glossary of Beren and Lúthien says:

Thû the Necromancer, greatest of the servants of Morgoth, dwelling in the Elvish watchtower on Tol Sirion; later named Sauron.