The Wizards were five Maiar sent to Middle-earth in the Third Age by the Valar, so that they could act indirectly to rescue it from Sauron's evil. Their leader was Saruman the White, a master of lore who, out of pride, set up his own realm at Isengard and became an unwitting servant of Sauron. He was countered by Gandalf, originally Gandalf the Grey, who eventually replaced him. The only other Wizard who played any part in defeating Sauron was Radagast the Brown, a master of herb-lore.