Saruman is the wizard who leads the White Council in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
Saruman the White is the chief of the Istari, the order of spiritual beings sent to Middle-earth to oppose Sauron. His great knowledge of ring-lore and Sauron’s methods initially makes him a natural choice to preside over the White Council.
The council is an alliance of powerful figures, including Gandalf, Galadriel, Elrond, and Saruman. Over time, Saruman becomes corrupted by his desire for power and by his study of the enemy. He establishes himself at Isengard and begins creating weapons and armies.
Readers sometimes assume Gandalf leads the council because he is the best-known wizard. In Tolkien’s story, however, Saruman holds the formal leadership role. His betrayal is one of the major examples of how knowledge and authority can be turned toward domination.