Master of Lies

Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, would freely use lies and deceit to gain his goals, and some of these lies had effects that would change the world. For example, it was the lies that he spread among the Elves after being released from his Captivity that led directly to the rebellion of the Noldor and their return to Middle-earth, and so to the long Wars of Beleriand that followed. The title 'Master of Lies' was thus an apposite one for this deceitful being.

Morgoth was given the title 'Master of Lies' by a Man, one Amlach son of Imlach of the people of Marach. In the early days of Men in Beleriand, while many of them were still encamped at Estolad, Amlach rallied his people to abandon the Elves and their war against the Dark Lord, and many of the newly-arrived Men listened to his words. After a great debate, many indeed chose to leave Beleriand, passing back over the mountains of Ered Luin into Eriador beyond.

It was only later discovered that Amlach himself had not been present at the great debate, and that the speaker who had turned so many Men against the Eldar was in fact an emissary of Morgoth, given Amlach's form to sow dissent among his enemies. On discovering this, Amlach named Morgoth the 'Master of Lies', and far from abandoning the Elves he instead joined their efforts, travelling northward from Estolad to enter the service of the Elf-lord Maedhros.