What is Sauron?!?!?!

[Larin]

After reading thru the original what is Sauron thread I noticed that when most people talked about Melkor, they say that he is the strongest of the Vala. Please Let me point out that this is not true he was equal strength to Manwe, in short they tied for first place.

[obloquy]

Actually Melkor was the most powerful of all the Valar.
The mightiest of those Ainur who came into the World was in his beginning Melkor; but Manwë is dearest to Ilúvatar and understands most clearly his purposes.

That's from the published Silmarillion.

The following is from Myths Transformed:

Later, he [Melkor] must not be able to be controlled or 'chained' by all the Valar combined. Note that in the early age of Arda he was alone able to drive the Valar out of Middle-earth into retreat.