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He was clever enough without it to defeat the Numenoreans with guile and without an army
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Actually he did have the ring, and used it to a great extent in their corruption:
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Originally Posted by Letter #211
Sauron was first defeated by a 'miracle'... Though reduced to 'a spirit of hatred borne on a dark wind', I do not think one need boggle at this spirit carrying off the One Ring, upon which his power of dominating minds now largely depended.
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Sauron was, of course, 'confounded' by the disaster, and diminished (having expended enormous energy in the corruption of Numenor).
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