Morgoth Bauglir, Tolkien said somewhere that Sauron was stronger than Morgoth as he was at the end of the first age. Morgoth's individual strength declines throught out the 'first' (and previous) ages. The reason is that he spends his spirit in the corrupting of his servants. For instance, to create dragons, he would have to permanently infuse them with some of his strength. Thus, by the time he steals the Silmarils, he is not nearly as powerful as he initially was. This is why Sauron is stronger. He did not have to expend any of his spirit.
|