How did Saruman know who Gimli was ?

[Rumil]

Agree that Saruman probably heard of Gimli via Wormtongue.

However I'd guess that he had some interest in the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain. After all the Battle of Five Armies was a really major event that altered the balance of power somewhat. I think Saruman would have been rather fascinated as to how the Grey Wanderer somehow managed to arrange the demise of Smaug the Magnificent.

More importantly, putting 2 and 2 together, Balin's occupation of Moria might have made him sit up and take notice. Saruman was the expert on Rings of Power, I bet he had figured out that there was still one of the seven unaccounted for, though I'm not sure if Gandalf let on that it was taken in Dol Guldur? If not, then Saruman would have loved to get his hands on it and Moria wasn't too far for his spies to travel, or to do a bit of Palantir-ing.

Gimli was probably one of the top few dozen Dwarves of Erebor (in terms of social status) and Saruman, being the political operator we know he was, might well have complied information on the top players amongst the major powers of the time.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Rumil

More importantly, putting 2 and 2 together, Balin's occupation of Moria might have made him sit up and take notice. Saruman was the expert on Rings of Power, I bet he had figured out that there was still one of the seven unaccounted for, though I'm not sure if Gandalf let on that it was taken in Dol Guldur? If not, then Saruman would have loved to get his hands on it and Moria wasn't too far for his spies to travel, or to do a bit of Palantir-ing.

Saruman had to have been well aware Sauron had recovered or accounted for all the Seven.
Gandalf had gone into Dol Guldur in T.A. 2850, and had then found Thráin II there, raving about 'the last of the Seven'. The White Council had met the very next year to discuss what to do about the Necromancer (revealed to be Sauron by Gandalf), and Gandalf would surely have told all about his experiences in Dol Guldur, including the fate of Thráin's ring.

[Sarumian]

I totally agree that every detail of the Erebor quest should be of a great interest for Saruman. Smaug's ellimination and the Battle of Five Armies were very important events; he cuould also have felt there was something dodgy in that, though the Ring was kept a secret. So Saruman must have been be aware of Gloin's name.

I don't think he knew anything about Gimli before the Fellowship departed from Rivendail. However he could have learnt it either from his spies in Hollin (there could be not only animals, but Dunlendings), or from Wormtongue, or himself in Farngorn, as have already been said here, so there was no mistake.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Sarumian

I don't think he knew anything about Gimli before the Fellowship departed from Rivendail. However he could have learnt it either from his spies in Hollin (there could be not only animals, but Dunlendings), or from Wormtongue, or himself in Farngorn, as have already been said here, so there was no mistake.

I doubt Dunlendings, or any other two-legged spies, could have been close enough to the Company in Eregion to have overheard their speech.
For one thing, the lands surrounding Rivendell had been well searched prior to the departure of the Fellowship. Also, it seems likely anyone trying to follow them would have been marked by Legolas, Aragorn, or Gandalf at least, not to mention the Hobbits, who were sharp enough to see and hear Gollum later on when he was on their trail.

And by the way, welcome Sarumian!

[Mugwump]

Considering the age of the Istari, and how much they got around, I would have been astounded at any suggestion that Saruman did NOT know a notable dwarf like Gimli by sight. I'm certain he must've seen him before in his travels, and more than once.

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Mugwump

Considering the age of the Istari, and how much they got around, I would have been astounded at any suggestion that Saruman did NOT know a notable dwarf like Gimli by sight. I'm certain he must've seen him before in his travels, and more than once.

That seems highly unlikely to me. Saruman, based on my impression from the Istari bits of Unfinished Tales and the Tale of the Years, was pretty sedentary after the Steward of Gondor gave him the keys of Orthanc. Not completely, I don't imagine, but I really don't think he was much of a wanderer by the time of the last White Council, and Gimli was too young then to go on the Quest to Erebor, so I don't think we can call him "notable" quite yet.

[Mugwump]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

Gimli was too young then to go on the Quest to Erebor, so I don't think we can call him "notable" quite yet.

Because of who Gimli's father was, I would still be greatly surprised if Saruman didn't already know him by sight. Conversely, Saruman's calling him by name at that time could easily have been to show off his knowledge. I'm sure he used the Palantir and his other spies to scope out as much information about Gandalf and his companions as possible.