Quote Originally Posted by Berephon View Post
Saruman was the first of the Istari to come into Middle-earth and was made the head of the Order (as the White, he was the most powerful); however, when he corrupted (back before they drove Sauron out of Dol Guldur, contrary to what the Hobbit movie is going to portray), he actually began to weaken. Very likely, Gandalf could have actually defied Saruman rather than allow himself to be taken, but remember that Saruman also had vast numbers of Orcs at his disposal, and even Gandalf would not have been able to get through them all.
Well remember that Morgoth decreased in power, not because of his corruption, but because he expended his personal power on his kingdom. Creating Dragons, or Uruk-hai, or creating rings of power, it does cost something. At the end, Morgoth was not the most powerful of the Valar, he had expended too much of his essence on his empire.

And that is just it, by putting his power into his army he can defeat Gandalf with his army, but in the end 1v1 he was no match for Gandalf.