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The main part of this article relates to the version of Middle-earth's history that is considered canon by most Tolkien fans who accept such labels (see: Middle-earth canon). This subject's portrayal in earlier or alternative versions is discussed in the other versions of the legendarium section.
Even before Arda was created Melkor was jealous of his creator, and he wanted to be king of other wills himself. He spent a long time looking for the Secret Fire, either unaware or uncomprehending that this was not an object to be found but rather Eru's creative power. During the Music of the Ainur Melkor directly competed with Eru's theme, and managed to draw many lesser Ainur to him. Melkor's competition with the themes of Eru however only enriched the creation: when Ulmo thought of water Melkor tried to destroy it with immense heat and then immense cold, only achieving clouds and ice. When Eru revealed the results of their song to the Ainur (the material world, called Arda), Melkor was one of the first to descend into it, mainly from this desire.
Melkor fought with the other Valar for a long time for the control of Arda. While he was the single most powerful Vala, he was not able to stand up to the combined might of all other Valar combined. However, these were busy ordering the new world, creating the mountains, the sky, the earth, the waters, and were desperate to create order among Melkor's chaos — so the fight was not even.
He was held at bay by the aid of TulkasTulkas (from the Valarin Tulukastaz is a Vala from J. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. His name is a reference to his golden beard. He is also called Astaldo which means steadfast''. He is the spouse of Nessa. Tulkas was the most warlike of the Valar a, who arrived late in Arda only to fight Melkor, and the Valar ordered Arda to their pleasing. Melkor was only biding his time, however, so when the Valar finally rested, he and his followers (downfallen Ainur) attacked and destroyed the Two LampsIn the mythology of J. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, Illuin and Ormal were great lamps which once stood respectively at the northern and southern ends of Arda. After the Valar entered the world, there was a misty light veiling the barren ground. The V (precursors to the Two Trees and the SunIn the fiction of J. Tolkien, the sun of Middle-earth was created by the Vala Aule; he and his people made a vessel to hold the radiance of the last fruit of Laurelin. The vessel of the sun was guided by Arien, a Maia. and Anar the Fire-golden, fruit of L and MoonIn the fiction of J. Tolkien, the moon of Middle-earth was created by the Vala Aule. A vessel was made, by him and his people, to hold the radience of the last flower of Telperion, the elder of the Two Trees of Valinor. The Maia Tilion was chosen to guide). In the process, Arda was plunged into darkness, and AlmarenAlmaren is a fictional location from J. Tolkien's universe, Middle-earth. Almaren (meaning blessed place was an island in the Great Lake, the home of the Valar in the middle of Arda. It was at the place where the light of the Two Lamps mingled. Almaren wa, the home of the Valar, was destroyed.
The Valar then retired to ValinorAman and Valinor A fictional location from J. Tolkien's legendarium, Valinor (meaning Land of the Valar is the realm of the Valar in Aman, the place to which they moved after being driven from Almaren by Melkor. Its major city was Valimar. After the destr in the West, and Melkor held dominion over Middle-earth from his fortress of UtumnoTolkien's Middle-earth, Utumno (also known as Udun ) is the first fortress of Melkor in the far north of Middle-earth. It was built by Melkor after his first expulsion from Arda. The Valar had by this time created the Two Lamps, and Utumno was built aroun in the North. Melkor at this time began diluting himself all throughout Arda: he managed to taint all matter with his essence, in essence marring all of Arda. However, this weakened him so that he became in essence far less powerful. Melkor's reign ended, however, after Eru awoke the Elves in the East of Middle-earth, and the Valar resolved to rescue them from him. They made immediate and devastating war on him, and he was brought to Valinor in chains to serve a term in the Halls of Mandos for three Ages. During this war much of the north of Middle-earth was destroyed. Unknown to the Valar Melkor had already begun capturing Elves, turning them into Orcs — a process which continued during his capture under his servant Sauron.
It was after this sentence was ended, and he used his newfound freedom to corrupt the Ñoldor (a people of the Elves who had relocated to Valinor) and steal the Silmarils, that Fëanor of the Ñoldor first named him the Morgoth, "The Dark Enemy of the World". With the aid of Ungoliant he also managed to kill Finwë, Fëanor's father and High king of the Ñoldor, destroy the Two Trees, and bring darkness to Valinor, before he fled.
Back in Middle-earth, he took up his reign in the North again, this time in Angband, which had not been destroyed as thoroughly by the Valar as Utumno had. This time however, there were Elves and after a time also Men and Dwarves who resisted him, so he was not the sole ruler of Middle-earth. Melkor had also become weakened because of his dilution throughout Arda, and as Morgoth, although by far overpowering the might of Elves, Men, and Dwarves combined, he could no longer achieve the deeds he had been capable of before.
However, after building his strength (mainly enforced through his Orcs, which by now outnumbered the Ñoldor and Sindar), he soon dispatched his enemies, one by one, through violence or treachery, until only isolated pockets of resistance remained (such as the strongholds of the Dwarves in the Blue Mountains, and minor refuges at the Mouths of Sirion and the Isle of Balar). His mastery was again complete.
But it was not to last. Eärendil, descended from Elves, Maiar, and Men, managed to plead with the Valar until they agreed to send an army to vanquish Morgoth. This time, the Valar themselves did not go, in fear of destroying even more of Middle-earth in a devastating war, but many of the Maiar went, and most of the Calaquendi (Elves living in Valinor) ferried over into Middle-earth by the ships of the Teleri (a people of the Elves far akin to the Sindar).
During the ensuing War of Wrath Beleriand and much of the north of Middle-earth was destroyed, but at the end Morgoth was utterly defeated, and his punishment was final. Because he had weakened himself so he could no longer resist the Valar. Melkor/Morgoth was executed, and his fëa was shut outside the gates of the world forever. Shut off from Arda where most of his essence remained he was unable to ever return (or at least until the rumored Final Battle when he supposedly returns to fight a united army of Valar, Maiar, Elves and Men). Morgoth's evil however remained in Arda Marred.
One legend of Middle-earth suggests that in the Last Battle, Morgoth will be slain by Túrin Turambar, who will return from the dead to defeat him. This legend was included in one of Tolkien's many notes on The Silmarillion, and it was published in The Shaping of Middle-earth (Book 4 of the History of Middle-earth series).
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