Manwë was an Ainu, the King of the Valar of Eru, husband of Varda Elentári, brother of the Dark Lord Melkor, and King of Arda. He lived atop Mount Taniquetil, the highest mountain of the world, in the halls of Ilmarin. The winds and airs were his servants, and he gave most attention to the ideas of air, wind, and clouds in Arda. He was the noblest and greatest in authority, but not in power, of the Aratar and Ainur.
Manwë was (with his brother Morgoth) the greatest of the Ainur, and the one that best understood the will of Eru. When Morgoth created the discord in the Music of the Ainur, Manwë took over leading the song. When Arda was formed, Manwë was appointed Ruler of Arda, hence his most common title, the Elder King.
Manwë was a kind, compassionate ruler, unconcerned with his own power. But he did not understand evil, even in the form of his own brother. He released Morgoth from Mandos, thus allowing him to cause the distrust of Fëanor, the Poisoning of the Two Trees, the murder of Finwë, the theft of the Silmarils, and the revolt of the Noldor. To hearten the Eldar, he had Aulë fashion the vessels to hold Sun and the Moon, for he knew the rising of the Atani was coming soon, and sent Thorondor and the Eagles to watch them.
After Morgoth's fall at the end of the War of Wrath, Manwë cast him into the void. In the Final Battle, when Morgoth and his most powerful ally, Sauron, escape, it is said that the Elder King and the two Dark Lords will battle on the Plains of Valinor, but that they will not slay each other, as Morgoth is destined to die to Túrin Turambar, wielding the Mormegil.
Manwë appeared dressed in long blue robes, with blue eyes. He wielded a powerful staff coated in sapphire made for him by the Noldor. The Vanyar were his favorite Elves, and they lived with him and Varda on Mount Taniquetil.
Manwë means Blessed One, from the root word meaning “unmarred.” Súlimo means Lord of the Winds. His titles include Elder King, High King of Arda, King of Arda, Lord of the Breath of Arda and Lord of the West.