Actually Melkor was the most powerful of all the Valar.
Quote:
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The mightiest of those Ainur who came into the World was in his beginning Melkor; but Manwë is dearest to Ilúvatar and understands most clearly his purposes.
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That's from the published
Silmarillion.
The following is from
Myths Transformed:
Quote:
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Later, he [Melkor] must not be able to be controlled or 'chained' by all the Valar combined. Note that in the early age of Arda he was alone able to drive the Valar out of Middle-earth into retreat.
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