| This article is about the husband of Galadriel. For the White Tree of Tol Eressëa, see Celeborn of Aman. |
Celeborn was the Lord of Lothlórien and husband of Galadriel, Lady of the Golden Wood. He was said to be one of the wisest Elves in Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age.
He played an important role in many battles in the First and Second Age. In the War of the Ring, Celeborn defended Lothlórien and led the assault on Dol Guldur. He remained in Middle-earth for a time at the beginning of the Fourth Age, but eventually joined his wife in the Undying Lands.
Biography[]
Origins[]
Celeborn was a Prince of Doriath and a kinsman of Thingol, King of Doriath. Celeborn was said to be the grandson of Thingol's brother Elmo. Celeborn's father was Galadhon, and his brother was Galathil.[1]
First Age[]
He fought in the First Battle, one of the first wars of the first age. Around FA 52 (FA as in First Age), Galadriel came to Doriath. Galadriel was one of the Ñoldor who came to Middle-earth wishing to see the lands and rule a realm of her own. She came with the second host of Elves from Aman with Fingolfin and Finrod.[note 2] In Doriath, she and Celeborn fell in love and married.
A young Celeborn, by Sara Maria Morello
Celeborn's distrust of Dwarves began at this time. In one of J.R.R. Tolkien's accounts, it is said that Celeborn escaped the Dwarves' Sack of Doriath.
After he fought in the War of Wrath and Beleriand was destroyed, Celeborn remained in Middle-earth with Galadriel.
Second Age[]
Celeborn and Galadriel likely lived for a time in Lindon, a coastal region west of the Blue Mountains. Gil-galad was High King of the Elves who dwelt there. Many of the Elves in Harlindon, a part of Lindon south of the Gulf of Lune, were Sindarin Elves like Celeborn, and so he may have ruled a fiefdom there under Gil-galad.
Then, early in the Second Age, Celeborn and Galadriel are said to have moved eastward into Eriador with a number of Elves in their following. They may have lived for a while near Lake Evendim. Their daughter Celebrían was born at around this time. They began to move eastward again around the year SA 700 because Galadriel sensed a growing evil in Middle-earth that she felt duty-bound to oppose.
Celeborn as depicted by Angus McBride for the Middle-earth Collectible Card Game (1995)
The realm of Eregion was founded in SA 750, and Galadriel and Celeborn are said to have dwelt there for a time along with Celebrimbor and the Elven-smiths. The Elves of Eregion had dealings with the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm nearby, but Celeborn still distrusted Dwarves and would not enter Khazad-dûm, although the Dwarves there had nothing to do with the destruction of Doriath.
The Elves of Eregion also had contact with the Elves of Lothlórien on the other side of the Misty Mountains. According to one story, Galadriel went to dwell in Lothlórien around SA 1350 to SA 1400 while Celeborn remained in Eregion. However, in other versions of the story, both Galadriel and Celeborn stayed in Eregion.
Sauron came to Eregion in a fair disguise as Annatar the "Lord of gifts" in SA 1200, and deceived the Elven-smiths, who began forging the Rings of Power under his instruction in SA 1500. Sauron forged the One Ring to rule the others around SA 1600, and Celebrimbor hid from him the Three Elven Rings of Power that he had made, without Sauron's knowledge. Enraged, Sauron eventually attacked Eregion in SA 1697.
Celeborn led a sortie from Eregion to meet the vanguard of Sauron's army. He was able to drive the enemy back long enough to join forces with Elrond, who brought reinforcements from Lindon. But Sauron's army was greater than their combined forces and Eregion soon fell. Celebrimbor was killed, and Sauron took the Nine Rings and at least six of the Seven rings. Sauron would eventually be driven back to Mordor in SA 1701 with the aid of the Númenóreans.
Galadriel and Celeborn together, by Anna Kulisz
The movements of Galadriel after the fall of Eregion are unclear. But Celeborn went to Rivendell to help strengthen elves defenses against Sauron. He fought in First Siege of Imladris, Battle of the Gwathló and War of the Last Alliance.
Third Age[]
Celeborn and Galadriel lived for a while in Rivendell, the home of Elrond. At some point, they may have travelled to the coastal region of Belfalas in the south to be near the sea.[citation needed]
Celeborn and Galadriel's daughter Celebrían married Elrond in TA 109. Elrond and Celebrían had three children: twin sons Elladan and Elrohir, born in TA 130, and a daughter, Arwen, born in TA 241.
Around TA 1050, the Necromancer, who was actually Sauron, built the stronghold of Dol Guldur across the Anduin from Lothlórien. Celeborn and Galadriel are said to have returned to Lothlórien to investigate the Necromancer and ensure the safety of Lothlórien. But after a time, they once again departed, possibly for Rivendell. Lothlórien remained under the rule of King Amroth.
A Balrog awoke in Khazad-dûm in TA 1980. Many of the Elves of Lothlórien fled, including Amroth's lover Nimrodel. Amroth followed Nimrodel and he later perished at sea. Lothlórien was left without a leader, so Celeborn and Galadriel returned there and became the Lord and Lady of Lothlórien in TA 1981. They ruled the realm from Caras Galadhon, the City of the Trees.
Celebrían was on her way to Lothlórien to visit her parents in TA 2509 when she was captured by Orcs on the Pass of Caradhras. Her sons Elladan and Elrohir rescued her, but the horror of the experience remained with Celebrían and she decided to leave Middle-earth the next year to dwell in the Undying Lands.
In TA 2941, Sauron was driven out of Dol Guldur by the White Council - of which Galadriel was a member. However, Sauron had been prepared for the attack and returned to Mordor. He sent three Nazgûl led by Khamûl to reoccupy Dol Guldur in TA 2951.
Aragorn came to Lothlórien in TA 2980 and was betrothed to Arwen, who was there visiting her grandparents.
Celeborn meets the Fellowship of the Ring, in the 2001 film
War of the Ring[]
In December of 3018, Elladan and Elrohir brought word to Celeborn and Galadriel of the Fellowship of the Ring's quest to destroy the One Ring. The Fellowship arrived in Lothlórien on January 15, 3019, and was brought to Caras Galadhon to meet Celeborn and Galadriel on January 17.
Celeborn at first welcomed Gimli despite his distrust of Dwarves and said he hoped that there could be friendship between their peoples once more. Then he learned that the Balrog had been disturbed by an expedition of Dwarves to Khazad-dûm led by Balin several years before, and that the Balrog had attacked the Fellowship resulting in the loss of Gandalf the Grey. Celeborn was angry at first and regretted allowing the Fellowship to enter Lothlórien, but Galadriel soothed him and he apologized to Gimli.[4]
Celeborn promised to help the Fellowship however he could. On the eve of their departure from Lothlórien, he discussed what route they might take, and offered them boats for their journey down the Great River Anduin. The next day, on February 16, Celeborn and Galadriel prepared a feast for the Fellowship and gave them gifts. Celeborn advised them further about navigating the Anduin.[5]
Lothlórien was attacked thrice by forces from Dol Guldur during the War of the Ring: on March 11, 15, and 22. Each time, the Galadhrim led by Celeborn and Galadriel repelled them. After the destruction of the One Ring and Sauron's defeat, Celeborn and Galadriel crossed the Anduin and destroyed Dol Guldur. The shadow was lifted from Mirkwood.
Later Third Age[]
On April 6, Celeborn met Thranduil, King of the Woodland Realm and father of Legolas, in Mirkwood. They renamed the forest the Wood of Greenleaves. Thranduil retained kingship of the northern part of the forest, while the center part was given to the Beornings and the Woodmen. Celeborn claimed the southern part of the forest below the Narrows of the Forest to be part of Lothlórien. This region was named East Lórien.
Celeborn and Galadriel accompanied their granddaughter Arwen to Minas Tirith, where she wed Aragorn, now King of Gondor, on Mid-year's Day. Celeborn and Galadriel then travelled to Rohan and attended the funeral of King Théoden. On the way home, they met with Treebeard at Isengard.
When Celeborn and Galadriel parted from Aragorn, Celeborn said to his granddaughter's husband: "Kinsman, farewell! May your doom be other than mine, and your treasure remain with you to the end!"[6]
Celeborn may have been anticipating the day when his own wife would depart for the Undying Lands while he remained in Middle-earth. On September 13, Celeborn and Galadriel crossed the Redhorn Gate to return to Lothlórien.
Fourth Age[]
Celeborn, at Mithlond, ready to sail to the Undying Lands, as seen in The Return of the King film
Galadriel left Middle-earth to return to the Undying Lands in 3021 at the end of the Third Age. Celeborn remained in Lothlórien, but after a few years he began to grow weary. He went to Rivendell to live with his grandsons Elladan and Elrohir for a while in the early part of the Fourth Age. Eventually, Celeborn went to the Grey Havens and sailed for the Undying Lands where his wife and daughter dwelled. It is said that "with him went the last living memory of the Elder Days in Middle-earth."[7]
Etymology[]
The name Celeborn means "Silver tree", from the Sindarin words celeb ("silver") and orn ("tree").[8] His original name was Teleporno, a Telerin name which means "Silver-high", from Quenya, tyelpe ("silver").[9]
Pronunciation[]
Celeborn is pronounced ‘Keleborn’, not ‘Seleborn’, as with all Sindarin and Quenya C consonants: pronounced always as "k".
House of Elmo[]
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In adaptations[]
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy[]
Celeborn was portrayed by Marton Csokas in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, directed by Peter Jackson, but his scenes in The Two Towers were cut for running time purposes. He briefly appears at the end of The Return of the King before the Elven boat departs from the Grey Havens.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power[]
In episode seven of The Rings of Power Season One, Galadriel reveals that she and Celeborn wed long before the Second Age, but after he never returned from participating in the War of the Jewels, he was presumed dead. It is implied, though, he lives still.
Ralph Bakshi[]
Celeborn and Galadriel in Ralph Bakshi’s The Lord of the Rings, 1978
In Ralph Bakshi's version of The Lord of the Rings, Celeborn is briefly seen with Galadriel greeting the Fellowship of the Ring on arrival. He was voiced by an unknown actor.
Video games[]
Celeborn in The Lord of the Rings Online
Celeborn appears in The Lord of the Rings Online. During an extended flashback depicting the War of the Last Alliance, Celeborn can be found in Echad-in-Edhil in Mordor next to Amroth, Lord of Lórien. After the War's end, Celeborn spends the early years of the Third Age hunting down Shelob in Ephel Dúath and eventually is able to trap her by placing Lights of Eärendil at the exits of Shelob's Lair, trapping her inside for many centuries.
During the War of the Ring, Celeborn can be found next to Galadriel on a main talan in Caras Galadhon, from where he negotiates with the Dwarves of the Iron Garrison, sends the player to combat the ancient evil in the depths of Moria and organizes a military assault against Dol Guldur in Mirkwood. After the fall of the Dark Tower, Celeborn meets with Thranduil to rename Mirkwood Eryn Lasgalen and give the middle section of it to the Woodmen. Celeborn and Galadriel then travel to Minas Tirith to attend the Great Wedding of Aragorn and Arwen, after which Celeborn ventures into the Morgul Vale once again to finish Shelob for good and leads a group including Legolas, Mablung and the player inside her Lair, Torech Ungol.
Trivia[]
- Celeborn is one of the other possible members of the White Council, along with the mightiest of Elves like Glorfindel and Erestor, Elrond's chief counselor.
Gallery[]
| Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. |
Voice dubbing actors[]
| Foreign Language | Voice dubbing artist |
| Spanish (Latin America) | Mario Castañeda |
| Spanish (Spain) | Pere Molina |
| Portuguese (Brazil) (Television/DVD) | Armando Tiraboschi |
| German | Stephan Hoffmann |
| Italian (Italy) | Angelo Maggi |
| French (France) | Michel Papineschi |
| Czech (Czech Republic) | Martin Zahálka |
| Turkish | Ali Gül |
Translations[]
| Foreign Language | Translated name |
| Amharic | ኬሌቦን |
| Arabic | سيليبورن |
| Armenian | Կելեբորն |
| Assamese | চেলিবৰ্ণ |
| Basque | Zeleborn |
| Belarusian Cyrillic | Келебарн |
| Bengali | কেলেবর্ন |
| Bulgarian Cyrillic | Келеборн |
| Burmese | ကယ်လီဘောန် |
| Catalan | Cèleborn |
| Chinese (Hong Kong) | 凱勒鵬 |
| Dogri | सेलेबॉर्न |
| Georgian | კელებორნი |
| Greek | Κέλεμπορν |
| Gujarati | સેલિબોર્ન |
| Hebrew | קלבורן |
| Hindi | केलेबोर्न |
| Japanese | ケレボルン |
| Kannada | ಕೆಲೆಬಾರ್ನ್ |
| Kazakh | Келеборн (Cyrillic) Keleborn (Latin) |
| Konkani | सेलेबॉर्न |
| Korean | 켈레보른 |
| Kyrgyz Cyrillic | Кэлэборн |
| Laotian | ຂເລເບໂຣນ |
| Macedonian Cyrillic | Келеборн |
| Malayalam | സെലിബോൺ |
| Marathi | केलेबॉर्न |
| Mongolian Cyrillic | Келеборн |
| Nepalese | केलेबोर्न |
| Pashto | کلیبورن |
| Persian | کلبورن |
| Punjabi | ਕੇਲੇਬੋਰਨ |
| Russian | Келеборн |
| Sanskrit | केलेबोर्न् |
| Serbian | Келеборна (Cyrillic) Keleborna (Latin) |
| Sindhi | ڪيليبورن |
| Sinhalese | කෙලේබෝන් |
| Tajik Cyrillic | Келеберн |
| Tamil | கெலேபோர்ன் |
| Telugu | సెలెబోర్న్ |
| Thai | เคเลบอร์น |
| Ukrainian Cyrillic | Келеборн |
| Urdu | کیلیبورن |
| Uzbek | Келеборн (Cyrillic) Keleborn (Latin) |
| Yiddish | סעלעבאָרן |
| Lord of Lothlórien | ||
| Preceded by Amroth (As King of Lórien) |
Celeborn | Succeeded by None, sailed to the Undying Lands |
| Mid-Third Age - Early Fourth Age | ||
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Unfinished Tales, Part Two: The Second Age, IV: "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn, and of Amroth King of Lórien"
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. XII: The Peoples of Middle-earth, chapter XI: "The Shibboleth of Fëanor", Notes
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter VII: "The Mirror of Galadriel"
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter VI: "Lothlórien"
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter VIII: "Farewell to Lórien"
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, Book Six, Chapter VI: "Many Partings"
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, Prologue, "Note on the Shire Records"
- ↑ The Silmarillion, Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin names
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. V: The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies"
- ↑ In the chapter "The Mirror of Galadriel", the heights of Galadriel and Celeborn are described: "Very tall they were, and the Lady no less tall than the Lord". Galadriel's height of 6'4" comes from "Appendix: Númenórean Linear Measures" to "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields" in Unfinished Tales.
- ↑ The first 'group' having been lead by Fëanor, who, while having set off together, arrived first in Middle-earth after the groups parted.
Notes