He was among the wisest elves of the Third Age. Though he would later be known as the Lord of
Lorien, his early life would involve battle and war, and an animosity toward the dwarves.
Today, on Nerd of the Rings, we cover the life and travels of Celeborn.
While we don’t have a birth year for Celeborn,
it is likely he is born in Beleriand well before the First Age. He is born to Galadhon,
the son of Elmo. Celeborn also has a brother named Galathil. Their family is known to have
lived in the realm of Doriath, ruled by Elmo’s brother Elwë, better known as King Thingol.
Celeborn’s early life would be spent in his grand-uncle’s kingdom of Doriath - and it
is there that he would meet the love of his life. For in the early days of the First Age,
after their exile from the Blessed Realm, Finrod and his sister Galadriel would come to Doriath
as guests of King Thingol. While Finrod would leave to found his own kingdom of Nargothrond…
Galadriel his sister went not with him to Nargothrond, for in Doriath dwelt Celeborn,
kinsman of Thingol, and there was great love between them. Therefore she remained in the Hidden
Kingdom, and abode with Melian, and of her learned great lore and wisdom concerning Middle-earth.
Celeborn and Galadriel are married and they would dwell together in Doriath for some time.
The pair are mentioned in no further events of the First Age, and theirs is declared by
Christopher Tolkien himself to be the part of the history of Middle-earth most full of problems,
with severe inconsistencies between versions of their tale. It is most widely accepted
that Galadriel and Celeborn go over the Blue Mountains by 495 of the First Age. Though it’s
worth noting there is an earlier version of the story where it’s said Celeborn survives the Sack
of Doriath. If you’re interested in reading more about the variations in their story,
check out The History of Galadriel and Celeborn in Unfinished Tales.
Celeborn’s name is a Sindarin one meaning “silver-tall”. His
original Telerin name is Teleporno, which has an identical meaning.
We next hear of Celeborn and Galadriel in the Second Age. In the aftermath of Morgoth’s defeat,
they live in High King Gil-galad’s new realm of Lindon for a time, with Celeborn
ruling the southern fief of Harlindon. Unlike Galadriel and Gil-galad who are Noldorin elves,
Celeborn is Sindarin, and many of those under his rule in Harlindon are also those of the Sindar.
However, Celeborn and Galadriel would not long dwell in Lindon. They would depart with a sizable
group of Noldor, Sindar, and green-elves and for a time they would live in the lands around Lake
Nenuial. Likely during their time in these lands, Galadriel gives birth to their daughter Celebrian,
likely around the year 300 SA. Sometime in the coming centuries, Celeborn and his
family would once again depart, coming to Celebrimbor’s realm of Eregion by 750 SA.
Between 1350 SA and 1400 SA, Galadriel relocates with her daughter to the
woodland realm of Lorinand. She does so by traveling through Khazad-dum. Meanwhile,
Celeborn remains in Eregion due to his enmity toward the dwarves. This animosity is likely
because his great uncle King Thingol was killed by dwarves of Nogrod in the First
Age. Prior to Galadriel’s departure, a visitor had come to Eregion by the name of Annatar,
who helped Celebrimbor in his greatest task - the creation of the Rings of Power.
In the aforementioned Unfinished Tales, we are also told that in one version of Tolkien’s
writings, Sauron actually leads Celebrimbor’s smiths to revolt against Celeborn and Galadriel:
"Before long Sauron had the Gwaith-i-Mírdain under his influence, for at first they had
great profit from his instruction in secret matters of their craft. So great became his
hold on the Mírdain that at length he persuaded them to revolt against Galadriel and Celeborn and
to seize power in Eregion; and that was at some time between 1350 and 1400 of the Second Age."
Galadriel, who alone in Eregion did not trust this Annatar, would be living in Lorinand by
the time the Rings of Power are completed. Celeborn, however, would live in Eregion
throughout this time, and when Sauron launches an attack on Eregion in an effort to take the
rings for himself, Celeborn would fight in defense of the realm. Sauron’s forces,
however, are too mighty and Eregion and it’s capital of Ost-in-Edhil are sacked in 1697 SA.
Gil-galad had sent Elrond with a host of elves to aid Eregion. Were it not for the dwarves of
Khazad-dum attacking Sauron’s rear flank, Elrond and the survivors of Eregion would
surely have been slain. As it is, Celeborn leads the surviving elves out of Eregion,
and joining Elrond, they are able to flee north where Elrond founds the haven of Rivendell.
Sometime after the Numenoreans help the elves to victory in the War of the Elves and Sauron,
Galadriel and Celebrian once again pass through Khazad-dum and travel to Rivendell in hopes of
finding Celeborn alive and well. The family would indeed reunite in Imladris, dwelling together
for a long time. It is also at this point that Celebrian first meets Elrond, her future husband.
In the coming years of the Second Age, Celeborn and Galadriel would eventually leave Imladris
traveling to the southwest region of Belfalas, accompanied by many Silvan elves from Lorinand.
The next we hear of Celeborn and Galadriel comes in the Third Age, presumably meaning they did not
take part in the Last Alliance against Sauron. We are told, however, that the couple had long
journeys throughout the lands of Rhovanion - from the lands of Gondor and the borders of Mordor in
the south, to Thranduil’s realm in the north. They then pass over the mountains and dwell
in Rivendell for many years. In 109 TA, their daughter Celebrian marries Elrond half-elven.
Over 1800 years later, King Amroth of Lorinand dies in 1981 TA - the very same year the dwarves
of Khazad-dum are exiled by the balrog. Celeborn and Galadriel together would take up the rule of
Lorinand, which is newly named Lothlorien. But rather than King and Queen, they choose
to instead be Lord and Lady - and together they build the city and fortress of Caras Galadhon.
Together, the Lord and Lady rule the Galadhrim for well over 1000 years and would assist the free
peoples of Middle-earth in lesser known ways - as told in my Galadriel video. For Celeborn’s part,
he would receive the Fellowship of the Ring in early 3019. They offer the group counsel,
supplies, and elven boats to continue on their journey.
Roughly one month later, on March 11, 3019, Lorien itself would come under attack. For
Sauron had forces once again in the fortress of Dol Guldur in southern Mirkwood. The orcs
attempt to penetrate the woodland realm, and though great harm is done to the fair woods,
the forces of evil are driven back by the power of the Lord and Lady. On March 15,
a second assault is launched upon Lorien and once again they are driven back. Finally on March 22,
as Frodo and Sam make their way to Mount Doom across the plains of Gorgoroth, a third and
final assault is attempted - but once again driven back by the Galadhrim.
The Ring is destroyed on March 25, and three days later on March 28,
Celeborn goes on the offensive. He leads the elves of Lorien crossing the Anduin
river and they lay siege to Dol Guldur. The attack is an overwhelming success,
with the elves taking control of the fortress. Galadriel then uses her power to throw down the
walls of Dol Guldur, laying bare its pits and cleansing the forest of its darkness.
Just over a week later on April 6, 3019, Celeborn and Thranduil meet in the forest of Mirkwood,
renaming it Eryn Lasgalen - “the Wood of Green Leaves”. With the evil of Sauron purged from
the lands, they divide the woods into three sections. The southernmost lands come under
the rule of Celeborn, who names it East Lorien. Thranduil takes the lands north of the Mountains
of Mirkwood, and the middle section they give to the Beornings and the woodmen.
Celeborn and Galadriel would attend the wedding of their granddaughter
Arwen to Aragorn Elessar on midsummer 3019. They would accompany Gandalf and
the hobbits on their return journey. Along the way, they visit treebeard at Isengard,
bidding him farewell. They break off from Gandalf and Elrond and return to Lorien on September 13.
On September 29, 3021, Galadriel departs Middle-earth forever alongside Gandalf,
Elrond, Bilbo, and Frodo. Celeborn, however, remains behind as the Fourth Age is ushered
in. It is believed that having grown weary of Lorien without its Lady,
he relocates to Rivendell, residing with his grandsons Elladan and Elrohir.
At some point after Samwise Gamgee’s sailing west in 61 FoA, Celeborn would make the journey
himself, boarding the Last Ship with Cirdan the Shipwright. And it is said as he does so,
he takes with him the last memory of the Elder Days of Middle-earth.
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