Celebrimbor, like many notable elves of the Second Age, was born in Valinor.
While we don’t have an exact date, we know it was prior to the Year of the Trees 1495.
His father is Curufin, the fifth son of Feanor.
When Feanor convinces the Noldor to leave Aman for Middle-earth, Celebrimbor is among
those who follow his grandfather.
While we don’t know for certain, this makes it entirely possible that he takes part in
the Kingslaying at Alqualonde, where many Teleri are killed in order for Feanor’s
elves to take their ships.
Celebrimbor’s mother stays behind in Valinor.
Details of his early life are scarce, but it is likely that he also took part in the
Dagor Bragollach in 455 FA.
In the Battle of Sudden flame, Morgoth earns a decisive victory, thanks in part to Glaurung
the Dragon and his balrogs.
After this battle, Celebrimbor likely flees with his father to Nargothrond, the realm
ruled by Galadriel’s brother Finrod.
After a time, he breaks from his father in a major way.
His father Curufin and uncle Celegorm - driven by the dreadful Oath of Feanor - cause much
trouble to those that would be their allies against Morgoth.
They convince the Noldor not to follow Finrod in assisting Beren, in part leading to Finrod’s death.
Later, they pretend to help Luthien in searching for Beren, only to kidnap her and take her back to Nargothrond.
Celegorm being enamored of Luthien, wishes to have her father Thingol give him Luthien’s hand in marriage.
I’ll cover Beren and Luthien’s story in another video, but in a quick summary, Huan
the hound helps Luthien to escape.
They travel to Tol-in-Gaurhoth and rescue Beren and other thralls from Sauron’s capture.
As these thralls arrive at Nargothrond, the people are made aware of Curufin and Celegorm’s betrayal.
Orodreth, Finrod’s nephew who now rules over Nargothrond, banishes them from the realm.
As they leave, Curufin fights with Beren, who defeats him.
As he flees, he seeks to kill Luthien, but instead shoots Beren as he retreats.
It’s important to note that Celebrimbor takes no part in these deeds of his father and uncle.
In fact, he rejects his father’s deeds and does not follow him in his exile from Nargothrond.
This is likely the last time the father and son will see each other alive.
Thirty years later, the land of Nargothrond would meet it’s demise.
Morgoth sends Glaurung out from Angband with an army of orcs to wreak havoc on his enemies.
Messengers from Cirdan come to Nargothrond, bearing a message from the Vala Ulmo - due
to Morgoth’s infection of the Eithel Sirion, his power is withdrawing completely from the River Sirion.
He advises them to close the doors of Nargothrond and destroy the bridge to protect the realm and its people.
At this time, Orodreth is being advised by a man named Turin, the son of Hurin.
Turin refuses this advice in order to maintain open war on the orcs.
Glaurung comes to Nargothrond, taking the city and it’s wealth for his own.
The majority of the population is either killed or enslaved.
It is believed that Celebrimbor is one of the lucky few who escape this disaster, eventually
coming to the hidden city of Gondolin.
There, he becomes a great jewel smith for King Turgon, likely working under the Master Jewelsmith Enerdhil.
Gondolin is the very kingdom in which Glamdring, Orcrist, and Sting are forged.
It is during this time in Gondolin that the Elessar of Earendil is created - either by
Enerdhil or Celebrimbor himself, as there are conflicting versions of the story.
Unfortunately, Celebrimbor would experience his second fallen kingdom in 510 FA.
Maeglin, an elf lord of Gondolin, is captured by Morgoth and agrees to reveal the location
of the hidden city, which Morgoth has long sought.
On midsummer, as the Gondolodrim are celebrating the festival of the Gates of Summer, they await the sunrise in the East.
To their dismay, they instead see light approaching from the North.
Angband has come.
Orcs, wolves, dragons, balrogs and other creatures of Morgoth descend upon the city.
Celebrimbor is among those who manage to escape.
However, as they cross the Cirith Thoronath, they are ambushed by orcs and a balrog.
The Great Eagles protect the survivors from the orcs, but it is Glorfindel - the very
same who we would later meet in Fellowship of the Ring - who takes on the Balrog.
He kills the servant of Morgoth, as they both fall to their deaths in the abyss below.
We don’t know what happens to Celebrimbor after he escapes The Fall of Gondolin.
In all likelihood, he would make his way with the other exiles to Nan-tathren, the Land
of Willows, before settling in the Havens of Sirion, from there, he could have taken
part in the War of Wrath that ends the first age - but we can only speculate
What we do know, however, is what he does afterwards, in the Second Age.
He initially lives in Lindon, under Gil-Galad - now the high king of the Noldor.
However, after 700 years, he decides to leave Lindon and eventually comes to the area West of Moria.
There, he establishes the realm of Eregion and it’s capital Ost-in-Edhil in 750 SA.
At this time, Galadriel and Celeborn leave their dwelling at Lake Nenuial and live for a time in Eregion.
Speaking of Galadriel, one version of Tolkien’s works says that rather than her receiving
the original Elessar from Gandalf when he comes to Middle-earth in the third age, she
actually receives a second version of the Elessar from Celebrimbor
The other tale runs so: that long ago, ere Sauron deluded the smiths of Eregion, Galadriel
But he did not say to Galadriel that he himself was of Gondolin long ago, and a friend of
Enerdhil, though his friend in most things outrivalled him.
Yet if Enerdhil had not been then Celebrimbor would have been more renowned.
Therefore he took thought, and began a long and delicate labour, and so for Galadriel
he made the greatest of his works (save the Three Rings only).
And it is said that more subtle and clear was the green gem that he made than that of
Enerdhil, but yet its light had less power.
Radiant nonetheless was the Elessar of Celebrimbor; and he set it within a great brooch of silver
in the likeness of an eagle rising upon outspread wings.
Wielding the Elessar all things grew fair about Galadriel, until the coming of the Shadow to the Forest.
But afterwards when Nenya, chief of the Three, was sent to her by Celebrimbor, she needed
it (as she thought) no more, and she gave it to Celebrían her daughter, and so it came
to Arwen and to Aragorn who was called Elessar.
Celebrimbor is not only the Lord of Eregion, but also the leader of the Gwaith-i-Mírdain
- The People of the Jewelsmiths.
These elven smiths become so great and their work so renowned that they earn the respect
and friendship of the Dwarves of Khazad-dum.
Celebrimbor, together with the dwarf Narvi, craft the Doors of Durin that serve as the West Gate to Moria.
These two, the greatest craftsmen of the second age, inscribe the door with the elvish instruction:
Speak Friend, and Enter.
During this time of peace and prosperity, the doors would remain open, allowing for
open trade between the dwarves and elves.
Around 1200 SA, a visitor comes to Ost-in-Edhil, calling himself Annatar - “Lord of Gifts”,
claiming to be an emissary of the Valar and offering to share his knowledge with the smiths of Eregion.
This visitor is none other than Sauron in disguise.
Under his tutelage, the Gwaith-i-Mírdain make the Rings of Power.
The Nine for Men and the Seven for the Dwarves are made with Sauron’s participation.
However, Celebrimbor and his smiths also create Three Rings without Sauron.
They craft the rings wirth the desire of “understanding, making, and healing" and granted the power
to preserve all things unstained.”
The Three rings are finished in around 1590 SA.
Celebrimbor names the rings: Vilya - the ring of air, Narya - the ring of fire, and Nenya - the ring of water.
Ten years later, in 1600 SA, Sauron returns to Mordor where, in the fires of Mount Doom
he forges The One Ring to Rule Them All.
Though Sauron’s effect doesn’t taint the three rings in the same manner as the 16,
since they are still created in the manner he taught, thus they still fall under the power of The One.
This is why, after The One Ring is destroyed, the power of the three fades.
They are bound together by their creation.
As soon as Sauron puts on The One Ring, with the intention of dominating those bearing
the lesser rings, the elves bearing the Three are alerted to his treachery.
Celebrimbor prepares for war.
Believing it to be the safest strategy, he sends the Three Rings away - Vilya and Narya
go to are sent to Gil-Galad and Cirdan in Lindon.
Nenya goes to Galadriel, who by this time lives in Lorien with her daughter.
In some versions of Tolkien’s story, it is said that Celebrimbor at some time also
gave a Ring of Power to King Durin III of Khazad-dum.
This would mean the ring that would one day belong to Thror and his son Thrain is the
only of the 16 to not be gifted by Sauron himself.
Sauron makes his way with his forces to Eriador and, 95 years after the creation of The One Ring attacks Eregion.
Gil-galad sends a force out of Lindon under the command of Elrond to aid Celebrimbor.
Celeborn, who at this time still lives in Eregion, leads a force that initially drives
back the first wave of Sauron’s army.
As Elrond arrives from Lindon, Celeborn’s group joins with Elrond’s host.
Unfortunately, as Sauron marches on Eregion, his army greatly outnumbers Elrond’s, forcing
the elf to retreat and preventing him from returning to defend Eregion.
By 1697, the capital city of Ost-in-Edhil falls to Sauron.
Celebrimbor leads a last defiant stand against Sauron on the very steps of the House of Mirdain.
Overwhelmed by superior numbers, the Lord of Eregion is taken captive by orcs.
He is tortured into revealing that the 16 rings are held in a safe in Eregion, but refuses
to disclose the locations of the Three.
"And of all the Elven-rings Sauron most desired to possess them, for those who had them in
their keeping could ward off the decays of time and postpone the weariness of the world."
In the end, he is shot with orc arrows until dead.
Sauron orders his body to be set on a pike, to be used as a banner as they turn to eradicate
the army of Elrond.
Elrond is sure to be overrun and destroyed, but at that moment, help comes from the East,
as the Dwarves of Khazad-dum and the elves of Lorinand attack Sauron from behind.
As Sauron turns to face these new adversaries, Elrond is able to rescue what remains of the
elves of Eregion and escapes North, establishing a refuge which would come to be known as Imladris
- or Rivendell.
As Sauron’s vast army drives back the dwarves and elves, they retreat through the Doors
of Durin, which are sealed behind them.
These doors would remain closed until the Fellowship of the Ring passes through over
4000 years later.
Sauron continues his march into Eriador in an attempt to seize the Three Elven rings,
until Numenor comes to aid the elves of Lindon.
For more on this conflict - check out my Sauron in the Second Age video.
The Three Rings remain hidden from Sauron.
Galadriel would keep hers forever after, Gil-Galad’s would pass to Elrond, and Cirdan would give
his to Gandalf in 1000 TA.
I’ll quickly cover what I’m sure will be a common question - what about the Shadow
of Mordor games?
Those have Celebrimbor and he has a wife and child, and becomes a wraith - is any of that
true?
In short, no.
While, I firmly believe them to be excellent games with compelling story and gameplay,
as far as Tolkien’s work, only what I’ve covered in this video is canon.
Speaking of adaptations, in the Peter Jackson Adaptation, we actually see the ruins of Ost-in-Edhil
as the Fellowship journeys south.
We are never told what became of Celebrimbor’s body.
Though we know as with all elves, his spirit would travel to the Halls of Mandos in Aman.
There, awaiting the time when he would be reembodied and thereafter dwell in Valinor.
The greatest smith of Middle-earth, he was betrayed by Sauron and gave his life defending
the realm he founded.
Like his grandfather, great evil would come from the work of his hands - though much good
would come also.
The elven rings allowing their bearers to maintain the realms of Rivendell and Lorien
well into the Third Age and the Doors of Durin, serving as a reminder of the friendship that
can exist between elves and dwarves.
As always, I want to say a huge thank you to my Patreon supporters including TomDaBombadil19,
skycarcass, SaleemRehman, Jim Limber Davis, Smorzirk, Matt Schultz, and Zetroc.
Thanks so much for watching and subscribing and we’ll see you next time on Nerd of the
Rings!