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{{disambig-two|the Lord of Lórien|the Tree|[[Celeborn (White Tree)]]}}
{{teleri infobox
{{teleri infobox
| image=[[File:John Howe - Celeborn.jpg|250px]]
| image=[[File:Soni Alcorn-Hender - Celeborn.jpg|250px]]
| name=Celeborn
| name=Celeborn
| othernames= [[Telerin|T.]] ''[[Teleporno]]''; Lord of the Wood, Lord of Lórien, Lord of the [[Galadhrim]]  

Revision as of 09:32, 12 February 2013

Soni Alcorn-Hender - Celeborn.jpg
Falmar/Falas elf
Biographical Information
TitlesLord of the Golden Wood
BirthMid to late Y.O.T.T
DeathDid not die; sailed West in the early Fourth Age (aged About 7,100)
ParentageUncertain, see below
Physical Description
Hair colorSilver, long[1]

Celeborn (S: "silver-tall", pron. [ˈkeleborn]) was a noble of the Falmari, who wedded the famous Galadriel of the Noldor and eventually became Lord of Lórien.



Early life

According to some accounts, Celeborn was a Teler of noble rank in Alqualondë, born Teleporno, grandson of Olwë, King of the Falmari.[2][3]

Artanis, Olwë's granddaughter and a Noldorin princess of great beauty, often spent long visits to Alqualondë and her mother’s kin. During this time the two fell in love, and Teleporno gave her the romantic epithet Alatáriel, meaning "Maiden Crowned with Radiant Garland".[3] Teleporno's name gained an additional Quenya form, Telporno (pron. [telˈporno]).


Other accounts say that Celeborn was a Sindarin prince from Doriath, the grandson of Elmo (the brother of Elwe/Thingol). As a result there has been many debates about his origins and early life. See Controversy.

First Age


For the rest of the First Age Celeborn and Galadriel appear to have remained inactive, not affecting the course of events in Beleriand so much as their relatives, both Sindarin and Noldorin. For a time they dwelt in Nargothrond, but had moved back to Doriath by the year F.A. 300. They were not mentioned in the sacks of Nargothrond, Doriath, and the Havens, and so it may be presumed that they escaped one or more of these, or else moved down to the Isle of Balar. After the War of Wrath, the two were given the choice as to whether or not they wanted to go back to Aman. Galadriel, hurt and proud, refused the pardon. Celeborn, whether because he felt the same way or for his wife's sake, likewise declined.[4]

Second Age

Galadriel and Celeborn as drawn by Rowena Morrill.

After the fall of Beleriand, Celeborn ruled the fief of Harlindon, which was composed mostly of Sindar, under the High King Gil-galad.[5] He and Galadriel eventually moved to or founded Eregion. After Celebrimbor had largely taken over, they made contact with the Nandor of Lórinand, across the Hithaeglir. Not long after they went through Moria to live there, becoming great among its people.


Third Age

After King Amroth died, Celeborn and Galadriel ruled jointly as the Lord and Lady over Lórinand, now known as Lothlórien. It was during this time that Galadriel bore Celeborn their first child, a daughter named Celebrían. Their daughter took as a husband Elrond, and dwelt in Imladris.

In response to the growing threat of Dol Guldur, the White Council was formed in T.A. 2463. Galadriel was on it; it is likely that Celeborn was also a member6. Some time after, during the calm before the War of the Ring in T.A. 3019), Lórien received the Fellowship of the Ring, composed of various characters on the quest to destroy the One Ring. He offered advice, and boats for the Anduin, speeding them on their way.

Celeborn's most significant recorded actions came in the year following, when he repulsed three attacks by orcs of Dol Guldur. Celeborn then marshall his forces to cross the Anduin and lay siege to Dol Guldur. He captured the fortress, and Galadriel threw down its walls and purified it.

After the War of the Ring


"I do not think we shall meet again."
"I do not know, Eldest.
Treebeard and Celeborn, Many Partings.









In Tolkien's last writings Celeborn is a Falmarin Elf from Valinor, then named Teleporno in Telerin (this brings him closer to being a peer and equal to Galadriel and makes their partnership seem more balanced).[8] The name Teleporno was then "Sindarized" as Celeborn. In this account Celeborn is stated to have been a grandson of the Telerin king Olwë, so that he still was a kinsman of the Sindarin king Thingol.[2]

This altered origin was not adopted into the published Silmarillion, primarily because it would have necessitated a major rewrite of the earlier parts to account for a separate departure of Galadriel. A further problem was that this descent would have made the couple first or second cousin (assuming that he was still to be considered closely related to Thingol), and Elves never married close kin.

This account is included in this article due to its later date.




Portrayal in adaptations

1978: The Lord of the Rings:


1981: The Lord of the Rings

Celeborn was voiced by Simon Cadell.




Celeborn makes a brief appearance in Lothlorien.





2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:


See also


  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: The History of the Silmarils"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "Of Dwarves and Men", p. 328 (note 65)
  6. The Lord of the Rings