|
The main part of this article relates to the version of Middle-earth's history that is considered canon by most Tolkien fans who accept such labels (see: Middle-earth canon). This subject's portrayal in earlier or alternative versions is discussed in the other versions of the legendarium section.
In the J. R. R. Tolkien work The Lord of the Rings, Celeborn (pronounced with a hard C as in Cake) is the Elven husband of Galadriel. He was known in the Third Age as the Lord of Lórien. He was the father of Celebrían, the wife of Elrond, making him the grandfather of Arwen Evenstar. He was also a kinsman of the First Age Elven King Thingol.
Tolkien's last writings indicate that Celeborn was a Telerin Elf from Valinor, then named Teleporno in Telerin Quenya. He met Galadriel when she was living in the Telerin city Alqualondë. They travelled together to Middle-earth, during the First Age. They were not directly a part of the rebellion of the Ñoldor, but they left at the same time and without permission (which would certainly not have been granted), so they were caught under the same Ban that prevented them from returning.
Teleporno was "Sindarized" as Celeborn: Telerin telep ("silver") (Ñoldorin Quenya tyelep) was translated to Sindarin keleb.
At one point during the Second Age, Celeborn apparently ruled the Elves in Lindon.
Celeborn remained behind after Galadriel left Middle-earth, but eventually, some time during the Fourth Age, left for Valinor. It is said with him passed the last memory of the Elder Days from Middle-earth.
Galadriel's family tree
Finwë = Indis
|
--------------
| |
Fingolfin Finarfin = Eärwen
|
------------------------------
| | | |
Finrod Angrod Aegnor Galadriel = Celeborn
| |
Orodreth Celebrían = Elrond
| |
-------- ----------------------
| | | | |
Gil-galad Finduilas Elladan Elrohir Arwen = Aragorn
Other versions of the legendarium
In the Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings, Celeborn is assumed to be a Sindarin Elf from Doriath, the kingdom of Thingol. Celeborn is described as a "kinsman" of Thingol, and in one text is mentioned as the grandson of Thingol's brother Elmo (who never appears elsewhere). Elmo was also linked to Círdan, making Celeborn and Círdan akin.
For an account of the changes that led to Celeborn becoming a Telerin Elf from Valinor rather than a Sindarin Elf, see "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn" in Unfinished Tales.
If Celeborn's Aman origin is adopted, he must have been a part of the Telerin king Olwë's family, to be counted as a kinsman of the Sindarin king Thingol, Olwë's brother. However, this descent provides a problem in that it would make him Galadriel's first cousin. This problem does not exist with the "Elmo" story. It is also possible that he was related more distantly to Thingol--the relationship could have been through other family members who are not mentioned. (See Daughters of Finwë for an example of significant family members not named in The Silmarillion.) Tolkien could even have decided to drop the idea of a relationship with Thingol entirely; since Thingol, too, was Telerin, the fact that he and Celeborn belonged to the same race of Elves may have been kinship enough.
Celeborn was also the name of the White Tree that flourished in Tol Eressea. It was a seeding of the tree Galathilion, which in turn had been made in image of Telperion, the eldest of the Two Trees of Valinor.
Celeborn was an ancestor to the White Trees of Númenor and of Gondor.
| 
