Celeborn

2013-01-06T03:42:51Z

178.94.206.29: /* Controversy */

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{{disambig-two|the Lord of Lórien|the Tree|[[Celeborn (White Tree)]]}}
{{teleri infobox
| image=[[File:John Howe - Celeborn.jpg|250px]]
| name=Celeborn
| othernames= [[Telerin|T.]] ''[[Teleporno]]''; Lord of the Wood, Lord of Lórien, Lord of the [[Galadhrim]]
| titles=Lord of the [[Lothlórien|Golden Wood]]
| birth=Mid to late [[Years of the Trees|Y.O.T.T]]
| realm=[[Alqualondë]], [[Lindon]], [[Eregion]], [[Lothlórien]]
| death=Did not die; sailed [[Valinor|West]] in the early [[Fourth Age]]
| age=About 7,100
| spouse=[[Galadriel]]
| children=[[Celebrían]]
| parentage=Uncertain, see [[#Controversy|below]]
| gender=Male
| hair=Silver, long<ref name="Mirror">{{FR|Mirror}}</ref>
}}{{Pronounce|Celeborn.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''Celeborn''' ([[Sindarin|S]]: "silver-tall", pron. {{IPA|[ˈkeleborn]}}) was a noble of the [[Falmari]], who wedded the famous [[Galadriel]] of the [[Noldor]] and eventually became [[Lord of Lórien]].

==History==
===Early life===
According to some accounts, Celeborn was a [[Teler]] of noble rank in [[Alqualondë]], born '''[[Teleporno]]''', grandson of [[Olwë]], King of the [[Falmari]].<ref name="GC">{{UT|6}}</ref><ref name="Shib">{{PM|Shibboleth}}</ref>

[[Galadriel|Artanis]], Olwë's granddaughter and a [[Noldor]]in 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".<ref name="Shib"/> Teleporno's name gained an additional [[Quenya]] form, '''[[Telporno]]''' (pron. {{IPA|[telˈporno]}}).

Later, Teleporno and Artanis helped to defend Alqualondë from the Noldor during the [[First Kinslaying]]. Nevertheless, Artanis’s heart was fired by the stories of [[Fëanor]] of the open lands across the [[Belegaer|sea]]. She urged Teleporno to take a ship westward to [[Endor]], and he gave in. In doing so the two fell under the [[Ban of the Valar]].

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|Controversy]]''.

===First Age===
In [[Beleriand]], Teleporno and Artanis were greeted by [[Thingol|Elu Thingol]], High King of the [[Sindar]] and Lord of [[Doriath]]. The two gave him news of his old brothers and friends, Olwë and Finwë, but they said nothing about the kinslaying. Teleporno eventually [[Sindarin]]ized his name to Celeborn; Artanis Sindarinized the epithet Celeborn had given her, and Alatáriel became Galadriel.

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 {{FA|300}}. They were not mentioned in the sacks of [[Nargothrond]], Doriath, and the [[Havens of Sirion|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.<ref>{{S|III}}</ref>

===Second Age===
[[File:Rowena Morrill - The Swan-Boat of Galadriel.jpg|thumb|left|''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 of the Noldor|High King]] [[Gil-galad]].<ref>{{PM|X}}, p. 328 (note 65)</ref> 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 [[Misty Mountains|Hithaeglir]]. Not long after they went through [[Moria]] to live there, becoming great among its people.

Celeborn fought in the [[Sack of Eregion]], and he and Elrond narrowly escaped to a dell, where the latter founded [[Rivendell]].<ref name="GC"/>
After the making of the [[Rings of Power|rings]] and the Sack of Eregion, Galadriel received one of the [[Three Rings]], [[Nenya]]. After [[Amdír]], King of Lórinand, died, so fell also [[Sauron]], and [[the One Ring]] was lost. So Galadriel was able to put her ring to use, and made Lórinand even more beautiful and powerful.

===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 [[Rivendell|Imladris]].

In response to the growing threat of [[Dol Guldur]], the [[White Council]] was formed in {{TA|2463}}. Galadriel was on it; it is likely that Celeborn was also a member[[#References|6]]. Some time after, during the calm before the [[War of the Ring]] in {{TA|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 [[Fall of Dol Guldur|lay siege to Dol Guldur]]. He captured the fortress, and Galadriel threw down its walls and purified it.

===After the War of the Ring===
Celeborn attended the wedding of [[Aragorn|King Elessar]] and his granddaughter [[Arwen]], and on the journey to return bade a fond farewell to [[Treebeard]] as well.

{{quote|I do not think we shall meet again." "I do not know, Eldest.|[[Treebeard]] and Celeborn, ''[[Many Partings]]''}}.

Celeborn returned to Lothlórien, but the power of [[Nenya]] was broken. It no longer was filled with the light and life it had before. Galadriel shortly after passed West with the other [[Ring-bearers]], and Celeborn, weary, moved to Imladris to live with [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], Elrond’s sons. After [[Círdan]]'s departure Celeborn was the last of the [[Wise]] in Middle-earth, they that had seen the glory of [[Valinor]] and the struggles of [[Elves|Elvenkind]]. It is not recorded when he sought the [[Grey Havens]] and sailed west, but when he did so he took with him the last memory of the Elder Days in Middle-earth[[#References|7]].

==Character==
What can be gleaned of his personality is that he was quick-thinking and swift to act, one of the wisest elves of Middle-earth in the Third Age. He was a warrior too, leading his followers into battle against [[Dol Guldur]] and other menaces. He is constantly shown deferring to his wife; sometimes for good<ref>''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''</ref>, sometimes for ill<ref name="GC"/>.

==Controversy==
Up to the time when ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' was published, there had been no mention of Celeborn in the previously written legendarium. [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] later attempted multiple times to fix upon the story behind such an important elf. He remains a fairly unsubstantial character in the legendarium, for despite his profound effect upon the doings of the Elder Days, there is very little direct information on him as a person, mostly overshadowed by his wife.

[[Robert Foster]] mentions that although Celeborn is famed and named "the Wise", "he does not seem especially bright" in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''<ref>[[Robert Foster]], ''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth]]'', entry "Celeborn"</ref>.

In his first writings (which make up the bulk of the matter of Celeborn), the elf-lord is portrayed as a kinsman of Thingol, and met Galadriel when she came with the Noldor into exile. This was the approach chosen by [[Christopher Tolkien]] and [[Guy Kay]] for ''[[The Silmarillion]]''. In a brief, speculative paper written by Tolkien included in ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', Celeborn is made Thingol’s grandnephew, by the King’s brother [[Elmo]]. Elmo, also linked to Círdan, appears nowhere else in the legendarium.

A Sindarin origin as Elmo's grandson has been the most widely accepted one of all but Celeborn as a Telerin prince seems a late development, and there is some dispute as to which is the more canonical.

In Tolkien's last writings Celeborn is a [[Falmari]]n 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).<ref>{{PM|Shibboleth}}, pp. 347, 364 (note 46)</ref> 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.<ref name="GC"/>

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.

==Etymology==
''Celeborn'' is a [[Sindarin]] name, consisting of ''[[celeb]]'' ("silver") + a derivative of ''[[ornā]]'' ("tall"). ''Teleporno'', his original [[Telerin]] name, has an identical meaning. The name Teleporno was "Sindarized" as ''Celeborn'': [[Telerin]] ''[[telepi|telpe]]'' ("silver") (Quenya ''[[telpe|tyelpe]]'') was transformed to Sindarin ''celeb''.<ref>{{UT|6e}}</ref>

He was given the epithet "the Wise" by Galadriel in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
[[File:Celeborn.jpg|thumb|350px|Celeborn's appearance in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''.]]
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:Celeborn did not have a speaking role. He only appeared beside [[Galadriel]] for a brief shot.

'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|The Lord of the Rings]]'''''
:Celeborn was voiced by [[Simon Cadell]].

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Celeborn is played by [[Marton Csokas]]. The role was extremely small in the theatrical version, but expanded slightly in the Extended Edition of ''The Fellowship of the Ring''. In that version, he participates in giving gifts to the Fellowship as they are leaving Lórien. Notably, he gives [[Aragorn]] a dagger and warns him of the dangers the Fellowship will face while sailing down the [[Anduin]].

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:Celeborn makes a brief appearance in Lothlorien.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Celeborn leaves for Valinor with Galadriel and the other Ringbearers, rather than remaining behind as in the book.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Celeborn only appears during the "Evil" campaign, when is he is slain by the Forces of Sauron.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Celeborn can be found alongside Galadriel on a main talan in [[Caras Galadhon]]. He is involved in various storylines, including negotiations with the Dwarves of the Iron Hill Garrison and organization of a military assault against [[Dol Guldur]] in [[Mirkwood]].

==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Celeborn|Images of Celeborn]].

{{References}}
* ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[The Lord of the Rings Appendices|Appendices]] [[Appendix A|A]] and [[Appendix B|B]].
* ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[Prologue]]''.

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Falmari]]
[[Category:First Age characters]]
[[Category:Second Age characters]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Years of the Trees characters]]

[[de:Celeborn (Elb)]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:elfes:teleri:sindar:celeborn]]
[[fi:Celeborn]]

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Celeborn