Solitude Islands
Solitude Islands (or Lonely Islands) are an archipelago of six islands in the Sundering Sea, about 1,500 km (930 miles) west from Umbar. They are regarded as the westernmost point of Middle-earth. All of the islands have volcanic origins, although Thâni Avradî has some reef contribution. Because these once uninhabited, remote islands were settled sporadically over a span of ten centuries, their culture, dialect, cuisine and traditions vary considerably from island to island.
History
According to the Chronicle of Gondor, the islands were already known in the beginning of the Third Age and discovered by Atandil, captain of Anárion and first circumnavigator of the world, but this is not certain. In 127, one of the captains sailing for Umbarean consul Arnakhôr, Imrahil Ûrî, rediscovered the Lonely Islands while searching for Tol Meneltarma. Imrahil then explored the area and claimed it for Umbar shortly after. Although it is commonly said that the main island was named after the kirinki (little scarlet bird native to Númenor), in fact the bird was never native to the islands.
Sheep were let loose on the island before settlement actually took place. This was done to supply the future settlers with food because there were no terrestrial animals on the island. Settlement didn’t take place right away: There was not much interest among the Adûnaim in an isolated world hundreds of miles from Middle-earth. But patiently Imrahil gathered resources and settlers for the next three years (133-136) and sailed to establish colonies on Kirithâni and later on Thâni Avradî. Grain, grape vines, sugar cane, and other plants suitable for settler use and of commercial value, were planted. The first colonists were a mixed group of people from Umbar with buccaneers from Tol Uialgaer, enslaved haruze, Dúnedain and Bellakarani among the early settlers.
Kirithâni was first settled in 144 with colonists from Ardûmir, Narîk-Zadan and Maros, under the command of Imrahil Ûrî. In 522, Imralôni, the capital of the island, was devastated by a landslide caused by an earthquake, and the capital was moved to Adûnalkar. Solitude Islands were the second-to-last part of the Umbarean League to resist Gondor’s supremacy over Umbar (Gobel Ancalimon being the last). However, Gondor’s hold over the islands was tenuous at best. The islanders were given self-rule under elected Deputy Prince-Governors, who were subject to the Captain of the Ships. Old adûnai title of the governor (“Lord of the West”) was abolished as a blasphemy.
The Kin-strife (1432-1447) had strong repercussions in the Lonely Islands. Already in 1429, in Adûnalkar, the traditionalists had won over the loyalists, making Kirithâni the main headquarters of a rebel regime. The islands declared unanimous allegiance to Castamir, Captain of the Ships. Castamir awarded their zeal by creating the Outlying royal territory of Solitude Islands. Office of Prince-Governorship was discontinued and superseded by royal wardens. Castamir distributed royal funds generously to the development of the islands and established supply stations for the Royal Navy. When the Traditionalist league was forced to evacuate to Umbar, Lonely Islands remained in rebel hands and continued their relationship with Umbar. They became virtually autonomous, with local governors supported by Umbarean-born qadis (judges). Umbarean convoys came to the Lonely Islands twice a year to trade olive oil, grain, iron, bronze, tools and cloth to sea-turtles, parrots, dried meat, whale oil, pineapples, water and rope.
Era of long and persistent decay was turned when Honourable Greater Gondor Company (HGGC), a new joint-stock trading company chartered in Pelargir, made first landing in 1674 under the command of captain Mirgon Caldur. The Company established her own stronghold called Lond Anardor on Kirithâni to act as a supply depot for long-range southern trade fleets. A large-scale citrus plantation was also founded on the island by company president Sigil Ross, with cheap indentured labour imported from Far Harad. For the next two centuries, Solitude Islands enjoyed a period of heightened economic activity, with population temporarily doubling to 30,000. When HGGC was finally disbanded in 1799, Solitude Islands became again outlying territory of Gondor for the final time, until their gradual abandonment after 1944.
Geography
Kirithâni (“Land of kirinki”, Gondorian: Cirennor, also known as Tol Galen, “green island”). Population: 12,000. Highest point is an active vulcano (Ered Nórui, 1,351 m). Mountainous and covered in verdant ravines. Fertile soil and temperate climate attracted settlers from Umbar Peninsula and Bellakar, supplanted by later migrants such as Gondorians from Linhir and Pelargir. Haradrim labourers working for citrus and orange plantations are believed to comprise as much as 20 % of the island’s population. First capital of the island was Imralôni, which was buried under landslide by the 522 earthquake. Current capital is Adûnalkar (Gondorian: Dúnaglar), with a population of 1,500. Town of Bârunûri (Gondorian: Lond Anardor) lies on the eastern coast. Kirithâni exports pineapples, citruses and oranges, rope, water and exotic birds.
Thâni Avradî (“Land of Varda”, Gondorian: Tol Elentári). Population 2,500. Thâni Avradî is the southernmost isle in the Solitude Islands, known for its white beaches, volcanic chimneys and warm weather. According to unsubstantiated accounts, the island was named after Varda because it was discovered on Varda’s feast day (Nórui 20). It was originally colonized by settlers from Mardruak and Dûsalan. Inhabitants of the island still speak a dialect of Old Adûnaic distinct from the main island. Primary economic activities are subsistence farming, fishing and sheep-raising. Sea-turtles are also hunted for food and eggs.
Tûlimar (“Imar’s Island”). Population: 500. Westernmost island was first colonized by an ascetic group of Ârûwanâi monks and their co-religionists from Umbar, who denounce all kings and worship Ar-Pharazôn as the last legitimate high priest. Later there was an influx of exiled Gondorian buccaneers, pietists and fishermen from Andrast. Fishing is primary economic activity: sheepshead, snapper, grouper, mackerel, anchovies, needlefish and frigate tuna are found in large quantities here.
Tûldaur (“gloomy island”), uninhabited. Steep cliffs are always surrounded by clouds.
Tûlkarnin (“cleaving island”). No permanent habitation, but fishermen from Kirithâni come here to gather eggs.
Tûlugru (“shadowy island”), uninhabited. Farthest point in the archipelago, north-west from Kirithâni. There is an active volcano.

Solitude Islands
Government | Autonomous territory of Umbar (144–933) Independent principality (933–1050) Autonomous territory of Gondor (1050–1432) Outlying royal territory (1432–1450) Autonomous territory of Umbar (1450–1674) HGGC Overseas Territory (1674–1799) |
Population | ~15,000 |
Capital | Adûnalkar |
Languages | Westron Adûnaic Old Adûnaic |
Governor | Telmar Imhrahîn (1653–1674) |



