Thinbar

Thinbar (S. “Grey manor”) is a small urban county in central Anórien, situated along the Kingsroad between Pelennor and Amon Dîn. It also serves as the seat of the influential House Malredh. Thinbar is renowned for its expansive fields of wheat and vast olive plantations. Virtually all land in Thinbar is owned by one of three large estates. House Malredh, as the largest producer of olive oil in Gondor, is also the largest employer of day labourers in Thinbar.

Parishes

Thinbar

Town of Thinbar, with a population of 4,000, is situated just twenty miles from Minas Anor and Osgiliath, where the Kingsroad crosses the Hithuirant, a small river flowing from the Stonewain Valley. It serves as the first stop-over for coaches and caravans traveling north and acts as a local centre of crafts and commerce. Dominating the township are the palace of Malredh and the grand Hall of the Faithful, constructed in the 1380s. The current ruler of the city is Condir Raimon Malredh.

Scholars remain uncertain about the proposed Númenorean origin of Thinbar, although there is evidence suggesting that the town originated from two settlements: One centred around a chapel dedicated to Vala Oromë the Hunter, and the other, a small fortified complex built on the left bank of the river to defend against the men of Eilenach and Rimmon. Thinbar acquired township rights in 753 from King Siriondil. In 988, Thinbar was ceded to the House of Caledhel, but at the death of childless countess Istanniel in 1115, it became a free commune.

During the 13th century, the history of the town was marked by power struggles between two prominent families: the military House of Gondil and the House of Malredh, a family of olive oil magnates and merchant bankers. King Narmacil threw his decisive weight behind the Malredhs, who became financiers of the King. In 1264, Umbarto Malredh was proclaimed the lifelong ruler of Thinbar, taking the additional title of Baron of Obel Amrûn in 1288.

The Malredhs were among the most important patrons of art in the late 1300s and early 1400s, fostering Thinbar’s growth into a cultural centre renowned for its architecture, music, literature, and visual arts. However, despite entering its golden age, Thinbar was severely impacted by the Kin-Strife. Its population continued to decline until it was reduced to a mere 4,000 by the Great Plague in 1636. Throughout the 1700s, Thinbar remained a modest trade centre for its rural hinterland, overshadowed by the growing economic might of Minas Anor.

The Chapel of Vala Oromë the Hunter, consecrated in 1135, stands as one of the finest examples of Gondorian Romanesque architecture, built during the reign of Ciryaher Hyarmendacil I. The recumbent marble lions guarding the portals were donated to the town by King Atanatar I Alcarin. An elaborate relief depicting the Dagor Dagorath is found on the second storey of the porch. The Palace of the Malredhs (also known by its Quenya name Mar Tinwírë, Diamond Hall) and the adjoining Hall of the Faithful were constructed in 1385. The palace features frescoes depicting the life of Umbarto Malredh, signs of the zodiac, and allegorical representations of the months. It also houses fine choir-books with miniatures and a large collection of antique bronzes, curated by Raimon Malredh.

Other parishes

Obel Amrûn (S. “Town of the Uprising”) is a tranquil rural town and estate located ten miles north of Thinbar. It was once the site of a pre-Númenorean settlement belonging to the petty kingdom of Eilenach, which rose in revolt against Isildur and Anárion. Subsequently, the entire settlement was razed, and a new town was erected atop its ruins. The original Gwathuirim settlement’s name was condemned and has not survived. The town and its surrounding farmlands are governed by the Baron of Obel Amrûn, the former crown prosecutor, Lord Huan Malredh.

Bar Malredh (S. “Scattergold Manor”) serves as the ancestral seat of the Malredh family and is the largest of the three extensive estates in Thinbar. It yields substantial quantities of wheat, barley, olive oil, and dry-cured hams primarily for the Army’s consumption. The estate expanded to its current size by acquiring every smallholding in the Hithuirant valley between Hobas and Thinbar. Labourers reside in spacious barracks alongside their families. The current lord of the estate is Estel Malredh.

Bar Foen (Mar-na-Foen, “Foen Manor”) is the smallest of the three latifundia, owned by Lord Gundor Brassen. Positioned in the foothills of the White Mountains, it stands at the entrance to the Stonewain Valley, commanding a breathtaking view of the royal forest of Taur-na-Foen. Renowned for its panoramic vista across the plains of Anduin, Bar Foen specialises in producing olive oil, wheat, apricots, peaches, and apples for export, with additional vineyards catering to local consumption. The peach liquor of Bar Foen enjoys considerable renown and is a regular feature at royal dinners in Minas Anor.

Hobas (S. “Harbourage”) is a municipality and harbour located five miles north of Osgiliath on the right bank of the Anduin. Its whitewashed old stone houses are adorned with ivy, while the piers are typically bustling with barges and fishing boats. Persistent floods have transformed the surrounding lands into marshlands, which are efficiently drained via ancient Númenorean canals that remain in use to this day. The town boasts several notable architectural features, including Bar Gondil, an 11th-century patrician residence belonging to the esteemed House Gondil. Other noteworthy structures include the oratories of Vairë, Vána, and Nessa, the palaces of Othramar and Bar Rasmund (also known as the “Villa of the Horned Bull”), and the chapel of Varda Fanuilos, the Enkindler. The current lord of Hobas is Raimon Gondil.

Thinbar in 1685

	Type	Lord	Citizens*	Subjects**
Thinbar	Municipality	Raimon Malredh	4,000	23,000
Bar Foen	Estate	Gundor Brassen	500	3,000
Bar Malredh	Estate	Estel Malredh	500	3,000
Hobas	Municipality	Raimon Gondil	1,000	6,000
Obel Amrûn	Municipality	Huan Malredh	500	3,000