The question posed is indeed a hard one to answer. My response would go like this:<P>As a whole, the Rohirrim are probably better archers and definitely better cavaliers. As for hand-to-hand combat, the Gondorians would have the upper hand. Overall, my vote has to go to the Gondorians, for their noble bearing and strong military history. Remember, although it may have seemed in the battle at the Pelennor Fields that the Rohirrim were stronger, their situations were very different: the soldiers of Minas Tirith bore the brunt of an assault, and had to defend their keep against an onslaught of foes. The Rohirrim advanced to Pelennor without being noticed, and so had an upper hand, since they could cleave through foes who had before been entirely concentrated on Minas Tirith and who did not have time to prepare for a side-on cavalry assault.
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...where the instrument of intelligence is added to brute power and evil will, mankind is powerless in its own defence.
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