The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post

Osse · 06-25-2004, 08:15 PM

There are some interesting theories upon the resettlment of Arnor above, however, I tend to go with Gwaihir, and always assumed that it would have been predominantly men of Numenorean blood (well as close to Numenorean blood that was possible considering the general dillutions...) that were to resettle Arnor. Remember, though Gondor had a comparitively small population (in comparison to the populations of old) it was still a vast country. There were still many, many people living outside of the great cities, in the outlying regions, and in Dol Amroth. Surely with this in mind, there would be enough to begin the resettlment of the North Kingdom. All it would take would be a few hundred Gondorians, supplemented with those of other races looking for a new life, and the kingdom could be reclaimed. Over a period of many years, the population of this new North Kingdom would be great, old works could be restored and it quickly would have been as it was of old. Once populated, the growth of this kingdom would be almost exponential.

Which brings me to another point. Aragorn (and his family) were much haboured by Elrond and the people of Imladris. What is to say that others of the Rangers did not use this community as a sort of life-line or home base? The evidence rather than conflict with the idea tends to support it. What is to say that the young of the northern Dunedain were not (like Aragorn) sometimes sent to live with the elves until they had come of age, or were strong enough to join thier kin in the struggle against the enemy in the north. I always thought that that was the reason for the Angle being located where it was, for ease of travel between Rivendell. Also, it's not inconcievable that the Angle was only a 'military' stronghold for the Rangers, and that the women and children did not in fact abide there? For we must remember that the Rangers were not just a tribe of peoples, but saw themselves to be the guardians of the north against the darkness, and fought (as Aragorn states many times in lotr) ceaselessly against the foes of the Free Peoples. Perhaps the elderly, the women and the children were often sent to live among Elrond's folk, or at least gained aid from them. I do not believe that thirty horsemen were all that could have been gathered if the Dunedain had had a week, but from Halberad's words we can deem (and the situation of the time, perhaps elrond spoke to Halberad, telling him to ride right away) that they only had a very short time to gather forces, and it was not a war party that was riding out, only an envoy... to bring a message to their lord and aid him in his trials. I believe a much greater force would have been available to the Dunedain. We also must remember that the Rangers still had commitments to the other peoples of the north, the Hobbits and the people of Bree and though their protection of these people ended late in the War, such protection could not have been given if the Rangers did have quite a substantial force. If this were so, the Rangers would have had the means to resettle (at least to some extent), it was just that the times were preventing them from increasing their numbers and they had no king, thus couldn't reclaim any kingdoms...

However, when supplemented with the peoples of the south, there would have been numbers enough to reclaim the kingdom at least, and to begin its growth. As for bringing in non-Gondorian peoples or even the ex-enemies of Gondor, I doubt it would have been done. The people would have mingled (especially with the Breelanders) anyway, but I doubt it would have been done intentionally, unless of course as a truce pact -"come and live with us in the new kingdom and forget all old enmities." Which of course, for Aragorn seems quite likely.

Enough from me!

Regards,

Osse

06-25-2004, 08:15 PM	#15
Osse Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Encircling Sea, deciding which ship to ruin next...could be yours. Posts: 274	There are some interesting theories upon the resettlment of Arnor above, however, I tend to go with Gwaihir, and always assumed that it would have been predominantly men of Numenorean blood (well as close to Numenorean blood that was possible considering the general dillutions...) that were to resettle Arnor. Remember, though Gondor had a comparitively small population (in comparison to the populations of old) it was still a vast country. There were still many, many people living outside of the great cities, in the outlying regions, and in Dol Amroth. Surely with this in mind, there would be enough to begin the resettlment of the North Kingdom. All it would take would be a few hundred Gondorians, supplemented with those of other races looking for a new life, and the kingdom could be reclaimed. Over a period of many years, the population of this new North Kingdom would be great, old works could be restored and it quickly would have been as it was of old. Once populated, the growth of this kingdom would be almost exponential. Which brings me to another point. Aragorn (and his family) were much haboured by Elrond and the people of Imladris. What is to say that others of the Rangers did not use this community as a sort of life-line or home base? The evidence rather than conflict with the idea tends to support it. What is to say that the young of the northern Dunedain were not (like Aragorn) sometimes sent to live with the elves until they had come of age, or were strong enough to join thier kin in the struggle against the enemy in the north. I always thought that that was the reason for the Angle being located where it was, for ease of travel between Rivendell. Also, it's not inconcievable that the Angle was only a 'military' stronghold for the Rangers, and that the women and children did not in fact abide there? For we must remember that the Rangers were not just a tribe of peoples, but saw themselves to be the guardians of the north against the darkness, and fought (as Aragorn states many times in lotr) ceaselessly against the foes of the Free Peoples. Perhaps the elderly, the women and the children were often sent to live among Elrond's folk, or at least gained aid from them. I do not believe that thirty horsemen were all that could have been gathered if the Dunedain had had a week, but from Halberad's words we can deem (and the situation of the time, perhaps elrond spoke to Halberad, telling him to ride right away) that they only had a very short time to gather forces, and it was not a war party that was riding out, only an envoy... to bring a message to their lord and aid him in his trials. I believe a much greater force would have been available to the Dunedain. We also must remember that the Rangers still had commitments to the other peoples of the north, the Hobbits and the people of Bree and though their protection of these people ended late in the War, such protection could not have been given if the Rangers did have quite a substantial force. If this were so, the Rangers would have had the means to resettle (at least to some extent), it was just that the times were preventing them from increasing their numbers and they had no king, thus couldn't reclaim any kingdoms... However, when supplemented with the peoples of the south, there would have been numbers enough to reclaim the kingdom at least, and to begin its growth. As for bringing in non-Gondorian peoples or even the ex-enemies of Gondor, I doubt it would have been done. The people would have mingled (especially with the Breelanders) anyway, but I doubt it would have been done intentionally, unless of course as a truce pact -"come and live with us in the new kingdom and forget all old enmities." Which of course, for Aragorn seems quite likely. Enough from me! Regards, Osse __________________ 'A thinking tyrant, it seemed to Vetinari, had a much harder job than a ruler raised to power by some idiot system like democracy. At least HE could tell the people he was THEIR fault.' Last edited by Osse; 06-25-2004 at 08:27 PM.