[Rumil]

Hi all,

back home again, and with a bit of time to consider a reply!

Excellent analysis JeffF. The problem with Tolkien's military side being that he rarely gives full descriptions and numbers, but leaves us just enough titbits of information to theorize. Therefore its partly 'hard' data, partly 'gut instinct' and partly historical parallels that we have to use. This means that there is rarely a 100% correct answer but its great to debate it all.

OK then, a quick zip through JeffF's post-

Rohan- mostly agree though I would put the ratio of armoured cavalry a bit higher. In HoME 10,000 'fully-equipped' cavalry are mentioned, though admittedly this may refer to having a decent horse, spear and shield only. The culture seems to be a mix of nomadic and settled. Don't forget the infantry, I'd see them as something akin to Saxon Fyrd, with a few bows but mostly spearmen. One thing to consider is the historical tactic of putting the well-equipped armoured warriors in the first rank, supported by less-well-equipped in rear ranks, possible for both cavalry and infantry. Also that 'heaviness' of cavalry is based on attitude as well as equipment.

Gondor- ah a whole different kettle of fish! I'd like to split them into 2 different forces, Minas Tirith and 'The Rest'.

Minas Tirith -

few cavalry (Gandalf mentions this), but those presumably very well armed and armoured.

Regular heavy infantry in high quality chainmail, helmets etc, such as the Tower Guard, garrisons of the outworks etc - spear, sword, shield, perhaps some elite bowmen too.

Rangers - ME 'special forces' ! Spear-or-bow, maybe with some light chainmail, camouflaged in green cloaks etc, ideal for ambushes and raids.

The Men of the City - a militia but a good quality militia (eg Republican Romans), not full time professionals but well trained and reasonably equipped, probably the front rank of better-off men armoured, but not the rest. Armed with spears or bows.

The Rest - Rather a mix from the different Fiefs. Would not be so sure of the high proportion of cavalry, but difficult to say with the info we have. eg. Imrahil's lot were mostly on foot, with one company of knights, but they were planning to defend a city, so this is logical!

On swords, it is noticeable that the rank-and-file rarely got them in historical times, usual equipment being a spear, shield and knife for the average peasant spearman, therefore a sword was viewed as a mark of rank, except in very well organised armies like the Imperial Romans, where everyone got one. Therefore likely in Gondor, but drawing on Isildur's company for 3000 years later might be a bit iffy!

Beornings- still not convinced on Beorning cavalry, though there's no real evidence either way. I see them as Veggie Vikings, prone to big axes and berserker rages. Though its interesting to note that historical Vikings used horses when they could get them, even if they often were for transport not battle. The Beornings appear to have fought (mostly?) in the foothills and Misty Mountains (they re-opened some of the passes by defeating the goblins) so cavalry not so useful there.

Woodmen - agree entirely, presumably these would be the bowmen that the eagles were wary of, so longbows perhaps?

Dale - an interesting one, they appear to be mostly infantry at Battle of the Five Armies, but had expanded since that time to take in territories to the east on the plains where cavalry would be essential.

Thranduil - agree, though I think they may well have stored up some decent chainmail for the spearmen at least, from Dwarven or Dale sources, after all they had plenty of time to do this!

Lothlorien- agree too

Dwarves - yep, spot on, also war-mattocks too. Do you have the reference for the horn (ie composite) bows? I don't remember that.

Hobbits - armed peasantry! Good if, presumbly, short-ranged archers, gardening & agricultural tools and whatever was lying around, these could be quite effective, eg the bill. Also possibility of some decent weaponry 'hanging over the fireplace' or stored in Michel Delving Mathom House.

High Elves - yep! Possibly even a bit of Beleriand-era armour still around that Elrond mentioned.

Haradrim- woah! Remember the scimitar-armed cavalry at Pelennor, that made up at least 1/3 of their army. I've wondered if they were horse-archers like the Saracens etc, or perhaps javelin-armed, presumably 'light-ish' but prepared to countercharge (unwisely!) the Rohirrim rather than evade. Also possibly riding smaller horses than those of Rohan. Infantry agree.

Variags - a very difficult one, the word means 'wanderer' and originally applied to the Vikings in Russia. I guess this could mean 'nomad' and that the Variags were steppe horse-archers, but a number of interpretations are possible.

Easterlings - again a difficult one, often viewed as Mongol- or Hun- style steppe horse archers too, but this doesn't square with the large proportion of infantry. I've wondered if they could be equated with Ancient Eastern Europeans, eg the bearded axemen are reminiscent of Dacian falxmen, the wagons bring to mind the Goths, though the chariots are more Celtic. Interesting spot of pikes in UT! Maybe one could view them as similar to migration-period Germanic tribes. Could be that the chariots were 'Chieftain's staff-car' so not very prominent at the Pelennor (lurking at the back perhaps)?

Orcs - yup!

Trolls - not sure if the scales were the actual skin of the troll or some sort of armour (maybe nameless-thing-that-gnaws-the-world-beneath-hide?). Could be just that Boromir had an unlucky strike (edge not point?).

Dunlendings - agree. Though I think the pikemen and mixed halforc/man units were probably Saruman's own specially-trained troops and taught the common tongue, whereas the majority would be semi-independent tribes under their own chieftains speaking their own language.

Some others -

Rangers of Arnor - see Rangers above, only more so and on horses when they felt like it.

Ruffians - remnants of Saruman's human troops - note they speak the common tongue not 'Dunlendingish'.

Corsairs - probably mostly quite lightly equipped, being seafarers and raiders. A bit pirate-y, cutlasses, scimitars, short spears, bows etc. Possibly more use for raiding and skirmishing than in a stand-up fight. However there might well be a subset of the Unfaithful and Black Numenoreans who would be rather more formidable.

Morgul- Note the Witch King's cavalry regiment - presumably Black Numenoreans - elite troops, probably used to force the unwilling snagas into combat!

Wolves - used as-is or as orc mounts. I don't believe they looked like giant hyenas! Common in the Misty Mountains, whence came Saruman's lot I guess. Not much mention of them in the armies of Mordor, but I imagine a few must have been about.

Eagles, Ents, Giants(?) - big and v scary!

Artillery - Mordor had plenty, with trebuchet-like devices, siege towers, Grond etc. Gondor had some (possibly scorpios?) that were out-ranged. Saruman too.