Instead of argueing with you Gwaihir i'm going to ask where did this 20,000 figure come from. I can't find it in Home 8 but in unfinished tales the army was 12,000 strong before Theoden and the population had risen during his lifetime. I seem to remember the figure 16,000 somewhere but i'm not sure.
As to the size of the army at Pelennor Fields Tolkien gives suggestions such as casulties against Saruman, the haste of the muster and the need to leave a force to defend the country as causing depletions to the army
Btw Fingolfinthebold where was Saurons army numbered at 60,000. The Persian empire could muster an army of at least 140,000 to invade Greece and it seems to me that Sauron would own a teensy bit more land than Darius.
Also the Captains of the West state (and complain) that the army going to the Morannon is small
[ September 01, 2003: Message edited by: Dimaldaeon ]
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