Question about the Grey Company - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

William Cloud Hicklin · 12-25-2020, 02:52 PM

Well, yes-but...

Aragorn doesn't actually engage in much "generalship," beyond ordering Angbor to march north to MT, and in his establishing the defensive formation before the Morannon. He is far more a warrior-king, as are Theoden and Eomer and Dain, leading the charge and wading in with his sword. That's not a role compatible with generalship- which is actually demonstrated by Denethor, and he even explains it to Pippin.

Simply put, a leader can either fight, or he can run things (from behind the lines, preferably on a hilltop with good visibility); he can't do both, at least not beyond the small-unit tactical level .

12-25-2020, 02:52 PM	#12
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,330	Well, yes-but... Aragorn doesn't actually engage in much "generalship," beyond ordering Angbor to march north to MT, and in his establishing the defensive formation before the Morannon. He is far more a warrior-king, as are Theoden and Eomer and Dain, leading the charge and wading in with his sword. That's not a role compatible with generalship- which is actually demonstrated by Denethor, and he even explains it to Pippin. Simply put, a leader can either fight, or he can run things (from behind the lines, preferably on a hilltop with good visibility); he can't do both, at least not beyond the small-unit tactical level . __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.