Swan Knights - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Dunlondion · 04-02-2003, 10:34 PM

Any of you that read my other Forum post will know that I love the swan knights and Dol Amroth. So in this post I would like to get some information on the Swan Knights because no one told me about them last time [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] But I aim to get more inf this time thanks [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

burrahobbit · 04-03-2003, 07:03 PM

?

Bruce MacCulloch · 04-03-2003, 07:19 PM

Quote:

So in this post I would like to get some information on the Swan Knights because no one told me about them last time

What exactly are you looking for? There isn't a whole lot to tell. The best thing I can tell you to do is read the book and glean what you can from the few instances that they are mentioned.

Rumil · 04-03-2003, 07:54 PM

As Bruce says, there isn't really very much info. We know they were in the forefront of the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, specifically in the cavalry charge to cover the retreat of the outcompanies and the advance from Minas Tirith after the ride of the Rohirrim. From one of Tolkien's letters, we know that troops looked similar to those on the Bayeux tapestry. The knights would therefore presumably be mounted on un-barded horses and equipped with helmets, chain mail and lances and swords, like Duke William's Norman knights.

The knights would likely be derived from the nobility of Dol Amroth and the surrounding countryside. As nobility are often related, perhaps many of them could have had a (very small) proportion of elvish ancestry as did Prince Imrahil, being descended from Imrazor and Niphrellas (I think!).

As for numbers, we know that a company of mounted knights and a long line of men at arms on foot were provided by Dol Amroth, probably 700-800 in all. A company is generally 100 to 200 men. There would surely have been more troops left in Dol Amroth to protect it from the corsairs, though I'd guess the comment that 'they've only sent a tithe (1/10) of their strength' was inaccurate.

The forces of Dol Amroth fought under the Swan banner, thus Swan knights.

Chancellen the True · 04-03-2003, 11:05 PM

Tuor led The People of The Swan in Gondolin. It was the symbol he chose for himself and his family. I don't know if they are related in any way. Maybe the people of Dol Amroth are decendents of Tuor. Possibly from a daugter or a second or third son of one of the kings of Gondor. Of course, I'm just shooting in the dark, but it is a possibility. Thanks.

Afrodal Fenyar · 04-04-2003, 03:58 AM

Quote:

I don't know if they are related in any way. Maybe the people of Dol Amroth are decendents of Tuor

Well, some lords probably are, as Tuor was the grandfather of Elros Tar-Minyatur, who was the king of Nûmenor, and the kings of Gondor were his descendants. Surely some prince married kings daughter or something. But I doubt there's any other relation.

Burzdol · 04-05-2003, 01:13 PM

I still don't get what you want to know.

~Burzdol~

04-02-2003, 10:34 PM	#1
Dunlondion Pile O'Bones Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 21	Swan Knights Any of you that read my other Forum post will know that I love the swan knights and Dol Amroth. So in this post I would like to get some information on the Swan Knights because no one told me about them last time [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] But I aim to get more inf this time thanks [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

04-03-2003, 07:03 PM	#2
burrahobbit Hidden Spirit Join Date: May 2000 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,424	? __________________ What's a burrahobbit got to do with my pocket, anyways?

04-03-2003, 07:54 PM	#4
Rumil Sage & Onions Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Britain Posts: 893	As Bruce says, there isn't really very much info. We know they were in the forefront of the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, specifically in the cavalry charge to cover the retreat of the outcompanies and the advance from Minas Tirith after the ride of the Rohirrim. From one of Tolkien's letters, we know that troops looked similar to those on the Bayeux tapestry. The knights would therefore presumably be mounted on un-barded horses and equipped with helmets, chain mail and lances and swords, like Duke William's Norman knights. The knights would likely be derived from the nobility of Dol Amroth and the surrounding countryside. As nobility are often related, perhaps many of them could have had a (very small) proportion of elvish ancestry as did Prince Imrahil, being descended from Imrazor and Niphrellas (I think!). As for numbers, we know that a company of mounted knights and a long line of men at arms on foot were provided by Dol Amroth, probably 700-800 in all. A company is generally 100 to 200 men. There would surely have been more troops left in Dol Amroth to protect it from the corsairs, though I'd guess the comment that 'they've only sent a tithe (1/10) of their strength' was inaccurate. The forces of Dol Amroth fought under the Swan banner, thus Swan knights. __________________ Rumil of Coedhirion

04-03-2003, 11:05 PM	#5
Chancellen the True Pile O'Bones Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 22	Tuor led The People of The Swan in Gondolin. It was the symbol he chose for himself and his family. I don't know if they are related in any way. Maybe the people of Dol Amroth are decendents of Tuor. Possibly from a daugter or a second or third son of one of the kings of Gondor. Of course, I'm just shooting in the dark, but it is a possibility. Thanks. __________________ "Shall we mourn here deedless for ever, a shadow folk, mist-haunting, dropping vain tears in the thankless sea?" Feanor at Tirion upon Tuna

04-05-2003, 01:13 PM	#7
Burzdol Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The Fair City of Rivendell Posts: 274	I still don't get what you want to know. ~Burzdol~ __________________ "Kill them all for all I care. You just keep that bow away from me!"