Tolkien Gateway talk:Community Portal

2009-09-16T17:11:39Z

Brian: /* Thoeden gives aid to gondor */ new section

All previous discussions have been moved to the [[Forum:Council|Council forum]]. All future general Tolkien Gateway discussions should be had in said forum. This discussion page is specifically for topics relating to the [[Tolkien Gateway:Community Portal|Community Portal project page]].

== Importance? ==
I think that this page should be re-added to the sidebar; however first it's content and layout should change. This page is meant to be a place which brings the community together and encourages editors to help out in different ways, so basically it should be a well-organised layout of links to important pages which are too many to list now. If people wish for this page to be 'revived' then it'd be happy to redesign it (based on the Main page layout for continuity) and change it's content.--{{User:KingAragorn/sig}} 11:31, 29 July 2008 (EDT)

:I agree, {{User:KingAragorn/sig}}, and by the way, nice job with CP page. It should be moved to the sidebar and protected.--[[User:Theoden1|Theoden1]] 18:44, 6 August 2008 (EDT)

== Thoeden gives aid to gondor ==

The Gondor city of Minas Tirith has a incoming attack from Mordor after a defeat at osgilith. The rohirrim have now rode of to the encampment at Dunharrow
and next day they ride to war Who knows what happens but give hope to Rohans Gracious army

Gondorian Military Forces

2009-09-16T16:52:54Z

Brian: /* Gondorian Special Forces */

The '''Gondorian Military Forces''' were the most powerful defense forces in Middle-earth from the late Second Age into the Fourth Age. From the [[War of the Last Alliance]] to the [[War of the Ring]], they formed the core of several campaigns against [[Sauron]] and his allies, like the [[Witch-king of Angmar]] and [[Saruman]]. They were made up of three main constituents-- the infantry, the cavalry, and the navy.[[Image:ME-Gondor.png|thumb|right|Gondorian military banner]]

== Infantry of Gondor ==

=== In The [[War of the Last Alliance]] ===

Within a century of Gondor's founding, her armed forces were put to a severe test during the [[War of the Last Alliance]]. In alliance with [[Arnor]] and Elven forces from [[Lindon]] and [[Rhovanion]], Gondor fought a series of battle with the forces of [[Sauron]]. Sauron's ground forces were completely infantry based, and the allies were predominately infantry as well. This was a result of having brought few horses with them after the Downfall of Númenor. The War was a long struggle of attrition involving hundreds of thousands of troops on each side, and Gondor's casualties were serious while Arnor's were crippling. In this great conflict, Gondor's troops fought in close, well ordered regiments, with infantry in front and archers behind. Archers were also used as mobile reserves, with companies of them moved from on weak spot in the battle line to another.{{ref|1}}

Gondor's infantrymen were well-armored, carrying large, broad [[shields]]. They were made of multi-layered wood, and edged in metal. They always bore the device of the tree of Gondor, in metal. Infantrymen wore heavy armor, so they definitely considered heavy infantry. Above their tunics, they wore a layer of chain mail extending down to their knees and elbows. This ended with heavy gauntlets on the forearms, and heavy knee boots. Soldiers also wore plate armor, with a heavy embossed [[breastplate]] and [[backplate]]. Steel greaves extended downwards from the breastplate to the knees for added protection. All of this was topped off with a large steel [[helmet]], with cheek plates, and a curved neck piece to protect the next from enemy blows. Decorative wings were usually attached, and the helmet was often edged in bronze.{{ref|2}}

The weapons used by the infantry included [[spears]], [[swords]], [[axes]], and [[bows]]. Gondorian spears were very long, about nine feet in length. The point was made of steel, and often two feet long. It was designed to be used as a thrusting weapons, as opposed to elven spears, which were often thrown. Swords were usually of medium length-- longer than a short sword, but shorter than a broadsword. They were heavy blades usually pointed and designed to be used one-handed, either thrusting or chopping at an opponent. While the pommel was polished wood, the sword guard was usually made of bronze. In close hand-to-hand action, axes would sometimes be used. These were usually single-edged, and about three feet in length.{{ref|3}}

=== The Third Age ===

During the [[Third Age]], Gondor's land forces were called on to perform a number of tasks, including maintaining a watch over [[Mordor]]. They suffered during Gondor's civil war, when they were divided over [[Castamir|Castamir's]] rule.
For centuries, these forces battled the [[Easterlings]] to the east, and the [[Haradrim]] to the south. Finally, during the [[War of the Ring]], during the [[Battle of Pelennor Fields]] and the [[Battle of the Morannon]], these two great enemies were at last vanquished as Sauron's realm collapsed.

== Gondorian Knights and Cavalry Forces ==

Traditionally, Gondor had a small cavalry force. In the last quarter of the Third Age, it's close ally [[Rohan]] often supplied its main cavalry component. This was true during the [[Wainrider/Balchoth War]], and well as during the [[War of the Ring]]. Before the [[Battle of Pelennor Fields]], a mixed force of infantry and cavalry retreated from the [[Causeway Forts]] and [[Osgiliath]] to the citadel of [[Minas Tirith]]. Pursued by Orcs on the ground, and Nazgûl from the sky, these forces were in great peril. [[Denethor|Lord Denethor]], Steward of Gondor, finally released a mounted counterattack against them, which drove them back. Leading this attack was the [[Imrahil|Prince Imrahil]] of [[Dol Amroth]], and his mounted swan-knights. These men represented the elite cavalry force of Gondor.{{ref|4}}

== Gondorian Naval Forces ==

[[Image:ME-DolAmroth.png|thumb|right|Dol Amroth's ensign shows its sea theme]]The '''Gondorian Navy''' constituted the sea-going defense forces of the Southern kingdom of [[Gondor]]. They were often in action against opposition naval forces from [[Pelargir]] or [[Umbar]], renegade fiefs of Gondor.

Before the Downfall of [[Númenor]], it had been known as a mighty sea power, the greatest that ever existed in Middle Earth. Previously they had sent great fleets, under [[Minastir]], to the aid of [[Gil-galad]] against Sauron in the middle of the Third Age. [[Elendil]] and his sons, who founded [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]], were all great mariners; therefore, there was a long distinguished tradition of shipbuilding, sea exploration, and seapower projection. By [[Third Age 830|T.A. 830]], Falastur was engaged in heavy fleet building, and became know as the first of the [[Ship-kings]] of Gondor.{{ref|5}} These fleets were usually based at Pelargir, and sometimes Umbar. After the [[Kinslaying]] in Gondor, the defeated rebels took refuge in [[Umbar]], where they long troubled Gondor. Late in the Third Age, [[Thorongil]] (Aragorn II) led a Gondorian naval task force in a raid known as the [[Surprise Attack on Umbar]]. This was a successful raid that neutralized the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs']] naval power for decades, and reduced the southern pressure on Gondor at a time when its power was waning.

== Gondorian Special Forces ==

'''Gondorian Special Forces''' were armed men operating often behind enemy lines. Late in the Third Age, and the power of [[Mordor]] grew, Gondor withdrew most of its conventional forces from east of the Anduin, including North and South [[Ithilien]]. They did not abandon the area completely, however, and maintained a guerrilla presence there, the [[Rangers of Ithilien]]. During the [[War of the Ring]], this force was commanded by Faramir, son of Denethor II. They acted as a reconnaissance force, and often harassed Sauron's forces.they are stronger than normal gondor archers and even soldiers

[[Category: Gondorians]]
[[Category: Organizations]]

== References ==

# {{note|1}} ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Weapons and Warfare]]'', [[The Last Alliance of Elves and Men]], pp. 5-6.
# {{note|2}} ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Weapons and Warfare]]'', [[Númenóreans]], p. 27.
# {{note|3}} ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Weapons and Warfare]]'', [[Númenóreans]], pp. 25-27.
# {{note|4}} ''[[The Return of the King]]'', [[The Siege of Gondor]], pp. 801-802.
# {{note|5}} ''[[The Return of the King]]'', [[Appendix A]], p. 1060.

User talk:Brian

2009-09-16T16:47:25Z

Brian: Adding welcome message to new user's talk page

Tolkien Gateway - User contributions [en]

Tolkien Gateway talk:Community Portal

Gondorian Military Forces

User talk:Brian