Gondorian Military Forces: Difference between revisions

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== Infantry ==
== Infantry ==
Gondor used infantry as its main fighting force. These soldiers would be clad in mail, and wield the usual bows, spears, swords, and shields. Gondorian soldiers were likely well-trained, and appeared to be maintained at the cost of the nation itself rather than feudal lords.
The Southern and Western fiefs were regularly called upon to provide soldiery to Gondor. In the War of the Ring, soldiers fought from Lossarnach, Lebennin, Pelargir, the Ethir, Belfalas, Lamedon, Ringlo, the Blackroot Vale, Pinnath Gelin, and Anfalas. Certain fiefs had specific types of soldiers. Lossarnach provided heavily-armed axemen, while the Blackroot Vale used stout longbowmen. The Ethir, Lamedon, and Anfalas used poorly-trained militias, save for the households of their lords.
Among the highest honors in Gondor was to serve in the Citadel Guard, a highly-trained force stationed in the Citadel of Minas Tirith. Members used swords, and wore black mail and surcoats embossed with the livery of [[Elendil]] in silver. Their helms were made of [[Mithril]], and crested with black or white wings.


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

Revision as of 19:05, 20 May 2017

The military of Gondor was arguably the strongest force in Middle-earth that opposed Sauron in the late Second and Third Age.

Infantry

Gondor used infantry as its main fighting force. These soldiers would be clad in mail, and wield the usual bows, spears, swords, and shields. Gondorian soldiers were likely well-trained, and appeared to be maintained at the cost of the nation itself rather than feudal lords.

The Southern and Western fiefs were regularly called upon to provide soldiery to Gondor. In the War of the Ring, soldiers fought from Lossarnach, Lebennin, Pelargir, the Ethir, Belfalas, Lamedon, Ringlo, the Blackroot Vale, Pinnath Gelin, and Anfalas. Certain fiefs had specific types of soldiers. Lossarnach provided heavily-armed axemen, while the Blackroot Vale used stout longbowmen. The Ethir, Lamedon, and Anfalas used poorly-trained militias, save for the households of their lords.

Among the highest honors in Gondor was to serve in the Citadel Guard, a highly-trained force stationed in the Citadel of Minas Tirith. Members used swords, and wore black mail and surcoats embossed with the livery of Elendil in silver. Their helms were made of Mithril, and crested with black or white wings.

In The War of the Last Alliance

Within a century of Gondor's founding, it was put to a severe test during the War of the Last Alliance. In an alliance with Arnor and Elven forces from Lindon and Rhovanion, Gondor fought a series of battles against the forces of Sauron.

The Third Age

During the Third Age, Gondor's military prowess eventually declined. This was due to both a lesser manpower and an overall decline in Númenórean blood. Although the soldiers would have proudly fought to the last man, they were never as strong as the warriors of the past, especially by the second half of the Third Age. After the Great Plague and the Kin-strife, which left Gondor very weakened, many Númenóreans of pure blood had perished during those troublesome times.

Cavalry of Gondor

Traditionally, Gondor had a small cavalry force. In the last quarter of the Third Age, its close ally Rohan often supplied the bulk of its cavalry forces. This was true during the Wainrider/Balchoth War as 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. Lord Denethor, Steward of Gondor, finally released a mounted counter-attack against them, which drove them back. Leading this attack was the Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth and his mounted swan-knights. These men represented the elite cavalry force of Gondor.[1]

Gondorian Naval Forces

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 Umbar, a renegade fief 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 sea-power projection. By T.A. 830, Falastur was engaged in heavy fleet building, and became know as the first of the Ship-kings of Gondor.[2] These fleets were usually based at Pelargir, and sometimes Umbar. After the Kin-strife 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' naval power for decades, and reduced the southern pressure on Gondor at a time when its power was waning.

Gondorian Special Forces

Several groups 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 guerilla 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.

References