sepulchrave
First Post
RB: Actually, the table was decipherable, but I will e-mail you for the word version.
I've been pondering the relative technologies of Middle-Earth and, of course, no blanket statement is possible. I was wondering if it would be useful if some generic kind of "tech level" table would be useful - perhaps with a cultural element as well. Note that this is how *I* see it: others may have a different opinion. It deals primarily with military organization, although other random notes are thrown in too. I'll start with Rohan and Gondor.
Rohan
Society based on an Anglo-Saxon Model: land-owning freemen who take up arms in times of war. Loose government. Ideas of a hearthguard (household knights of Meduseld), weregild, warrior-ideal, a ring-giving king who bestows his favours generously, alliterative poetry recounting heroic exploits. The Mead -Hall as the cultural/administrative and ruling centre (Meduseld = "Mead Hall"). The twist is in the reliance on cavalry - something alien to the historical Anglo-Saxons. Perhaps a Norman or Carolingian slant. Many of the Rohirrim wore fine mail armour that was a gift from Gondor. I'd assume that the "mearas" were heavy warhorses, but with the speed of a light horse.
Household Knight, Thane or Nobleman: Full mail suit. Large Round Shield. Conical Helm. Heavy Warhorse. Lance. Longsword. Possibly lots of MW items (e.g. "named" swords, such as Guthwine).
Typical Rider: Hauberk. Large Round Shield. Conical Helm. Heavy Warhorse. Lance. Longsword.
Horsed Archer Auxillary: (Speculative: Studded. Small Shield. Longsword). Shortbow (composite?). Light warhorse.
The archers are canonical, in that they appear in Tolkien's work. Presumably, other mounted auxilliaries (scouts, skirmishers etc.) existed as well. Note that when dismounted at the Pelennor, the Rohirrim formed a "shield wall" - this is another Anglo-Saxon tactic, and is ONLY possible with a large shield (2 1/2 - 3 ft wide). The basic unit of deployment was the "eored" - around 120 men, although the size actually varied somewhat. Technically, the eored is 1/100th of the whole whole muster of Rohan. Historically speaking, I'd place Rohan in the 11th century, but generally pre-castle era: e.g. the Hornburg was built by Gondor.
Gondor
Gondor is feudal, with various magnates swearing allegiance to the King or Steward. Numenorean bloodlines are purest amongst the nobility. The centralization of power suggests late, rather than early feudal, however (culturally, not technologically). Considerable variation in troop types:
Citadel Guard (Speculative): Super-heavy infantry, akin to German Landsknechts or Renaissance Swiss Halberdiers. Half-Plate or Full Plate (?). Halberd. Large Shield. Longsword. The elite of the elite. Probably lots of MW equipment.
City Cavalry (led by Hurin, Warden of the Keys - Speculative): I'd be inclined to place these in the heavy cavalry group, but not super-heavies like Imrahil's knights. Possibly chain suit, large shield, helm, lance, longsword.
Knights of Dol Amroth ("a company of knights in full harness"): Full Plate. Shield. Heavy Warhorse. Lance. Longsword or Bastard Sword. Possibly with barding, although I think that's going too far.
Men-at-Arms of Dol Amroth ("tall as lords, grey-eyed, dark-haired): ROTK doesn't make it clear whether they were mounted or not. I would tend to think not, and would put them in the heavy infantry category: chainmail suit, helm, large shield, longspear, bastard sword. Good support for armoured cavalry.
Rangers of Ithilien: Leather or studded. Longbow (composite?) (50%) or spear (50%). Longsword. Probably with access to mail in times of war.
Men of Pinnath Gelin ("gallant green-clad men.") Definitely cavalry, as they ride with Imrahil and Hurin to the succour of Eomer on the Pelennor. The name suggests light cavalry, however. Chain shirt. Small Shield. Helm. Lance. Longsword. Light Warhorse. The obligatory gallant green cloak, of course.
Men of Lossarnarch ("well armed, and bearing great battle-axes.") Mail Hauberk. Helm. Greataxe. Probably with shield and longsword as well.
Men of Morthond (semi-speculative): Longbow (definitely). Maybe studded. Longsword also?
I've been pondering the relative technologies of Middle-Earth and, of course, no blanket statement is possible. I was wondering if it would be useful if some generic kind of "tech level" table would be useful - perhaps with a cultural element as well. Note that this is how *I* see it: others may have a different opinion. It deals primarily with military organization, although other random notes are thrown in too. I'll start with Rohan and Gondor.
Rohan
Society based on an Anglo-Saxon Model: land-owning freemen who take up arms in times of war. Loose government. Ideas of a hearthguard (household knights of Meduseld), weregild, warrior-ideal, a ring-giving king who bestows his favours generously, alliterative poetry recounting heroic exploits. The Mead -Hall as the cultural/administrative and ruling centre (Meduseld = "Mead Hall"). The twist is in the reliance on cavalry - something alien to the historical Anglo-Saxons. Perhaps a Norman or Carolingian slant. Many of the Rohirrim wore fine mail armour that was a gift from Gondor. I'd assume that the "mearas" were heavy warhorses, but with the speed of a light horse.
Household Knight, Thane or Nobleman: Full mail suit. Large Round Shield. Conical Helm. Heavy Warhorse. Lance. Longsword. Possibly lots of MW items (e.g. "named" swords, such as Guthwine).
Typical Rider: Hauberk. Large Round Shield. Conical Helm. Heavy Warhorse. Lance. Longsword.
Horsed Archer Auxillary: (Speculative: Studded. Small Shield. Longsword). Shortbow (composite?). Light warhorse.
The archers are canonical, in that they appear in Tolkien's work. Presumably, other mounted auxilliaries (scouts, skirmishers etc.) existed as well. Note that when dismounted at the Pelennor, the Rohirrim formed a "shield wall" - this is another Anglo-Saxon tactic, and is ONLY possible with a large shield (2 1/2 - 3 ft wide). The basic unit of deployment was the "eored" - around 120 men, although the size actually varied somewhat. Technically, the eored is 1/100th of the whole whole muster of Rohan. Historically speaking, I'd place Rohan in the 11th century, but generally pre-castle era: e.g. the Hornburg was built by Gondor.
Gondor
Gondor is feudal, with various magnates swearing allegiance to the King or Steward. Numenorean bloodlines are purest amongst the nobility. The centralization of power suggests late, rather than early feudal, however (culturally, not technologically). Considerable variation in troop types:
Citadel Guard (Speculative): Super-heavy infantry, akin to German Landsknechts or Renaissance Swiss Halberdiers. Half-Plate or Full Plate (?). Halberd. Large Shield. Longsword. The elite of the elite. Probably lots of MW equipment.
City Cavalry (led by Hurin, Warden of the Keys - Speculative): I'd be inclined to place these in the heavy cavalry group, but not super-heavies like Imrahil's knights. Possibly chain suit, large shield, helm, lance, longsword.
Knights of Dol Amroth ("a company of knights in full harness"): Full Plate. Shield. Heavy Warhorse. Lance. Longsword or Bastard Sword. Possibly with barding, although I think that's going too far.
Men-at-Arms of Dol Amroth ("tall as lords, grey-eyed, dark-haired): ROTK doesn't make it clear whether they were mounted or not. I would tend to think not, and would put them in the heavy infantry category: chainmail suit, helm, large shield, longspear, bastard sword. Good support for armoured cavalry.
Rangers of Ithilien: Leather or studded. Longbow (composite?) (50%) or spear (50%). Longsword. Probably with access to mail in times of war.
Men of Pinnath Gelin ("gallant green-clad men.") Definitely cavalry, as they ride with Imrahil and Hurin to the succour of Eomer on the Pelennor. The name suggests light cavalry, however. Chain shirt. Small Shield. Helm. Lance. Longsword. Light Warhorse. The obligatory gallant green cloak, of course.
Men of Lossarnarch ("well armed, and bearing great battle-axes.") Mail Hauberk. Helm. Greataxe. Probably with shield and longsword as well.
Men of Morthond (semi-speculative): Longbow (definitely). Maybe studded. Longsword also?
