Posted: September 16, 1999 at 01:24:55: by neithan
: One must also keep in mind that the Roman army was also the most efficent fighting force of that era as well as a politicol tool. These factors lent a great deal to the army size throughout. To compare that to Gondor/MT would be an error. Afterall Gondor/MT at the best of times was in a state of skirmish with Minas Morgul (in the third age) and one would think that this would possibly lead to a disproportionate army size. Also (as Tolkien illustrated in RotK) they seemed to rely heavily on irregulers and local militia (where Rome relied on heavily trained legions). Just some things one should take into account when trying to determine the populations IMHO.The Romans too were in a perpetual state of war with the germanic tribes to the north- at the best of times this was kept to skirmishing and raids, at the worst full-fledged invasions of entire tribes or coalitions of tribes poured into Roman territory. The legionaires were possibly the best soldiers ever (I would say after the Waffen-SS, but that is something different), they served for twenty years and as reserve by their legion for five. However, they were supported by a growing- have to break off message.
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