Posted: April 14, 2000 at 03:30:21: by Martin Read
: : Tolkien estimates that the full muster of Rohan would produce about 12000 men. According to my understanding, a full muster would have included all men who are able to fight, so 12000 is the top figure for Rohan's army. But I do believe that Gondor could have raised at least around 50000 fighters if need be. :
: I think the 'full muster' referred to would only have included those Riders trained and equipped. The Rohirrim could have also raised a number of men on foot. This is indicated both in UT and in the Hilms Deep chapter of LotR. This is true, though given the extreme horse-orientedness of Rohan society I think its infantry would probably not greatly exceed its cavalry in numbers and I would expect the infantry to have been of a generally low quality, compared to Gondor's. What would the infantry consist of? Youngsters and men too poor to own a horse, in a society which valued horses above most things, not the makings of a reliable and effective infantry arm. In all I would not put Rohan's effective military strength at above a third of that of Gondor.
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