: : 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. I had to leave, my mother out of law was waiting outside. The legions were supported by a growing force of auxilla, surpassing the legions in numbers around A.D. 100. I see no reason to believe that the Gondorian army would have been less than the Roman (or at least merely slightly so owing to the waning of the Dśnedain), actually, I find it easiest to believe that they were very similar, and when you claim that the Gondorian army was not made up of professionals you show that you have not read the debate between Martion and Michael further down. I for one believe that the Gondorian army was highly professional, that would be most effective (also most cost-effective), however, I also believe that it was pressed really hard like the roman one of the fourth and possibly fifth century (the standard went down horribly in the fifth, so much that Attila spoke with derision of the romans at Chalons Sūr Marne in 451?- it may have been 452, I work from memory). Neithan Turambar
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