Military of Gondor
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Flags and Emblems

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War Flag of the Royal Host
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Royal navy ensign

Standards
Royal Standard Army of Gondor Captain of Gondor

Commanders (1640-1670)
Commander-in-Chief Aran Tarondor
Chief of Staff Arandur Dior Usulúni
Captain-General of Gondor Ernil Vinyaran
Captain of the Ships Herdir Elenaerion

Gondorian Army and Navy 1652-1675

See also: Royal Navy, Warcraft in Gondor, Weapons and equipment

The Gondorian army was the primary military body of the Gondorian armed forces, serving alongside the Royal navy. A direct descendant of the Royal Model Army of the Ship-kings and older Númenórean armies, the Gondorian army maintained a similar level of discipline, strategic prowess and organization. It was among the most effective armies of western Middle-earth. During the Fifteen Years' War (1652-1666) it was able to fend off major incursions from all quarters while fighting equally destrucive civil war against various pretenders and their hosts.

The Great Plague in 1635-38 had sapped Gondor's military strength to the point where Aldamiri reorganisation of Gondor's army became impossible to maintain. In addition, most of the Aldamiri navy had been sunk or captured during the Great Raid on Pelargir. Thus King Tarondor and his chief steward Arandur Dior Húrinion Usulúni were forced to begin the rebuilding of Gondor's military force from scratch.

This great buildup was immensly expensive for the state. Post-plague Gondor quickly exhausted its silver reserves; any deficit was covered by monetary debasement, selling of goverment property and future revenues for cash. Although crippling to the economy in the long run, this bold strategy paid off in the long wars of the 17th century.

Army reorganisations


Army of Gondor in 1650 was only half of its 1620 strength. Gondorian navy was in even worse shape, having only a handful of servicable warships. Territorial army had lost at least 20,000 men over a period of ten years to plague. Worse still, as royal revenues dwindled, soldiers were paid only once in three years. In some cases pay was first postponed and then suspended. Many frontier regiments either deserted or crumbled into oblivion. Sangahyandion had taken advantage of Gondor's destitute position and snatched the southern parts of Harondor almost without a fight.

In 1643 , king Tarondor had disbanded badly depleted field armies and combined them into a single Royal Host (Dagarim Aran). It was smaller than before but highly versatile, mobile and efficient force, and possessing excellent logistic capabilities. Royal Host was trained to fight either at full strength or as an array of isolated detachments. Territorial Corps were divided into four groups which served for a full year on a rota basis once every three to six years, so that a small core of regulars was available at all times. Raising and maintaining the territorial forces fell under responsiblity of local lords and governors, as well as building new fortifications.

The territorial armies were stationed in the provinces, and their greater independence from central command means that they were able to deal with threats quickly at a local level. The over key advantage of the decentralised system was that it conserved royal revenues and offered the Gondorian state good value for money, at the cost of lower strategic mobility and logistical support. There was little uniformity in the post-Plague territorial army, and the new fortifications were most basic and often cheaply built.

Navy reorganisations

"Strive at all time to have the fleet in top condition and to have it not want for anything. For the fleet is the glory of Gondor. [...] The dromundhîrs and aerhîrs of the fleet should investigate with rigor the slightest thing which is done to the fleet. For when the fleet is reduced to nothingness, you shall be overthrown and fall."
- Admonitions to the King, from the Strategikon of Elenaerion.
The new Royal Navy was built around a nucleus of small fleet of large men-of-war reinforced by ships requested by the Crown in times of need. A ship levy of Odo Lynd (S. "seven ports") instituted by Aldamir in 1496 was extended to four more haven towns. These havens agreed to supply a number of warships in return of tax reductions and privileges. Gondor's wealthy merchants and noblemen provided a second source of ships. King hired vessels, equipping them for war. Few were well-suited for battle.

Quick and unforeseen recovery of the Royal Navy was due to the energies of one man: Elenaerion, Captain of the Ships. He took great care of Gondor's strategic resources, even personally planting new forests for timber. Elenaerion favored the building of great galleasses instead of carrack-type sailing ships, and instituted a new, highly professional coastal navy, which became his most prized creation. King Tarondor, of course, adopted the idea as his own. The new Coastal Navy was an independent organisation, with army-like command structure.

Tarondor was heavily influenced by Elenaerion's ideas of large-scale amphibious operations, where better-armed Gondorian troops could overwhelm their more skilled Umbarean adversaries. These ideas where put to test in 1663, during the Fifteen Years' War, when the King personally led a great naval assault on Harondor.

Line of command (1652-1675)



Military Strength Tables


ROYAL NAVY


Royal Navy total strength
Number of ships by class and year
16211640165216631671
Greatships----
Palanrists3111
Great Carracks5333
Cairons1561411
Light Carracks30141413
Caravels20558
Shebeks---1
Merchantmen1081213
Great Galleasses1-11
Galleasses56810
Galliots12123636
Dromons----
Artillery barges2-36
Transports15-55
TOTAL93 (118)47 (55)84 (105)89 (107)
Umbarean Navy total strength (for comparison)
Number of ships by class and year
16211640165216631671
Greatships1222
Palanrists4554
Great Carracks4666
Cairons---5
Light Carracks24303023
Caravels45606056
Shebeks18161514
Merchantmen1516106
Great Galleasses5553
Galleasses10993
Galliots----
Dromons10010010087
Artillery barges----
Transports20202014
TOTAL211 (246)233 (269)232 (262)203 (223)
















ROYAL ARMY


Maximum mobilisation limits per territory
1640166017001800
Anórien
King's Corps
5 400 6 000
Cavalry
600 700
Reserves
6 000 7 200
Lebennin
King's Corps
8 100 8 700
Cavalry
900 900
Marines
2 600 6 400
Reserves
8 700 9 900
Ithilien
King's Corps
2 400 2 700
Cavalry
300 300
Rangers
400 400
Reserves
2 700 3 000
Belfalas
Cavaliers
400 400
Archers
200 300
Men-at-arms
2 500 2 500
Marines
1 000 1 100
Militia
4 000 4 400
Anfalas
Territorial Corps
3 100 3 200
Cavalry
300 400
Archers
1 600 1 700
Marines
400 600
Reserves
8 000 8 500
Militia
12 300 12 700
Lamedon
Territorial Corps
600 600
Cavalry
100 100
Militia
700 700
Calenardhon & Wold
Territorial Corps
2 200 1 200
Cavalry
600 300
Militia
4 400 2 800
Harondor*
Territorial Corps
5 500*5006 500
Cavalry
500**500
Rangers
-**500
Marines
-**1 800
Reserves
8 500*1 00015 000
Auxiliaries
Northmen
1000 2 500
Haradrim
400 1 000
Dunlendings
200 2 000
Totals
Standing
Mercenaries
Reserves
Total


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