Gondorian Military Forces



The Gondorian Military Forces was known in history to be one of the most strongest forces in Middle-Earth that opposed Sauron in the late Second and Third Age.

War of the Last Alliance
Within a century of Gondor's founding, it was put to a severe test during the War of the Last Alliance. In an alliance with Arnor and Elven forces from Lindon and Rhovanion, Gondor fought a series of battles against the forces of Sauron.

Cavalry
Traditionally, Gondor had a number of large cavalry forces. In the last quarter of the Third Age, its close ally Rohan often supplied the bulk of its cavalry forces. This was true during the Wainrider/Balchoth War and the War of the Ring. Before the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, a mixed force of infantry and cavalry retreated from the Causeway Forts and Osgiliath to the citadel of Minas Tirith. Pursued by Mordorian soldiers on the ground and Nazgûl from the sky, these forces were in great peril. Lord Denethor, Steward of Gondor, finally released a mounted counter-attack against them, which drove them back. Leading this attack was the Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth and his mounted swan-knights. These Gondorians represented the elite cavalry force of Gondor.

Navy
The Gondorian Navy constituted the sea-going defense forces of the southern borders and regions of Gondor. They were often in action against opposition naval forces from Pelargir or Umbar, renegade fiefs of Gondor.

Before the Downfall of Númenor, it had been known as a mighty sea power, the greatest that ever existed in Middle-Earth. Previously they had sent great fleets, under Minastir, to the aid of Gil-galad against Sauron in the middle of the Second Age. Elendil and his sons, who founded Arnor and Gondor, were all great mariners; therefore, there was a long distinguished tradition of shipbuilding, sea exploration, and sea-power projection. By T.A. 830, the Captain of the Hosts Tarannon was engaged in heavy fleet building, and became know as the first of the Ship-kings of Gondor. These fleets were usually based at Pelargir, and sometimes Umbar.

During the Kin-Strife, Captain of Ships was Castamir who used his position to find supporters against the King. After the Kin-Strife, the defeated rebels took refuge in Umbar, where they long troubled Gondor. Late in the Third Age, Thorongil (Aragorn II) led a Gondorian naval task force in a raid known as the surprise attack on the nation of Umbar. This was a successful raid that neutralized the Corsairs' naval power for decades, and reduced the southern pressure on Gondor at a time when its power was waning.

Special Forces
Soldiers fully trained and experienced had the title of ohtar 'warrior, soldier'. Some were admitted to the rank of roquen, "knight".