Troop Movements and Tactical Decisions in The Lord of the ..., Schemes and Mind Maps of Statistics

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Maps of the Minas Tirith Campaign

Troop Movements and Tactical Decisions

in The Lord of the Rings

By M. C. Brennan

Infantry

Cavalry

Elephantry

Engineers

Naval

Flying

Ghosts

Unit Types

Mordor

Mordor vassals (Harad, Rhûn, Khand, Umbar, ...)

Rohan

Gondor

Dúnedain

Oathbreakers

Allegiance

larger unit

smaller unit

Unit Details

Uglúk named commander

casualty

Granular descriptions of tactics, personnel, and other such trivia are at cross-puropses with the literary intent of The Lord of the Rings. A good demonstration of this might be to imagine what “casualty statistics” look like, and then read the Song of the Mounds of Mundburg , which is (among other things) Tolkien’s version of that concept.

This is my excuse for fudging some details (the location of the crossroads), guessing at others (the numbers of soldiers), and omitting some entirely (the Morgul horsemen).

Also, there are no scale bars. Minas Tirith is about 20 miles away from Osgiliath, if you really must know.

Also, I didn’t make most of the maps.

mountains

forests

rivers roads

Map Details

Bree Udûn

Free place Evil place

Introduction

M. C. Brennan

fortifications

Barad-dûr

Gondor is a large country divided by the impassible White Mountains. Its most populous provinces are in the south, bordering the Bay of Belfalas.

Mordor controls all the lands to the east and south, and has pushed Gondor out of Ithilien, but the lands north of Mordor are desolate, and Sauron cannot push west without crossing the Anduin at Cair Andros or Osgiliath.

Geography

White Mountains

River Anduin

River Ringló

Mountains of Shadow

Mountains of Ash Anduin

Lebennin

Lamedon

Anórien

Rohan

Mordor

Old South Road

Bay of Belfalas Harad Road

Cair Andros

Osgiliath

Minas Morgul

Dunharrow

Linhir

Pelargir

Erech

Morannon

Ithilien

Dol Amroth

Minas Tirith

White Mountains

Pinnath Gelin

Minas Tirith

Dunharrow

Linhir

Pelargir

Barad-dûr

Théoden, victorious at Helm’s Deep, sets out for his fortress at Dunharrow.

Aragorn looks into a Seeing Stone. In so doing, he reveals himself to Sauron and becomes aware of a Corsair Fleet threatening to cut Minas Tirith off from southern Gondor. He decides to lead his Grey Company through the White Mountains via the Paths of the Dead at Dunharrow.

Sauron, fearing that Aragorn may aid Minas Tirith before it can be taken, accelerates his plans...

March 6, TA 3019

Aragorn

Théoden

White Mountains

Cair Andros

Osgiliath

Minas Morgul

Erech

Morannon

Minas Tirith

Dunharrow

Linhir

Pelargir

Erech Barad-dûr

Aragorn and the Grey Company take the Paths of the Dead. They come to Erech, where Aragorn recruits the Army of the Dead to his service.

The Corsair Fleet moves up the River Anduin and blocks the road to Minas Tirith.

March 8, TA 3019

Théoden

Hirgon

Angbor

Denethor

Imrahil

Aragorn Cair Andros

Osgiliath

Minas Morgul

Morannon

White Mountains

Minas Tirith

Dunharrow

Linhir

Pelargir

Erech Barad-dûr Cair Andros

Théoden arrives at Dunharrow. Hirgon delivers the Red Arrow to him, and sets back towards Minas Tirith.

Imrahil and Gondor’s other outland forces arrive at Minas Tirith.

The Grey Company leaves Erech and rides south.

Faramir withdraws his Rangers from Ithilien and reinforces the river crossings at Osgiliath and Cair Andros.

Black clouds pour out of Mordor...

March 9, TA 3019

Aragorn

ThéodenHirgon

Denethor

Imrahil

Angbor

Faramir

Osgiliath

Minas Morgul

Morannon

White Mountains

Rohan

Théoden

Éomer

Grimbold

Elfhelm

Royal Household

First Éored

Second Éored

Third Éored

The Grey Company

Aragorn

King of the Dead

Rangers of the North

Army of the Dead

Gondor

Denethor

Imrahil

Faramir Rangers of Ithilien

Osgiliath Garrison

Cair Andros Garrison

Minas Tirith Garrison

Forlong Lossarnach

Dervorin Ringló Vale Hirluin Pinnath Gelin

Dol Amroth

Húrin

Minas Tirith Army

Anduin Army

Angbor

Lamedon Army

Mordor

Witch King

Nazgûl

Minas Morgul Army

Umbar Morannon Army

Haradrim Army Gothmog

Harad

Khand

Mûmakil

Reserve Army

Corsair Fleet

Black Serpent

Dispositions on March 10, TA 3019

M. C. Brennan

Minas Tirith

Ramas Echor

Harlond

Osgiliath

March 11

The Nazgûl begin making sorties over Minas Tirith, spreading the Black Breath.

Fighting in Osgiliath.

The main part of the Morgul Army approaches Osgiliath. They are joined by the Haradrim Army from the south.

The sky remains dark throughout the day...

Denethor

Faramir

Witch King

Imrahil

Pelennor Fields

Black Serpent

M. C. Brennan

Minas Tirith

Dunharrow

Linhir

Pelargir

Minas Morgul

Morannon

Erech Barad-dûr Cair Andros

Elsewhere...

The Grey Company drives the Corsair Fleet forces out of Linhir. Angbor’s army cannot endure the Army of the Dead, so they follow behind.

The Morannon Army captures the crossing at Cair Andros. A portion of the army moves towards Minas Tirith, while the remainder blockades the road to Rohan.

Hirgon is killed by the Morannon Army near the Ramas Echor. No news of Rohan comes to Minas Tirith.

March 12

Witch King Denethor

Théoden

Hirgon

Aragorn Angbor

White Mountains

Minas Tirith

Ramas Echor

Harlond

Osgiliath

March 13

Morgul forces capture the Causeway Forts and breach the Ramas Echor with explosives.

A small number of survivors retreat to Minas Tirith. Faramir is gravely wounded by the Nazgûl.

Haradrim cavalry pursue Faramir almost to the Gate of the city. Denethor releases a sally of Swan Knights, who destroy the Haradrim and rescue Faramir.

Denethor

Faramir

Witch King Black Serpent

Imrahil

M. C. Brennan

Minas Tirith

Ramas Echor

Harlond

Osgiliath

March 13, night

More of the Ramas Echor is broken, including the northern gate (by a contingent of the Morannon Army).

The Pelennor is invaded and sacked. Orcs approach the city and begin digging trenches to prevent further sallies.

Osgiliath’s bridges are repaired and used to move siege engines across the river. Reserve forces remain in the rear under the command of Gothmog.

Pelennor Fields

Denethor

Witch King

Black Serpent

Imrahil

Gothmog

M. C. Brennan

Minas Tirith

Ramas Echor

Harlond

Osgiliath

March 14, day

Trenchworks are completed. Orcs set up catapults and begin to bombard Minas Tirith with incendiary bombs and severed heads.

The outer ring of the city catches on fire, forcing defenders from the walls.

The Nazgûl return.

Denethor, distraught at Faramir’s apparent death, refuses to fight on. Gandalf assumes command.

Pelennor Fields

Denethor

Witch King

Black Serpent

Imrahil

Gothmog

M. C. Brennan

Minas Tirith

Ramas Echor

Harlond

Osgiliath

March 14, night

Witch King attacks the walls of the city with the aid of seige towers and other engines.

Imrahil defends the Gate, otherwise the walls are largely unmanned.

The Rohirrim finally arrive. They easily overpower the orcs guarding the northern breach and begin assembling.

In the ealy morning, the Witch King uses Grond to breach the Gate. He drives off the remaining defenders and confronts Gandalf inside the city.

Pelennor Fields

Gandalf

Black Serpent

Imrahil

Gothmog

Éomer

Elfhelm

Grimbold

Théoden

M. C. Brennan

Witch King

Minas Tirith

Ramas Echor

Harlond

Osgiliath

March 15, dawn

The sun rises for the first time in five days.

The Rohirrim charge the rear of the orcish formations. They quickly capture the north of the Pelennor and drive the orcs towards the river.

Théoden continues far ahead of his riders. He personally attacks the Haradrim cavalry and kills the Black Serpent.

The Witch King exits the city and kills Théoden, before he is killed in turn by Éowyn and Meriadoc.

Pelennor Fields

Witch KingBlack Serpent

Gothmog

Éomer Elfhelm

Grimbold

Théoden

M. C. Brennan

Imrahil