Gondor, a kingdom in the lands J.R.R.

Tolkien created, was a strong state that was

struggling for power. The populace of Gondor was used to being in war and they
had developed strong and advanced systems of gathering military forces.

Infantry
Infantry had always played a large role in the conquests of Gondor and it is wise
to assume that most of the military forces were in infantry. The Gondorians were,
in the beginning of the Third Age of the Sun, guarding the passes to Mordor to
prevent evil returning (after the War of the Last Alliance when Sauron was
thought defeated). The lands of Mordor were surrounded by Ered Lithui (Ash
Mountains) and Ephel Duath (Mountains of Shadow) these two ranges made up
for the northern and western borders and were bordering the Kingdom of Gondor.
The places where Gondorians built their fortresses were in the Ered Lithui at
Carchost and Narchost besides the Morannon (the Black Gates) and then in the
Ephel Duath at Durthang and the Pass of Cirith Ungol. Also, downwards from the
Pass was the city of Minas Ithil which was a strong city and this was also in the
hands of the Kings. However, as time passed and troubles stirred, the guards
failed and left their posts. This may be related to the need of men in other areas
to repel invasions of hostile forces.
The infantry seems to have been standardized to some degree while they came
from Gondor proper and not from the vassalized areas. Most of the soldiers
during the reign of the Kings seem to have used the black and white flag of the
Kings on their armour.
The infantry was deployed in two separate armies Army of the South and Army
of the North. These two must have been through several combats and the
membership constantly being resupplied. The Army of the South guarded Proros
and South Ithilien along with possibly commencing some raids to Harondor
(South Gondor). The Army of the North seems to have been guarding the North
Ithilien and Dagorlad (where it was once annihilated in a battle with the
Wainriders) and the passes upwards at Calernadhon (before the Kingdom of
Rohan was established).

Cavalry
The cavalry seems to never have made up large parts of the armies but by what
is told in the books it would be safe to assume that the larger portions of cavalry
came from Dol Amroth and Lebennin (and possibly Calernadhon) where there
were large empty areas that were suitable for horses. The cavalry of Gondor,
while not numbering many, still seems to have been quite exceptional in skills
and dreadful to the enemies.

By the descriptions of the battles against the Wainriders it would also be safe to
assume that the cavalry made up the usual vanguards and rearguards of the
army while marching.

Feudal Armies
Larger portions of the army seem to have come from southern fiefs Lamedon,
Lebennin, Lossarnach, Anfalas, Belfalas, Anorien and Dor-er-Ernil. The most
powerful ally of the Gondorians were the Rohirrim and they served alongside
Gondor in many wars.
The men from Dor-er-Ernil were great warriors and it was thought that they
descended from Elves. These were led by the Prince of Dol Amroth with his white
swanship on a red background. The men of Dol Amroth also had the title of Swan
Knight which was used when speaking of the mounted knights. These people
were most likely excellent cavalrymen and one of the best warriors in all of
Gondor.
Lossarnach was a smaller area but it was famous for its axemen who marched
alongside their leader. These axemen were described in the Return of the King
as fully armoured and carrying large battleaxes.
Lebennin encompassed a large area around between the sea and the Ered
Nimrais (the White Mountains). The men from this area were mostly responsible
with fighting against the Haradrim and Men of Umbar. Lebennin seems to have
had a large populace and therefore it would be logical that there were also many
men from Lebennin in the armies of Gondor.
Lamedon and Morthond made up for a large area and from these places, the best
archers of Gondor came, the Blackroot Valley bowmen, and they also served in
the wars against Sauron. The southern fiefs namely such as Andrast, Anfalas and
Pinnath Gelin also had some smaller warbands.

Rangers
The lands of Ithilien were densely populated and after Sauron retook these lands,
Gondorians formed units of Rangers (actually, they were formed already when
the bands of Orcs started visiting Ithilien, in the twenty-ninth century of the Third
Age) which were scouting and warring with Sauron in Ithilien. These Rangers
excelled in the use of the bow and they used to great effect the remaining
forests. The Rangers also had hideouts throughout Ithilien and these were secret
and known to few. The most well known hideout was at Henneth Annn.

Fleet

The fleet of Gondor was never large but it was large enough to war with the Men
of Umbar and to prevent landings. Also, the fleet seems to have used fewer ships
of larger drought rather than more ships of lesser drought. The fleet was mainly
situated in Pelargir and Umbar (when it was in the hands of Gondor).

Gondor and Arnor

In the Third Age (around 1975), there was one situation where the Gondorians
sent help to Arnor against the Witch-King of Angmar. The men of Gondor sent
only a small force, not much larger than a vanguard of the army and with few
ships but still the harbours of north were filled with men and ships and the
drought of the ships was such that they barely made it into the harbours at the
Grey Havens and Lindon. And also the number of men amazed the Arnorians and
Elves and especially they were awed at the cavalry for their horses were of
excellent breed.

Comparision
If I were to think of a similar force from our history, my mind would be set upon
the Eastern Roman Empire for several reasons. Firstly, while the Gondorians
didnt have a large cavalry, it was one of the best of their times and the same
applies to the Roman Kataphraktoi and Klibinarii who were prized forces of all
armies. Yet, their numbers were never large.
Secondly, the infantry of the Kingdom of Gondor was in a very good state and it
was strong and poweful. The same applies to Roman infantry of most periods
(before the larger use of mercenaries in the 14th and 15th century).
Thirdly, the systems of fiefs and thema are quite similar in concept. Fourthly, not
only are the main armies but also the fleets quite similar while the Roman
Empire in the East didnt build much ships, their ships were of a good quality and
they experimented with larger and larger types.