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Tolkien's Middle-earth doesn't look like Medieval Europe - Page 10

© Michael Martinez

When Pippin watches reinforcements march into Minas Tirith, he hears the men of the city complaining that only one tenth of the men hoped for arrived. Some people view this as evidence that the regional lords must have been poweful enough to withhold troops from Denethor. And yet many of these lords helped defend Minas Tirith. Also, when Denethor argues with Gandalf in council, he emphasizes his concern for all of Gondor, and he rules his council of lords and captains with an iron fist. He doesn't seem like a weak and impotent feudal lord whose needs are subject to the whims of the vassals. Tolkien seems to imply the decision to leave the coasts strongly defended may have come from that council, if not from Denethor himself. The various men who march to Minas Tirith are the subject of debate as well. Are these professional soldiers or merely provincial levies? Only three groups are clearly not soldiers: the men from the Ethir Anduin, the "few grim hillmen" from Lamedon, and the varied hunters and herders from Anfalas. Dol Amroth's force, more than 700 strong, may be an independent army. But are the 500 bowmen from Morthond really the primary feudal troops sworn to Duinhir's service? They seem a rather specialized lot. The remaining groups are so non-descript we can infer nothing reliable from their descriptions. Whether professional or provincial, it is not clear whose army these men are enlisted in, except for Dol Amroth's. Imrahil is autonomous, and yet he is loyal to Gondor and willing to defend the entire realm, and not just his own domain of Belfalas. The evidence of feudalism, let alone feudalism modelled on medieval Europe, is therefore virtually non-existent. The arguments are based on inferences which are not directly contradicted by the texts. And yet, was Tolkien obligated to refute every unlikely inference his readers might draw? A better argument for a feudal organization can be made for Arnor, for King Argeleb II did confer some obligations upon the brothers Marcho and Blanco in exchange for their colonization of the Shire. And yet, Tolkien's definition for suza includes no feudal connotations. Furthermore, when the kingdom failed the Shire was not governed by any descendants of Marcho and Blanco. Rather, the various clan/family chieftains elected a Thain to retain the king's authority. This action implies that Arnor's king directly governed the Shire, but for the most part left its people alone.

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