The Armies of Harad

Harad

I have to give some thought to exactly what has happened to the survivors of the Pelennor Fields, particularly the Haradrim.  Undoubtedly, the casualties were heavy, but the main factor in the fallen realms armies was the death of the Witch King of Angmar at the hands of Eowyn, and the subsequent reinforcements from the Anduin, led by Aragorn. Caught between the hammer of the Rohirrim and the anvil of the southern Gondorian reinforcements, the forces of Mordor and the fallen realms were routed and then scattered.  Casualties were undoubtedly heavy on both sides, and there is no doubt that the Haradrim were crushed as an effective fighting force.  However, there is also no doubt that significant numbers of Haradrim soldiers and even some mumakil escaped the slaughter.  Some of Sauron's forces, notably a contingent of easterlings, fought to the last man to buy time for the rest of the army to escape.

Tolkien estimated the Haradrim army to be 18000 strong before the battle, with perhaps 2000 scarlet clad Southrons as well.  Even with a catastrophic 50% killed, there would be at least 10,000 warriors from Harad heading home from The Pelennor Fields.  I shall assume 50% casualties, but half of those would be walking wounded.  So in round numbers, I shall say there are 15,000 warriors of the Harad heading south as the campaign opens.  Of those 15,000, 5,000 are walking wounded and are simplymaking  there way home as best they can.  The combat effectives number 10,000 but are highly disorganised and have formed into 2 distinct groups, a smaller group comprising the main command, the surviving mumakil, an infantry guard regiment and cavalry detachments.  This group escaped the battle more or less intact (I am assuming they formed the main reserve and escaped in good order when the battle was lost).  The larger group comprises the bulk of the survivors; they are disorganised, have no overarching leadership (although lower unit leadership) and are carrying casualties with them.  This group is moving more slowly and is vulnerable to interception by Gondorian forces.

For campaign purposes, the smaller group needs to disrupt any Gondorian probes in order to buy time for the bulk of the Haradrim forces to escape across the Poros.  Both groups will start in South Ithilien, but I have yet to decide exactly where.

So, the smaller group, under Lord Vadayr, comprises:

2 Regiments of cavalry (300 men)

2 regiments of guard infantry (1200 men)

3 Mumakil and handlers and crew (300 men)

The larger group comprises a mixed lot 8000 infantry and 5000 wounded and stragglers.

They fight with brittle morale and are capable of organising rearguard actions but are unlikely to stand against a determined foe.

8 regiments of infantry (8000 men) with brittle morale. Each regiment has its own commander with a modest command rating, but as there is no overall commander, the regiments cannot form larger formations or cooperate closely together.

As for the rest of Harad, well there is not much left behind in the homeland.  It it critical that the fighting men return, as it is only the men who have seen too many summers or the boys who have seen too few summers that are left.

I have plagiarised heavily from the excellent third age mod for Medieval Total War II for the following descriptions.  I will put it all on the map in due course.


South Umbar - capital Vatavea - Lord Jubayr - corsairs

Umbar - huge city - corsairs - black númenorean in charge -Lord Qusay

North Umbar - Kas Shafra - town - not a port - lord Ghasaan - spearman and archers

South Harandor - Has Yayb village - Lord Hannad spearman

East Harandor - Harandor town - lord Ubaadah - spearman and archers

Gobel Ancalimon - eponymous castle - lord Musab - spearman, archers and cavalry - lies in the valley feeding the bay north of Umbar

Harad - Hyarmen capital of the Haradrim - chieftain Khuzmayah - this large city lies on an oasis on the main trade route south. Lying just to the south of the more fertile lands of Harandor, Hyarmen is where the mighty mumakil and camels are brought from the wastes to be trained into Harad's armies.

Amrun - Amrun castle - lies on the north south trade route. Also the main road up the valley towards near a Harad and Khand - Lord Yaman - spear, archers and horse

Near Harad - Hamen town - Lord Jibran - spear archers and horse

Haradwaith - Haranaer village - Lord Utbah - camelry, Troll-men

Far Harad - Urabhaya village - Lord Haarith - spear, archers and troll-men