I just had an "Oh Duh!" moment.
The Basileia Rhomaion had chronic manpower problems that forced them to rely heavily on foreign mercenaries, particularly upon certain groups that hailed from the remote north.
I hardly need say that this parallels the relationship of Gondor to the Northmen.
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...finding a path that cannot be found, walking a road that cannot be seen, climbing a ladder that was never placed, or reading a paragraph that has no...
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