Why hold'claim Osgiliath?

[Araréiel]

Long time, no post. Three years! Anyway, my honey and I spent the week re-watching the extended movies, one disk a night. Tonight we started watching Return of the King, and are going to watch both disks. Right now he's getting stuff for onion dip, so we're between disks, and that is irrelevant.

Anyway, I can't recall if this was addressed in the books, and he hasn't read them, but Denethor was hellbent on Faramir holding Osgiliath, and then reclaiming it. C'mon, death mission. Cody and I were debating by Denethor wanted this. I am of the belief right now that Denethor was trying to get Faramir killed at this point, and Cody suspects maybe it was as a watch point to Mordor, so tropps coming could be seen quicker and a rider sent to Minis Tirith.

What was the reason?

[Nerwen]

You can tell Cody he was on the right track.

Osgiliath had strategic value. It was the easiest place to cross the River Anduin, which Sauron's army had to do in order to attack Gondor.

"And the Enemy must pay dearly for the crossing of the River. That he cannot do, in force to assail the City, either north of Cair Andros because of the marshes, or southwards towards Lebennin because of the breadth of the River, that needs many boats. It is at Osgiliath that he will put his weight, as before when Boromir denied him passage."

–Denethor in "The Siege of Gondor" (The Return of the King.)

That answer your question?

While I'm here– welcome back to the Downs. That's a rather cool signature you've got there.

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by Nerwen

You can tell Cody he was on the right track.

Osgiliath had strategic value. It was the easiest place to cross the River Anduin, which Sauron's army had to do in order to attack Gondor.

Indeed, Osgiliath was a huge strong hold for Gondor. If taken, Minas Tirith could easily be invaded.

[Araréiel]

Originally Posted by Nerwen

You can tell Cody he was on the right track.

Osgiliath had strategic value. It was the easiest place to cross the River Anduin, which Sauron's army had to do in order to attack Gondor.

–Denethor in "The Siege of Gondor" (The Return of the King.)

That answer your question?

While I'm here– welcome back to the Downs. That's a rather cool signature you've got there.

Thank you, on all counts. It's been too long since I've read the books, and Cody never has. It's time to get them all again in paperback or something other than my special edition (one of the inch-thin for the entire trilogy, bible-paper half-leather things that cost a few hundred bucks), and read it again. Cody never has. Absolutely amazing books. Not just LotR, but all the rest too.

[The Might]

Of course Osgiliath was important, but at least in the movies Denethor isn't really himself when making this decision. Plus, what he sends in the movie is clearly too little to do any damage to Sauron's troops. The only smart thing to do would have been to keep them for the upcoming siege.

[Nerwen]

Which, I suppose, is why you're never told why it's important in the film.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

I think, in the film, attempting to retake Osgiliath is important because such a ludicrous suicide mission is the most convenient way for Insane Mean Daddy to kill off Misunderstood Younger Son.