The Greatest Warrior...

[Belegorn]

Originally Posted by MatthewM

I know most here will not agree, but in my opinion as far as my knowledge streches at this time, Boromir was Middle-earth's greatest warrior.

I believe that it is clear that there are better warriors even among other Men of his time. Aragorn and Boromir's younger brother for instance. Faramir may not be seen as the warrior, but he most certainly is.

"He is bold, more bold than many deem; for in these days men are slow to believe that a captain can be wise and learned in the scrolls of lore and song, as he is, and yet a man of hardihood and swift judgement in the field. But SUCH IS Faramir. Less reckless and eager than Boromir, but not less resolute." [RotK, p. 42]

I suppose it's the same when it comes to how people see Feanor as not being a warrior because he got killed and because his greatest feats were based on his sub-creative abilites which surpassed any of Elf-kind.

With Faramir he does speak of how the High Men became more like Middle Men and valued the warrior more than Men of other crafts when before warriors had more skills, as he himself does. This change is why he said Boromir, "was accounted the best man in Gondor" [TTT, p. 339] since they looked upon warriors as better than Men of other crafts. Faramir, being like the old Numenoreans was not only a warrior but a scholar and people seeing him the scholar did not account him as good a warrior as Boromir. Well most did not. Some, as in my quote above knew he was every bit the warrior Boromir was. Also take into account Eowen's perception of Faramir, she "knew, for she was bred among men of war, that here was one whom no Rider of the Mark would outmatch in battle." [RotK, p 265]