Who else could have aided Gondor?

[Orophin]

I think that Boromir knows that Gondor's strength is slowly leaving them. I also think that he knows that the only ally that they have had a kept from the begining is Rohan. Through everything thay have been there for each other and they cannot expect that from anyone else so I think that he has an interesting point. Although there are lots of people in middle earth the only one's that have always been there are the Rohirrim so he trusts them.

[gorthaur_cruel]

Boromir never said "Gondor". His exact words were

But still we fight on, holding all the west shores of Anduin; and those who shelter behind us give us praise, if ever they hear our name: much praise but little help. Only from Rohan now will any men ride to us when we call.

I believe by "us", he doesn't mean Gondor, but rather the fighting force of Minas Tirith. He also mentions "much praise but little help". Little help can be taken to mean "no help", or not a lot of help. We find out later that Lossarnach, Ringlo Vale, Morthond, Anfalas, Lamedon, Ethir, Pinnaeth Gelin, and Dol Amroth come to Gondor's help, but their forces were "always too few, always less than hope looked for or need asked". Thus, I think he's referring to those "Outlands" of Gondor. He does say "those who shelter behind us", and if Boromir's talking about the fighting force of Minas Tirith, that makes perfect sense.

[Knight_of_Dol Amroth]

Originally Posted by gorthaur_cruel

Boromir never said "Gondor". His exact words were



I believe by "us", he doesn't mean Gondor, but rather the fighting force of Minas Tirith. He also mentions "much praise but little help". Little help can be taken to mean "no help", or not a lot of help. We find out later that Lossarnach, Ringlo Vale, Morthond, Anfalas, Lamedon, Ethir, Pinnaeth Gelin, and Dol Amroth come to Gondor's help, but their forces were "always too few, always less than hope looked for or need asked". Thus, I think he's referring to those "Outlands" of Gondor. He does say "those who shelter behind us", and if Boromir's talking about the fighting force of Minas Tirith, that makes perfect sense.

All of those places are parts of gondor so they would be obligated to at least send help to the front lines. Unlike Rohan or the rangers of the north or any of the people that helped in the war that didn't really have to.

[The Mouth of Sauron]

In addition to the men in the Vale of Anduin, Woodmen of Mirkwood and the men of Dale (which was a sizeable realm at the time of the War of the Ring), what about the men of Dorwinion ?

[Meneltarmacil]

Dorwinion was probably part of Rhovanion, a land of Easterlings which indeed had come to Gondor's aid in the past.

As such, I think Boromir is probably referring to them, although they had largely defected to Sauron at that point.

[Glorthelion]

Maybe the slaves of Mordor could have gone to Gondor's aid. (jokes)

The number of men who live in Gondor would have been more than enough to easily win the battle of Minas Tirith I think. If the lords have taken a gamble then 10,000 men would have gone to the aid of Minas Tirith. IMO Boromir was asking too much and underestimating the strength of Gondor despite being long in decline.

[Faramir Jones]

I always felt that Elrond could have at least sent Denethor regular intelligence reports, based on the information he picked up, even if he couldn't, like Rohan, send conventional military aid.