Was Tolkien's inspiration for Gondor the Byzantine Empire?

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[Jediben]

In my opinion, the men of Rohan coming to the aid of Gondor, reminds me of the Bulgarians come to the Byzantines aid in the 715 siege of Constantinople

[hydroac]

This is an excellent observation. I've loved Tolkien for decades and have a growing appreciation for Roman and later Eastern Roman (Byzantine) history.

I've always liked the idea of alternate history, where Byzantium somehow overcomes the overwhelming force of the Ottomans to re-establish Eastern Roman Empire. In fact, I've enjoyed the strategic game Europa Universalis 4 (EU4) playing as Byzantium its last, sad decline in 1444 to do just that - where the Phoenix Rises! :)

Love your channel and insights! Thank you!

[josemariavacaredondo]

From my point of view, I think the arrival of Rohan's forces at the Fields of Pelennor is a direct reference to the arrival of the Winged Hussars at Vienna during its second siege by the Ottoman forces on the 10th of September of 1683.

[virgilxavier]

I've often thought about this one. Tolkien himself several times reference the history of Egypt as his inspiration but the history of Gondor clearly has more in common with Byzantium.

[TomSeliman]

The battle of the Pellenor Fields with the alliance of Rondar and Gondar was inspired by the Catalunian Plains against Atilla. Theoden was inspired by Theodoric who also fell off his horse and died, with Atilla being like the Witch King. The uneasy alliance if Rohan and Gondar was inspired by Rome and the Visigoths.

[kevintierney]

“First Star Trek was vandalized…”

My man came out swinging haha. My knowledge of the Vandals makes this a double-sided gem

[TetsuShima]

Loved the part where Galadriel converted all Middle Earth to Christianity after seeing a sign in the sky and then boiled Sauron alive in a bathtub A truly beautiful moment in the history of Christ 😇🙏

[nikhtose]

Well thought out and presented! Minas Tirith reminded me, too, of Constantinople, the only comparable citadel in medieval Europe, the history and culture of which so clearly inspired Tolkien. I think it also inspired George R.R. Martin's capital city, King's Landing, in Game of Thrones. In Season 2, an attacking fleet is sunk by flaming missiles shot from its ramparts---an unmistakable reference to Greek fire. The City lives on!

[anaconda]

As a Star Trek fan you have my thanks. I enjoy your channel very much. I was so confused when the vandalisation of ST happened. And I heard mostly voices of approval. I'm glad that there's more and more intelligent people who decided to speak up about this.

[massacolonel]

The Siege of Minas Tirith and Battle of Pellenor Fields reminds me of The Siege of Aurelianum (Orleans) and The Battle of The Catalaunian Fields (Chalons) where Atilla was besieging the city until Flavius Aetius brought a Romano-Gothic-Frankish Army to defeat him. Like Théoden, Theodoric, the King of the Visigoths was slain during the battle. The Goths also had good heavy cavalry like the Rohirrim. That particular victory also prevented Atilla from taking all of Gaul. and kept the Western Roman Empire alive for another couple of decades.

[ekszentrik]

Whenever the chance presents itself I want to point out the the Army of the Dead in the books are purely a feint, NOT some kinetic reinforcements that could kill orcs. So the Rohirrim truly did save Gondor, they weren't just an ultimately barely necessary distraction.

[TetsuShima]

5:41
Trojans during the destruction of the city: "We are all dead!"
Aeneas: "Don't worry. I have a plan"
Trojans: "Really?! What's you idea!?"
Aeneas: "I shall form a family and, thousands of years later, two of my descendants will found a powerful city that will destroy our enemies. Sounds brilliant, right?"
Trojans: "You are banished"
Aeneas: "And with good cause!"

[ozgurceltikci]

Always considered Rohan as Bulgars under the rule of Tervel during the siege of 717-718. Nice to see similar thinking go in here :)

[Docre_T]

I think it's impossible to be passionate about Roman history (or History in general, actually) and not be passionate about Tolkien! Yes, I have always noticed the similarities between Rohan and the foederati system. I also see a parallel between how the Shire was left politically abandoned when Arnor fell and how England was abandoned to its own by the romans. And yes, the Amazon show is utter garbage that will only be useful to distinguish the true fans who respect the Professor and those who don't.

[VerilyViscous]

One of my favorite parts of the Lord of the Rings is when Theodoric died in the charge to defend Rome against Attila at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains .... I mean Theoden died in the charge to defend Gondor against the Witch-king of Angmar at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

[michaelfisher]

I remember discovering Byzantine history as an avid reader in junior about Constantinople was an amazing experience to me. Close on the heels of that..a friend introduced me to The Hobbit...then told me there was a trilogy sequel to it. And, as I read through, and learned about the great Gondorian city of Minas had a...."hey wait a minute" moment. lol.

[TitoReni]

The two main human allies of Sauron were the haradrim and the orientals, who represent the two biggest threats that Europe has faced, muslisms and mongols.

So, yeah, there is a lot of inspiration from the real world into Tolkien's legendarium.

[morriganmhor]

Maiorianus, you missed an important fact: the former capital of Gondor was not Minas Tirith, but Osgiliath, located on BOTH sides of the river Anduin, just like Constantinople and Pera.

[thelastroman]

In a way, you could almost see the end of the Lord of the Rings and a restored Gondor as an apology to the Eastern Roman Empire from the West. An apology for not coming to its aid and for leaving the empire at the mercy of its many enemies.