Thangail

From Tolkien Gateway

The thangail was a defensive formation used by the soldiers of the Númenórean Realms in Exile of Arnor and Gondor. It was formed from two closely-pressed ranks presenting a barrier of shields, solidly enough to withstand the onslaught of their enemies. The thangail was designed to be flexible, and could bend at one or both of its ends to prevent being outflanked by enemies, even curling round to meet itself and so form an unbroken circle of shields.[1]

The only record of the thangail in actual use was by Isildur, who ordered one drawn up when attacked by Orcs in the incident known to history as the Disaster of the Gladden Fields.[1] However, there is reason to think that the formation originated with the Elves, because it had an 'official' name in Quenya.[2]

Inspiration[edit | edit source]

Shield walls were a common element of pre-gunpowder battlefield tactics, e.g. the ancient Greek phalanx, Roman legionary testudo formation and Scottish sheltron.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

thangail is a Sindarin name, which means "shield-fence". It is a compound of than ("shield") and cail ("fence").[2]

The name of the same formation in Quenya was sandastan, which means "shield-barrier". It is derived from primitive thanda ("shield") and stama ("bar", "exclude").[2]

See also[edit | edit source]

References