Aragorn's Reunited Empire: Just a paper dream?

[Lord Melkor]

While glossing over the maps in the Atlas of Middle-Earth for the umpteenth time I started wondering how Aragorn's so-called 'Reunited Kingdom' would be able to extend it's influence over all it's former lands. It is a known fact that Gondor at the time of Aragorn's ascenscion was at the lowpoint of it's existence. Osgiliath was in ruins, Minas Tirith was woefully underpopulated and while things were better in the western fiefs it was obvious that Gondor had experienced a steady decline in population numbers for the last hundreds of years. Things were even worse in the lands of the former Kingdom of Arnor, with the only center of civilization being the Shire and Breeland.

Realizing this I wondered how in Eru's name Aragorn is ever going to exert his control over all the lands that used to belong to Gondor? He simply does not have the manpower, both militarily or civilian to be able to exert his influence over all of Eriador, much less disputed territories such as Umbar and Dorwinion. While he'll probably be able to exert his influence over the Shire by using his proxies (aka Sam, Merry and Pippin) I wonder how the Breelanders will respond to his rule when he starts sending his tax collectors north. I doubt they'll like some distant king meddling in their affairs, despite all his claims about being fond of their beer.

The same will go for the Dunlendings. Even in Gondor's heydays Dunland was only nominally a part of the Kingdom, with the Dunlendings not paying much attention to the King and the King not paying much attention to them. Still, as long as they don't rebel I suppose Aragorn could claim to 'rule' over them, though I think any purebred Dunlending will snort loudly at such a suggestion.

Things will not be as cozy in Umbar and Dorwinion though. Despite the loss of their fleet the Corsairs still hold the city of Umbar and I doubt they will be willing to part with it. This means a military expedition to take the city will be required. After all, Aragorn's 'Reunited Kingdom' claims all the lands of Gondor and Arnor at their peak. Though Gondor's severely weakened army maybe be able to overcome the equally weakened Corsairs and retake the city I sincerely doubt their chances of keeping it. It is only a matter of time before the Haradrim recover from their defeat on the Fields of Pelennor and decide to start their assaults on Gondor again. Remember, Gondor's population still is but a shadow of it's former self. I sincerely doubt Aragorn will be able to wage a succesful protracted war against the more numerous Haradrim AND be able to extend his influence all over his Reunited Kingdom.

The same goes for Dorwinion, which is basically exposed to constant assaults from Rhun. Even in Gondor's days of military might they had trouble holding on to their lands in the East, I sincerely doubt they will be able to hold it now, despite Aragorn's abilities as a general.

Finally I will comment on the ludicrously long and overexposed borders of Aragorn's Kingdom. It basically looks like a set of blobs connected by narrow isthmuses of land. How he will be able to defend all of it from Orcs/Easterlings/Haradrim/secessionist Hobbits/whatever is simply beyond me. The fact that most of these lands are partically uninhabited with no infrastructure to speak of makes Aragorn's claims to rule all of it even more laughable. Any fool of a king can claim that some barren piece of wasteland belongs to his kingdom. Not only that, his Northern lands will be hundreds of miles removed from Minas Tirith and Aragorn's seat of power. This will mean that the freespirited peoples of Eriador will be even less likely to listen to the edicts of a distant king. Once again it seems that Aragorn's claims to rule this lands will exist on paper only.

In conclusion: Aragorn's so-called ' Reunited Kingdom' exists only on paper. Gondor simply does not have the required population and military manpower to even remotely exert it's influence over all the lands claimed by Aragorn. It's supposed borders are long and overstretched and it's highly doubtful that Aragorn will be able to ptoperly defend his lands from an assault by any strong military power. Though he will be able to keep up the illusion of his Kingdom in times of peace, there is no doubt in my mind that it will be only matter of time before it collapses from it's inherent weaknesses.